Good Vibrations

Every now and then, I'm reminded of why I love singing, and I why I love the stage. Last Friday night, I got smacked in the face with a reminder when Richie took me to see "Good Vibrations" at the Carolina Ppry in North Myrtle Beach.

I don't know if y'all know this about me, but I love oldies music. The Beach Boys, The Mama and the Papas, The Grass Roots, and let's definitely not forget The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Richie definitely thrilled me to pieces with that surprise. I wore my argyle sweater to celebrate.

When we walked in, the speakers were pumping in "Billie Jean", which just happens to be my most favorite Michael Jackson song ever. I'm not going to lie--I was dancing in my seat. Also, I think Richie and I might have been the youngest folks in the theater. I didn't care, though, because the music was just too awesome too resist.

Other things Richie and I enjoyed while waiting for the show to begin:
1. A couple with matching mullets.
2. A woman, who was at least 60 years old, wearing a denim shirt and a mullet.
3. A retiree field trip, all of whom waddled penguin-style down the aisle, led by a man in a burgundy jacket, CARRYING A FLAG.

#3 was my favorite, because I know one day that will be me and Richie. The tourists were just so cute!

I got very excited when the lights dimmed, and the emcee, Steve Stifford, walked on stage. He's got the best voice of all the male singers, and he plays a very good straight man to Eric Gumm, who usually performs a comedy bit before the show begins. He played a trivia game with some of the audience members, and then Eric Gumm walked on stage dressed in a leopard-print suit and a green paisley shirt. He told us that he looked like "Siegfried and Roy threw up on Walt Disney." He also played a toaster like a drum, and sang a song about toast. It was A LOT funnier than it sounds.

But, then, all the lights went down, and they started with the real show.

The opened with "The Age Of Aquarius" from Hair. I gripped Richie's leg and melted into my seat. All my hippie music dreams had come true. Other highlights of the night:

1. Christy Templeton and Tangena Church singing "Barracuda" and "Crazy On You" by Heart.
2. Steve Stifford singing "Yesterday" by The Beatles (yes, I cried) and "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" by The Isley Brothers.
3. All That tap-dancing to "Smokey and The Bandit" (Richie and I sang along).
4. Tangena Church singing "Proud Mary". I didn't know a white girl could ever move and sing that way. Impressive.
5. RC Clemmons performing "Born to Be Wild" and "Footloose".

As I sat there bouncing and singing in my seat, alternately squeezing Richie's hand and his leg, the love of singing and performing came back to me. I think I might have lost it for a while, and didn't realize it. To see the looks on the performer's faces, loving every minute that they were on that stage, I felt my heart being squeezed.

There's nothing I can compare it to, folks. The feel of the lights on your face, the music pumping so hard that you can feel it in your chest and stomach, the energy and the nerves making your hands tremble, the look of joy on the audience face, the way I can't feel my mouth moving but I can hear the lyrics coming out, that euphoric feeling after it's over that makes you feel like you could fly...yeah, that's what great about singing.

I'm so thankful that Richie wanted to give me such a surprise, because in the end, it was more than a date. He gave back to me my love for music.

Toodles!