SPIN INTERNATIONAL COVERS THE SHOW (I Know, Right???)

THE SPIN magazine is developing a new online global program asking international correspondents to create pieces consisting of videos, photos and live reports of their local music scenes.

I was ecstatic to have the Human Jukebox be the first of the Prague scene to be chosen. Matt Terrell rocked my world by coming to the show on Sun, Nov 2 and recording this video which can now be found on You Tube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-H2iEFyIlc

Thanks Matt!

Keep spreadin' the good word!

AND A FUN TIME WAS HAD BY ALL (Or So It Seemed)

From trying to determine what kind of assholes would mug Ray Davies or shoot Marc Cohn to why Robert Smith doesn't smile even when he's happy and why I'll never be Tawny Kitaen, last night's show was not to be missed. Unless of course you missed it in which case I'll try to catch you up here.

The big comeback after three years was supposed to take place last week but instead occurred last night. I'd been battling a chest infection and hacking cough the whole week and wasn't sure how I was going to pull off two hours of singing. But I was more concerned with re-entering the space where I saw my friend dead on the floor just a week prior. I didn't enter the theater in a good mood but after receiving loving sms's and calls from people who were on their way and snagging a giant Starbucks (I love it and I'm not ashamed...well a little ashamed...but that's neither here nor there) I went to my (kick ass!!!) dressing room and started to sing. After that I was good to go. I think sometime we just need to push ourselves ahead.

The lights were dim so I couldn't see jack. I do know that I don't think there was anyone I knew in the first row. That was cool for me because I don't know where they heard about the show. I was also really stoked that it was the largest Czech/Slovaki/Russian/Ukrainian turnout I've ever had. I asked at the beginning how people would like it to go linguistically - 50/50% EN/CZ or English and translating when it was called for? I got a general grumble (literally) and requests for English. At the end of the night I was informed that the people in the back didn't speak any English so now I know in the future not to ask but instead request a show of hands for those who may be too shy to participate.

The first act was as follows:

Whitesnake - Here I Go Again (I did not have a car as a prop)
Survivor - Eye of the Tiger (Not Jimi Jamison's Survivor but it'll do)
Schubert - Ave Maria (What's to be said about that?)
South Park (Eric Cartman) - Kyle's Mom's a Stupid Bitch in d minor (Yeeeeeaaaahhhhh...)
Journey - Don't Stop Believin' (Steve, I'm always single for you)
Cure - Friday, I'm in Love (It was Sunday so I was decidedly un- in love)
Jane's Addiction - Jane Says (Great one)
Prince - Purple Rain (Feels really weird without the heartbreaking guitar solo but still...)
Tracy Chapman - Talkin' About a Revolution (And damn are we ever!)

The second act went like this:

Aneta Langerova - Voda ziva (One of my favorite Czech songs)
Sir Mix-a-Lot - Baby Got Back (I said I retired it but I lied)
Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child of Mine (Amazing that after all that classical training I actually do a decent Axl)
Marc Cohn - True Companion (The great song I share with my baby daddy)
Fleetwood Mac - Go Your Own Way (Can we just talk about how hot Lindsay Buckingham is?)
The Sound of Music - The Lonely Goatherd (No one wants to go to the zoo with me because every time [EVERY time] I pass the mountain goats I sing this. And don't stop.)
Shakespears Sister - Stay (Freaky ass video but you know I eat that shit up)
Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody (Probably the most exhausting song of the thousand - but always a blast to do)

And then there was the medley:

Frank Sinatra - My Way
Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You
Starland Vocal Band - Afternoon Delight
Bon Jovi - Livin' on a Prayer
Don McClean - American Pie
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Elvis Presley - Suspicious Minds
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Under the Bridge
No Doubt - Don't Speak (3 requests for this!!!)
Laura Branigan - Gloria
Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive
Rolling Stones - Beast of Burden
Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Duran Duran - The Chauffeur
Puccini - Madama Butterfly - Un bel di (2 requests for this)
Alphaville - Forever Young
Andrea Bocelli - Con Te Partiro
Beatles - Twist and Shout
Boney M - Rasputin
AC/DC - TNT
Blondie - One Way or Another
Tom Jones - Sex Bomb
Air Supply - All Out of Love
Golden Girls Theme Song - Thank You for Being a Friend
Roxette - Fading Like a Flower
Bon Jovi - You Give Love a Bad Name
Tracy Chapman - Fast Car
George Michael - Father Figure
Irene Cara - Fame
Annie - Tomorrow
Christmas - Jingle Bells
Grease - Hopelessly Devoted
Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U
Weeds Theme Song - Little Boxes
Czech Christmas - Narodil se Kristus Pan
Michael Jackson - Thriller
Extreme - More Than Words
Cyndi Lauper - I Drove All Night
Billy Idol - Dancing with Myself
Blondie - Call Me
Alanis Morrissette - Ironic
James Blunt - You're Beautiful

It was an emotional night for me after having waited so long to do this again. I thanked them there but I'd like to thank in this space as well all of my friends from way back and people who supported the show years ago for hounding my ass and encouraging me to get back on the horse. And I'd like to thank all of my new friends - the ones I've met since giving birth who've never heard me sing and despite not knowing whether or not I totally suck have been behind me 100%. I'd probably still be curled up on my sofa in a comfy robe wondering where my life was going if it hadn't been for them. And then there's Joost.

And MAD friggin props to Matt Terrell from SPIN International for this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-H2iEFyIlc

So if a fun time was indeed had by all then please spread the word!

Many, MANY thanks!

GRIEF ( I Don't Know What Else to Say)

This space is supposed to be where I recap the events of my last show. It's supposed to be where I list the songs performed, post photos and share any anecdotes that helped to make the night special. I won't be doing that in this post.

Immediately after the first act ended it was announced that a man who had earlier had a heart attack in the bar had died. Out of respect for his family I won't disclose his full name. But he was Czech so it's OK that I let you know that his name was Honza.

We decided it was best to cancel the rest of the show.

Now I'd like to tell you a little bit about Honza. He was a friend of a good friend of mine. I only met him twice but immediately after meeting him I liked him immensely. He had bright twinkly blue eyes that were full of humor and mischief. And he had a huge smile that put you at ease. In one of the evenings I spent with him he kept me in stitches with his irreverent and intellectual humor. He told me that once my show was up and running again he would come. I thought, "yeah yeah everybody says that" but secretly I was hoping that he would. I am truly honored that he did.

Joost made a good point. What better than to plan a night out with a friend, go to the bar, order a cup of coffee and then head on to whatever comes next for all of us? I've always said that I hope I go at a concert and not on the metro on the way to something I hate.

I'll stop now. But I'd really like to thank the staff of Divadlo Na Zabradli and the guests who attended my performance for the utmost care and respect that they showed during a situation where really no one khows what they are expected to be doing.

A bunch of my friends and I drank a substantial amount in Honza's honor late Sunday night but I'm gonna go have another.

THE FIRST SHOW IN (Almost) 3 YEARS

After an almost 3-year hiatus I am (really) happy to announce that the Human Jukebox will be returning to the Prague stage. I hope I'm not the only one who's happy :-P

If you're not familiar with the show it's like this: I know a lot of songs. A lot. So I made a book of about 1,000 of them in many genres - rock, rap, opera, gospel, musicals, TV commercials, etc.

During this interactive show the audience members get to holler at me whichever song they'd like me to perform and I will do it unaccompanied and from memory.

Want more info or want to see the song list? Go to www.The-Human-Jukebox.com or www.LidskyJukebox.cz If you want something that's not on the list then send me a request and I'll try to learn it. Or scream it out anyway - you never know.

I have two upcoming shows. The dates are:

Sunday, October 26th at 19:00 and
Sunday, November 2nd at 19:00

They will take place at:

Divadlo Na Zabradli
Anenske 5 (take tram 17 or 18 to Karlovy lazne)
Tickets are 150kc at the box office. Space is limited so it's recommended to make a reservation by emailing: pokladna@nazabradli.cz

The bar opens one hour before perf so come and get...relaxed. There will also be ample opportunity to become even more...relaxed...during intermission and even moreso after the show.

Let's bring this baby back where it belongs!

THE BIRTH OF THE HUMAN JUKEBOX (In Case Anybody Gives a Crap)

The show started as a bizarre lark sometime in the 90's. My best friend Zdena would drag me out of the corner of whichever place we were in and order me to sing. Being that she was the first person to ever support my singing (when I was 10) I have always felt obligated to satisfy her - musically. that is. Anyway, she'd have me sing some standard pop song and I figured that would be it. But then someone would ask if I knew something else. And then someone else had a request. And it would go on from there often for a few hours. Seemed that I knew a lot of songs. Having studied opera for 15 years I also knew stuff that wasn't found on FM radio or in clubs. And anyone who knows me knows that I just can't get enough rap. So in 2004 in Prague when I was offered a space to perform anything I wanted I wondered if I could create a show based around this.

I decided to make a list of all the songs I knew by heart. First I went through my CD collection. Then I went through the Billboard Top 100 of the past 30 years. I realized that I knew a lot more than I thought I did. When I added them together it came to over 1,000 songs and I just honestly thought it would be hilarious to try to pull it off as an actual show.

My friends turned out on opening night but they confessed it was mostly for pity as they figured I was nuts. There's no question about my being nuts but in the end the show acually worked. I had an incredible amount of fun and people wanted more. And so the Human Jukebox was born.

In the beginning it was once a month and eventually developed into once a week. Then I got pregnant. I find that tolerant as many audiences may be, they simply don't appreciate being puked upon so alas the Jukebox had to be unplugged. My son Atreyu is now two, I haven't puked in awhile and it's high time to get this up and running again. See next post.