Friday, March 21, 2008

A little comic relief

My youngest, Thing 4, is an enthusiastic, and dreamy little creature, and though she does have many gifts, singing is not one of them. Not only can she not carry a tune, she can't even carry a couple of notes. But she doesn't realize it. She thinks that someday, she'll be on American Idol. So, to that end, she is making a music video. she has a camera that can shoot video clips and she goes up in her room, turns on the Hannah Montana CD, and rocks out, braying her heart out like a little donkey. I have wondered what she would make of the video evidence when she played it back and heard herself.

So today, she came downstairs and announced, "My voice doesn't sound good on the video." I said, "Hmm... well, maybe you need to practice a bit more." And she answered, "No. I have a really good voice. It just doesn't sound good when it's recorded."
I didn't have the heart to disagree. Let her keep her dreams a little longer.

So now you know how all those bad American Idol contestants get started.

18 comments:

yellowdoggranny said...

bless her heart....voices change mom..she could end up with a voice like janis joplin..everyone thought she couldn't sing till she did...

evilganome said...

That's so cute. Especially, since it's not happening in my house. Who knows, maybe the practice will help. Either that, or loved sick donkeys will start turning up in your front yard.

Elizabeth said...

I'll start looking out for the donkeys....

Willym said...

"No. I have a really good voice. It just doesn't sound good when it's recorded"

I love it, more than one "artiste" has said the same thing. Bless her for trying and the pleasure she gets from it is worth all those donkeys at the door.

JB said...

Priceless. You may have the birth of a diva on your hands!

sageweb said...

That is so funny I feel the same way, my voice is terrific until it is recorded and I have to hear what everyone else hears.

I still dont understand why what I hear is not what others hear. I spent hours as a child trying to figure that out.

pat said...

I think your daughter may be onto something. By her logic, anyone who sounds good recorded actually cannot sing. Which confirms everything I've ever said about Celine Dion.

Silly Monkey said...

Oh, no. I'm flashing forward twelve years and hearing her tell Simon, "I can TOO sing well. You just can't hear it. It's because you're English or something. And just because Paula and Randy agree with you, that doesn't mean I'm not good."

But people usually only sing when they're happy, so who cares if we think they sound good or not. :)

Java said...

I love this story! I often do the same thing with my kids. If there isn't a really compelling reason to dash their illusions, I let them dream on...

Miss Janey said...

Thanks for sharing this great story. How sweet and perfect.

janey jay said...

That's awesome. Love her passion. And if there had been such a thing as a camera that shoots video clips available to me when I was her age, I would have done the exact same thing.

Anonymous said...

My daughter was running around without pants on last night. I suggested she put her pants on since her brother had friends over and it isn't polite to show one's underpants. She said " I will show my legs because they are beautiful". She has my legs, a little thicker than most but she is right, they are beautiful, and so are mine.

I still made her put on some pants...

jason said...

God bless her. :)

Ignoring the recording is half the battle of life, I think.

more cowbell said...

oh that's precious. I love her confidence. Good for her.

I once had a boyfriend who couldn't sing for beans. But he was the most sensuous man you could imagine. And he would sing to me, Sarah McLachlan, Savage Garden ... and you know, he couldn't carry a tune, but his voice was really beautiful. It was weird. I miss his singing.

M. Knoester said...

I was a little older when I recorded my voice - and came to the conclusion that my voice didn't sound good anywhere.

M. Knoester said...

*rolls eyes* another premajure submission...

I meant to say it didn't stop me from singing, but mostly after I made sure nobody was around.

Anonymous said...

In the Methodist Hymnal (1761), John Wesley gives instructions to churchgoers about singing: #4. Sing lustily and with good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half dead, or half asleep; but lift up your voice with strength. Be no more afraid of your voice now, nor more ashamed of its being heard, then when you sung the songs of Satan.

Nowhere in his instructions does he discuss singing "in tune". Sing with courage, sing with modesty, sing with the others, yes. Sing in tune, no. It's simply not an issue.

Elizabeth said...

If she ever figures out that she can't sing in tune, I'll pass that on to her! But now I'm wondering if Satan does require us to sing in tune.....