tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53927885470711024212024-02-08T12:37:39.290-08:00Human JukeboxGailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14873515587181171449noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392788547071102421.post-77081713052131566652009-11-18T11:30:00.000-08:002009-11-18T11:30:50.608-08:00THE JUKEBOX GOES TO CHURCH (AKA Guesting at a Vernissage in a Church)How utterly surprised and honored was I when my friend Pavel Kopecký asked me to sing at his art opening on Wednesday, November 9th? Being that the event would be taking place in a church we wanted to select songs that would reflect art, reverence, respect and comfort. Pavel asked me to open with some classical and wrap up the evening with a medley.<br />
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After several friends had been introduced and demonstrated their work I opened up with:<br />
<br />
Schubert - Der Tod und das Mädchen<br />
Gluck - <i>Orfeo ed Euridice</i> - Che farò senza Euridice<br />
Soon Ah Will be Done (Traditional Negro Spiritual)<br />
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We then spent about an hour and a half studying and enjoying Pavel's invigorating, thought-provoking, colorful and downright trippy collection.<br />
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Then it was medley time. Despite my asking people to keep in mind that we were in a place of worship albeit a very liberal one, I had a hard time keeping a straight face as while singing I had to skip such numerous classics as "Like a Prayer", "I Touch Myself", "Sex Bomb", "Like a Virgin", "Heaven is a Place on Earth", "The Devil Made Me Do It", "Son of a Preacher Man", "Just Like Heaven", "Save a Prayer", "Faith" and "It's a Sin". However, some did slip by me. See if you can spot them!<br />
<br />
R.E.M. - Everybody Hurts<br />
U2 - With or Without You<br />
Shania Twain - That Don't Impress Me Much<br />
Bon Jovi - Livin' on a Prayer<br />
Toto - Africa<br />
KISS - I Was Made for Loving You<br />
Aneta Langerová – Voda živá<br />
AC/DC - TNT<br />
Roxette - It Must Have Been Love<br />
Blondie - Heart of Glass<br />
Czech Christmas Song - Tichá noc<br />
Survivor - Eye of the Tiger<br />
Lionel Richie - Angel<br />
Proclaimers - I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)<br />
Boney-M - Rasputin<br />
Lionel Richie - Hello<br />
Journey - Lights<br />
Coolio - Gangsta's Paradise<br />
Michael Jackson - You Are Not Alone<br />
10,000 Maniacs - Because the Night<br />
Celine Dion - A New Day Has Come<br />
Traditional - Happy Birthday<br />
Bon Jovi - You Give Love a Bad Name<br />
Who - You Better, You Bet<br />
Christmas Song - O Come All Ye Faithful <i>(to be honest after trying to censor all the earlier stuff the minute I saw "Oh Come..." I thought, "What song is THIS?!?!?!" Then I realized how very low my mind had sunk)</i><br />
<i>The Wizard of Oz</i> - Somewhere Over the Rainbow<br />
No Doubt - Don't Speak<br />
A-ha - Take on Me<br />
<i>Monty Python and the Holy Grail</i> - Brave Sir Robin<br />
Geri Halliwell - It's Raining Men<br />
Duran Duran - The Chauffeur <br />
Cher - Believe<br />
Duran Duran - Hungry Like the Wolf<br />
Alanis Morrissette - Thank U<br />
Lionel Richie - Running with the Night<br />
Tori Amos - China<br />
Dire Straits - Romeo and Juliet<br />
Dido - Thank You<br />
<i>Phantom of the Opera</i> - Think of Me<br />
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I am so grateful to Pavel for having me as his guest. I had one of the best evenings I can remember having in a long time. To view his artistry please visit:<br />
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http://galeriekopecky.net/<br />
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And if you're on Facebook and you'd like to see photos from that night please visit:<br />
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http://tinyurl.com/HJatVernissage<br />
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:-)Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14873515587181171449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392788547071102421.post-7358148298168569912009-11-18T10:34:00.000-08:002009-11-18T10:34:04.572-08:00“WHERE DID THEY GO?” NIGHT (The Jukebox's Fear of Abandonment Uncovered)The people who came to the show on Sunday, November 6th were an international yet mellow group. So mellow that during intermission when after half an hour absolutely no one had returned I was quite uncertain as to what my next move might be. I was later informed that 15 mins is simply not enough time to go downstairs, order a drink, receive and imbibe said drink, scan the song book and fill out medley request forms. Fair enough – I'll have to think of something to do about that. However, things did actually turn out all right, the audience returned and a good time was had!<br />
<br />
Here's the song list:<br />
<br />
Act 1<br />
<br />
<i>Carousel</i> - You'll Never Walk Alone <i>(I begin every show by singing something of my own choosing so that the audience can get a chance to hear what I sound like. Before I had finished my opening spiel a man called out this song. How is it that out of 1,000 songs he requested the one song I had decided to open with? Bizarre...)</i><br />
<i>Little Shop of Horrors</i> – Suddenly, Seymour <i>(I really enjoy singing multiple characters by myself. No seriously!)</i><br />
Fugeez - Killing Me Softly <i>(Can someone please explain Wyclef Jean to me? “Yeah, that's my girl, L!” Thanks)</i><br />
<i>Evita</i> – Don't Cry for Me Argentina <i>(Just wonderful to sing)</i><br />
They Might Be Giants – Istanbul (Not Constantinople) <i>(Is there anyone out there able to hear the word “Istanbul” without saying “not Constantinople”? I can't manage it. I can't)</i><br />
Maroon 5 - She Will Be Loved <i>(Aaaaadammmm Leviiiiine......)</i><br />
Jackson Browne – Somebody's Baby <i>(When I hear this song I actually don't think of “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” but rather of NBC's coverage of the 1992 Summer Olympics when they constantly played this song for swimmer Summer Sanders)</i><br />
Beatles – Help <i>(I was needin' some. Some of y'all know why)</i><br />
Guns 'N Roses - Sweet Child of Mine <i>(I learned a valuable lesson while singing this. I learned that my Axl Rose is funny for a medley but gets real old real fast for an entire song. Just sayin')</i><br />
Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody <i>(Maybe I shouldn't have put this on You Tube)</i><br />
Coolio - Gangsta's Paradise <i>(Props to me as for once I did NOT lapse into “Amish Paradise”)</i><br />
Meat Loaf - Paradise by the Dashboard Light <i>(I was so dead after “Bohemian Rhapsody” that I wondered how I'd get through this 8 – yes, 8 minute song. I'm still blogging so obviously I managed)</i><br />
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ACT 2<br />
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ELO - Don't Bring Me Down <i>(ELO was playing in Prague that night and I had to miss it to be at my own show so I sang this. Too bad I'm a dumbass as they weren't here but will be during my NEXT show. Guess I'll be singing it again)</i><br />
Schubert - Der Tod und das Madchen <i>(Hands down one of my favorite pieces to interpret. That's all I gots ta say about dat)</i><br />
Dusty Springfield - Son of a Preacher Man <i>(Don't think I can get through a show without doing this one)</i><br />
Salt-N-Pepa - None of Your Business <i>(A highly underrated and phenomenally amusing little S-N-P ditty)</i><br />
Shania Twain - That Don't Impress Me Much <i>(What didn't impress me much was having the words fly right out of my head after the opening line! Guess that's why I'm the Human Jukebox and not the Electronic Jukebox)</i><br />
Kansas - Dust in the Wind <i>(This song depresses the crap out of me but I can't help listening to it almost every day. The Linkin Park cover is fabulous as well)</i><br />
Sinead O'Connor – Nothing Compares 2 U <i>(How many times did I listen to this when I was 16?)</i><br />
Weird Al Yankovic - Which Backstreet Boy is Gay <i>(So wrong that it's oh so right)</i><br />
<br />
Medley<br />
<br />
Scorpions – Still Lovin' You<br />
James Blunt – Goodbye My Lover<br />
Tommy Tutone – 867-5309 (Jenny)<br />
Sir Mix-A-Lot – Baby Got Back<br />
Limahl – The Neverending Story<br />
<i>Married with Children</i> – Theme Song<br />
TV Commercial – I'd Like to Buy the World a Coke<br />
Prince – When Doves Cry<br />
Andrea Bocelli – Con Te Partirò<br />
<i>The Wizard of Oz</i> – Somewhere Over the Rainbow<br />
<i>Grease</i> – Hopelessly Devoted to You<br />
Journey – Don't Stop Believin'<br />
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts – I Love Rock 'n' Roll<br />
Eric Clapton – Tears in Heaven<br />
Children's Song – Itsy, Bitsy Spider<br />
Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Wanna have Fun<br />
Styx – Mr. Roboto<br />
Celine Dion – My Heart Will Go On<br />
Dire Straits – Romeo and Juliet<br />
Schubert – Ave Maria<br />
Frank Sinatra – New York, New York<br />
Nek – Laura Non C'e'<br />
Depeche Mode – Somebody <br />
Traditional – Auld Lang Syne<br />
Traditional – It's a Long Way to Tipperary<br />
Maroon 5 – This Love<br />
Tom Jones – Sex Bomb<br />
<br />
I was excited to end the night on “Sex Bomb” as I had Tom Jones tix for Tues night. Sadly, I fell asleep at 7 that night and missed the concert. Grrr.<br />
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So everyone, the Jukebox is gonna take a break for a few months. I have two other projects that I'm working on so if you wanna catch the show before the summer your last chance will be Sunday, December 8th. Hope to see you there!<br />
<br />
:-)Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14873515587181171449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392788547071102421.post-25851274413619352202009-10-12T09:03:00.000-07:002009-10-13T17:18:37.396-07:00THE LITTLE JUKEBOX THAT COULD (Despite the Elements and the City's Busted Gas Line)So it was with a ready and excited spirit that I arose yesterday morning set to prepare for my sixth season premiere. Then I looked out the window. Rain. A lotta rain. That never bodes well. I decided not to stress it and to keep on keepin' on as they say. On the way to the theater I was to discover that there had been some kind of problem with part of the city's gas line so transportation had been completely stopped in one part of Prague (naturally the part I lived in) so I ended up an hour and a half late to prep for my own show. ARGH! I figured if I was having this problem then others would be too. I wasn't mistaken. Before I went on I learned that there were four audience members. Two staff members were kind enough to come and participate and with my sweetie on lights then I had an audience of seven.
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<br />Before I continue I'd like to tell you a little story. In 2004, the first year of my show things were going well. One evening I was waiting at my venue and no one seemed to be showing up. So I had some wine. Then I had some more. And some more (you get the idea.) Finally two good friends showed up and I started the show for them. About 1/3 of the way through about three other people came in - two of whom looked familiar. I was quite surprised to learn they had come for me. It turned out that that particular night was the opening of the new Czech hockey arena (yeah, so no Czechs at the show.) It was also the night of a major charitable even hosted by the expatriate community (so no expats either.) Apparently I'd been spoiled by always having decent turnouts to my events and the sadness I felt combined with all that wine left me belligerent and downright inappropriate. At the end of the show when I asked Joost how I did he informed that it was the worst show he'd ever had the misfortune of hearing me do. I was shocked as I thought I had nailed the songs. He told me that that was not the question. My singing was fine but my attitude made him actually ashamed of me. He said that I was so busy being pissed off about the low turnout that I held it against the people who had chosen to spend their evening with and their money on me. His saying that sobered me up immediately and left a tremendous impression. I decided then and there that even if one person shows for any production that I'm a part of they are going to get 110% Gail Whitmore.
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<br />So last night after having been asked twice if I'd like to cancel I happily took the stage and did the very best I could for the seven people who chose to spend their evening with and their money on the Human Jukebox.
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<br />Here's what was performed:
<br />
<br />ACT 1:
<br />
<br />Bangles - Eternal Flame <span style="font-style: italic;">(Really felt like belting one out!)</span>
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Porgy and Bess</span> - Summertime <span style="font-style: italic;">(Always feels good to sing that)</span>
<br />Czech Children's Song - Tři čuníci <span style="font-style: italic;">(There was a pause here and sadly for me this song has been going through my head for days so I spontaneously broke out into it)</span>
<br />Ramones - I Wanna be Sedated <span style="font-style: italic;">(Go, Joey, go!)</span>
<br />Gospel - Soon Ah Will be Done <span style="font-style: italic;">(Been listening a lot more to Mother Mahalia this summer so tried some of her ways. Lady knew how to craft a piece!)</span>
<br />Damien Rice - The Blower's Daughter <span style="font-style: italic;">(A lot harder to sing than it sounds)</span>
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Little Shop of Horrors</span> - Suddenly Seymour <span style="font-style: italic;">(I absolutely LOVE singing more than one character in a song. Had never done this one before and it felt great)
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>David Lee Roth<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> - </span></span></span></span></span>Just a Gigolo <span style="font-style: italic;">(It wasn't DaveTV but it was still fun)</span>
<br />Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody <span style="font-style: italic;">(Sometimes I wonder if people just want to watch my head pop off)</span>
<br />Weird Al Yankovic - Which Backstreet Boy is Gay <span style="font-style: italic;">(Hey, I'm not sayin' that it's Howie!)</span>
<br />Salt-N-Pepa - Shoop<span style="font-style: italic;"> <span style="font-style: italic;">(Men aren't the only ones who appreciate quality booty!)</span></span>
<br />Coolio - Gangsta's Paradise <span style="font-style: italic;">(Proud to report that I did NOT lapse into "Amish Paradise" for once! Woo hoo!)</span>
<br />Dusty Springfield - Son of a Preacher Man <span style="font-style: italic;">(This is really great for all audiences</span>)<span style="font-style: italic;">
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<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span>Act 2:<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span>
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<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span>Celine Dion - A New Day <span style="font-style: italic;">(OK sappy time. My little boy turned three last week. I know that Celine and Rene tried very hard for a child and suffered a great deal along the way. I cried when their son was born. The same thing happened to a wonderful friend of mine and I cried and thought of her when her son was born. I thought a lot about this song in the years I was trying to conceive my boy and I couldn't help but cry when he, too was born.)</span>
<br />Blues Traveler - Runaround <span style="font-style: italic;">(Just can't help remembering hearing them in Michigan in 1995. They played for two hours then took a 45 min break to watch a game. Then came back and played another two and a half hours! And not a single hit! John Popper was throwing harmonicas into the audience like nobody's business. Amazing concert!)</span>
<br />Enrique Iglesias - Bailamos <span style="font-style: italic;">(Can't say I've ever done this one before but I had SUCH a good time. I just really wanted a marker to draw a mole so that I could truly embody him :-P )</span>
<br />R.E.M. - Nightswimming <span style="font-style: italic;">(A classic. Plain und simple)</span>
<br />David Bowie - Modern Love <span style="font-style: italic;">(Just not the same without all the silver balloons)</span>
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><leo_highlight style="border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 150); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; display: inline; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" id="leoHighlights_Underline_0" onclick="leoHighlightsHandleClick('leoHighlights_Underline_0')" onmouseover="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOver('leoHighlights_Underline_0')" onmouseout="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOut('leoHighlights_Underline_0')" leohighlights_keywords="the wizard of oz" leohighlights_url="http%3A//thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/highlights/keywords?keywords%3Dthe%20wizard%20of%20oz">The Wizard of Oz</leo_highlight></span> - Somewhere Over the Rainbow <span style="font-style: italic;">(A friend told me that was the first time she ever heard me sound innocent. Now whatever is that supposed to mean? :-) )</span>
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Les Misérables</span> - On My Own <span style="font-style: italic;">(I've always seen myself as more of a Fantine than an Eponine but it doesn't make it less of an amazing feeling to sing)
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<br /></span>Medley:
<br />
<br />Herbert Grönemeyer - Der Weg
<br />Kinks - Lola
<br />Wet Wet Wet - Love is All Around
<br />Barenaked Ladies - One Week
<br />Tina Turner - Private Dancer
<br />Sasha - I Feel Lonely
<br />Guns 'N Roses - Sweet Child of Mine
<br />Limp Bizkit - Nookie
<br />Westlife - Mandy
<br />AC/DC - Shook Me All Night Long
<br />Police - Message in a Bottle
<br />Weather Girls - It's Raining Men
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The Sound of Music</span> - The Lonely Goatherd
<br />Andrea Bocelli - Con Te Partirò
<br />Duran Duran - Hungry Like the Wolf
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The Holy Grail</span> - Brave Sir Robin
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Fame</span> - Fame
<br />Katy Perry - I Kissed a Girl
<br /><em>Le Nozze di Figaro</em> - Voi, che sapete
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Les Misérables</span> - Castle on a Cloud
<br />U2 - With or Without You
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Les Misérables</span> - I Dreamed a Dream
<br />Czech Christmas Song - Půjdem spolu do Betléma
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Evita</span> - Don't Cry for Me Argentina<em></em>
<br />Prince - Purple Rain
<br />Depeche Mode - Somebody
<br />O-Zone - Dragostea din tei
<br />Fugeez - Killing Me Softly
<br />George Michael - Father Figure
<br />Police - Can't Stand Losing You
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Weeds</span> - Theme Song
<br />Tom Jones - Sex Bomb
<br />Maroon 5 - This Love
<br />Placebo - Daddy Cool
<br />Smashing Pumpkins - 1979
<br />Tracy Chapman - The Promise
<br />Journey - Don't Stop Believin'
<br />Presidents of the USA - Peaches
<br />Peter Gabriel - In Your Eyes
<br />Alanis Morrissette - Ironic
<br />Wheatus - Teenage Dirtbag
<br />Limahl - The Neverending Story
<br />AC/DC - TNT
<br />Aerosmith - Dream On
<br />Styx - Mr. Roboto
<br />Guns 'N Roses - Knockin' on Heaven's Door
<br />Violent Femmes - Blister in the Sun
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<br />All I can say is that last night was 110% better than the season premiere last year. If you don't know why - check the archives. Anyway, together the eight of us had a great night - or I did anyway. I truly hope they did too. <span style="font-style: italic;">
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<br />:-)Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14873515587181171449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392788547071102421.post-41861564107358131272009-10-12T07:15:00.000-07:002009-10-13T17:17:41.543-07:00A SUMMER OF LAZINESS (Can't Skirt Around the Truth)The fifth season of the Human Jukebox drew to a close in May. I'd like to say that I didn't perform at all and that that is why this blog has been collecting dust. However the truth remains that I was indeed performing but found that I couldn't be arsed to update the blog. Sorry.<br /><br />I think it's fair to say that you didn't miss anything earth-shattering. Granted, I didn't post about May's show which was utterly earth-shattering but...<br /><br />I did do a medley as part of a comedy night and it went down as the longest medley ever, knocking my last post out of the water. This one had a whopping 76 songs and took over 20 mins to perform. I had a total blast and regret that I have all my forms scattered somewhere in my apartment and am not sure which songs are from which show. Sigh. I think we can get through this tragedy together though, don't you?-P<br /><br />I also did an all-Czech show at the famous Na Vlachovce. It was for a private party and the audience thought I was nuts. Yeah, yeah, I know. Anyway, when I say it was a Czech show I mean in dialogue only. The songs on offer were the same as the current list but naturally more Czech ones got picked. I found it to be a really interesting and challenging experience as the audience was comprised of people from way outside of Prague who came for a party and weren't all that enthralled to find that they had to spend a decent portion of their evening deciphering songs for this random American chick to sing for them. Once I started though they cracked up and it was smooth sailing from there. I also found that none of the songs that seem to always get requested at a HJ show were chosen. Rather I ended up doing a lot of metal. I really enjoyed channeling my inner metalhead and the night was a lot of fun. Hopefully there will be more of those to come.<br /><br />So now here I sit on the eve of the premiere of my sixth season. I can't believe it's really been that long. I have a lot of exciting changes and improvements planned for the coming season and I hope you'll stick around to share them with me!<br /><br />:-)Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14873515587181171449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392788547071102421.post-54409600591995075922009-04-26T16:11:00.000-07:002009-10-13T17:16:54.256-07:00GACK! (When the Jukebox “Ribbits” Instead of Sings)You may have noticed a recurring theme of my having a cough and/or chest infection. I wish it were some kind of ploy to excuse crappy singing. It isn't. I am a fantabulous singer regardless of the malady! Just kidding. I did manage to get through two shows this season with said chest infection but Sunday, April 19th finally did me in – or rather I did it in.<br /><br />Earlier in the week I had planned to cancel but by the middle of the week I was doing much better and the day of I was singing fine. Until I walked onto the stage. Having said that a two-hour show did actually occur and here's what was sung:<br /><br />Act 1:<br /><br />Bob Seger – Old Time Rock and Roll <span style="font-style: italic;">(I wore more than underwear)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">South Pacific</span> – Wash That Man <span style="font-style: italic;">(Sadly, to me this is always a shampoo commercial)</span><br />Dusty Springfield – Son of a Preacher Man <span style="font-style: italic;">(Yup, again)</span><br />Frankie Valli – Can't Take My Eyes Off of You <span style="font-style: italic;">(I just have a great memory of three guy friends of mine singing this at the top of a staircase)</span><br />Berlin – The Metro <span style="font-style: italic;">(I LOVE TERRI NUNN!!!)</span><br />Eric Carmen – Hungry Eyes <span style="font-style: italic;">(This is more fun to sing when you picture the audience as hot dogs...and fill them with fear)</span><br />Bon Jovi – Livin' on a Prayer <span style="font-style: italic;">(I was almost half way there...ba dum bum!)</span><br />Regina Spektor – Fidelity <span style="font-style: italic;">(First time trying this out and I really liked it)</span><br />Journey – Don't Stop Believin' <span style="font-style: italic;">(Never, baby!)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Tosca</span> – Vissi d'arte <span style="font-style: italic;">(Kiddies, if you've got a chest infection don't try this at home!)</span><br />Sir Mix-A-Lot – Baby Got Back <span style="font-style: italic;">(Yeah, you know it!)</span><br /><br />Act 2:<br /><br />Björk – Joga <span style="font-style: italic;">(Truly a gorgeous song)</span><br />Salt-N-Pepa – Shoop <span style="font-style: italic;">(I think they might have actually wanted The "Shoop Shoop" song)</span><br />Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise <span style="font-style: italic;">(Yup, ended up with "Amish Paradise")</span><br />Frames – Falling Slowly <span style="font-style: italic;">(Love this song)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Family Guy</span> – Theme Song <span style="font-style: italic;">(Love the show - the song doesn't make much sense)</span><br />New Order – Bizarre Love Triangle <span style="font-style: italic;">(Just as long as it's not the Frente! version - ick!)</span><br />Helena Vondráčková - Sladké mámení <span style="font-style: italic;">(Will my pain never end?)</span><br />Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack - Tonight, I Celebrate My Love <span style="font-style: italic;">(I would have preferred to have done my Aaron Neville impression)</span><br /><leo_highlight style="border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 150); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; display: inline; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-style: italic;" id="leoHighlights_Underline_0" onclick="leoHighlightsHandleClick('leoHighlights_Underline_0')" onmouseover="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOver('leoHighlights_Underline_0')" onmouseout="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOut('leoHighlights_Underline_0')" leohighlights_keywords="aladdin" leohighlights_url="http%3A//thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/highlights/keywords?keywords%3Daladdin">Aladdin</leo_highlight> – A Whole New World <span style="font-style: italic;">(Loved the movie at the time - the song, not so much)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Jesus Christ Superstar</span> – I Don't Know How to Love Him <span style="font-style: italic;">(And I didn't...)</span><br /><br />Medley:<br /><br />Bonnie Tyler – Total <leo_highlight style="border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 150); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; display: inline; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" id="leoHighlights_Underline_1" onclick="leoHighlightsHandleClick('leoHighlights_Underline_1')" onmouseover="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOver('leoHighlights_Underline_1')" onmouseout="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOut('leoHighlights_Underline_1')" leohighlights_keywords="eclipse" leohighlights_url="http%3A//thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/highlights/keywords?keywords%3Declipse">Eclipse</leo_highlight> of the Heart<br />Captain & Tennille – Love Will Keep Us Together<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Sesame Street</span> – Theme Song<br />Whitney Houston – I Will Always Love You<br />Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Wanna Have Fun<br />Natalie Imbruglia – Torn<br />Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Le Nozze di Figaro</span> – Voi, che sapete<br />Britney Spears – Hit Me, Baby (One More Time)<br />U2 – With or Without You<br />Alanis Morrissette – Ironic<br />Aneta Langerová – Voda živá<br />Madonna – Like a Virgin<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Evita</span> – Don't Cry for Me Argentina<br />Peaches – Fuck the Pain Away<br />Children's Song – Hokey Pokey<br />Weather Girls – It's Raining Men<br />Bob Dylan – Like a Rolling Stone<br />Shania Twain – That Don't Impress Me Much<br />Wham! - Careless Whisper<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Cats</span> – Memory<br />Christmas Song – Frosty the Snowman<br />Whitney Houston – How Will I Know<br />American Hi-Fi – Flavor of the Weak<br />Madonna – Material Girl<br />Erasure – A Little Respect<br />Schubert – Ave Maria<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Man of La Mancha</span> – The Impossible Dream<br />Czech Christmas Song - Půjdem spolu do Betléma<br />Traditional (American) – God Bless America<br />Christmas Song – The 12 Days of Christmas<br />Bananarama – Venus<br />Beatles – Twist and Shout<br />Tori Amos – 1,000 Oceans<br />Damien Rice – The Blower's Daughter<br />Madonna – Like a Prayer<br />Bush – Glycerine<br />Annie Lennox – No More “I Love You's”<br />Cher – Believe<br />Annie Lennox – Walking on Broken Glass<br />Styx – Blue Collar Man<br />Tina Turner – Simply the Best<br />Tori Amos – Crucify<br />Tom Petty & Stevie Nicks – Stop Draggin' My Heart Around<br />Frank Sinatra – New York, New York<br />Eric Clapton – Tears in Heaven<br />Alicia Keys – Fallin'<br />Scorpions – Still Lovin' You<br />Heart – Alone<br />Limp Bizkit – Nookie<br />Salt-N-Pepa – Push It<br />They Might be Giants – Birdhouse in Your Soul<br />Dido – Here with Me<br />Joan Osborne – St. Teresa<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Die Walküre</span> – Hojotoho!<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Porgy and Bess</span> – Summertime<br />Traditional (Czech) - Sama královna<br />Czech Christmas Song – Narodil se Kristus Pan<br /><br />One more show til end of season!<br /><br />:-)Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14873515587181171449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392788547071102421.post-53603840036191401432009-04-26T14:18:00.000-07:002009-04-26T14:21:14.201-07:00THE NIGHT OF THE LONGEST MEDLEY (From an Audience That was WHACK!)Once again I apologize for taking my sweet time in posting the songs from Sunday, March 22nd's show. My crappy day reached it's nadir when the chair in my dressing room broke as I sat on it tossing me clumsily onto my ass on the cold, unfeeling floor. My butt really hurt :-(<br /><br />However, the great butts always survive as did mine and the show went as follows:<br /><br />SIKE!<br /><br />To be perfectly honest I've managed to lose the sheet of paper on which all of the songs were written. Fortunately, the show was videotaped so depending on when my darling brother-in-law deigns to send me the recording I'll have those. But I'll tell you this – there was a hilarious moment when “Bear Necessities” from <span style="font-style:italic;">The Jungle Book</span> was requested and due to my playing children's movies for my son in his father's native languages I could only sing it in Dutch. This is somewhat unfortunate being that I don't actually speak Dutch so could really only do some approximated version of what sounds like Dutch to me. The Dutch people in the audience assured me that my “interpretation” was not offensive but I am afraid they may have just been being polite :-P<br /><br />On a positive note I do have the insanely long crazy-ass medley forms. So here's the longest medley I've ever sung:<br /><br />Eric Clapton – Tears in Heaven<br />Irena Cara – Fame<br />R.E.M. - Everybody Hurts<br />Lionel Richie – Hello<br />Fleetwood Mac – Go Your Own Way<br />Bon Jovi – Livin' on a Prayer<br />Ricky Martin – Livin' la Vida Loca<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Tosca</span> – Nessun dorma<br />Meat Loaf – I Would Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Weeds</span> Theme Song – Little Boxes<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Sesame Street</span> – Theme Song<br />Cher – It's in His Kiss (Shoop Shoop)<br />Billy Idol – Dancing with Myself<br />Stealers Wheel – Stuck in the Middle with You<br />Bonnie Tyler – Total Eclipse of the Heart<br />Duran Duran – Hungry Like the Wolf<br />Steve Martin – King Tut<br />King Missile – Detachable Penis<br />Marvin Gaye – Sexual Healing<br />Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody<br />Pet Shop Boys – Always on My Mind<br />Blondie – Call Me<br />Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise<br />Limahl – The Neverending Story<br />R.E.M. - Shiny Happy People<br />R.E.M. - Shiny Happy Monsters (<span style="font-style:italic;">Sesame Street</span> Version)<br />Modern English – I'll Melt with You<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Evita</span> – Don't Cry for Me Argentina<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Flight of the Conchords</span> – Business Time<br />Aneta Langerová – Voda živá<br />Andrea Bocelli – Con Te Partirò<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Die Zauberflöte</span> – Der Hölle Rache<br />Johnny Cash – Hurt<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Don Giovanni</span> - Opening of Commendatore Scene <br />Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">La Traviata</span> – Sempre libera<br />Metallica – Fade to Black<br />Weird Al Yankovic – Amish Paradise<br />Radiohead – Karma Police<br />Blur – Song 2<br />Michael Jackson – Bad (with Moonwalk)<br />Andrea Bocelli & Elmo – Time to Say Goodnight<br />Children's Songs – Mary Had a Little Lamb<br />Rod Stewart – Maggie May<br />Phil Collins – Groovy Kind of Love<br />Traditional (Irish) – The Wild Rover<br />Air Supply – All Out of Love<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Electric Company</span> – 1 – 12<br />Parisotti – Se tu m'ami<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">South Park</span> – Uncle Fucker<br />Madonna – La Isla Bonita<br />Daniel Powter – Bad Day<br />Red Hot Chili Peppers – Under the Bridge<br />Meat Loaf – You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night)<br />Third Eye Blind – Semi-Charmed Kind of Life<br />Survivor – Eye of the Tiger<br />Jackson 5 – A, B, C<br />Starship – Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now<br />Police – Every Breath You Take<br />Madonna – Like a Prayer<br />Cher – Believe<br />Billy Joel – Uptown Girl<br />Jewel – You Were Meant for Me<br />Damien Rice – The Blower's Daughter<br />Dido – Here with Me<br />Culture Club – Karma Chameleon<br />Chicago – Will You Still Love Me<br />Patsy Cline – Crazy<br />Britney Spears – Hit Me, Baby (One More Time)<br />Cheap Trick – Surrender<br />Boston – More Than a Feeling<br />Blondie – Heart of Glass<br />Erasure – Oh L'amour<br />Weather Girls – It's Raining Men<br />Celine Dion – I Drove All Night<br />Dusty Springfield – Son of a Preacher Man<br />Spin Doctors – Two Princes<br />Guns N' Roses – Sweet Child o' Mine<br />Tom Jones – Sex Bomb<br />Police – King of Pain<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Friends</span> Theme – I'll be There for You<br />REO Speedwagon – Can't Fight This Feeling<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Nabucco</span> – Va, pensiero<br />Mozart – <span style="font-style:italic;">Requiem</span> (Dies Irae)<br />Chumbawumba – Tubthumping<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Happy Days</span> – Theme<br />Genesis – I Can't Dance<br />Children's Song – Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star<br />Ramones – I Wanna be Sedated<br />Kinks – Lola<br /><br />And so was I tired? Honestly, not a bit. The show ran an extra 45 minutes over and I could have kept on keepin' on. It was a really fun night for me. Thanks! :-)Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14873515587181171449noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392788547071102421.post-70362677835616007972009-03-07T15:23:00.000-08:002009-03-07T15:55:08.457-08:00WHEN IS THE JUKEBOX NOT A JUKEBOX (But Is Still Kind of a Jukebox?)Monday, March 2nd was a different kind of performance for me. I was asked to fill in for an indisposed featured performer at the Alchemy Reading & Performance Series - www.alchemy-prague.com <br /><br />My task was to perform for 30 minutes and the rest of the night would be open mic for Prague's myriad talents. I decided that I really wanted to perform again a set I did a number of years ago that was non-HJ-related. I chose to sing five songs in five languages. Being that there would be leftover time and I still wanted to plug my show I thought I'd do an audience-constructed medley to cap the performance.<br /><br />Here's what I sang (bear in mind I rarely select my own songs to sing so this was really fun for me):<br /><br />ESPAÑOL – Jarabe de Palo – Romeo y Julieta<br />ENGLISH – Blues Traveler – Runaround<br />DEUTSCH – Herbert Grönemeyer – Der Weg<br />ČESKÝ - Aneta Langerová - Voda živá<br />ITALIANO – Andrea Bocelli – Con Te Partirò<br /><br />Before I began I gave my songbook to the befuddled masses and instructed them to make me a medley while I was singing the above. They fantastically complied and here's what they came up with:<br /><br />Medley:<br /><br />Modern English - I Melt With You<br />Peter Gabriel - In Your Eyes<br />They Might Be Giants - Istanbul<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Sound of Music</span> - The Lonely Goatherd<br />O-Zone - Dragostea din tei<br />Goo Goo Dolls - Iris<br />Kraftwerk - The Model<br />George Michael - Faith<br />Madonna - La Isla Bonita<br />Frank Sinatra - New York, New York<br />Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of the Heart<br />Backstreet Boys - I Want It That Way<br />Billy Ocean - Loverboy<br />Dan Hartman - I can Dream About You<br />Bon Jovi - Runaway<br />Denis Leary - Asshole<br />Eric Carmen - Hungry Eyes<br />Journey - Open Arms<br />Metallica - Fade to Black<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Das Rheingold</span> - Weiche, Wotan <br />Damien Rice - The Blower's Daughter<br />Tommy Tutone - 867-5309 (Jenny)<br />A-ha - Take on Me<br />Weird Al Yankovic - Amish Paradise<br />They Might Be Giants - Birdhouse in Your Soul<br />Irene Cara - Fame<br />Indigo Girls - Romeo and Juliet<br />Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Don't Come Around Here No More<br />Sir Mix-A-Lot - Baby Got Back<br />Salt-N-Pepa - Push It<br />Erasure - Bizarre Love Triangle<br />Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up<br />Counting Crows - Mr. Jones<br />Black Sabbath - Iron Man<br />Limahl - The Neverending Story<br />Cheap Trick - I Want You to Want Me<br />Journey - Don't Stop Believin'<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Porgy and Bess</span> - Summertime<br />Alicia Keys - Fallin'<br /><br />I had a fabulous time and was really happy to meet such friendly and enthusiastic people who came to an event expecting something totally different but more than went with the flow. Truly a great night for me.<br /><br />Many thanks to Ken Nash, Selena Orkwis and Mike Cella for their interest and hospitality.<br /><br />:-)Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14873515587181171449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392788547071102421.post-17700110807499351062009-03-05T08:02:00.001-08:002009-04-26T13:25:55.585-07:00THE POST-VALENTINE'S DAY SHOW (For Saps and Haters Alike)It has taken some time to get the details up for February 15th's show as I have been dying of consumption. OK, perhaps that's a tad hyperbolic but I have been gacking my lungs out for a month. At showtime I was merely mid-gack but somehow managed to make it through.
<br />
<br />I was thrilled by the turnout (probably due mostly to Barbara Bindasová's kickass article - see previous post) but also nervous as performing in front of HJ first-timers and passing out is <span style="font-style:italic;">gauche</span>. Fortunately, that didn't happen. Actually, it almost did but I'm not gonna fess up and say when. Suffice it to say the audience wanted the hard stuff and I did my best to deliver.
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<br />Here's what went down:
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<br />Act 1:
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<br />Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive <span style="font-style: italic;">(Had a friend going through a hard time that night - this was for him)</span>
<br />Rod Stewart - Maggie May <span style="font-style: italic;">(My personal fav Stewart song...um...not that's there's many)</span>
<br />Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of the Heart <span style="font-style: italic;">(I love getting a group of 5o people to go, "turn around.")</span>
<br />AC/DC - TNT <span style="font-style: italic;">(I have absolutely no idea why on Earth after 15 years of intensive classical training I can do an excellent Bon Scott)</span>
<br />Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven <span style="font-style: italic;">(The older my son gets the harder it becomes to sing this)</span>
<br />Alphacat (aka Iman Crossman) - Whatever I Like (Obama parody of T.I's "Whatever You Like") <span style="font-style: italic;">(If you've seen the you tube video then it's the bomb diggity. I had the impression most of them had not seen it. They should rectify that: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-yJBsjatW0 )</span>
<br />Irene Cara - Fame <span style="font-style: italic;">(Me: Remember my name: - The Audience: uh...fame)</span>
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Sound of Music</span> - The Lonely Goatherd <span style="font-style: italic;">(Have I ever mentioned that I am unable to yodel?)</span>
<br />Hollies - He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother <span style="font-style: italic;">(I love love love singing this song)</span>
<br />Dusty Springfield - Son of a Preacher Man <span style="font-style: italic;">(Two of my brothers-in-law are preachers. I don't want to get with any of their kids. This song is getting harder to do)</span>
<br />Helena Vondráčková - Sladké mámení <span style="font-style: italic;">(Don't EVEN get me started but can I just say...how </span><style type="text/css"> <!-- @page { size: 21cm 29.7cm; margin: 2cm } P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm } --></style><i>many háčeks really need to be in every sentence of this song?!?!?!)</i><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></span> </p> <span style="font-style: italic;font-family:Times New Roman, serif;" ><span style="font-size: 11pt;font-size:85%;" ></span></span> <style type="text/css"> <!-- @page { size: 21cm 29.7cm; margin: 2cm } P { margin-bottom: 0.21</style> <span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>Act 2:
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<br />Proclaimers - 500 Miles <span style="font-style: italic;">(It's always fun to mock my countrymen)</span>
<br />Red Hot Chili Peppers - Under the Bridge <span style="font-style: italic;">(I tried to get my Anthony Kiedis moves on but am afraid to have failed quite dreadfully)</span>
<br />Killers - Mr. Brightside <span style="font-style: italic;">(My friend Alasdair Bouch does a fab acoustic version of this)</span>
<br />Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody <span style="font-style: italic;">(I do believe that the audience truly wished for me to die in front of them)</span>
<br />Schubert - Ave Maria <span style="font-style: italic;">(Then they felt bad and asked for me to send them into a reverent state)</span>
<br />Whitney Houston - Where Do Broken Hearts Go <span style="font-style: italic;">(I always loved the roses in the video...like anyone cares)</span>
<br />Sir Mix-A-Lot - Baby Got Back <span style="font-style: italic;">(Doing this in an evening gown never gets old)</span>
<br />Asia - Heat of the Moment <span style="font-style: italic;">(MUST find someone to go to Zlín with me this month to see Asia!!!)</span>
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<br />Medley:
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<br />Bette Midler -Wind Beneath My Wings
<br />Salt-N-Pepa - Push It
<br />Limp Bizkit - Nookie
<br />Ramones - I Wanna Be Sedated
<br />Blondie - Call Me
<br />Salt-N-Pepa - Shoop
<br />Violent Femmes - Blister in the Sun
<br />Fugeez - Killing Me Softly
<br />R.E.M. - Nightswimming
<br />Cure - Just Like Heaven
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Family Guy</span> - Theme Song
<br />Traditional - Happy Birthday
<br />Monty Python - Brave Sir Robin
<br />Presidents of the United States of America - Peaches
<br />Starship - Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now
<br />Madonna - Material Girl
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Evita</span> - Don't Cry for Me Argentina
<br />Air Supply - All Out of Love
<br />Bon Jovi - Bed of Roses
<br />O-Zone - Dragostea din tei
<br />New Order - Bizarre Love Triangle
<br />Limahl - The Neverending Story
<br />Journey - Lights
<br />Starland Vocal Band - Afternoon Delight
<br />Disney - It's a Small World
<br />Loverboy - Working for the Weekend
<br />Madonna - Live to Tell
<br />Weezer - Buddy Holly
<br />Imogen Heap - Hide and Seek
<br />Elton John - Can You Feel the Love Tonight
<br />Beyoncé - Single Ladies
<br />Tina Turner - What's Love Got to Do With It
<br />Foo Fighters - Everlong
<br />U2 - With or Without You
<br />Michael Jackson - Thriller
<br />Guns-N-Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Sound of Music</span> - Doe, a Deer
<br />James Blunt - You're Beautiful
<br />Eddie Money - Take Me Home Tonight
<br />Wham! - Careless Whisper
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Madama Butterfly</span> - Un bel d<meta equiv="CONTENT-TYPE" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><title></title><meta name="GENERATOR" content="OpenOffice.org 2.4 (Win32)"><style type="text/css"> <!-- @page { size: 21cm 29.7cm; margin: 2cm } P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm } --></style><span style="font-family:Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">ì
<br /></span></span>Children's Song - Wheels on the Bus
<br /><style type="text/css"> <!-- @page { size: 21cm 29.7cm; margin: 2cm } P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm } --> </style> Christmas Song - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Don Giovanni</span> - Opening of Commendatore Scene
<br />Coolio - Gangsta's Paradise
<br />Eric Carmen - Hungry Eyes
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Grease</span> - Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Phantom of the Opera</span> - Think of Me
<br />Moody Blues - Nights in White Satin
<br />Journey - Don't Stop Believin'
<br />Duran Duran - Rio
<br />Bette Midler - Wind Beneath My Wings
<br />Bette Midler - From a Distance
<br />Andrea Bocelli - Con Te Partir<meta equiv="CONTENT-TYPE" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><title></title><meta name="GENERATOR" content="OpenOffice.org 2.4 (Win32)"><style type="text/css"> <!-- @page { size: 21cm 29.7cm; margin: 2cm } P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm } --></style>o
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Das Rheingold</span> - Weiche, Wotan
<br />Bryan Adams - Summer of '69
<br />Tom Jones - Sex Bomb
<br />Children's Song - Itsy, Bitsy Spider
<br />Erasure - Bizarre Love Triangle
<br />Liza Minnelli - Come On, Get Happy
<br />Bangles - Eternal Flame
<br />Alex Lloyd - Amazing
<br />Tom Petty & Steve Nicks - Stop Draggin' My Heart Around
<br />Frank Sinatra - My Way
<br />Bon Jovi - Living on a Prayer
<br />Aneta Langerová - Voda živá
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<br />Many thanks to all who attended and the newbies who took a chance on a bizarre show!
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<br />:-)
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<br />
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span> Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14873515587181171449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392788547071102421.post-63845229559779269352009-03-05T07:34:00.000-08:002009-03-05T07:55:12.890-08:00PRAGUE DAILY MONITOR RECOMMENDS THE SHOW (And Interviews Me, Too)I was honoured by a journalist from the Prague Daily Monitor at the beginning of February to be interviewed for a section entitled, "Do It." This made my dirty mind chuckle but it also made me really happy to know that an online publication was quasi-ordering people to attend February's show :-)<br /><br />Heartfelt thanks to Barbara Bindasová for A) Coming to a show B) Enjoying it enough to write about it and C) This fantastic article - here's the link:<br /><br />http://praguemonitor.com/2009/02/12/do-it-%E2%80%93-human-jukebox-can-she-really-pull-it<br /><br />And here it is in full text form is you can't be assed to click on the above link:<br /><br /><div id="content-header"> <h1 class="title">Do It: The Human Jukebox. Can she really pull it off?</h1> </div> <!-- /#content-header --> <div class="meta"> </div> <div class="field-items"> By Barbara Bindasová / </div> <div class="field-items"> Prague Daily Monitor / </div> <div class="field-items"> <span class="date-display-single">12 February 2009<br /><br /></span><span class="date-display-single"></span> <span class="inline inline-left"><img src="http://praguemonitor.com/sites/default/files/images/Human_Jukebox.jpg" alt="The Human Jukebox brings more than a thousand songs. (COURTESY)" title="The Human Jukebox brings more than a thousand songs. (COURTESY)" class="image image-thumbnail" /><span class="caption"><strong>The Human Jukebox brings more than a thousand songs. (COURTESY)</strong></span></span><p>When onetime opera singer Gail Whitmore moved to Prague, she wanted to find a way to continue singing. She was looking for something that would be fun both for her and the audience, and preferably combining her love of classical pieces with her penchant for quirky 80s songs or rap. Since her friends often took advantage of her voice in combination with her photographic memory for lyrics and asked her to sing a variety of songs that came to their minds at parties, Gail realised this might be the way to go. </p><p>She started performing at the café/bookshop Globe about five years ago and last year decided to take her show a step further and opened performances at the Na Zábradlí theatre. </p><p>Now, all this might sound rather ordinary, but it really isn't. Gail Whitmore not only has an amazing voice but also takes advantage of her showmanship and bottomless sense of humour, which enables her to ridicule herself on stage, making her show exceptional and entertaining. I will never forget hearing the rap song "Baby Got Back" in her rendering. I didn't know the song before and even after listening to the original I doubt I will ever get enough of requesting it from Gail. So, if you choose to come to the show, the person asking for the "big butt song" is going to be me. Gail is half American and half Scottish, originally from New York City, and she has lived in Prague for the past 5 years. She studied singing at various institutions in the States and later sang with the New York Grand Opera Company for seven years at venues including the Lincoln Centre and Carnegie Hall. When the company performed all the operas ever written by Verdi in chronological order, they were included in the Guinness Book of World Records. </p><p>The way her show Human Jukebox show works is very easy: You take your friends, get the pre-show drinks at the theatre bar and discuss the songs you would like to hear. There is technically a list of some hundreds of songs but feel free to ask for anything that springs to mind because, as long as she knows it, she is sure to sing it. The only exception being songs of hate and racism. <span class="inline inline-left"><img src="http://praguemonitor.com/sites/default/files/images/Gail.jpg" alt="Gail Whitmore will entertain." title="Gail Whitmore will entertain. (COURTESY)" class="image image-thumbnail" /><span class="caption"><strong>Gail Whitmore will entertain. (COURTESY)</strong></span></span><br />The Human Jukebox is and is not a one woman show. You should not expect to be sitting down, leaning back and enjoying it. "There's no programme or set list. The audience controls 100% of the show," Gail explains. "For bolder people there are small instruments provided if they'd like to contribute rhythmically. And I'd love to hear more dialogue from people in regard to why they chose the song they did, and what it means to them," she adds. So be ready to interact, you are unlikely to get what you don't ask for. Sometimes you also need to be a bit pushy as many people want to hear their particular song to be sang and then another and then another. Therefore it's good to have the name of the song ready and just shout it out the moment the applause subsides. </p><p>And don't forget the medley at the end. During the intermission each member of the audience is required to write down a few songs on separate pieces of paper, and at the end of the show, Gail sings 10-30 seconds of each of the songs in a quick succession. Mozart is followed by Michael Jackson, then a little bit of Jingle Bells and November Rain by Guns'n'Roses. </p><p>I asked Gail what she thinks makes her show unique. " I think it's unique because it really does offer something for everyone. If you want legitimate singing - it's there. If you want to see me make an idiot of myself in an evening gown - I'll do it. And doing all of that back to back is just plain funny. Doing the show fulfils me in a way that surprised me at first. After abandoning the opera world I still have the opportunity to sing the pieces that I love so much. I also get to explore my inner rock star. And don't get me started on rap." So I did not ask her about rap. I'm saving that for Sunday. </p><p> </p><p>The next performance of the Human Jukebox is this Sunday 15 February at Divadlo Na Zábradlí, Anenské náměstí 5 at 7pm. If you can't make it there are shows on 22 March, 19 April and 2 May.<br />Tickets cost CZK 200.<br />For more information visit <a href="http://www.the-human-jukebox.com/" title="www.the-human-jukebox.com">www.the-human-jukebox.com</a> or <a href="http://www.lidskyjukebox.cz/" title="www.lidskyjukebox.cz">www.lidskyjukebox.cz</a> </p><p><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9-H2iEFyIlc&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9-H2iEFyIlc&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object> </p><div style="border-top: 1px solid grey; border-bottom: 1px solid grey; background-color: rgb(246, 246, 245);"> <div style="margin: 5px 0pt; padding: 0px 5px; font-family: Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 8pt; color: rgb(198, 148, 51); line-height: 11pt;"> <img src="http://praguemonitor.com/look/pdm/barbara-bindasova.gif" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px;" />Barbara Bindasová <span style="padding: 0px; font-style: italic; display: block;font-size:8;color:black;" >is a staff writer and translator at the Monitor. She is a graduate student of literature at Charles University.<br />You can reach her at <a href="mailto:%20barbara@praguemonitor.com"> </a><a href="mailto:barbara@praguemonitor.com">barbara@praguemonitor.com</a> </span></div></div><br /> </div>Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14873515587181171449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392788547071102421.post-66084843510712328142008-11-05T16:46:00.000-08:002009-03-05T07:49:46.362-08:00SPIN INTERNATIONAL COVERS THE SHOW (I Know, Right???)<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >THE</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> 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.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">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.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-H2iEFyIlc</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Thanks Matt!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Keep spreadin' the good word!</span><br /></div>Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14873515587181171449noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392788547071102421.post-7027387189986883922008-11-03T14:13:00.000-08:002008-11-05T15:58:48.840-08:00AND A FUN TIME WAS HAD BY ALL (Or So It Seemed)<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />The first act was as follows:<br /><br />Whitesnake - Here I Go Again <span style="font-style: italic;">(I did not have a car as a prop)</span><br />Survivor - Eye of the Tiger <span style="font-style: italic;">(Not Jimi Jamison's Survivor but it'll do)</span><br />Schubert - Ave Maria <span style="font-style: italic;">(What's to be said about that?)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">South Park</span> (Eric Cartman) - Kyle's Mom's a Stupid Bitch in d minor <span style="font-style: italic;">(Yeeeeeaaaahhhhh...)</span><br />Journey - Don't Stop Believin' <span style="font-style: italic;">(Steve, I'm always single for you)</span><br />Cure - Friday, I'm in Love <span style="font-style: italic;">(It was Sunday so I was decidedly un- in love)</span><br />Jane's Addiction - Jane Says <span style="font-style: italic;">(Great one)</span><br />Prince - Purple Rain <span style="font-style: italic;">(Feels really weird without the heartbreaking guitar solo but still...)</span><br />Tracy Chapman - Talkin' About a Revolution <span style="font-style: italic;">(And damn are we ever!)</span><br /><br />The second act went like this:<br /><br />Aneta Langerova - Voda ziva<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> <span style="font-style: italic;">(One of my favorite Czech songs)</span></span></span><br />Sir<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>Mix-a-Lot - Baby Got Back<span style="font-style: italic;"> <span style="font-style: italic;">(I said I retired it but I lied)</span></span><br />Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child of Mine <span style="font-style: italic;">(Amazing that after all that classical training I actually do a decent Axl)</span><br />Marc Cohn - True Companion <span style="font-style: italic;">(The great song I share with my baby daddy)</span><br />Fleetwood Mac - Go Your Own Way <span style="font-style: italic;">(Can we just talk about how hot Lindsay Buckingham is?)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The Sound of Music</span> - The Lonely Goatherd <span style="font-style: italic;">(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.)</span><br />Shakespears Sister - Stay <span style="font-style: italic;">(Freaky ass video but you know I eat that shit up)</span><br />Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody <span style="font-style: italic;">(Probably the most exhausting song of the thousand - but always a blast to do)</span><br /><br />And then there was the medley:<br /><br />Frank Sinatra - My Way<br />Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You<br />Starland Vocal Band - Afternoon Delight<br />Bon Jovi - Livin' on a Prayer<br />Don McClean - American Pie<br />Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit<br />Elvis Presley - Suspicious Minds<br />Red Hot Chili Peppers - Under the Bridge<br />No Doubt - Don't Speak (3 requests for this!!!)<br />Laura Branigan - Gloria<br />Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive<br />Rolling Stones - Beast of Burden<br />Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun<br />Duran Duran - The Chauffeur<br />Puccini - <span style="font-style: italic;">Madama Butterfly</span> - Un bel di (2 requests for this)<br />Alphaville - Forever Young<br />Andrea Bocelli - Con Te Partiro<br />Beatles - Twist and Shout<br />Boney M - Rasputin<br />AC/DC - TNT<br />Blondie - One Way or Another<br />Tom Jones - Sex Bomb<br />Air Supply - All Out of Love<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Golden Girls</span> Theme Song - Thank You for Being a Friend<br />Roxette - Fading Like a Flower<br />Bon Jovi - You Give Love a Bad Name<br />Tracy Chapman - Fast Car<br />George Michael - Father Figure<br />Irene Cara - Fame<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Annie</span> - Tomorrow<br />Christmas - Jingle Bells<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Grease</span> - Hopelessly Devoted<br />Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Weeds</span> Theme Song - Little Boxes<br />Czech Christmas - Narodil se Kristus Pan<br />Michael Jackson - Thriller<br />Extreme - More Than Words<br />Cyndi Lauper - I Drove All Night<br />Billy Idol - Dancing with Myself<br />Blondie - Call Me<br />Alanis Morrissette - Ironic<br />James Blunt - You're Beautiful<br /><br />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.<br /><br />And MAD friggin props to Matt Terrell from SPIN International for this:<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-H2iEFyIlc<br /><br />So if a fun time was indeed had by all then please spread the word!<br /><br />Many, MANY thanks!<br /><br /><br /></div>Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14873515587181171449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392788547071102421.post-38104990875314938232008-10-28T06:26:00.000-07:002008-11-05T15:49:02.540-08:00GRIEF ( I Don't Know What Else to Say)<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />We decided it was best to cancel the rest of the show.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.</div>Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14873515587181171449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392788547071102421.post-60220054181809578882008-10-19T12:23:00.000-07:002008-11-05T15:37:45.776-08:00THE FIRST SHOW IN (Almost) 3 YEARS<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">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<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Want more info or want to see the song list? Go to <a href="http://www.the-human-jukebox.com/" target="_blank">www.The-Human-Jukebox.com</a> or <a href="http://www.lidskyjukebox.cz/" target="_blank">www.LidskyJukebox.cz</a> 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.<br /><br />I have two upcoming shows. The dates are:<br /><br />Sunday, October 26th at 19:00 and<br />Sunday, November 2nd at 19:00<br /><br />They will take place at:<br /><br />Divadlo Na Zabradli<br />Anenske 5 (take tram 17 or 18 to Karlovy lazne)<br />Tickets are 150kc at the box office. Space is limited so it's recommended to make a reservation by emailing: <a href="mailto:pokladna@nazabradli.cz" target="_blank">pokladna@nazabradli.cz</a><br /><br />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.<br /><br />Let's bring this baby back where it belongs!</div>Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14873515587181171449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5392788547071102421.post-72397097168562995102008-10-19T12:10:00.001-07:002008-11-05T15:37:20.552-08:00THE BIRTH OF THE HUMAN JUKEBOX (In Case Anybody Gives a Crap)<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.</div>Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14873515587181171449noreply@blogger.com0