The Power of Music
Mrs. C
dragged me to another concert last night.
Actually, much as I usually hate concerts, this was one I wanted to
attend. The stars of this show were Rod Stewart
and Cyndi Lauper. I like Rod Stewart,
but I was especially looking forward to Cyndi. She is a personal favorite. The venue was the Garden State Arts Theater,
an open air amphitheater which is only a half hour away and is an excellent
facility.
Both artists
were terrific. Both have not lost a
thing from their unique voices despite Rod being 74 years old and Cyndi over
sixty. Cyndi weighs about 12 pounds, but
her powerful almost cartoon-like voice is amazing. Both Rod and Cyndi are consummate professionals
and they put on a great show.
One fun
thing about a concert aside from the performers, is the veritable smorgasbord
of people watching. This concert
was no exception. Young, old, skinny and
fat, high clappers, isle dancers, beer can swillers, there were interesting
people to watch that would suit any voyeurism taste.
I was
particularly interested in an obvious Cyndi Lauper fan.
An older woman was wheel-chaired in to a seat in the row just in front of
us. I could tell she was a Cyndi fan as
she was dressed in a Cyndi-like all pink outfit, her hair was dyed a Lauper-like bright red and she had a red flower in her
hair. The woman was by demeanor and
facial characteristics clearly Special…Intellectually Challenged, or dare I say
it, the R word.
It took the
Cyndi fan several minutes to transfer from the wheelchair to her walker and
finally to settle into her seat. Throughout
Cyndi’s performance, she politely applauded, but otherwise seemed unable to
show much emotion.
And then.
Cyndi broke
out into one of her signature hits, “Girls Just Want To Have Fun.” Much of the audience, especially the ladies,
stood and clapped and danced during this piece.
I was
surprised to look over and see the Challenged, very overweight Cyndi fan who earlier could barely get into her seat, stand up and dance. It was quite touching to see this severely
disabled lady who spent much of the concert motionless rise up and dance
joyfully.
The power of
music!
Concerts are not for me. Never where. Loud, too many people. Too many people. Too many people. Oh did I say that already.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day. ☺
I'm with you! Don't like crowds anymore. Plus am paying for those many rock concerts in my past with constant annoying tinnitus for many years now....
DeleteThat video warmed the cockles of my heart, whatever they are!!
ReplyDeleteAw..look at her go. Pure joy. That just had to make you feel good all over.
ReplyDeleteVideo wouldn't stop loading for me, but that's terrific!
ReplyDeleteWow, Rod Stewart is 74??! I still picture him as he was when he sang "The First Cut is the Deepest" and "Georgie Boy".....where have the years gone.....
ReplyDeleteI've been to see Paul McCartney a few times; I think the last time I saw him, he had just turned 70, and that was a few years ago. Man, I hope I have half that energy when I'm 70. . .
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing the Who (or what's left of 'em) when they did the Super Bowl halftime a few years back. There was something comic/pathetic about a couple guys who were at least deep into their 60s at the time, singing "Hope I die before I get old." Too late, dudes. . .
Sweet piece of video. . . thanks
That made me tear up a bit.
ReplyDeleteThey were in Tuscaloosa a few weeks ago and we both worked that day so we couldn't attend. It got rave reviews from friends who went.
ReplyDeleteWe had cassette tapes of both artists and completely wore them out.
R
As you say, music is very powerful. Glad that handicapped woman enjoyed the show as much as you did.
ReplyDeleteI like both of them, but not enough to go to a concert! They have so many hits, I wonder how they decided which ones to perform. I like Rod Stewart's "Handbags and Gladrags," and Cyndi Lauper's "Money Changes Everything."
ReplyDeleteI've seen Rob Stewart perform at a Advanced Micro Devices company party in the Silicon Valley. He kept kicking soccer balls into the crowd. I wanted one so bad to give to my youngest son who played soccer.
ReplyDeleteI love both of them but have never seen them in concert. Your video was wonderful and I thought how cool it would be to do something in this life that would touch so many people with joy.
ReplyDeleteI would like to see both of them myself, the handicapped woman getting up and dancing when Cyndi sang had to be a highlight of the evening.
ReplyDeleteShe just wanted to have fun and finally found her fun. Would have loved to see Rod Stewart, Cindi Lauper too, just to wonder how she "held up."
ReplyDeletebetty
That was lovely to see. I don't think there are many things stronger than the power of music. I was stuffing my face with brownies when I clicked on to your blog, but put the plate away when I read "Cyndi weighs about 12 pounds" so thank you.
ReplyDeletewow.... 74 years old and still going strong. You can see the spark in his eyes.
ReplyDeleteAww, my cockles got a jump start also. Sweet story and video.
ReplyDeleteVideo just kept perpetually loading for me, too. FWIW R is no longer used -- was DD for years, but think was changed some years ago to Intellectual Disability.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteCyndi Lauper is over sixty? Wasn't she in her mid-thirties a minute ago?
ReplyDeleteHappy this woman got to enjoy the song so much.