I have to tell you that I chickened out.

I said I wasn’t going to do it. I believe the reason I gave my husband was that I was “too pissy to sing a solo”, but then I went next door and my neighbor was auditioning for a different solo and somehow that made me brave so I did it.

When the director asked who wanted to audition, I held my hand up high.

I also noted that the only other three people were all in the select small ensemble that I didn’t even come close to getting in.

That reminds me of a story my mom told me the other day. My mom told me (and I have no idea why she told me this, my birthday is in like five weeks) that she bought me a birthday card. The outside has two girls and one girl says something like “Where is your birthday party at?” and the second girl says “You shouldn’t end sentences in a preposition.” On the inside of the card it says “Where is your birthday party at, bitch?”

Of course this is exactly the perfect card for me because it involves grammar rules and calling people names – both things that I enjoy.

Anyway, the audition was weird. We all had to stay late, so while I was very warmed up from having just sung for two and a half hours, my voice was also kind of blown out already. Most of the notes I sang were lovely, but the lowest one didn’t come out AT ALL. It was just an air noise. It was also just the four of us standing around a baby grand piano which seemed so much like a scene in a movie that it was distracting. I think if we had had some wine and cheese and weren’t competing with one another we could have had a lovely time or formed a barbershop quartet.

Whatever, I don’t think I got the solo — probably due to lack of the low note, which I totally normally have, it isn’t even all that low, I was just tired. I honestly think I didn’t get it because other three women all had very, very lovely voices and are in the blue-chip group, having already proven themselves worthy.

That being said, I am very glad I tried. I feel good about it and I appreciate all of you who encouraged me to do it. It isn’t so bad not being the one selected when this is the group she is choosing from.

I mean, it isn’t so bad not being the one selected when this is the group she is choosing from, bitch.

I have very exciting news. I am giving away a pair of tickets to the Duran Duran show at Constitution Hall on October 16th, 2011.

Thanks to Erin, I had the opportunity to see them live back in March and it was one of the best concerts I have ever seen. I even got to touch (shake hands, but whatever) hands with both John and Roger Taylor. It was transcendent. I’d have a picture of Erin and me with John Taylor, but whoever I handed my camera to was inept.

*shakes first toward the heavens*

Duran Duran was so awesome that I am going to see them again. And yes, I am leaving my husband home with the children on my wedding anniversary to see Duran Duran. He has been very understanding about my Duran Duran obsession.

But back yo YOU winning the tickets.

If you live anywhere near Washington D.C. or you have the means to travel here I am going to make this really easy for you. Just leave a comment, preferably complimenting the Fab Five, on this post. You can also tell me your favorite Duran Duran song or about any other time you got to see them live.  I will have my children draw a name out of a hat or a bag randomly on October 9th.

You can get extra entries by tweeting me (@goonsquadsarah) with the hashtag #duransocial .

If you live somewhere else check these dates to see if Duran Duran is coming to a city near you.

Each comment is one entry. Please no more than 10 entries per person and make sure I have a way to get in touch with you if you win.

Good luck!

* * *

I suppose this goes without saying, but I am working with Duran Duran on this project. The tickets are provided by them and not me personally. That being said, all of these words and opinions are mine.

You know, the song that they would play for you when you come up to bat?

Sports fans are nodding their heads and hitting the comment button. For the rest of you, think of them playing “Wild Thing” for Charlie Sheen in “Major League” when he came out of the bullpen.

Like these:

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately.

No, I haven’t been approached by a Major League Baseball team (although I am certain that is what you were all thinking) but I have been drinking beer with the guys from my husband’s job and when this subject was broached I knew I needed to really ruminate on it.

I must choose a batting song.

So as I do, I am turning to you to help me make this important life decision.

Here are songs on my shortlist:

Bad Reputation – Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
South Of Heaven- Slayer
Twist Of Cain – Danzig
Ace of Spades – Motörhead
Dies Irae – Verdi’s Requiem
The Usurper – Celtic Frost
A Fifth of Beethoven (Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony – Walter Murphy

Help me choose my batting song. Am I missing something really obvious? What would your batting song be?

* * *

Alice Cooper photo: David Guralnick

* * *

Me: I heard your favorite song at BlogHer.

Son: Six Foot Seven?

Me: No, the other bad word song.

Son: Party and *nods*

Me: Yes.

Son: Can I say it?

Me: Just one time.

Son: Party and Bullshit.

Son: Niiice.

Son: That felt good.

My Mom: Yup. That’s your son alright.

* * *

You know the part where Biggie says “All I really wanna know is where the party’s at. And can I bring my gat?”

That line has been bothering me for a full year now.

1) Biggie should not be ending a sentence in a preposition. Not that “where the party’s at” is his worst grammatical misstep, but you know what I mean.

2) Who asks permission to bring a gun to a party?

3) Or does he mean this kind of gat? And if so, I’m pretty sure it would be okay with the hostess if he brought it.

4) I’ve been wondering if my kids think he is saying “Can I bring my cat?” which changes the whole vibe of the song, but it would be a nice easy change for radio airplay.

* * *

A little off topic, but in her Pets Bunny Bunch DS game my daughter named one of the bunnies “Shit”.

Also my child.

* * *

I love how he rhymes “terror” with “era” but it doesn’t work with my mid-western accent.

* * *

I only really like the ratatat remix.

For your listening pleasure.

NSFW

“What are you doing?” I ask.

“Getting sheveled.” he says.

* * *

Another song that sounds terrible coming out of a six year old’s mouth.

“Down to This” by Soul Coughing

First of all, I get to sit in a VIP blogger area back stage which is insane and amazing.

Second of all, this isn’t just a regular concert. This is Duran Duran Unstaged. This concert is directed by David Lynch.

David Lynch! Duran Duran!!

I’m completely geeked, and not to sound like an ad (my ticket was free, but I paid for my flight out here and I’m staying at Erin’s house for free and nobody is requiring me to write this) but you can watch along here at 10:00 pm EST. If you do look for me.

I’ll be the one looking like I cannot believe I’m there.

]]> http://sarahandthegoonsquad.com/2011/03/23/the-duran-duran-show-before/feed/ 11 http://sarahandthegoonsquad.com/2011/03/19/sing-blue-silver/ http://sarahandthegoonsquad.com/2011/03/19/sing-blue-silver/#comments Sat, 19 Mar 2011 21:18:29 +0000 Goon Squad Sarah http://sarahandthegoonsquad.com/?p=6138 If ten years ago you told me I would have to reschedule getting my floors refinished so that I could fly to Los Angeles to go to a Duran Duran concert I would have asked you to pass what you were smoking.

Yet, here I am, waiting for my sandless refinishing guy to call me back because last night I got a text from Erin saying that I could be her plus one to the Duran Duran show on Wednesday if I could get to California quickly.

I can.

I remember one summer (and Alison can confirm this) back in the days when we still held the tape recorder up to the radio to record music where I made an entire tape that consisted of the same two songs over and over. Those songs were “Our House” by Madness and “Is There Something I Should Know” by Duran Duran.

When we had to pick an instrument in 5th grade for band I chose the saxophone because of “Rio”.

In 6th grade, my friend Angela and I would buy Teen Beat and Tiger beat and Bop magazine and I plastered my bedroom walls with pictures of Duran Duran. I even wrote out every lyric to every one of their songs on pink construction paper (they only had three albums out at the time) and posted those above my window. No other bands were represented. Duran Duran was the only band that mattered.

Even in high school when most of the magazine pictures were replaced with Mötley Crüe and Ratt posters (shut up Ben) I still kept one John Taylor cut out  (in his Antony Price suit and fedora) on the wall.

But somehow I never got to see Duran Duran live.

There are a couple of bands that I really regret not seeing. Nirvana, Paul McCartney, The Police, Iron Maiden and of course Duran Duran. When Duran Duran announced this latest tour I was really bummed that there was no D.C. date. I was beginning to resign myself to the fact that maybe it just wasn’t going to happen.

This blogging thing has presented me with some truly amazing opportunities. If it weren’t for Sarah and the Goon Squad I never would have driven across the country, attended the WNBA Draft, been in the photo pit at a music festival, done charity work with Top Chef contestants or ridden in the Weinermobile. Now I get to see Duran Duran.

Photo by Laurie White

It is, after all, my year of jubilee.

But things are never that simple.

First of all, I called Gabe at work to ask him if I could tell the internet that he thinks you can’t wear the shirt of the band you are going to see to that show. First he said yes, then he said “And it isn’t just me! Everybody knows you can’t wear the shirt of the band to the show!” And in the background I hear his co-worker, and apparently hype-man, yell “DON’T BE THAT GUY!”

The thing is, Laurie and I are going to see Bon Jovi this coming Sunday.  I got to thinking – I still have my Slippery When Wet jersey from February of 1987, and when I say jersey I mean jersey. It is white with black three-quarter sleeves. I would show you a picture of me wearing it, but my iPhoto is still broken.

Anyway, because I needed backup I asked twitter:  If I go see Bon Jovi and wear my “Slippery When Wet” shirt from 1998 does it make me a total loser or am I keeping it real?

And then TwoBusy said “Yes” which I kind of figured and then Laurie said:

Which is kind of good point, because you know what? It isn’t 1987. It is 2011 and I no longer have to drink in parking lots (I’m not saying I don’t do that, I am saying I don’t have to do that. Now they let me drink in bars.) and since I make more than $2 babysitting, I can afford real wine, I don’t have to mix my mom’s jug wine with orange juice and pretend it is a wine cooler.

Hi Mom. Hi Jill!

But back to this who t-shirt business.

Then Gabe sent me this with the subject “1:50 Mark”.

I hate it when he is right.

Or rightish.

Is he right? Is the PCU trailer  even a valid argument? What should I wear on Sunday?

And don’t say those jeans that have leather lace ups in the back because I threw those away like four years ago.

This should help you make an informed decision.

I guess I could just wear my Cinderella shirt.

This will be a happy post as my goal is attainable. Maybe not easily attainable as I have to actually leave the country to do it. I assume it will be expensive, but I have plenty of time to save up. I’m in no hurry.

I want to go see an opera at La Scala in Milan, Italy.

I have wanted to do this since I was in college. This is life list material here. I have seen operas in several different venues, but this is no ordinary theatre. This is La Scala.

This opera house has been around since 1778. Turandot premiered at La Scala. Salieri premiered an opera there. Verdi opened Nabucco, Otello and five other operas there. Toscanini worked there for years.

My friend Laurie says that if you look at the way you spend your time and your money you will be able to figure out what your passions are. Mine clearly involve food, travel, music and wine.

Yes. Italy sounds about right.

***

***

Following are the writing prompts for 30 Days of Truth, should you be interested in doing so yourself.

Day 01 → Something you hate about yourself.
Day 02 → Something you love about yourself.
Day 03 → Something you have to forgive yourself for.
Day 04 → Something you have to forgive someone for.
Day 05 → Something you hope to do in your life.
Day 06 → Something you hope you never have to do.
Day 07 → Someone who has made your life worth living for.
Day 08 → Someone who made your life hell, or treated you like shit.
Day 09 → Someone you didn’t want to let go, but just drifted.
Day 10 → Someone you need to let go, or wish you didn’t know.
Day 11 → Something people seem to compliment you the most on.
Day 12 → Something you never get compliments on.
Day 13 → A band or artist that has gotten you through some tough ass days. (write a letter.)
Day 14 → A hero that has let you down. (letter)
Day 15 → Something or someone you couldn’t live without, because you’ve tried living without it.
Day 16 → Someone or something you definitely could live without.
Day 17 → A book you’ve read that changed your views on something.
Day 18 → Your views on gay marriage.
Day 19 → What do you think of religion? Or what do you think of politics?
Day 20 → Your views on drugs and alcohol.
Day 21 → (scenario) Your best friend is in a car accident and you two got into a fight an hour before. What do you do?
Day 22 → Something you wish you hadn’t done in your life.
Day 23 → Something you wish you had done in your life.
Day 24 → Make a playlist to someone, and explain why you chose all the songs. (Just post the titles and artists and letter)
Day 25 → The reason you believe you’re still alive today.
Day 26 → Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why?
Day 27 → What’s the best thing going for you right now?
Day 28 → What if you were pregnant or got someone pregnant, what would you do?
Day 29 → Something you hope to change about yourself. And why.
Day 30 → A letter to yourself, tell yourself EVERYTHING you love about yourself