The Most Amazing Performance

True story of an unforgettable night out... and two special people.

 A MOST AMAZING PERFORMANCE

by Dax

 

 

A few years ago when I was just getting familiar with karaoke, I had the privilege of witnessing the most amazing performance I've ever seen. I remember details about it even today - 15 years later.

It happened in a bar/pool hall. The place had karaoke right there in the middle of a bunch of pool tables. Most of the time it was just a distraction, tolerated because it was better than having no entertainment at all. Sometimes there was polite applause, but the show really didn't have much going for it.

Until an obviously shy 30-somethings couple were called up to sing. As they headed up to the center stage, it was obvious they both had Downs syndrome. Sadly but honestly, no one paid much attention and expectations were nonexistent. The two turned and faced the customers standing around in the elevated bar area.
There was a pretty good crowd and these kids were terrified. Frankie, (the KJ) announced that they had never tried karaoke before. The girl leaned into the microphone and added very solomnly, "But we've been practicing almost a year." She was obviously serious. Some a*****e in the crowd made a bad joke about their eyes being far apart. No one laughed, but I could see it hurt the girl on stage's feelings.

The music started and the two looked at each other. They crossed their fingers and ..almost.. managed a smile. The KJ quick reminded them to use the microphones like he'd showed them earlier, and they obediently put them to their mouths. The intro over, words came on the screen,.. they missed the first few words.

Panic instantly shown on both faces. Frankie helped them by singing a couple words and they picked it up - sort of. For about a minute they struggled through a basically total failure... but they stayed up there trying. When the song's familiar refrain came around the two again looked at each other, (knowing it was their best part of the song?) and ..almost.. smiled as they sang the first line. They were almost on key and on time.!.. but not quite. The crowd was somehow drawn to these two kids. Watching them struggle so hard was at first painful, but when they hit the refrain,.. a few smiles and a little applause encouraged them. They sang the refrain a little louder, and took a step toward each other, now touching shoulders as they sang the familar part of the song - badly.

Then the verse again, and they missed the key and they knew it. The girl wiped a tear away as she continued to sing - way off key and ahead of time in her nervousness. The boy reached for her hand and took it in his, without looking at her, and you could see her squeezing his hand back. They were way off... but they had a lot of heart. They were really, really trying hard. You could feel their determination, it was like they were reaching for the unreachable star right there by the pool tables. He sang louder and closer to the right key. Frankie again sang a few notes with them but it didn't help. They stayed way off... she kept wiping tears, he kept holding her hand... and they came to the refrain again.. More of the crowd noticed the big effort going on on that 'stage'. These two were fighting for their lives! Their struggle was obvious and their strength and determination was amazing. Frankie tried again, and again, .. and they just couldn't get it. some of the crowd started singing to help them. The final verse began and they were visibly shaking on stage, the microphone was almost a blurr. they were now swinging their locked hands in an effort to give each other more strength to 'catch it". About half the people in the place were encouraging them by singing along with the final verse. The kids just got farther away from the melody, but they kept on going!

...and the final refrain began. Amazingly, the young, very special couple came in almost exactly on key and on time! You could feel the tension lift from the room. Smiles of relief on faces. The two singers were as surprised as anyone that they were suddenly on key.. but they both reacted with a kind of shy grin, and then they sang their hearts out..The crowd began to applaud. The two now squeezed hands again, out in front of themselves. A victory squeeze! They sang louder... the crowd was cheering. She was laughing and crying at the same time, he was wiping her tears, the crowd was applauding and whistling! The two finished the song, then hugged each other. The crowd went wild screaming their congrats! People at the bar were giving high fives to each other. Pool players put dwn their sticks to applaud. There wasn't a dry eye in the house. As the kids left the stage they were mobbed with handshakes, hugs and high-fives. They were laughing and smiling.. and very, very proud.

It took at least five minutes for the appaluse to quiet. I've never seen anything like it in my life. I swear I even saw Frankie wipe a tear.
Sometimes karaoke has nothing to do with talent.

Author's Note

It's absolutely true..