his voice sounds like ball bearings gargled in a steel trash can.
looking at him, you would think he was quite normal, at least as normal as any of us, but when he opens his mouth to sing, well that's a different story.
if he hits a note somewhere in the same zip code as the band, its a good day. but even on the bad days, his smile could light up Times Square on New Year's Eve, as he draws out the last few notes into those precious moments of silent reflection after the instruments have quieted.
is he intentionally drawing the spotlight to himself, slapping the face of those that imagine they have talent, or is he just trying to make legs twitch as his high notes reverberate, like box cars coming to rest after a train wreck, across ear drums?
he doesn't notice the starched shirt stares, behind eyelids drawn closed. lost in the intimacy of the moment, his adoration bellows across his cracked lips, as he sways to an unheard beat, singing songs without words to an audience of one.
perhaps its his passion that disturbs them the most, shattering their solemn status quo.
his voice sounds like ball bearings gargled in a steel trash can.
a joyful noise.
About Me
- Brian Miller
- Married to the most amazing woman and dad of two adventurous boys. I am figuring out what life has in store next. Enjoy the journey.
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77 comments:
I like it!
My oldest son loves to sing. I go back and forth between being happy he's singing and making a joyful noise AND "please stop!"
really fun... you capture the mood so well.
Your probably talking about Bob Dylan. Like fingernails drawn down a blackboard. He proves that you don't have to have a good voice to be heard and important to a generation.
Dear Daniel: I love Bob Dylan. :)
Of course, I love his early stuff - not the very later stuff.
Brian's "character", whoever he is, must be related to me. Can't sing - but sometimes do.
My mom use to tell me I sounded like a turkey being strangled. I never really thought that much about it when I was smaller but now I would probably agree with her.
HA!
(How my girls got nice voices I will never know)
I see things in your poems that aren't actually there, you know. Like the tone deaf undertaker with his audience of one.
But I love the imagining you give me. Lovely words, Brian. Lovely words.
Hard not to wonder if you have a specific singer in mind here.
I can totally see my oldest son's best friend here. He can terribly sing a song about turnip greens and Don Knotts and make it sound joyful. His songs always leave me smiling.
I picture a homeless man, filthy from life on the street but with the face of an angel, singing heart-felt praise at St. Patrick's Cathedral. He, lost in the moment of true adoration, is oblivious to the the judgments of the Uptown
5th Avenue-ers. The "starched shirts" are lost in their judgements of him, instead of their awe of Him.
Bravo. Thank you for taking me on a mind journey once again.
:) Lisa
Sounds like husband singing in the shower. ;o)
Sounds more to me like someone auditioning for American Idol!
But can he shatter glass light bulbs?
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and wish you a happy new year.
Are you writing about me? Just tell me, OK? I know it's me.
You've heard my son sing? Great description.
Marvelous! I'm touched.
I have a vocal music degree. Have sang with some of the best in my 51 yrs. But, nothing matches the experience of being a choir of the faithful...singing at the top of their lungs...with passion, regardless of the pitch. amen
so, i think one of my fav canadian singers, serena ryder, whom i've met twice, says it best:
you gotta sing sing
sing sing sing out loud
don't matter if you stay on track
you gotta sing sing
sing sing sing out loud
don't you dare hold nothin' back
;)
i sing so badly that i had an ex who banned me from singing in his car. my dad was the official listener in his high school chorus. unfortunately both my son and i inherited his musical...talents?
I only sing when I'm home...alone. :)
That's no way to talk about our dear and darling mutual friend Otin! If he doesn't have music to highlight his tone deafness he sounds half decent! I can sing. It's the Welsh blood!
wonderful...my sister told me I couldn't sing so I stopped...wish someone could see the light inside me back then...
much love
You paint a picture with your words.....
I used to stand by a guy with a voice like that in the church choir. But ya had to love it, cause he sure was joyful!
I love that Man.
smiling
and rolling ball bearings
sing!
Sounds like me when I sing. :) It's why I only sing when I'm by myself or with my little ones because they don't mind what my joyful noise sounds like. :) Great read Brian!
This made me smile.
Well, I am sorry but I like to sing!!
Someone rightly told me once... it's the emotions of the music that matter, not the notes. I think he can feel the emotions, even if he can't quite hit the right keys...
Unbridled passion does seem to unnerve people.I kind of like ball bearings gargled in a steel trash can.
I too, can sing...well off-key :)
My family always laughs when I sing. Begging me to please sing so they can make fun!
Love Bob Dylan. Lay Lady Lay was my favorite growning up.
he sounds like a happy man and he puts a smile to my face
Intriguing! Another favourite. I shall spend the rest of the day wondering who the singer was that you so eloquently described. Happy New Year to you and yours.
I suppose you could put about any of the current batch of rock stars in that story.. and my sad voice.
xx
Love the scene you have created. Wonderful! I could hear him sing!
Hugs
SueAnn
I feel a sadness in this, maybe I'm projecting the situation of someone I know...someone who tries so hard, but is dismissed by most as being "off key".
I try not to bother people with my singing :-) Very descriptive writing!
You are such a good writer. Maybe I'm repeating myself, but there's a lovely feeling to everything you write, a particular warmth.
Happy New Year to you and yours!
See? See what you've done? I love that. You paint a picture with words and leave the corners unfinished. Then a waterfall of friendship rushes in and tries to fit the ending.
Bravo Brian. You are the poetic stimulant of blogland.
Smiles
Ele xx
I love it!! Its like you described my singing to a tee...LMAO...In the car or if my song comes on...I know I am tone deaf, but I dont care...I FEEL the music, I just cant produce the same sound ha ha...Oh well...
sing sing sing it lifts the soul!
As long as it's from the Heart!
Ive heard that voice before :)
Beautiful writing Brian, descriptive and rich.
xxsm
beautiful!
Have you heard me singing? lol. This is good. Very good.
"is he just trying to make legs twitch as his high notes reverberate, like box cars coming to rest after a train wreck, across ear drums?" i LOVE the imagery of this line!!!
i think i painted a more serious person in my mind, not someone who is simply tone deaf, but rather a person who has a greater handicap -- yet loves music and smiles when he tries.
btw, i wouldn't be surprised if you and your 2 sons jumped on the bed. HOWEVER, i think you should entice your wife to join you sometime ... a little one on one...:-)
warm smiles,
Really nice Brian!
So which one of your songs is the singer lol love this masterpiece of father's appreciation :)
one of my xmas gifts was a band who's cd is entitled "never let a lack of talent get you down." amen.
Ha Ha! I love to sing, but I am terrible at it, but I don't let it stop me. I sing in my car - by myself and think I sound fantastic!
Okay, I'll bite, who is this mystery singer?
I have to admire someone who sings for the joy of singing and isn't so caught up in ego that they would stop singing if the sounds aren't accepted by others.
Have a very happy New Year
and a wonderful and happy 2010 :-)
(@^.^@)
My Mom couldn't sing for sour apples, but the church knew she was in attendance when the hymns were sung...
Fa la lala lala, fa la lala lala, fa la la lala la la... In the words of Kermit the Frog: Just sing!
if it's bringing joy to him I say sing on.
Do you ever get tired of hearing how wonderful your writing is? Hope not; because I won't stop saying it.
I don't have to be able to sing in order to appreciate the music. Thank Goodness!! I also don't have to be a writer to love a good poem.
namaste
Just dropped by to wish you and your amazing wife and cute children a very Happy New Year!!!
Me and my Mannequin!!! - Fashion Panache
Interview at Speakbindas - My Travelogue
Singing is the best thing ever! lol I love singing and I don't care if I do it good or bad I just love it and as long as I don't bother anyone at home it's OK! lol
When kids sing it is so cute! even if it sounds ugly. lol
*hugs*
So you've met my husband?
Great job.
La la la...humph (clearing throat-let me try this again). La la la,, Hmmmm.
Oh, never mind. I can’t sing.
You speak of me!
Superb writing!
Thanks Brian!Hey You All Have A Brilliant 2010.Best Wishes Tony.
Sounds a bit like me singing in the shower!!
Or could it be Rod Stewart or Bob Dylan?
In any event beautifully put, Brian ~ Eddie
Wonderful! :)
Wishing you a Happy New Year Brian to you and your family!!
I sing and suck at it...but, I still sing.
This holds true for so many people who find the joy in just expressing themselves. It may be hard for people to listen, but it's fun while doing it.
I love this. A joyful NOISE indeed :)
Hope your Christmas was a good one and here's wishing a happy new year to you and yours.
Jen
I saw Mick Jagger in my mind as I was reading this. Especially with the lyrics from "Satisfaction" about the white shirt...
"When I'm watching my TV and a man comes on and tells me
How white my shirts can be
But he can't be a man 'cause he doesn't smoke the same cigarettes as me"
Great visuals in your poem!
That last line again about how his voice sounds--oooh, it;s so good it sends shivers downn me. Brilliant prose here, Brian.
Whislt I'm at it, let me wish you a very happy new year too.
Eye-opening to witness unrestrained joy, isn't it?
Pearl
lovely. . . wouldn't it be great if everyone could hear the lovely music that makes each of us dance and sing or make a joyful noise?
Having a good voice and talent is a true gift.
I love my husband when he tries to sing. He immediately apologizes after. He says he is tone deaf..maybe that's it...ha
I sing like that, only I do it a lot more quietly so only the obvious recipient of my song can hear my joyful noise. You put a wonderful scene together with this one.
When I was a kid, my BFF's little brother sang so loudly and off-key. But he loved to sing and did so every Sunday with enthusiasm.
That's funny. You hit it on the head. A joyful noise is all you can ever ask for. I love the reckless abandon of children.
a joyful noise, love that ending!
Margie :)
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