Things have changed since 1991. Mostly me. This time, sober, conscious, I brought a well functioning (mostly) frontal lobe. But my brain still wanted to play games. The venue? The crowd? Yikes. Massive. This introvert's initial reaction? Fear. And the Dad in me kept waiting for the event safety spiel, lol. But soon I forgot because somehow, Sarah made it feel cozy.
I have a list of musicians I've longed to experience live: Sarah was third. She's a one-of-a-kind Canadian treasure of a human and her concert did not disappoint. Imagine being a child with hearing loss and becoming a global award-winning performer who used her mastery of sound and voice and language to change the world. (See the Lilith Fair documentary.)
I had hoped she would perform her cover of Joni Mitchell's song River (Mitchell is the #1 artist on my list). Yet with every hit, old and new—her voice like a weighted blanket—I soon forgot and then she sang a favourite: Ice Cream.
Years ago I sang this song to my kids at bedtime. If you know it...your love is better than ice cream...better than chocolate...better than anything else that I've tried...that might seem fitting but this song—deceptively simple and upbeat—is also dark, and most importantly, honest...but everyone here knows how to fight...how to cry...it's a long way down to the place where we started from.... That's why I love the song: it juxtaposes exuberant delight with that abrupt anguish inevitable in all our relationships, the mirth and the melancholy. She did not sing her crushing song from Toy Story 2 either, but she did sing a song she wrote about her relationship struggles with her daughter, entitled Gravity. Oh wow.
While waiting to vacate that massive arena, a stranger asked me what I thought of the concert. Sheepishly, I told her I cried a few times. She nodded and smiled, "you were moved." I'm still moving.
Dear friends, what's moved you lately?
To be honest it's so good to read something written by a man that admits to feeling strong emotions. We all have them. I'm so glad you had a wonderful time at the concert.
ReplyDeleteI went to the site you mentioned about highly sensitive people, took the quiz and no surprise, I'm a highly sensitive person:) It made me a good nurse when I finally started trusting my gut.
We're in the middle of learning about emotions in Jack's resiliency course, not only is he learning to name emotions, but so are nana and poppa.
I spent most of my life being told, "don't feel that". I'm glad I don't have people in my life like that anymore. I'm to learning to feel the feels and to name the feels. You can teach an old dog new tricks.
These words, Pixie. Oh wow. I'm a little like Jack, still learning the words. If we're honest, aren't we all?
DeleteNo shame in acknowledging your emotions. One of the many benefits of aging with a touch of wisdom is that I no longer care what others might think of me and my emotions. Feeling able to be expressive is quite liberating.
ReplyDeleteLiberation ftw, sir.
DeleteI don't follow pop music really, but I have really liked what I have heard from her, and I definably thought of River because I couldn't name any others. But I can hardly name myself, so that doesn't say much. I think we get the feels more as we age. When I watch The Voice, it almost always seems to be the dads who are blubbering over the daughters' performances.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Blubbering is kind of a hobby for me now, ha.
DeleteCodex: You consistently move me.
ReplyDeleteAnd where was that book before I had to figure it all out by myself?
I think empathy is not an asset in the modern world. Going to overthink this post and come back to it.
Ha...I needed that book years ago too...as for overthinking...I'm right there with ya.
DeleteI've only been to three arena concerts in my life, all of them at the old Winnipeg Arena (small by today's mega-stadium standards). In 1975, I went to the Guess Who's final concert. And in the early 80s I saw (gawd help me) the Bay City Rollers and KISS -- I was chaperoning my adolescent sister at those ones. I have no desire to attend an arean concert today for all the reasons you list, plus the outrageous ticket expense. So I applaud you now, old-timer, for attending Sarah McLachlan's concert at freakin' Rogers Place!
ReplyDeleteIt's unlikely I'll ever go again, ha. P.S. Your life story sounds fascinating.
DeleteSarah's "Witness" is one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs to ever emerge from the '90s.
ReplyDeleteShe performed this ethereal poem of a song! 10/10 likes for this comment, sir.
DeleteAhhhh Sarah McLachlan, lovely! I've never seen her live and probably never will, but I love her voice and the way she delivers a song. And what has brought tears to my eyes recently.... well, this may be silly but when I saw drippy tears in Vladdy's eyes when the Jays won the Championship, I felt quite emotional for him.
ReplyDelete