Music, Music, Music

Along with millions of other Americans, I was glued to the tube for the entire season of Idol. What fun it was to critique the contestants and agree or disagree with the judges. Thanks to Randy Jackson the word, "pitchy" screams in my head every time I hear someone singing off key. Since we have been attending a local club with karaoke lately, the screaming is almost nonstop. A few of the singers are talented but most are not. I finally got up my nerve and sang a few songs at karaoke the other night. Turns out it is harder to stay on key than I thought. While I was pretty proud of my singing on one song, I was definitely a little off on another and I actually heard the word "pitchy" in my head while I was singing! I'm taking this judging thing a little too far. Next week we are going to attend karaoke at a different place and my friends have told me to come up with some more songs to sing. The pressure is too much. Today I dragged out my karaoke machine and sang to myself for two hours trying to come up with something that matched my voice. Made myself hoarse and came up with nothing. I have a new respect for the Idol's Jason. He kept trying even though he was in over his head. Kind of like me.

When I arrived at the home to visit mom today, all of the residents were listening to Don who was singing along with his karaoke machine. At last my dreams had come true. The new activities director had hired this man as entertainment. He even sang very, very old songs which were completely appropriate for the ultra-senior citizens. Unfortunately, he was pitchy. Worse than that, he really couldn't carry a tune in a bucket. He had no idea how the old-time songs were supposed to sound so he made up a tune as he went along. It was truly awful. Just horrible. Call me Simon Cowell if you must but it's true...this man had absolutely no business getting paid to sing. He wasn't just slightly off key, he butchered every song. I thought to myself that it was going to be a very long afternoon. Mom was happy to see me but she wasn't very happy in general. She had her head turned away from the singer and seemed to be completely disinterested. She was obviously tired and kept her eyes closed most of the time with her head thrown back. I held my hand under her head for an hour so she could rest it. She wasn't moaning today but she had a pained expression on her face. Part of the way into the show she turned to me and said in a rather loud voice, "Do you like this?" I didn't think she was even paying attention. Could it be that she knew he couldn't sing and that was the reason for the pained expression? I was afraid to be honest because who knew what she would say if I agreed with her that he had a horrible voice. I pretended to not hear her. Later she said it again. I lied and told her, "Yes, I'm enjoying the music." Fortunately, she let it drop. Eventually, I stopped analyzing his singing and realized most of the residents were happy and enjoying being entertained by Don. He tried hard to engage them and had some of them swinging their arms and clapping. One resident, Kay, got up and danced and swayed to the music right next to Don for 5 songs. He told the residents they had value and were important. Several times he walked around the room and held each resident's hand while he sang. When he held mom's hand, she had the most beatific smile on her face. It made me weep to see her so happy. Maybe he couldn't sing worth a darn but he knew how to reach through the fog of Alzheimer's and win an enormous smile from mom. I guess he does deserve to be paid!

As for American Idol, my dvr turned off the exact minute before they announced the winner. I had wasted months of judging, voting and hoping and didn't get to see the final winner announced. What a letdown when I learned later that the wrong David had won. Sorry you David Cook fans but Archuleta has the better voice even though neither one is at all pitchy. I should know.