The DJ’s loud amplified voice echoes throughout the bar.
“Next up to the Karaoke stage, Matt Savage!”
Gulp
I turn to look at my wingman, immediately accusing him of signing me up for a song.
“Common’ folks, lets get Savage up on stage…” the DJ announces again
“You asshole.” I blurt to my wingman, as I begin walking towards the microphone
“Are you Savage?” the DJ asks
“Yea, that’s me. What am I singing tonight?”
“Looks like a little Sweet Child O’ Mine” he says
Ah good, at least I know this.
I grab the microphone and stare at the blue title screen waiting for the song to start. I look out over the crowd of drunkards, all staring right back at me, waiting to hear what sound could possibly emerge from my meager vocal chords.
Despite having sung Karaoke a countless number of times, this will be my first solo attempt. All other times have been with multiple people, making it much easier to disguise my normally nasal like voice and of overcoming shyness on stage.
And now I stand here waiting.
I stand here with butterflies in my stomach. I stand here in the judgment of my peers. I stand here with beautiful women observing my every action.
I stand here, about to rock.
The DJ shouts to the crowd.
“Ladies and gentleman, I give you Matt Savage, singing, Sweet Child O’ Mine”
The music is cranked and the blue screen now displays my first set of lyrics.
I take a deep breath… here it comes… one… two… three…
“She’s got a smile that it seems to me
Reminds me of childhood memories
Where everything
Was as fresh as the bright blue skyyyy”
The crowd erupts into hoots and hollers. The cute bartender gives me a wink. My nerves begin to fade. It’s time to be a star.
“Oh, Oh, Oh
Sweet child o’ mine
Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh
Sweet love of mineeeee”
It’s funny, how sometimes, things that scare us, things that bring us so much fear and anxiety, things that prevent us from overcoming shyness, can cause us to miss out on otherwise amazing opportunities. Not just opportunities for improving our lives, but opportunities for having fun, opportunities for being happy.
It’s funny, because once you take that plunge, whether it be approaching an attractive woman, going in for the first kiss, or singing solo in front of a crowd of people; the fear, shyness and anxiety go away. It vanishes into thin air. And to think that only a mere abstract metaphysical thought separates us from doing the things we want out of life. It’s really quite amazing.
The lyrics are now flowing from my mouth with ease. I barely need to look at the screen anymore. I begin to channel the fluid body movement of Axle, swaying back and forth like a serpent and belting out the Ayes and Ohhhs as the song comes towards the end.
“Where do we go now?
No, No, No, No, No, No
Sweet chiiiiiillllld,
Sweet Chiiiillllllld
…of mineeeee.”
The blue screen fades to black. The song is over. I look up to a crowd filled with friends, patrons and beauties… all applauding. I feel great.
Related posts:
{ 1 trackback }