 25 february 2000 to funk or not to funk ----- ------- ----- There's this part of my song (my old song, which I'm going to sing tomorrow night, as opposed to my new song, which, cool as it is, ain't quite ready for an audience yet) where I launch into falsetto, almost a very shrill wailing, yet strangely melodic ... fitting with the song, I guess, a horror-movie parody, in the spirit of "Nightmare on Elm Street" if not the "Scream" series ... but I digress. The line comes out of the third verse -- "she sighs relief, he drops his coat there on the floor, but underneath in his right hand he's got a knife, or it's an ax, who gives a shit, just run for your life" -- and on the word "life" is this really long falsetto note which I'm debating right now whether to carry into the catchy chorus section, where the rest of the band sings backup behind my lead. The problem is, if I hold the note, I'm not singing along with the rest of the band, who are already into the "it's in her head/she could be dead/bang bang shoot shoot/throat slit she's mute" part of the song. I dunno, the fact that I'm able to hold a note _that_ high _that_ long is impressive enough to me to give it a try at the gig tomorrow night. Besides, it should only last through the "it's in her head" part and then I can join the rest of the vocalists for "she could be dead" and so on ... Confused? Come to the fucking gig then, and you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. ~~~ I got to the elementary school a bit too early. I must have been pegged for a pedophilic stalker from the outset, as a rather matronly woman approached me, loitering in the courtyard, within thirty seconds of my arrival. (it still amazes me how different the schools in California are from the ones I went to -- everything is outdoors here, the corridors, the common areas ... the only indoor spaces are the classrooms -- back in New Jersey, there was no outdoors) "May I help you?" she said with a cautious look in her eye. "I'm I friend of the xxxxx's, I'm here to pick up Kristen." Her face instantly softened. "Oh, that's so nice. Well, class lets out in twenty minutes. She'll be in Room 11. I'm Principal (i forgot the name), by the way." I introduced myself, and we chatted for a bit. She seemed surprised that I was halfway intelligent. I hung out for a while, mixing and mingling with the other waiting parents, introducing myself to the wives and husbands of the rich and shameless Hollywood celebrities who live in Malibu. I visited the restroom, half out of boredom, and half out of a half-full bladder. The urinal came up to my knees. I shrugged and practiced my aim, something I hadn't done since I had a true "canvas" of snow back home when I was growing up. Finally, the students started to file out of their classrooms. I felt very tall. We walked, hand in hand, to the car, and I took her to lunch. It was much less frightening than I had made it out to be. She did most of the talking, and I listened. She wants to be a magician, and was proudly sporting a top-hat she had received from her parents as a birthday present. I asked her if she could make me disappear. She laughed. I told her I was serious. She said she'd work on it. I don't remember being as literate at nine as she was today. Maybe kids are just smarter these days. Maybe I'm just dumb. Who knows? ~~~ What have I got to lose? ~~~ (a side note ... all the Chiefs and VP's are in Park City, UT skiing on a four day weekend, while the rest of us slave away... but that's beside the point) My reply... "First off, if he wants me to work this weekend, he should have called me directly. Secondly, I have a gig this weekend. Thirdly, and most importantly, I have a consulting company with clients, clients I must work for this weekend in order to pay my bills, because the salary this fucking company is paying me sure as hell ain't paying the bills, let alone a ski trip. So tell him that if he would like me to work weekends, my consulting company is available at $97/hr (don't know where I got that number) and my first available weekend is the second weekend in March." A year ago, I wouldn't have had the balls to say that. Fuck it. Two months ago, I wouldn't have had the balls to say that. Maybe it has nothing to do with "balls". Maybe I just don't give a shit. I haven't heard back from our "CCO" yet. I really hope this band takes off. ~~~ one year ago: inlove?
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