Plenty of songs remind me of someone (see: Day 04) but this one is special.
In 1999 my grandfather was very sick and in his final stages of lung cancer and I was living with my grandparents to help my grandmother care for him -- a heavy situation for an 18 year old, that's for sure. I was also preparing for a vocal competition that I participated in annually from the age of six on and wasn't going to miss for the world. I remember sitting with my grandfather, watching the 6 o'clock news, when he asked me what I was being given to sing.
"They let me choose my own song this year, actually. I'm pretty stumped... what's your favourite song, grandpa?"
"Well, I've always been a fan of the ol' crooners. Have you ever heard any Rosemary Clooney? Vera Lynn? Billie Holiday?"
I stared blankly.
I stared blankly.
"Some of them war time songs were quite moving. Try one of them. 'Tie a Yellow Ribbon' maybe. Or what's that other one... 'I'll Be Seeing You', now that's a beautiful one. That would be something I'd love to hear, sweetheart."
He passed months before he was to hear me perform it, but I'll tell you -- I earned that first place. I remember having to choke down my emotions between verses. Despite the heart-wrenching lyrics I couldn't bring myself to perform any other song.
Recently a friend mentioned that he really enjoyed listening to me sing these types of songs. I know that it must be because there's always an extra bit of real emotion packed in there. A heavy heart makes for a better tune, I think. What is it they say about suffering for one's art?
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