Would you like to mess up a Christmas Carol?
“Would you like to sing ‘Mary’s Boy Child’ at our Christmas Carol Service?”
It was Christmas 1995 and Mo had been asked to sing. I don’t know how they found out that she could sing, but they asked her anyway. Mo agreed and the musicians came to our home for a rehearsal. At some point, when Mo was feeling more relaxed, she started to mess about and sing it in her own, unmistakeably way. The keyboard player joined in and as soon as they had finished, it was decided that they should do it just like that at the service.
You should know that our church was very middle class, and they were used to a very traditional Christmas service. You know, harps and oboes and gentle singing of carols. This was not in keeping with what they were used to. The pastor was told that it would be rather different, and he was keen to have a break from the norm.
The day arrived, the church was packed and Mo was really nervous. She had never sung with a band before, and certainly never at a church! We had two MAJOR stumbling blocks. When the pastor was introducing Mo he, very stupidly, made a lengthy speech about how different her singing was going to be and…… well you’ll here some of it on the recording. That was enough to freeze Mo to the spot.
There was a lead guitarist that hadn’t been at the rehearsal. Mo, in her nervousness hadn’t even noticed, I hadn’t either – until the music started! There was a totally unexpected guitar riff. He was a rock guitarist and played with a gritty fuzz box sound. It totally threw Mo and she…..well you’ll hear it. You can just hear the offending guitar if you listen carefully. It came through a separate amp and wasn’t recorded through the system, just picked up through the microphone, which was about fifteen foot away! Don’t get me wrong, he is a brilliant guitarist, but he hadn’t rehearsed with Mo. Not good when you have a nervous singer, who has never sung with a band before
Be sure to listen to the words she sings, and listen through to the end. Despite all the mistakes, it went down well, and has given us plenty of laughs since. Click the little triangle to listen.
Stumble it!
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JD at I Do Things
| 11 December 2008 at 1:13
GO MO! I quite enjoyed that! Once she hit her stride, there was no stopping her. WOO! (claps and swings hair)
JD at I Do Things´s last blog post..You Named That Toy so I don’t have to
Kathy
| 11 December 2008 at 1:28
WOW!!!! What a voice! Loved listening to that. Yes, agree with JD. She really started hitting a stride and belting it out, baby! Oh, thank you for posting that. What a treat!
Kathy´s last blog post..Do You Hate Me?
Lee
| 11 December 2008 at 13:20
That’s why it’s a good idea to rehearse with everyone in the band. :0) I bet Mo does some great blues! This was great and added to my Christmas spirit. She’s got a great voice. Thanks for sharing.
Lee´s last blog post..Another Tune For The Season
Eric and Flynn
| 11 December 2008 at 14:54
We enjoyed that, and our mum did too.
Eric and Flynn´s last blog post..Fly Catcher
Liudmila
| 11 December 2008 at 14:57
I like it very much. Your churches are places that care about education and creativity of the persons, I see. I’ve seen it in Finland too.
Liudmila´s last blog post..7 Things About Myself
beetle
| 11 December 2008 at 15:23
JD: Yes, once she got going she was OK
Kathy: She sung Silent Night the following year and I don’t think she messed up. I’ll have to look for that recording.
Lee: Yes she does sing blues really well. We have lots of old recordings of her singing blues. Glad you enjoyed it
Eric & Flynn: Did you sing along with it?
Liudmila: Yes. The church we belong to now, encourages everyone to use their talents, whatever they are.
Daisy the Curly Cat
| 11 December 2008 at 15:48
What a wonderful voice Mo has! Anyone would get nervous with an intro like that about how she is going to sing it in a “particular way”!
Daisy the Curly Cat´s last blog post..Keeping Things Straight
Comedy Plus
| 11 December 2008 at 16:31
I liked it. You have a great voice. Have a terrific day.
granny grimble
| 11 December 2008 at 17:10
I’m feeling really poorly today and that cheered me up no end. Thanks Mo! I have lots of your blues songs especially one you recorded just for the birthday of ‘him indoors’! Woderful. you ought to do a whole CD of jazzed up carols like that. I’d buy it XXXXX
granny grimble´s last blog post..EARLY DAYS OF BRITISH TELEVISION
Swubird
| 11 December 2008 at 17:25
Babs:
Tell Mo that I really liked it. In fact, it was great. And from the clapping, it’s obvious that the church congregation loved it to. What a great singing voice. Well done.
Happy trails.
Swubird´s last blog post..LOQUACIOUS VERBOSITY!
Babs - beetle
| 11 December 2008 at 22:29
Daisy: Yes it was a very silly thing to do, just before somebody sings for the first time!
Comedy Plus: I wish it was me singing, but I can’t claim that voice unfortunately
Granny Grimble: I hope you feel better really soon. We might have a go at some – if I can get y recording equipment to work!
Swubird: Mo said “Thank you”
Yes I think the congregation liked to too. Well, most of them!
Babs – beetle´s last blog post..Would you like to mess up a Christmas Carol?
Karen C.
| 12 December 2008 at 0:25
I loved it! What a great voice & style!
Karen C.´s last blog post..Grr
Lauren
| 12 December 2008 at 2:29
Just another reason to be Jewish.
Lauren´s last blog post..Nobody’s Perfect
DrowseyMonkey
| 12 December 2008 at 2:39
Oh wow! That was fantastic! Loved it. The piano player was great, and I didn’t notice the guitar player but I’m sure it was a surprise to Mo!
My birds quite enjoyed it too. They were singing along LOL
Way to go Mo! I wanna hear more now
DrowseyMonkey´s last blog post..Blind Date
DrowseyMonkey
| 12 December 2008 at 2:40
Love the new Christmas banner too, very festive.
DrowseyMonkey´s last blog post..Blind Date
beetle
| 12 December 2008 at 3:59
Karen: I love to hear the old songs given a new feel
Lauren: :O)
Drowsey: He is a great musician. He also plays the drums, just as well! You can only hear the guitar if you turn the sound up. Glad your birdies liked it. I bet they sang a mean harmony
Sandie
| 12 December 2008 at 9:25
I thoroughly enjoyed that! Knowing Mo, it had me grinning from ear to ear! Especially at ‘Mary and his wife Joseph’!!! I am still wiping the tears of laughter away. Yes Mo has a lovely voice when you can persuade her to sing:0)
Sandie´s last blog post..A Littler Bit Of Art
beetle
| 12 December 2008 at 13:10
Sandie: We still laugh when we listen to it :O)
Ana
| 12 December 2008 at 13:21
Wow, I really enjoyed that song. Mo has a great voice! But somehow I didn’t hear the guitar guy
Ana´s last blog post..Thinking about Blogging
beetle
| 12 December 2008 at 19:15
Ana: You have to turn the volume up to hear it as it wasn’t recorded properly.
Natural
| 12 December 2008 at 20:52
ah that was good…i like the sound of her voice. a little problems in the beginning getting everyone on that same page, but she still rocked it.
Natural´s last blog post..You’re So Vain You Probably Think This Post Is About You
Jay
| 12 December 2008 at 22:17
oooh! She can really sing! Great voice, Mo – great style, too! Very … particular! ROFL
Honestly – the stupid man might just as well have said ” i don’t like the way she sings this, but … oh, well …’ He probably didn’t mean it, but that’s how it came over. No wonder poor Mo was nervous! And it wasn’t even really all that unconventional!
Anyway, she CAN sing, and I thought she sounded great!
beetle
| 12 December 2008 at 23:19
Natural: Yes, I have spent years trying to get her to sing more, but she doesn’t think she’s very good!
Jay: Unfortunately, he had a congregation that regularly complained at everything he did or allowed others to do. That made him a very nervous man. Glad to say that the church we’re at now, is not like that!
Vic's Momma
| 12 December 2008 at 23:55
I am just going to mimic everybody else!
)
)
Mo was wonderful!!! And you know she recovered pretty good from the little “oopsies” most people would have just lost it altogether
Thanks for sharing that Mo really is a pro
Vic’s Momma´s last blog post..One Word Wednesday – (you can name it Today )
Maureen
| 13 December 2008 at 1:52
Holy Crap!!! What a great voice… I LOVE that rendition!! Thank you so much for posting it; it really brought a smile to my face.
I only wish there was an accompanying video. Let Mo know she’s brilliant!
Maureen´s last blog post..Sam Goes Christmas Shopping
Babs - beetle
| 13 December 2008 at 2:33
Vic’s Momma: Yes, she struggled on. I wish she could lose her nerves. We shall see this Sunday
Maureen: Well, there was a video, but it looks like it was never burned to DVD when we moved over from tape. I’m upset about that
Babs – beetle´s last blog post..Would you like to mess up a Christmas Carol?
Lady Banana
| 13 December 2008 at 18:00
Brilliant, fantastic voice.. like Maureen says it’s a pity there wasn’t a video to go with it!
Lady Banana´s last blog post..My Rainbow
Babs - beetle
| 13 December 2008 at 19:03
Lady Banana: I’m peeved that it didn’t get transferred to DVD like our other video tapes
Babs – beetle´s last blog post..Would you like to mess up a Christmas Carol?
Faz the Cat
| 13 December 2008 at 23:44
One word – brilliant.
Faz the Cat´s last blog post..Yes but is it art, Faz? Plus one Meme.
meleah rebeccah
| 14 December 2008 at 0:13
I would have No Idea that MO was nervous what so ever.
That was BRILLIANT.
I am fully moved and utterly blown away.
Just Wow
meleah rebeccah´s last blog post..Pink Eye
beetle
| 14 December 2008 at 1:32
Faz the Cat: I think so too. I just have to convince Mo
Meleah rebeccah: She suffers terrible nerves, but once she gets going, she is fine. It’s just the getting going
Comedy Plus
| 14 December 2008 at 23:52
I have an award for you. It’s the Blog L♥ve award. Participation is not mandatory however.
Babs - beetle
| 15 December 2008 at 2:17
Comedy Plus: Thank you very much! It’s a lovely award ;O)
Babs – beetle´s last blog post..Would you like to mess up a Christmas Carol?
Maricris
| 15 December 2008 at 22:28
well, if I didn’t know the song, I’d probably think that THAT’s how it’s sang! ha!!!
Sandie
| 15 December 2008 at 23:47
Can’t you burn it on to a CD from video now?
Sandie´s last blog post..MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!
Jeff
| 16 December 2008 at 2:24
Rockin the house! Way to go Mo!!!!
Jeff´s last blog post..Item Number 2
Babs - beetle
| 16 December 2008 at 4:00
Maricris: That’s very true
Sandie: We can’t find the video because our video player is no longer connected to our system. We can’t get it functioning any more.
Jeff: That’s the only time Mo’s been able to ‘rock it’ at church, unfortunately. Who knows, maybe one day we can convince this church to let her
Babs – beetle´s last blog post..Would you like to mess up a Christmas Carol?
Theresa111
| 18 December 2008 at 3:47
I almost cried a few times, between the belly laughs. Great!
Theresa111´s last blog post..Portals, Dreams And Scruples
TheSnackHound
| 21 December 2008 at 22:01
The pastor’s introduction made me laugh. He almost sounded like he was doing a segue in between Monty Python sketches. I think Mo has a nice voice…but thought it was funny when the part came up where it sounded like she was laughing in the middle of the song.
beetle
| 21 December 2008 at 22:08
Theresa111: It was very funny at the time too!
TheSnackHound: Mo was definitely laughing, having sung “Mary and his wife Joseph” It was hilarious