So breathtaking and sombre at the same time

People Are Being Brought to Tears by 13-Year-Old’s Rendition of “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables”

The talented youth, named Cormac Thompson, released a video of himself singing the iconic piece to help raise money for a charity called Acting for Others, which provides financial and emotional support to theater workers in need. In the video, we see the British chorister vocalizing into a microphone, his melodic voice gliding into high notes with ease as a gentle piano accompanies the lyrics. Interspersed in the short film are haunting clips of coffins, solitary figures, and scenes of medical staff, all of which allude to the traumas brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

That's the spirit... :)

This is such a powerful song, full of raw emotion and pain

Written and recorded shortly before a near-fatal overdose, written at rock bottom, a cry for help, and showing how complicated those feelings can be, when nothing takes away the pain. Demi Lovato has been publically candid with her history of depression, bipolar disorder, bulimia, and chemical dependence/addiction. The Grammy's were her first performance publically since that time. It is so good to see her back. I know there are many people, myself included, this song will call to.

Demi Lovato Makes a Powerful Confession at the Grammys: The pop star’s first new song since a near-fatal overdose offers no comfort other than the mere fact of its existence.

At the Grammy's...so much emotion. I don't watch these sorts of shows, but I heard about this on the radio, and had to watch this clip, and I was blown away.



The lyric video...

Hey!

I managed to sing for a few minutes! (Coldplay's/The Chainsmokers' 'Something Just Like This'). Okay, granted, the opening, even sung by Chris Martin, is rather low. But hey, I managed, even the bit with the higher chorus. :)

PS Drat. Now my throat hurts. That was premature. :( I think I strained my vocal chords just a bit with that, and I didn't even sing the whole song. Back to as much silence as possible.

Great story, great song, beautiful performance

I saw this at YKWIA's the other day. It takes your breath away, and her bravery, given her anxiety and depression, makes it even better. You can hear the emotion in her performance. I find it inspiring.

Not bad

Maybe we should make all the candidates sing, like some sort of 'American Idol' contest, and they get points for that...



..oh, wait, someone might take me up on that.

Of course most people these days probably know

'I Dreamed a Dream' as a song sung by Susan Boyle. I was looking up the Wikipedia article on her and came across this great quote (I don't really watch awards shows, so I didn't see this at the time):

Although not eligible for the 2010 Grammy Awards, its host Stephen Colbert paid tribute to Boyle at the ceremony, telling its audience 'you may be the coolest people in the world, but this year your industry was saved by a 48-year-old Scottish cat lady in sensible shoes.'

Her story is wonderful, and gives an uplift to middle-aged cat ladies everywhere, such as myself (although currently catless). Maybe I'll learn to sing when people are around, too. I can sing (not on professional calibre, of course, but I'm a decent 1st soprano), but I'm too nervous to do it publicly, except in a chorus. I miss singing. The chorus I used to be in has rehearsals that conflict with the Cthulhu game. But if they ever change their practice night, or our game changes nights, I'm going to go back.

Wow! She nailed it so well!

'Britain's Got Talent' (a show similar to 'American Idol', both of which have Simon Cowell, but this one isn't limited to singing) produced an unlikely Internet sensation in its auditions the other day with Scot Susan Boyle, whose rendition of 'I Dreamed a Dream' from Les Misérables (one of my favourite songs from the musical) was just wonderful. She's forty-seven years old, has a plucky sense of humour, and proves even those of us who are middle-aged can have dreams.
Singing Scot wows the world — and Oprah: Susan Boyle achieves global fame after millions view Internet ‘Talent’ clip

Here's the accompanying story video clip from 'Today':

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But for the real deal, go to the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY (sorry, I couldn't find one where the embedding wasn't disabled). Simon's smile is priceless. It was such an appropriate choice in song. She's now favoured to win.

A spinster, she stayed at home to care for her parents and has only sung in school, at church, and karaoke. I'm so glad she's chasing her dream and really living her life for herself now.

Wasn't the last contestant I mentioned from this show also Scottish? Yes, he was! And you know what? Andrew Johnston has his own record contract and career. Here's hoping Susan Boyle will as well. :)

Another library ninja

with creative patron demises...



It was a group project for an art class at Wellesley College. Of course, YKWIA found it for me, along with this one is from an audition for 'Britain's Got Talent' (the inspiration for 'American Idol')...13-year-old Andrew Johnston.



This kid has an amazing voice. He's singing 'Pie Jesu'. People throughout the auditorium (including one of the judges) cried. Even Simon Cowell had kind words for him. And people rallied because he is bullied for singing. That wouldn't have been enough, though. But his fantastic voice is angelic and beautiful--even more so because he was so nervous, but kept it together. I only hope that when it changes, it will be equally wonderful.

Another famous non-smoker felled by lung cancer

Opera star Beverly Sills dies of cancer

I knew she was ailing, but checked the news tonight to find she'd died. She popularised opera with her upbeat personality.

Even as a seven-year-old she had chops...



Here is Beverly Sills singing Mozart's 'Ah vous dirai-je, maman' (or as some would recognise it, 'Twinkle, twinkle, little star'):



and her final performance: