There is so much that I don’t know about music.
I know I own a lot of music, but that only adds up to an expansive appreciation, not necessarily a comprehensive understanding. I know I’ve written a lot about music, but that’s really just me scrabbling to formulate some kind of thesis for my obsession. I know I listen to a lot of music, but that’s because I find the sound of it absolutely life-sustaining and I can’t imagine how I’d live without it.
The one thing I do know for certain about music is that it continues to surprise me. When I least expect it, music strikes a resonant chord deep inside my soul and fills me with joy. If that sounds like a load of pretentious twaddle, let me rephrase it... Music makes me smile and feel glad that I’m alive.
I know I own a lot of music, but that only adds up to an expansive appreciation, not necessarily a comprehensive understanding. I know I’ve written a lot about music, but that’s really just me scrabbling to formulate some kind of thesis for my obsession. I know I listen to a lot of music, but that’s because I find the sound of it absolutely life-sustaining and I can’t imagine how I’d live without it.
The one thing I do know for certain about music is that it continues to surprise me. When I least expect it, music strikes a resonant chord deep inside my soul and fills me with joy. If that sounds like a load of pretentious twaddle, let me rephrase it... Music makes me smile and feel glad that I’m alive.
Case in point. At the beginning of the summer I received an invitation to attend a vocal performance by an extremely talented young woman celebrating her graduation from high school and acceptance into college. Since she was a baby, I’ve known her as Lulu, but on this particular occasion, the name printed on the event’s program seemed more befitting the poised soprano filling the sunset-lit room with her amazing voice. I don’t know the first thing about opera or lieds or salon pieces or arias or even demonic barbers, but I do know a beautiful voice when I hear one, and Lauren Black has a beautiful voice.
Lauren Black, Soprano performing at the Strathmore Mansion on Thursday June 7, 2018
Like many other magical musical moments that have taken me by surprise in places like The Pop Shop, The Agora Ballroom, The Peppermint Lounge, The Galaxy Hut, Earls Court Arena, and DC9 (just to name a few), I think it’s safe to say that I will never forget Lauren’s June 7th recital at the Strathmore Mansion. My only regret is that I didn’t ask her to autograph my program after the show. No doubt that would be worth a lot some day. Burn it bright, Lauren. We will be watching for your achievements and listening for your beautiful voice.
In the meantime, lest your head get too big, the Happy Medium Song of the Day is a lesser known track by your musical namesake that I stumbled across on a brilliant compilation titled Love Hit Me! Decca Beat Girls 1962-1970. Back in the 60s, Decca Records was a goldmine of British girl-pop, and this 24-song compilation is a treasure trove of that genre, and readily acknowledged guilty pleasure. “I’ll Come Running Over” is a song taken from Lulu’s 1965 debut on Decca, Something to Shout About. Not only does this song pre-date her first #1 hit, “To Sir With Love,” by three years, it was recorded when she was just 17 and features a 20 year-old Jimmy Page on guitar three years before he put together a band called Led Zeppelin. That’s a lot of cool stuff packed into a three minute pop song, which is why “I’ll Come Running Over” by Lulu is the Happy Medium Song of the Day.
(Please use the comments box to share your thoughts.)
(Please use the comments box to share your thoughts.)