The BIG Takeaway

The BIG takeaway from my karaoke lessons, and the approximately forty-four hours of dance lessons, is simply this: what do you have to lose?  Stepping out of your comfort zone is all about expanding your horizon.  Sometimes you’ve just got to go for it.

My dance partner Barbara and I have completed three-quarters of the dance lessons we signed up for.  We’ve learned the bolero, cha cha, tango with a kick and flick, bachata, swing, and waltz.  We haven’t embarrassed ourselves, and while we’re not the best, we’re certainly not the worst.

We’ve taken a couple of private lessons to complement our class sessions, and they’ve been really helpful. My main goal is simple: to step onto the dance floor without embarrassing myself or my partner. The biggest thing we’re learning is how to learn. It’s not about the steps themselves, but how and why you take them. You work together to become true partners, gradually picking up on the subtle differences each person brings to the floor.

My karaoke lessons have had a similar impact. I’ve always enjoyed singing, but I’ve never truly let loose. Letting go could mean failing. Since I can’t hit the high notes, I’ve stuck to singing at home or in the car, where it’s just me and I think I sound great when I’m alone.

Our first class had us singing as a group. Fifteen of us belted out Jim Croce’s “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown.” Somehow, I ended up in the middle, with singers on both sides. Hearing them reassured me I wasn’t the worst. There were definitely a few who were worse than me. Later, we each sang solo. I chose “Let It Be Me,” and was caught off guard when the instructor asked which version. I’d been practicing with Elvis and the Philharmonic Orchestra, but knowing I couldn’t hit the high ending, I went with Willie Nelson’s version instead.

That turned out to be a mistake. The rhythm was different, and I started way off. A few lines in, I found my footing and did okay. I wasn’t great, but I wasn’t bad either. Out of the five men in class, I didn’t want to be the worst and I wasn’t. Some said I was “good,” and the woman I sat with even called me “the best” male singer. God bless her.

For our second class, we were each asked to prepare two songs. I chose Perry Como’s version of “And I Love Her So” for my first. It’s beautiful and short, which I thought was a good choice. I had planned to sing “Always on My Mind” as my second, but when I thought of Ruth, I choked up, lost my nerve, and switched to Roger Miller’s “King of the Road.” The class joined in with a bit of clapping along to the beat.

Singing and dancing have been a lot of fun, and I plan to keep doing both. I’ll focus on a couple of dance styles since I can’t be great at all of them, but I can aim to be good at a few. Swing and bachata seem the most promising, and I could manage a waltz if needed. Most of it comes down to having a willing partner and being able to hold her. Right now, I do, so I am.

When Ruth and I danced, she liked to lead and do her own thing, which made being “in hold” a challenge. As long as we didn’t touch, we were fine, but to dance well you need to be “in hold,” so we weren’t. Barbara and I aren’t there yet either, but I see potential. Time will tell.

Singing is a whole different story. Ruth was very good. With lessons and support from her parents, she might have gone professional. Without either, she never pursued it.

My karaoke instructor says singing karaoke can be harder than singing with a band. A band can mask your mistakes; with karaoke, it’s just you and the music. The audience expects you to deliver. They’re rooting for you, but it’s on you to make it happen. Like anything, practice makes perfect.

I’m aiming to perfect about six songs. I’ll stick with the four I’ve started: “Let It Be Me,” “And I Love Her So,” “Always on My Mind,” and “King of the Road.” I just need to choose two more. I told my classmates, “I sing in the key of me.” I think Frank Sinatra is my best bet.  There may be some Glen Campbell and Kenny Rogers in my future.  We’ll see.

In any case, I plan to sing and dance as long as I can. I’m at a stage in my life where I just want to have fun.  That’s it.