Songs I’ve Sung Just Because Someone Asked Me To
Tomorrow night I’ll be making my first of a few appearances to celebrate the paperback publication of Fourth Comings/Perfect Fifths preview.
About a year ago, I started doing this thing at my readings, wherein the first person who makes a song request after I open the floor to Q&A wins free stuff. This tradition has fulfilled two great desires: 1. Rewarding my most devoted readers. 2. Singing in public.
It was particularly helpful with the latter. Singing in public is something I am all too desperate to do. In fact, I almost wrote a book about a singer in a wedding band just to give me the excuse to join a wedding band as research, which is not a good reason to write a book. (Hence, no book about the singer in a wedding band.)
Unfortunately, I don’t have video documentation of most of my bookstore performances. I never know what what song request will be–if it’s made at all–and so far the list is pretty varied.
In New York City last fall, I sang Like A Virgin. In my hometown library, I sang Manic Monday. At UCLA, it was All I Want for Christmas is You. At Wellesley College, I muddled my way through Build Me Up Buttercup. These songs have nothing in common other than someone asked me to them. So I did. The person who asked won a prize. And the audience was treated to my spontaneous vocal stylings. Everyone’s a winner!
I hope someone comes up with a showstopper tomorrow night. (Psst…Any song I’ve ever mentioned on the (retro)blog is probably a good bet.)
