though i sort of admire your complete apathy toward what people think of you, could you kindly shut the &#@$ up?
5 10 2007I was walking down the hall in a building on campus the other day and ended up behind some dude with a freaky haircut. Actually, the haircut itself was fairly normal, but his hair was dark brown from his temples back, and bleach blonde in front of that spot. It was weird.
Anyway, I’m walking behind this guy and he starts singing a little Matchbox Twenty (Bright Lights). He had some headphones in, so I’m assuming he was listening to an iPod or something. His singing was at a respectably low volume, but we were in a fairly quiet hallway (it’s lined with classrooms) and it became very hard for me not to giggle.
That’s right - I giggle. Sometimes.
So I shifted into a higher gear to get around the guy so he wouldn’t hear me laughing at him all the way to the parking garage, and as we were walking, he starts singing louder and louder.
“Baby, baby, baby, when all your love is gone who will save me…”
At this point, I’m grinning from ear to ear because the guy is a terrible singer and all the people up the hall are looking up from their books to see where in God’s name that awful sound was coming from. Not me, cats and kittens, it’s the two-tone troubadour about twenty paces back.
“and maybe, maybe, maybe you’ll find something that’s enough to keep you…”
It is painfully obvious why acapella karaoke never caught on, especially in places where no one has been drinking. I really really wish I would have had a small camcorder or something with me so I could shared his awfulness with you, but that’s just the way things go sometimes. I sort of owe him a debt of gratitude, however. Up until that point, I’d had that stupid Rockstar song by Nickelback firmly planted in my brain for at least two days, and this guy managed to pry it free. Thanks, weird guy.
I probably shouldn’t laugh at him since I, too, am an awful singer (although I have the good sense to not showcase my lack of talent to the general public). I can’t help but be amused when I see people singing when they seem oblivious to the fact that other people are watching or listening to them. People clearly rocking out in their cars in traffic? High comedy, my friends.
In a related note, I would like to go get drunk sometime and embarrass myself in a karaoke bar. If anyone’s interested in accompanying me (especially a DD!) shoot me an email and maybe we can figure something out. I might even have someone record it and put it here on the site so that karma can kick me square in the nads while my faithful readers tease me relentlessly with disparaging comment after disparaging comment. It’ll be fun!
I would love to take you to a karaoke bar! However, it’s my personal policy to never a) be a DD or b) travel your neck of the woods unless I’m going to meet John Mellencamp, and since I don’t think you’d want to go mic to mic with Mellencamp, it’s a no go.
On another note, I rock out in the car. All the time. In any kind of traffic. I sing at the top of my lungs and I beat the steering wheel with my hands. I’m sorry you can’t handle it. I’m a free spirit that way.
I would crack you up all the time if we ever met in person. I’m not only into karaoke but random rocking out, as well. The other day, I accidentally wandered into a busy lunchtime establishment in the Financial District while singing “Poison” by Bel Biv Devoe. Never trust a big butt and a smile.
@TK: I can handle it, my friend. I do the same thing, I just happen to stop singing long enough to laugh at the other people I see doing the same thing.
@Cyg: Do you ever do air guitar while walking down the street? Because that would be amazing to see.
We go to Griffins at Stop 11 and Emerson and do Karaoke all the time! You should come out one night:)
Sidebar: Let me clarify. I don’t do Karaoke, as like you, I would only embarrass myself. But there are tons of people that DO embarrass themselves, so you wouldn’t be alone!
I would totaly rock out with you at a Karaoke bar somewhere! Bring your woman, I’ll bring some of my crew, we will have a blast and get home safely.
I love seeing people just singing away in their cars. Best time to do it. Though I admittedly screw with my kid in the morning and have a tendency to sing old melodies with new words having something to do with getting out of bed and how great the day will be, always very loudly. Drives him crazy, I’m sure from an outsiders perspective its hilarious.
Count me in for the karaoke!
Karaoke - would LOVE it! Yes, I would embarrass myself, but don’t care one bit. I sing in my car all the time, but do enjoy the entertainment of others as they throw the rock concert of the century singing into their steering wheel.
Ummm, hello? How many times have I tried to get you to go karaoking with me??!! And you are not a terrible singer. Not fantastic, but certainly not terrible. And I am more than happy to be DD.