THE 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.

After several friends had been introduced and demonstrated their work I opened up with:

Schubert - Der Tod und das Mädchen
Gluck - Orfeo ed Euridice - Che farò senza Euridice
Soon Ah Will be Done (Traditional Negro Spiritual)

We then spent about an hour and a half studying and enjoying Pavel's invigorating, thought-provoking, colorful and downright trippy collection.

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!

R.E.M. - Everybody Hurts
U2 - With or Without You
Shania Twain - That Don't Impress Me Much
Bon Jovi - Livin' on a Prayer
Toto - Africa
KISS - I Was Made for Loving You
Aneta Langerová – Voda živá
AC/DC - TNT
Roxette - It Must Have Been Love
Blondie - Heart of Glass
Czech Christmas Song - Tichá noc
Survivor - Eye of the Tiger
Lionel Richie - Angel
Proclaimers - I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)
Boney-M - Rasputin
Lionel Richie - Hello
Journey - Lights
Coolio - Gangsta's Paradise
Michael Jackson - You Are Not Alone
10,000 Maniacs - Because the Night
Celine Dion - A New Day Has Come
Traditional - Happy Birthday
Bon Jovi - You Give Love a Bad Name
Who - You Better, You Bet
Christmas Song - O Come All Ye Faithful (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)
The Wizard of Oz - Somewhere Over the Rainbow
No Doubt - Don't Speak
A-ha - Take on Me
Monty Python and the Holy Grail - Brave Sir Robin
Geri Halliwell - It's Raining Men
Duran Duran - The Chauffeur
Cher - Believe
Duran Duran - Hungry Like the Wolf
Alanis Morrissette - Thank U
Lionel Richie - Running with the Night
Tori Amos - China
Dire Straits - Romeo and Juliet
Dido - Thank You
Phantom of the Opera - Think of Me

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:

http://galeriekopecky.net/

And if you're on Facebook and you'd like to see photos from that night please visit:

http://tinyurl.com/HJatVernissage

:-)

“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!

Here's the song list:

Act 1

Carousel - You'll Never Walk Alone (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...)
Little Shop of Horrors – Suddenly, Seymour (I really enjoy singing multiple characters by myself. No seriously!)
Fugeez - Killing Me Softly (Can someone please explain Wyclef Jean to me? “Yeah, that's my girl, L!” Thanks)
Evita – Don't Cry for Me Argentina (Just wonderful to sing)
They Might Be Giants – Istanbul (Not Constantinople) (Is there anyone out there able to hear the word “Istanbul” without saying “not Constantinople”? I can't manage it. I can't)
Maroon 5 - She Will Be Loved (Aaaaadammmm Leviiiiine......)
Jackson Browne – Somebody's Baby (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)
Beatles – Help (I was needin' some. Some of y'all know why)
Guns 'N Roses - Sweet Child of Mine (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')
Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody (Maybe I shouldn't have put this on You Tube)
Coolio - Gangsta's Paradise (Props to me as for once I did NOT lapse into “Amish Paradise”)
Meat Loaf - Paradise by the Dashboard Light (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)

ACT 2

ELO - Don't Bring Me Down (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)
Schubert - Der Tod und das Madchen (Hands down one of my favorite pieces to interpret. That's all I gots ta say about dat)
Dusty Springfield - Son of a Preacher Man (Don't think I can get through a show without doing this one)
Salt-N-Pepa - None of Your Business (A highly underrated and phenomenally amusing little S-N-P ditty)
Shania Twain - That Don't Impress Me Much (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)
Kansas - Dust in the Wind (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)
Sinead O'Connor – Nothing Compares 2 U (How many times did I listen to this when I was 16?)
Weird Al Yankovic - Which Backstreet Boy is Gay (So wrong that it's oh so right)

Medley

Scorpions – Still Lovin' You
James Blunt – Goodbye My Lover
Tommy Tutone – 867-5309 (Jenny)
Sir Mix-A-Lot – Baby Got Back
Limahl – The Neverending Story
Married with Children – Theme Song
TV Commercial – I'd Like to Buy the World a Coke
Prince – When Doves Cry
Andrea Bocelli – Con Te Partirò
The Wizard of Oz – Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Grease – Hopelessly Devoted to You
Journey – Don't Stop Believin'
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts – I Love Rock 'n' Roll
Eric Clapton – Tears in Heaven
Children's Song – Itsy, Bitsy Spider
Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Wanna have Fun
Styx – Mr. Roboto
Celine Dion – My Heart Will Go On
Dire Straits – Romeo and Juliet
Schubert – Ave Maria
Frank Sinatra – New York, New York
Nek – Laura Non C'e'
Depeche Mode – Somebody
Traditional – Auld Lang Syne
Traditional – It's a Long Way to Tipperary
Maroon 5 – This Love
Tom Jones – Sex Bomb

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.

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!

:-)

THE 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.

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.

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.

Here's what was performed:

ACT 1:

Bangles - Eternal Flame (Really felt like belting one out!)
Porgy and Bess - Summertime (Always feels good to sing that)
Czech Children's Song - Tři čuníci (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)
Ramones - I Wanna be Sedated (Go, Joey, go!)
Gospel - Soon Ah Will be Done (Been listening a lot more to Mother Mahalia this summer so tried some of her ways. Lady knew how to craft a piece!)
Damien Rice - The Blower's Daughter (A lot harder to sing than it sounds)
Little Shop of Horrors - Suddenly Seymour (I absolutely LOVE singing more than one character in a song. Had never done this one before and it felt great)
David Lee Roth - Just a Gigolo (It wasn't DaveTV but it was still fun)
Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody (Sometimes I wonder if people just want to watch my head pop off)
Weird Al Yankovic - Which Backstreet Boy is Gay (Hey, I'm not sayin' that it's Howie!)
Salt-N-Pepa - Shoop (Men aren't the only ones who appreciate quality booty!)
Coolio - Gangsta's Paradise (Proud to report that I did NOT lapse into "Amish Paradise" for once! Woo hoo!)
Dusty Springfield - Son of a Preacher Man (This is really great for all audiences)

Act 2:

Celine Dion - A New Day (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.)
Blues Traveler - Runaround (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!)
Enrique Iglesias - Bailamos (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 )
R.E.M. - Nightswimming (A classic. Plain und simple)
David Bowie - Modern Love (Just not the same without all the silver balloons)
The Wizard of Oz - Somewhere Over the Rainbow (A friend told me that was the first time she ever heard me sound innocent. Now whatever is that supposed to mean? :-) )
Les Misérables - On My Own (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)

Medley:

Herbert Grönemeyer - Der Weg
Kinks - Lola
Wet Wet Wet - Love is All Around
Barenaked Ladies - One Week
Tina Turner - Private Dancer
Sasha - I Feel Lonely
Guns 'N Roses - Sweet Child of Mine
Limp Bizkit - Nookie
Westlife - Mandy
AC/DC - Shook Me All Night Long
Police - Message in a Bottle
Weather Girls - It's Raining Men
The Sound of Music - The Lonely Goatherd
Andrea Bocelli - Con Te Partirò
Duran Duran - Hungry Like the Wolf
The Holy Grail - Brave Sir Robin
Fame - Fame
Katy Perry - I Kissed a Girl
Le Nozze di Figaro - Voi, che sapete
Les Misérables - Castle on a Cloud
U2 - With or Without You
Les Misérables - I Dreamed a Dream
Czech Christmas Song - Půjdem spolu do Betléma
Evita - Don't Cry for Me Argentina
Prince - Purple Rain
Depeche Mode - Somebody
O-Zone - Dragostea din tei
Fugeez - Killing Me Softly
George Michael - Father Figure
Police - Can't Stand Losing You
Weeds - Theme Song
Tom Jones - Sex Bomb
Maroon 5 - This Love
Placebo - Daddy Cool
Smashing Pumpkins - 1979
Tracy Chapman - The Promise
Journey - Don't Stop Believin'
Presidents of the USA - Peaches
Peter Gabriel - In Your Eyes
Alanis Morrissette - Ironic
Wheatus - Teenage Dirtbag
Limahl - The Neverending Story
AC/DC - TNT
Aerosmith - Dream On
Styx - Mr. Roboto
Guns 'N Roses - Knockin' on Heaven's Door
Violent Femmes - Blister in the Sun

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.

:-)

A 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.

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...

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

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.

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!

:-)

GACK! (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.

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:

Act 1:

Bob Seger – Old Time Rock and Roll (I wore more than underwear)
South Pacific – Wash That Man (Sadly, to me this is always a shampoo commercial)
Dusty Springfield – Son of a Preacher Man (Yup, again)
Frankie Valli – Can't Take My Eyes Off of You (I just have a great memory of three guy friends of mine singing this at the top of a staircase)
Berlin – The Metro (I LOVE TERRI NUNN!!!)
Eric Carmen – Hungry Eyes (This is more fun to sing when you picture the audience as hot dogs...and fill them with fear)
Bon Jovi – Livin' on a Prayer (I was almost half way there...ba dum bum!)
Regina Spektor – Fidelity (First time trying this out and I really liked it)
Journey – Don't Stop Believin' (Never, baby!)
Tosca – Vissi d'arte (Kiddies, if you've got a chest infection don't try this at home!)
Sir Mix-A-Lot – Baby Got Back (Yeah, you know it!)

Act 2:

Björk – Joga (Truly a gorgeous song)
Salt-N-Pepa – Shoop (I think they might have actually wanted The "Shoop Shoop" song)
Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise (Yup, ended up with "Amish Paradise")
Frames – Falling Slowly (Love this song)
Family Guy – Theme Song (Love the show - the song doesn't make much sense)
New Order – Bizarre Love Triangle (Just as long as it's not the Frente! version - ick!)
Helena Vondráčková - Sladké mámení (Will my pain never end?)
Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack - Tonight, I Celebrate My Love (I would have preferred to have done my Aaron Neville impression)
Aladdin – A Whole New World (Loved the movie at the time - the song, not so much)
Jesus Christ Superstar – I Don't Know How to Love Him (And I didn't...)

Medley:

Bonnie Tyler – Total Eclipse of the Heart
Captain & Tennille – Love Will Keep Us Together
Sesame Street – Theme Song
Whitney Houston – I Will Always Love You
Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Natalie Imbruglia – Torn
Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody
Le Nozze di Figaro – Voi, che sapete
Britney Spears – Hit Me, Baby (One More Time)
U2 – With or Without You
Alanis Morrissette – Ironic
Aneta Langerová – Voda živá
Madonna – Like a Virgin
Evita – Don't Cry for Me Argentina
Peaches – Fuck the Pain Away
Children's Song – Hokey Pokey
Weather Girls – It's Raining Men
Bob Dylan – Like a Rolling Stone
Shania Twain – That Don't Impress Me Much
Wham! - Careless Whisper
Cats – Memory
Christmas Song – Frosty the Snowman
Whitney Houston – How Will I Know
American Hi-Fi – Flavor of the Weak
Madonna – Material Girl
Erasure – A Little Respect
Schubert – Ave Maria
Man of La Mancha – The Impossible Dream
Czech Christmas Song - Půjdem spolu do Betléma
Traditional (American) – God Bless America
Christmas Song – The 12 Days of Christmas
Bananarama – Venus
Beatles – Twist and Shout
Tori Amos – 1,000 Oceans
Damien Rice – The Blower's Daughter
Madonna – Like a Prayer
Bush – Glycerine
Annie Lennox – No More “I Love You's”
Cher – Believe
Annie Lennox – Walking on Broken Glass
Styx – Blue Collar Man
Tina Turner – Simply the Best
Tori Amos – Crucify
Tom Petty & Stevie Nicks – Stop Draggin' My Heart Around
Frank Sinatra – New York, New York
Eric Clapton – Tears in Heaven
Alicia Keys – Fallin'
Scorpions – Still Lovin' You
Heart – Alone
Limp Bizkit – Nookie
Salt-N-Pepa – Push It
They Might be Giants – Birdhouse in Your Soul
Dido – Here with Me
Joan Osborne – St. Teresa
Die Walküre – Hojotoho!
Porgy and Bess – Summertime
Traditional (Czech) - Sama královna
Czech Christmas Song – Narodil se Kristus Pan

One more show til end of season!

:-)

THE 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 :-(

However, the great butts always survive as did mine and the show went as follows:

SIKE!

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 The Jungle Book 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

On a positive note I do have the insanely long crazy-ass medley forms. So here's the longest medley I've ever sung:

Eric Clapton – Tears in Heaven
Irena Cara – Fame
R.E.M. - Everybody Hurts
Lionel Richie – Hello
Fleetwood Mac – Go Your Own Way
Bon Jovi – Livin' on a Prayer
Ricky Martin – Livin' la Vida Loca
Tosca – Nessun dorma
Meat Loaf – I Would Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)
Weeds Theme Song – Little Boxes
Sesame Street – Theme Song
Cher – It's in His Kiss (Shoop Shoop)
Billy Idol – Dancing with Myself
Stealers Wheel – Stuck in the Middle with You
Bonnie Tyler – Total Eclipse of the Heart
Duran Duran – Hungry Like the Wolf
Steve Martin – King Tut
King Missile – Detachable Penis
Marvin Gaye – Sexual Healing
Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody
Pet Shop Boys – Always on My Mind
Blondie – Call Me
Coolio – Gangsta's Paradise
Limahl – The Neverending Story
R.E.M. - Shiny Happy People
R.E.M. - Shiny Happy Monsters (Sesame Street Version)
Modern English – I'll Melt with You
Evita – Don't Cry for Me Argentina
Flight of the Conchords – Business Time
Aneta Langerová – Voda živá
Andrea Bocelli – Con Te Partirò
Die Zauberflöte – Der Hölle Rache
Johnny Cash – Hurt
Don Giovanni - Opening of Commendatore Scene
Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit
La Traviata – Sempre libera
Metallica – Fade to Black
Weird Al Yankovic – Amish Paradise
Radiohead – Karma Police
Blur – Song 2
Michael Jackson – Bad (with Moonwalk)
Andrea Bocelli & Elmo – Time to Say Goodnight
Children's Songs – Mary Had a Little Lamb
Rod Stewart – Maggie May
Phil Collins – Groovy Kind of Love
Traditional (Irish) – The Wild Rover
Air Supply – All Out of Love
Electric Company – 1 – 12
Parisotti – Se tu m'ami
South Park – Uncle Fucker
Madonna – La Isla Bonita
Daniel Powter – Bad Day
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Under the Bridge
Meat Loaf – You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night)
Third Eye Blind – Semi-Charmed Kind of Life
Survivor – Eye of the Tiger
Jackson 5 – A, B, C
Starship – Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now
Police – Every Breath You Take
Madonna – Like a Prayer
Cher – Believe
Billy Joel – Uptown Girl
Jewel – You Were Meant for Me
Damien Rice – The Blower's Daughter
Dido – Here with Me
Culture Club – Karma Chameleon
Chicago – Will You Still Love Me
Patsy Cline – Crazy
Britney Spears – Hit Me, Baby (One More Time)
Cheap Trick – Surrender
Boston – More Than a Feeling
Blondie – Heart of Glass
Erasure – Oh L'amour
Weather Girls – It's Raining Men
Celine Dion – I Drove All Night
Dusty Springfield – Son of a Preacher Man
Spin Doctors – Two Princes
Guns N' Roses – Sweet Child o' Mine
Tom Jones – Sex Bomb
Police – King of Pain
Friends Theme – I'll be There for You
REO Speedwagon – Can't Fight This Feeling
Nabucco – Va, pensiero
Mozart – Requiem (Dies Irae)
Chumbawumba – Tubthumping
Happy Days – Theme
Genesis – I Can't Dance
Children's Song – Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Ramones – I Wanna be Sedated
Kinks – Lola

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! :-)

WHEN 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

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.

Here's what I sang (bear in mind I rarely select my own songs to sing so this was really fun for me):

ESPAÑOL – Jarabe de Palo – Romeo y Julieta
ENGLISH – Blues Traveler – Runaround
DEUTSCH – Herbert Grönemeyer – Der Weg
ČESKÝ - Aneta Langerová - Voda živá
ITALIANO – Andrea Bocelli – Con Te Partirò

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:

Medley:

Modern English - I Melt With You
Peter Gabriel - In Your Eyes
They Might Be Giants - Istanbul
Sound of Music - The Lonely Goatherd
O-Zone - Dragostea din tei
Goo Goo Dolls - Iris
Kraftwerk - The Model
George Michael - Faith
Madonna - La Isla Bonita
Frank Sinatra - New York, New York
Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of the Heart
Backstreet Boys - I Want It That Way
Billy Ocean - Loverboy
Dan Hartman - I can Dream About You
Bon Jovi - Runaway
Denis Leary - Asshole
Eric Carmen - Hungry Eyes
Journey - Open Arms
Metallica - Fade to Black
Das Rheingold - Weiche, Wotan
Damien Rice - The Blower's Daughter
Tommy Tutone - 867-5309 (Jenny)
A-ha - Take on Me
Weird Al Yankovic - Amish Paradise
They Might Be Giants - Birdhouse in Your Soul
Irene Cara - Fame
Indigo Girls - Romeo and Juliet
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Don't Come Around Here No More
Sir Mix-A-Lot - Baby Got Back
Salt-N-Pepa - Push It
Erasure - Bizarre Love Triangle
Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up
Counting Crows - Mr. Jones
Black Sabbath - Iron Man
Limahl - The Neverending Story
Cheap Trick - I Want You to Want Me
Journey - Don't Stop Believin'
Porgy and Bess - Summertime
Alicia Keys - Fallin'

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.

Many thanks to Ken Nash, Selena Orkwis and Mike Cella for their interest and hospitality.

:-)

THE 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.

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 gauche. 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.

Here's what went down:

Act 1:

Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive (Had a friend going through a hard time that night - this was for him)
Rod Stewart - Maggie May (My personal fav Stewart song...um...not that's there's many)
Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of the Heart (I love getting a group of 5o people to go, "turn around.")
AC/DC - TNT (I have absolutely no idea why on Earth after 15 years of intensive classical training I can do an excellent Bon Scott)
Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven (The older my son gets the harder it becomes to sing this)
Alphacat (aka Iman Crossman) - Whatever I Like (Obama parody of T.I's "Whatever You Like") (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 )
Irene Cara - Fame (Me: Remember my name: - The Audience: uh...fame)
Sound of Music - The Lonely Goatherd (Have I ever mentioned that I am unable to yodel?)
Hollies - He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother (I love love love singing this song)
Dusty Springfield - Son of a Preacher Man (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)
Helena Vondráčková - Sladké mámení (Don't EVEN get me started but can I just say...how many háčeks really need to be in every sentence of this song?!?!?!)

Act 2:

Proclaimers - 500 Miles (It's always fun to mock my countrymen)
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Under the Bridge (I tried to get my Anthony Kiedis moves on but am afraid to have failed quite dreadfully)
Killers - Mr. Brightside (My friend Alasdair Bouch does a fab acoustic version of this)
Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody (I do believe that the audience truly wished for me to die in front of them)
Schubert - Ave Maria (Then they felt bad and asked for me to send them into a reverent state)
Whitney Houston - Where Do Broken Hearts Go (I always loved the roses in the video...like anyone cares)
Sir Mix-A-Lot - Baby Got Back (Doing this in an evening gown never gets old)
Asia - Heat of the Moment (MUST find someone to go to Zlín with me this month to see Asia!!!)

Medley:

Bette Midler -Wind Beneath My Wings
Salt-N-Pepa - Push It
Limp Bizkit - Nookie
Ramones - I Wanna Be Sedated
Blondie - Call Me
Salt-N-Pepa - Shoop
Violent Femmes - Blister in the Sun
Fugeez - Killing Me Softly
R.E.M. - Nightswimming
Cure - Just Like Heaven
Family Guy - Theme Song
Traditional - Happy Birthday
Monty Python - Brave Sir Robin
Presidents of the United States of America - Peaches
Starship - Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now
Madonna - Material Girl
Evita - Don't Cry for Me Argentina
Air Supply - All Out of Love
Bon Jovi - Bed of Roses
O-Zone - Dragostea din tei
New Order - Bizarre Love Triangle
Limahl - The Neverending Story
Journey - Lights
Starland Vocal Band - Afternoon Delight
Disney - It's a Small World
Loverboy - Working for the Weekend
Madonna - Live to Tell
Weezer - Buddy Holly
Imogen Heap - Hide and Seek
Elton John - Can You Feel the Love Tonight
Beyoncé - Single Ladies
Tina Turner - What's Love Got to Do With It
Foo Fighters - Everlong
U2 - With or Without You
Michael Jackson - Thriller
Guns-N-Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine
Sound of Music - Doe, a Deer
James Blunt - You're Beautiful
Eddie Money - Take Me Home Tonight
Wham! - Careless Whisper
Madama Butterfly - Un bel dì
Children's Song - Wheels on the Bus
Christmas Song - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Don Giovanni - Opening of Commendatore Scene
Coolio - Gangsta's Paradise
Eric Carmen - Hungry Eyes
Grease - Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee
Phantom of the Opera - Think of Me
Moody Blues - Nights in White Satin
Journey - Don't Stop Believin'
Duran Duran - Rio
Bette Midler - Wind Beneath My Wings
Bette Midler - From a Distance
Andrea Bocelli - Con Te Partiro
Das Rheingold - Weiche, Wotan
Bryan Adams - Summer of '69
Tom Jones - Sex Bomb
Children's Song - Itsy, Bitsy Spider
Erasure - Bizarre Love Triangle
Liza Minnelli - Come On, Get Happy
Bangles - Eternal Flame
Alex Lloyd - Amazing
Tom Petty & Steve Nicks - Stop Draggin' My Heart Around
Frank Sinatra - My Way
Bon Jovi - Living on a Prayer
Aneta Langerová - Voda živá

Many thanks to all who attended and the newbies who took a chance on a bizarre show!

:-)

PRAGUE 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 :-)

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:

http://praguemonitor.com/2009/02/12/do-it-%E2%80%93-human-jukebox-can-she-really-pull-it

And here it is in full text form is you can't be assed to click on the above link:

Do It: The Human Jukebox. Can she really pull it off?

By Barbara Bindasová /

Prague Daily Monitor /

12 February 2009

The Human Jukebox brings more than a thousand songs. (COURTESY)

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.

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.

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.

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. Gail Whitmore will entertain. (COURTESY)
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.

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.

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.

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.
Tickets cost CZK 200.
For more information visit www.the-human-jukebox.com or www.lidskyjukebox.cz

Barbara Bindasová is a staff writer and translator at the Monitor. She is a graduate student of literature at Charles University.
You can reach her at barbara@praguemonitor.com