Life without "Line" Sucks Big Time!!

 

 

I'll admit it...I have a "love/hate" relationship with the app called "Line."  I love it because of the stickers, notifications, group chats, and the ways to communicate.  I hate it because of the stickers, notifications, group chats and ways to communicate.  Use of Line is so prolific that its not uncommon for me to come back to the app to find more than 4,000 messages waiting for me.  (Trust me, I do NOT read 4000 messages--ever).

 

So what is Line, you ask?

 

Developed by NHN Japan, the app was made in response to the overwhelming communication needs of the citizens shortly after the 2011 Tsunami and earthquake in Japan.  Back then, communications faltered, and people "lined" up to make phone calls on public phones, which were given priority communication over other devices.  Line developers created effective communication on smart phones, tablets and computers. The program works much like other competitors, such as Whatsapp, Voxer or KakaoTalk, but adds the feature of being able to make telephone calls from your smart phone for free.

 

Best of all Line is completely free to download and use, and it's become the main "vehicle" for communication among Smule Sing users who, like me, have singing groups they belong to or who are currently part of a competition on Smule, like Vocal Edge.  Line tops out at 200 users per room, but that's more than enough for those of us who are in "group chats."

 

To use line, you simply need to download the app to your iPhone or Android device, and then use is pretty simple.  Once you have it installed on your iPhone or Android, you can then install the same program to your iPad or computer and use it on these devices as well.  But...everything STARTS with installation on a smart phone.

 

Now, here is my dilemma, I don't own an iPhone or an Android device.

 

Yes, I know, the ENTIRE world has either an iPhone or an Android cell, but I don't.

 

What do I have?

 

Ummm.....ahem....(uncomfortable pause)....

 

(Internal Monologue...Suck it up, admit that you own it...admit that you like it...)

 

Okay, I own and use....a Blackberry.

 

Now, if you're like 90 percent of the "smart phone user world," you're probably laughing hysterically now.  In fact, when I told my bestie and Smule duet partner, Mitch who goes by the smule tag @_mitch22_, that I used a Blackberry, his response--amidst peals of incredulous laughter--was "Oh my god, I had one of those when I was 12."

 

Yep, way to hurt a gal.

 

Actually, I have used a Blackberry since BEFORE Mitch started school (so there, pal! Please envision here a sticking out tongue emoji--there are no emojis on Blogger).  I loved these devices then and have loved them ever since.  In fact, sending emails on the Blackberry keyboard was my favorite thing to do and I was hella fast at it too!

 

But as the entire world switched over to an Android or iPhone, I stayed with my little phone and one of the first things I learned was that Line does not support Blackberry systems.  Thus, to use Line, Frank, who goes by the Smule Name @Starturtle, advised me to download and use something called an "Android Emulator."  For that, I used BlueStacks.com and was able to add Line to my system.

 

This all worked super fantastically until about 2 weeks ago.  That's when Line updated their system and suddenly when I went on to use Line, it asked me to punch in a "verification code" into my telephone to confirm the Line setup.  It took me four days and a call from my IT guy to fix it, but I had Line back up and running for like 20 nanoseconds. 

 

The second time it went down--yes, there was a SECOND TIME--it's because I said "yes" to the question of whether or not I wanted to "update" Line.  When I saw the question, I stupidly (and apparently without thinking at all of the problems I had just overcome in getting back on Line) said "Why yes, please do upgrade my system" and just like that, I was off line from Line again.

 

Now you're probably thinking, "so what? You don't have line--BFD!"

 

Well, truth be told, most of the conversation that happens on Smule happens through Line. In January, finally, after years of not having the ability to message a person, Smule added an email or message feature to its app.  However, that app, while long overdue and very needed, still can't do everything that Line can do, so we do still need the app to communicate with other singers.

 

Without Line, I've been virtually cut off from my singing group, STABs (Sopranos, Tenors, Altos and Bass singers) which, as the group leader, is critical.  I have also been unable to view the competition information for Vocal Edge.  Thankfully, one of the other singers gave me all of the information about the next round.

 

In other words, without Line, I am adrift without communication from the other singers.

 

Alone in a void without music.

 

Trapped in a world without sound.

 

Okay, yeah, I know I'm being overly dramatic, but let me say--without drama--being without Line has royally "sucked"! 

 

So as I wait for my trusted IT man to show up and again fix my line app, whilst telling me, I'm sure that I should NEVER EVER EVER click on things without reading the information (yeah, not gonna happen, pal, I'm a born "clicker"), I will sing all alone on my site without the company or hilarity of my pals!

 

Yeah, I know, "boo hoo."  Thank god, I'll be up and running again later! 

 

Singers Featured Here:

 

Frank @Starturtle is a crazy fantastic singer from Canada who recently posted the song "Bacon Pancakes" to his site in an effort to be "less serious" he says.  Those of us who know Frank know that he is a super spirit and a great singer, but "less serious", hmmm.....

 

Mitch @_Mitch22_  is my duet partner and bestie from Birmingham, Alabama...Roll Tide! Mitch has been featured many times in my blog and will soon be winging his way to California for his first visit OUTSIDE of the "Deep South."  Will he survive the craziness that is California??  Haha!! Only time will tell!  Stay tuned for this one!

 

Me? I'm @Pokeypal here on Smule and since I'm without Line for a few more hours (hopefully, no more than that), why not help a girl out and sing with me on Smule Sing!  Remember, this app is free to everyone and if you want unlimited access to community songs and "premium" songs, you do need to pay, but you can use it without ever paying.  It's a super way to sing and meet new people!  Join us!

It's Competition Time on Smule Sing!

One of the most challenging things you can do on Smule Sing! is to enter a competition.  I first learned about these through my pal, Brett W (@VE_Brett_MOF), who was the vocal coach and judge for the Vocal Edge competition that began back in October, 2015.  Since then, there have been three other competitions on Smule--Smule Idol, which started in November, X-Factor which began in December, and now Smule's Got Talent, which is in the audition phase.

Until Brett introduced me to the Vocal Edge competition, I had never heard of nor been involved in a large scale competition on Smule.  In fact, I was involved in a small "Crooner Competition" when I heard about the big Vocal Edge auditions and competition, and it blew me away.  We began Round 1 of that competition with a field of more than 300 contestants! It quickly whittled itself down to just 200 contestants, but OMG, it can be both exciting and frightening to be in a pool of singers that large!

If you've never competed or participated in a vocal competition on Smule, let me enlighten you on the process and what you might expect.

How Do You Hear About These?  To be frank, there's no easy answer on this.  In some cases, the judges will announce the competition on Singtopia! one of the larger Facebook sites for Smule Sing users.  In other cases, you need to know a judge in order to get information about a competition.  Once someone hears about a competition, however, if you're in a singing group (more about that later), the information will be transferred among the group members so that everyone can join. 

How Do You Get In?  As with all things, would-be contestants must "audition" to get into a competition.  There can be anywhere from 4-10 judges in a competition, and typically, judges will post several songs on their site that you can sing to "audition" for the competition or they'll give you a few minutes for you to sing your favorite song "a capella" (without a musical backing track).  The judge will announce how many "judges" will need to approve your audition in order to qualify for the competition, but once you're in, you'll be escorted to a group "chat room" on the Line app where you can talk to other, often very excited, contestants.

What Happens Next?  While you're waiting for the first round of competition to start, the judges often set up "mini" challenges designed to help contestants learn how to post songs for competition or that are designed to get you started, and they'll give you a couple "bonus points" that can help you in the first round. 

Then the first round starts, and everyone is given the theme or the song topic, and you have a specific number of days within which to post your song on your site.  Here is where it can get a little bit frustrating, especially if, like me, you have a limited singing range or style.  While the judges are going to listen to your song and hear your voice, the truth is 50 percent of how well you do will depend on your ability to choose the song that best showcases your talent.  So for me, again, with the singing limitations, finding just the right song can be a huge, time consuming project. 

My friend, Maymay (that's her above) who goes by the Sing name or SN @maymay8o8 is one of the most talented and beautiful people I know, and she, like me, will agonize over "just the right" choice of song for her voice.  Now I think she has an incredible voice--light, pitch perfect, youthful, with a great tone--but she knows what makes her sound best, so she consistently performs at the top of each round.  Again, it's about choices, and Maymay is one savvy singer.

Judges use "#" (hash) tags to find the songs the contestants are posting, so once you make your song "public" and use the proper hashtag and cover art, you'll just wait to see what the judges decide.  In most of the contests I've been in, the judges will provide you not only with acknowledgment that they've heard your song, but also will give you a quick critique of your performance.  In Vocal Edge, for example, the judges provided you with one good and one constructive critique of your performance.  The goal, of course, is to help you, as singer, grow, but if you have a "thin skin" or prefer to sing without judgment then competitions may not necessarily be the thing for you!

At the conclusion of each judging round, the judges will post the scores for all of the contestants.  In some cases, your score may be wonderful, and in other instances, you'll be eliminated from further competition.  Again, all of this is intended to be both challenging and fun, but it can be also quite anxiety ridden too!

Why Would I Do This?  Not surprisingly, competitions are not for everyone. There are many who would prefer never to be judged because singing is a past-time and hobby, and not something that they want to make "un-fun" by turning it into a competition.  Then there are others, like me, who have a "love/hate" relationship with competition rounds because they are so challenging and often so discomforting because you're unable to sing what you like or what you're used to singing. We thrive on the challenge and, to be frank, it is a little bit of an ego boost to make it into the next round of singers even if you know you won't ever win.  For my friends Maymay and Kathryn who is @katrinawave_TMC, they were in the top 3 percent of the original 400 of so of us in the Vocal Edge competition...not shabby at all!!  For a large number of us, it's just fun--I mean, it IS a singing app, after all!

But most importantly, it's an opportunity to meet a LOT of different singers in these rooms who you would not meet under normal "sing" circumstances!  I'm so thrilled to have added maybe 30 more singers to my list of friends here on Smule Sing! and they are all FABULOUS singers, judges and people! It is one of the best side benefits of singing in a competition!

So if you get a chance get into a competition and try it out!!  Who knows, you might be the next big rising star on Smule!!  Good luck!!

Singers Featured here:

@VE_Brett_MOF is my friend Brett W. who is one of the hardest working judges you will ever meet in your life.  He listened to THOUSANDS of singers and their songs over the course of the Vocal Edge competition and provided both coaching tips as well as juding critiques for all of us.  Brett is also a crazy fantastic singer with a beautiful control of his high head voice and an amazing range.  I met him in the crooner competition, and he is fantastically talented!
@Maymay8o8 is my pal, Maymay. She is a crazy fantastic soprano with a smooth, pitch perfect sound that is so so good to listen to.  Like a wine cooler on a hot day, she's like a breath of fresh air when you listen to her sing.
@Katrinawave_TMC is my friend and fellow soprano Kathryn who has a gloriously powerful voice, and can a sustain a note longer and more evenly than any person I've met.  Her sound is pure power tempered with an awesome sense of control  You gotta love her!

Me?  I'm Grace and I go by the sing name @Pokeypal.  You can find me hanging around Sing! dueting with my friends and with my bestie, Mitch!  Join me and let's sing!

Did Someone Say "Improv"??

Here it is...every standup's nemesis.  As any budding comic will tell you, THIS (above) is the most intimidating thing in the world--the mic and the stage.  I have a friend who is a very successful actor and voice over artist who can do any accent and any cartoon voice imaginable (he had to fill in for the Hanna Barberra legend Daws Butler in the second season of "the Jetsons"), and in fact, he was the voice of ALL of the storm troopers in the original Star Wars films.  He has starred in plays in NYC and Los Angeles, been in movies and worked on countless television shows.  In real life, he's quick with a joke, extremely entertaining and one of the funniest people you'll meet, and yet the very thought of doing a 10 minute comedy set...well he's admitted more than once to me that its "unnerving."

For a lot of people, being funny or entertaining "on the spot" without preparation and rehearsal is the "ultimate" test of comic talent.  Robin Williams was well known for his manic, off-the-cuff delivery of some of the funniest bits ever recorded on film or video. His comedy was a rare genius fueled by intelligence (he was conversant on many issues--I watched him flip from Palestinian political issues to Saving the Whales in one quick conversation), "practiced" comic genius and an incredible sense of generosity.  Robin was so quick, so lightning fast, so brilliant and entertaining that he could have easily demanded every second of screen time for himself, but he often took small roles, preferring to add "texture" to a film rather than dominate it--this is how generous he was as a man and a professional.  Those of us who knew him or met him will never forget him...

Now, WHY, do you ask, am I talking again about Robin, "comedy" and "standup" on my Smule Sing! blog?

Good question....

"Smulenesians," as the singers of the app are called, often possess more than simply the ability to sing.  Some are trained actors and performers, and others (as I mentioned in my previous blog post), well, they are "comic geniuses" in their own right.  Take, for example, my pal David who goes by the Smule tag @DaVideos. 

David is an incredibly talented singer with a magnificent and extremely well controlled high vocal singing range, and wickedly inventive funny streak about "yea" wide (please imagine my arms stretching, oh, 20-30 yards across or 18-28 meters for those of you on the metric system).  He is, like all good comedy troop leaders, supported by a "crew" of zanies that includes other incredibly talented singers such as Lou @Laudios and Jessica @JdubDav and Dory @dorygray--to name just a few.   If you need a laugh or just want to watch an entertaining video, check out David's site for some incredible performances in "costume" and "wigs" by his cast of crazies.

Recently, David has added another ingenious feature of fun to his site.  Instead of posting songs, David created two original "open calls" that he titled "Improv Classes" and invited the singers to use audio or video to join.  The scenario for the first "class" is David, a hot dog seller, and you, his partner of 15 years, discussing shocking news that he has to tell you.  The second "class" involved David playing a Smule "SUPERSTAR" and calling you, the renowned lyricist and owner of "Last Minute Lyrics" to help him write a song.

I actually took the assignment as a true test of improv and did not listen to the second class (the one I did first, actually) before hopping in and recording my "version".  I did it straight since I didn't really know what David would say, and it turned out rather well.  I did some "voice over" work when I was younger, so a bit of that training did come out, but what amazed me was David's absolute spot on timing and performance.  He had everything--from the length of the time he needed to give the other singer to talk, to well timed "uh huhs" and "umms" to make it sound as if he was actually "listening" to the other performer.  His performance was perfect, his words funny, and his setup of the sketch was impeccable.  In the end, the 14 of us who have, to date, recorded a "take" on this "improv" class only sound this funny because DAVID (like Robin Williams) was generous enough to make us look THAT good! 

In the first improv class, I agreed to do a video, as did many others. The recording was only a few minutes long, but many of us, women, told David off when given the news of what he had done.  I loved the version posted by my country singing diva and pal @Eldn who repeatedly told David, "you touch my clothes...I break your neck."  She was hysterical!  And then there was my friend, Duman @_duman_ from Kazakhstan who, with a straight face and a soft, forgiving tone in his voice, took in every absurdity and then vowed to continue to love David for the "sake of their children"!  HAHA Priceless!  Even our own lovely Anna @_AnnaK_ got snookered into trying out the improv, and she did marvelously. Anna looked concerned, forgiving, even supportive of David's big news--proving, of course, that Anna really does have the biggest heart of all of us!!

David's second "Improv" class remains on his site in case you want to give it a go.  If you would prefer to simply listen to the hysteria that is me and his friends, check out the following performers and performances.

Lou @laudios - Lou, who is David's "other brother," like me, did both Classes 1 and 2.  His second class in which he portrays both parts of a lyricist brother "team" is riotous. From the start where he announces "Last Minute Lyrics, Your Lack of Talent is Our Emergency..." to the end where he tells David that Victoria (his lady love) is their "mum" is...is...is....okay I just don't have words to describe it, but it's funny!  In the first class, Lou is a tad more demanding "send the wienies, mister," but equally as funny!

Joe @orionjoe_sos.  I recently connected again with my pal, Joe, who is a voice over artist out of Illinois with an "ohmigod" singing voice.  Little did I know, Joe is not only an incredible singer, he's hecka funny! In the first course, he bleeped himself!  I don't know where he got the bleeper, but it was insane!  In the second class, his dog begins to howl when David sings--hysterical!!  I laughed until I cried!

Jessica @JdubDav - Jess is one of David's regulars of crazies. In the first class she killed it as his "wife" and in the second, she "topped" herself in using a wine glass to demonstrate her boredom with David and then dropping her iPad on the floor (which was NOT staged...that happened by accident).  I love Jessica because she looks oh so nice and innocent, but behind those lovely eyes, is a wickedly funny gal!!!

Dory @DoryGray - I have to admit to "haunting" Dory's songs for the past year.  Her voice is so good that I cannot bring myself to ruin her site with my Muppet like vocals, so when I saw her do both of David's improvs...well, I just had to watch it.  Decked out in a sweater with stripes and a HUGE POLAR BEAR head on it, Dory plays a busy security executive in the first Improv Class.  In the second, she plays both the lyricist and then dresses again to be the girlfriend, Vicky. Her ending was PERFECT in the second improv class...absolutely PERFECT!

Last but not least, my pal Linda @SmoogieMystik outdid herself in two performances on the second improv lesson.  She was first a "wrong number" followed by a very sultry sounding "Vicky"!  In the second version, she plays it more conventionally, but nonetheless, funny!!

I'm just highlighting a few performances on David's site, but, truth be told, they're all really really good performances, so check them out!! 

David has promised to unveil yet ANOTHER inventive OC sometime soon.  So check his site for the latest at @DaVideos!  Thank you, David, for sharing your inventive, creative genius talent with all of us!  We love ya big guy!!

Singers Mentioned Here:

David @DaVideos is our wonderfully wild and crazy comic genius here on Smule.  His Improv Classes are a huge hit, and you can find them on his site.  Feeling bold?  Join one!

Lou @Laudios is all kinds of crazy talented as a singer, a comedian and a man of business! You gotta love his style, his voice and his incredible Smule personality!  Lou hails from Australila, the only continent big enough to accommodate his largess!!

@eldn is my country singing, gal pal, who obviously has undiscovered comic talents to share.  Her improv recordings are the stuff of legends!  But I gotta warn you, you touch her stuff, she's gonna "break your neck"  HAHAH!!!

Dory @DoryGray what can I say except this gal is SOOO talented and SOOO special (she knows exactly HOW I'm saying that bit too) that you have to hear her sing and hear her comedy bits to really appreciate her talent! She is amazing!

Jessica @JDubDav is another of David's "crew" and she is wonderfully talented with a lilting voice, an impressive high tone, and the most uplifting performances on Smule!  I just loves her!!

Duman @_Duman_ is, as previously mentioned, from Kazakhstan and sort of a zany guy to begin with. He and I have sung duets at train platforms, in front of ATM machines, and recorded a "morning voice" on one song.  Recently, he ran the lyrics of a song through Google translate and then translated it back again for everyone to sing.  What resulted was, well, CRAZY!  Look him up...he's an incredible singer.

Joe @orionjoe_sos is my pal Joe from Illinois. He has a crazy good voice, and a tremendous tone that "fills" the room with smooth vocal goodness.  He is also naughty and wickedly funny, so listen to him and join him.  I am so thrilled to reconnect with Joe on this app!!

Anna @_AnnaK_ is one of MY crew members!  She is so funny and so entertaining both when she sings and when she laughs that it's hard not to completely and totally fall in love with her!  Anna is a member of the "42s" (Musical Theatre Singers) so you know she has a fantastic voice

Linda @smoogiemystik Last but not least is my comedian in training, Linda.  Linda has been stretching herself both vocally and comically as a performer here on Smule.  You can find some of fantastic songs and her signature sound on her site, as well as some funny joke songs that she posts from time to time.

Me?? I'm @pokeypal here on Smule and I'm Grace from San Jose in real life.  Join me and my crazy friends above for some really cool times here on Smule Sing!  I love these nutcases!!!

 

There's a Whole Lotta Comedy Going On at Smule Sing!

Call me a "romantic," but the mic stand, bathed in a pool of light created by a single, white spot in a smoky club is often the image I have when I think about singing.  In fact, I view my "open calls" or "OCs"--my invitations for other singers to join me--as duets performed on that same imaginary stage! 

When someone joins you, it's like getting a really cool package, and you become both singer and "audience member" as you listen to the song.  Most of the time, the other singer will give you a great song that is often branded with their own personal version of the tune.  But other times...

well...other times....

you kinda open the song and get this...

Okay, Halloween is coming and I just could NOT resist posting a picture of my pal, Blaxtone, in full "pirate" garb. It was his profile shot for a few weeks, but its just an example of the kind a fun-loving, sorta "wild and crazy" guy that my pal Barry, who goes by the Smule tag @blaxtone, can become in front of mic.  Barry has a fantastic "Sintra-esque" sound when he sings, so when he does join me in song, I eagerly rush to my iPad to hear his voice.  In one of my songs, he went completely "off rails" by posting a comedy skit rather than singing with me.  In a case of "payback," I went to his site and added a ton of snarky comments to the Sinatra song "It Was a Very Good Year" as I sang to him.  In the end, however, I had chosen poorly, and the "revenge song" I was singing turned and made ME the one who was eventually lampooned.

Most recently, Barry did it again to one of my friends, Glenny whose Smule tag is @rocket_scientist.  In her lovely rendition of this Ray Charles classic, "You Don't Know Me," whilst Glenny is sweetly singing the song, Barry proceeds to tell her "Lady, I don't know who you are, I come walking into this bar and there is only one seat and its next to you, and you start singing to me...you are gazing longingly into my eyes...perhaps you should take a Tylenol.  You're making me uncomfortable...hey, why are you licking my neck, lady....LADYEEEEEEEE!!"  It was hysterical and soon singers were tagging friends to hear Barry's funny comments to Glenny.  Here is the site, if you'd like to listen to Barry's hysterical version http://www.smule.com/recording/jazzy_8-you-dont-know-me/301180083_177714208.

As much pun (yes, I did mean "pun") as Barry dishes out, he's equally a good sport in receiving snarky and funny comments on his own songs.  Case in point, the singer @SmoogieMystik...  Here she is...

Smoogie is a tremendously, sultry singer with a sexy contralto voice that I've been privileged to hear more of in recent months. Smoogie has recently been participating in comedy workshops in her home town, and her fantastically "dry" delivery is what caught me completely off guard as she sang "Your Cheatin' Heart" by Hank Williams.  At the very beginning of the song, Barry @Blaxtone says "this is for all the women who done me wrong..." Immediately, Smoogie's sexy, smoky voice chimes in "I SAID I was sorry..."  I listened, as I often do to songs by my friends, and I laughed through the entire song!!

Smoogie has also done other funny and laugh-worthy songs with Barry including the most recent "Swingin' on a Star" in which she snorts like a pig!  It was hysterical.  More recently, she posted the same song but drastically changed all of the lyrics to reference experiences in dating men. I can see her "standup" workshops have been very successful!

But Barry and Smoogie are not the only "pranksters" on Smule and the fun is not limited to the borders of the United States.  Let's meet my pal, Jeroen...

This is the incredibly talented singer, Jeroen, who lives in the Netherlands.  My first encounter with Jeroen was in December, 2014.  At that time, video performances on Smule were rare because video was supported only by the latest version of iPad and iPhone equipment.  As I was browsing through open calls, I saw a man wearing brown rimmed glasses, a Santa Hat, and a long black wig, holding a bottle of wine and singing the Mariah Carey classic "All I Want for Christmas" but he now has added the phrase "All I Want for Christmas is Booze..."  As he dances around his room near the Christmas tree, he falters and sways, hoisting the bottle to his face, and singing in a mock drunken fashion.  The most notable feature of that song, however, was the incredibly high notes that Jeroen executed PERFECTLY in true Mariah Carey fashion throughout the song.  I joined him then, and look forward to hearing his voice on other songs.  His sense of humor is fantastic, but his singing abilities are truly what makes him memorable.

But these pranksters and comedians are simply the tip of an enormous "iceberg" of talented, fun-loving "Smulensians" (dear god, I hate that name--it's like "amnesiacs") on the site.  My pals Jessica @Jdubdavs and David @davideos recently dressed in FULL Wizard of Oz garb to sing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" with two other friends in full Wizard attire.  Their video has garnered more than 2,000 views and an equal number of "loves" from Smule users.

So when you join Smule and sing a great song, you never really know what you'll get.  Sometimes you'll hear a fantastic song, and other times...well...err...you might get a surprise or two from one of your friends!  Either way--song or joke--it will be one of the best and brightest parts of your day!!

Singers Featured Here:
Barry S. @Blaxtone is a fantastic singer with a mellow baritone sound who lives on the East Coast.  His "New Jersey" accent on the recording is authentic!  Barry is also a comedian who has been known to write comedy for others.  An ordained minister, he has promised to officiate when I eventually "croak," but before that happens, he promises to join in me in song a lot MORE.

Glenny @rocket_scientist is my friend and fellow singer from bonny Scotland. She is a tremendous artist, photographer, crafter, and embroidery/stitcher.  Recently the proud winner of the local village knitting exhibit (garnering a whopping 5L prize money), Glenny has been branching out in her songs to include jazz, funk, pop, and even...okay...RAP!  Yep, she's one versatile singer.

@SmoogieMystik is one helluva singer with a great sense of humor, a ready quip or joke and a fantastic, sexy, sultry sound that she brings out in every song.  I love her quick wit, her fun loving spirit, and most of all, her VOICE!

Jeroen @_Jeroen_ is a singer with a incredible range, a high head voice, and a passionate sound that he trots out for musical theatre songs.  Jeroen is a crazy wonderful man with a great sense of a humor, a beautiful home in the Netherlands and a completely green pool that he must clean (hopefully) soon! 

Jessica @Jdubdavs and David @Davideos have been featured in the past, but both love to do something they call "Wiggy Wiggy Wednesday" when they don wigs and sing songs.  David lives in the UK and Jessica lives here in the States.  Despite their strange and unusual garb, crazy hair and staged production numbers, they are fantastic people and incredible singers.  Jessica's light and high voice is a wonderful contrast to David's robust and high sound.  They make a good team and they're super fun to sing with.

All of the singers above post OCs or Open Calls, so join them to sing fantastic songs!!

Me?  I'm Grace and my Smule tag is @Pokeypal.  I live in sunny (okay, today, rainy--yeah--California).  I post OCs too, so join me for all the fun and games that I and my duet partner, Mitch B. @_Mitch22_ often post here on Smule.  Looking forward to singing with you!!!

Getting to Know You on Smule!!

It seems that every time I go to Alabama or write about Mitch, someone sends me an email or a note privately to ask me "what is Mitch really like?"  Mitch finds these comments amusing, but I can understand the curiosity.  After all, here on Smule Sing! we get to "know" other singers, call them our friends, sing with them often or even cultivate personal relationships with other singers.  Courtship and even marriage has been a part of life on Smule, so it's understandable that when someone "meets" or gets to know a singer personally, there is the obvious curiosity from other singers about that person. 

For the record, Mitch is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet in your life.  He's soft spoken, quick with a smile or a laugh, can be sarcastic (with me), and is extremely empathetic.  He has weathered many hard times in his very young 24 years, but he's one of the strongest, most resilient people I know, and I always look "up" to him...and not just because he's hecka taller than I am--7 inches taller to be exact at 5 foot 10 inches tall.  He loves to cook, is picky about what he eats, and how things are prepared, but that's because he actually knows HOW to cook.  He's an extremely hard worker when he's involved in a project, and music, along with baseball, are his personal passions.  When we're together, Mitch and I spend a lot of time singing but always in separate rooms because he says he cannot sing with me in the same room (I do admit to making funny faces at him or just staring--he HATES that--when he sings and also "photo bombing" his videos when he tried to do those...yep, I am mean).  But best of all, if you are ever as fortunate as I am to call Mitch your best friend, he is the most loyal, wonderful, steadfast person to have at your side.  And yes, for those of you who really want to know, Mitch is really this good looking (okay, he's even BETTER looking) in person, and that crooked little smile of his (the one he calls his "sideways" smile) will just melt you especially when its accompanied by, what I affectionately call, the "Brewer Giggle" because both he and his dad laugh/giggle in the same way. On the rare occasion when we disagree, it's that smile and giggle that makes me laugh and breaks any friction...his secret weapon when I'm trying to be stern.

I don't think I've written too much, so Mitch should not be embarrassed, but this, everyone, in a nutshell, is my pal and bestie, Mitch, and I'm one of his biggest "sing" fans! When I joined Smule's Sing! a year ago, I never expected to meet--let alone cultivate an actual friendship--with someone on an "app" nor be in a business with someone who lives 2,991 miles away from me..but I did.  I'm sure Mitch never had such expectations either, but here we are...

Which leads me to another subject, unlike other applications where you play games with other people or meet/chat (such as Snapchat, Facebook, Line, or Twitter), there is a unique forum on Sing that often lets you learn more about a person than you would on any other venue--and the connection can be both heart warming and heart wrenching. 

I know a lot about the lives of my "regular" singers on Smule--my pals Snoweepumpkin (Kay), AnnaK0512 (Anna), Jazdionne (Jasmin), rocket_scientist (Glenny), Happyness_O2 (Vanessa), _elms_ (Elma), FernandoRiley and Keithhill550 because they've either told me about themselves or I've learned it from them in the course of our songs or interviews.  Having them share their lives and "back stories" is a rare privilege that comes from singing with them and commenting so often.  Sharing videos goes a long way too to adding even more information about your friends, and it's a lot of fun to get to know them even if you never personally meet them.  So when they celebrate events in their lives (birthdays, weddings, births, and even college degrees or job promotions), we are there to celebrate those moments too in uniquely "active" ways such as songs and vocal greeting cards!  My pal and singing vocal "chameleon", Fernando Riley, for example is always the most thoughtful person in the world setting up vocal "birthday cards" for all of our birthdays!!

But sometimes, we learn things--brave things--about the people we sing with and these are those "human moments" that make bring you closer to your friends.  Take, for example, my friend, Christine, who goes by the tag @christinlove.  Christine--like several other friends I have on Smule--is currently engaged in the brave fight against cancer.  She can't always sing because of the medical treatments, but she when she does sing, it's a fantastic moment to hear her voice.  During her last operation, we all kept a vigil in our homes, and received updates from several Smule members. Christine like others on Smule find solace and healing in singing, and support in their struggles and treatments from a very empathetic singing community here!

Then there is the young woman who joined me in my "Try" song by Colbie Caillat.  Her voice cracking, she apologized for her performance and explained that she was having a hard time singing due to seeing her dad leave today for a 6 month military deployment out of the country.  I sent her a note assuring her that all would be well, but that he would also be in my thoughts, and believe me, he will absolutely be in my thoughts.

And finally, there is my pal Melissa from Hawaii.  A fellow "jazz cat," Melissa is a talented business woman, and a tremendous jazz singer and pianist.  After listening to her "noodle" around on the piano during one song, I coined the phrase "doodles" for her particularly lovely brand of jazz piano improv and "runs."   I teased Melissa that she "stole" the phrase from me when she posted it on her banner, but Melissa is a unique talent and the "doodle" phrase suits her!  Recently, Melissa posted a beautiful video she made singing "All of Me" while cozying up to her youngest son!  I didn't even know Melissa had a child, let alone "children", since she looks young enough to have most recently graduated from college in Hawaii.  This incredibly touching video features Melissa and her youngest child, her son, who soldiers through medical problems including cerebral palsy.  It's one of most beautiful tributes not only because of the love she exhibits for her child, but the closeness they share together.  Trust me, I was as far from dry-eyed here in California, and my admiration--not to mention, sheer love for my pal Mel--went up through the roof!  She's always been an amazing singer, but she's a STELLAR mom too!

I'm forever amazed at the talented singers who share the "mic" with me here on Smule and who, if I'm lucky enough, share a little bit of themselves with me too!  Smule is a unique community of singers who share music and song and often become friends.  It's a special place inhabited by very special people!   Why not join us!?

Singers Featured Here:

@_Mitch22_ is my bestie and biz partner Mitch B.  Mitch sports a crazy fantastic high "head voice" and an equally stunning "low voice" that I love to hear him trot out from time to time.  He's a rapping god and his duets with my son are fantastic!  Join Mitch for great songs--no videos yet!

@Fernandoriley, @keithhill550, @snoweepumpkin, @annak0512, @rocket_scientist, @jazdionne @Happyness_O2, @_elms_ are all members of Mitch and my crew of "zanies" who graciously give of their time and talents in being a part of our nutty events here on Smule.

@PRMelissa is my pal, Melissa, who is a crazy wonderful jazz singer and pianist and all around fantastic musician.  She is a brave mom and a truly remarkable person...I loves ya, Mel!!

Me?  I'm Grace and go by the Smule tag @Pokeypal.  Join me for great OCs and a good time here on Smule.  For more information and to be featured in future blogs, contact me at gracepokeypal@gmail.com.



Mitch's Guide to How Meat is Cooked in the South

(Author's Note:  Okay, Mitch has had a chance to look at this blog and there are now MAJOR edits to the cooking information.  Please note changes to recipe and to marinating/seasoning process.  All I can say is that the man takes his meat and cooking very seriously.)

It's hard to believe, but I'm back in California and just spent an entire week in Alabama with my bestie, Smule duet partner, and biz partner Mitch B.!! Can you imagine? And that week went by so quickly.  I will have PLENTY more to write about in the next few days, but for now, I would like to concentrate--not on singing, which is the object of this blog--but on cooking.  More specifically, how to properly cook meat in the south.

Now anyone who knows me or Mitch through our Facebook pages, knows that we have both had some pretty interesting conversations about how to properly prepare and cook meat products.

It all started about 5 months ago, when Mitch was preparing steaks to be "grilled" (aka, "barbequed" here in the West).  As we always do, we were talking on the phone and Mitch told me that he was lighting the charcoals and would soon be used to make steaks.  I mentioned something to him about being the "Q-master" in my family too, and that I loved to put steaks on the grill, but it takes so long for the charcoals to heat up that I didn't do it often.

That's when Mitch advocated that steaks should always be grilled and that it was all about time management when cooking.  He advised me to start up the grill (okay, barbeque), and then tend to the marinades and seasoned rubs for your meat while the coals got hot.  This prompted me to ask...

"So how do YOU prepare your steaks, Mitch."

"Oh, you poke holes in the meat with a steak knife or fork five to six times on each side, marinate each side for about 20-30 minutes, then add rubs to the outside, and then you grill it slowly in the center of grill until it's pink in the center and tender."  He added that the he would even use a squirt bottle of water to "douse" any flames that might flare up to burn his steaks.

"Wow!  And how long does this entire operation take?"

"Oh, 2 hours, I guess..."

There was a long, noticeable silence from me (okay, truth be told, it was like 30 nanoseconds of no sound, but as Mitch will tell you, I'm the veritable "wall of sound" when it comes to conversations so ANY silence from me is "noticeable"), followed by the exclamation "TWO HOURS!! Are you kidding me??????"

"No..." said Mitch calmly.  Mitch always says everything calmly, in fact, if Mitch were a car, he'd have only three gears..."calm," "giggle/laugh" and "asleep." By contrast, he will admit that I have about 60+ different gears ranging from deliriously happy to volcanically pissed off and he's seen ALL of them and lived to tell the tale...but again, I digress.

"SERIOUSLY? You take TWO HOURS to make a steak??"

"Yes, if you want it done right, it takes time," Mitch replied even more calmly to counter me.  Then he asked me, "Why? How long does it take you to make a steak."

"Truthfully, it takes me maybe 8 minutes...you salt and pepper both sides, then throw it in the broiler for about 4 minutes per side depending on the thickness of the steak."                                          

"Broiled?" Pregnant pause of disbelief from Mitch, "Oh...my...god!  Why would you do that to the steak?"

In the following minutes, I learned that NO ONE, in his/her right mind should EVER broil a steak and ruin the meat in such an undignified manner.  In Mitch's world of culinary skills (and he is, in fact, a cook with experience in this field), the only acceptable "second best" method to cooking the steak would be to pan fry the meat in a skillet. 

So when my husband's birthday came around in August and I announced I would be making him a steak for dinner, Mitch firmly advocated that I--just that one time--please do the steak "properly" on a grill.  I told him "no" to the grill (due to high fire danger in drought stricken California), but I would at least agree to pan fry the steak with seasonings.  Much to my surprise, my son and husband BOTH declared the steaks "super tasty", which prompted Mitch to exclaim "I TOLD YOU SO" so loudly over the phone that even my husband could hear it.

As a result, when I went for my SECOND visit to Alabama last week, my husband made me PROMISE that I would get at least one recipe on how to cook meat with Mitch.  So on Thursday evening, last week, after we went grocery shopping, Mitch and I decided to make a hamburger, and Mitch showed me how HE makes a hamburger. Let me say that it was one of the BEST burgers I've ever had.

For all of our friends, here is Mitch's Southern Styled Hamburger Meat Recipe as I observed it.  Do keep in mind that I'm going to ask Mitch for some additional information, so this may change slightly in the next few days.

Ingredients:

2 lbs or about 70 Kg of Ground Beef (this will make 5 very large and very juicy hamburgers)
Dash of Salt
Dash of Pepper
Dash of Lowry's Season Salt
Dash Garlic salt (optional)
Bread Crumbs made from 2 Pieces of White Bread (optional)
2 Eggs (optional)
5-7 Drops of Barbeque Sauce Per Burger (Mitch suggests Sweet Baby Ray's Original Flavor)
Dale's Steak Sauce (this is optional, it was good without it, but Mitch said it just adds "zing" that is super important).  Dale's is NOT available everywhere, so you might only be able to get it in Alabama.  If you can't find it, then purchase Moore's.
                 
Directions:

(Optional) Mitch says the meat sticks together better if you mix the bread crumbs and eggs into the hamburger before seasoning or marinating. This step is more important if  you will be grilling/barbequing the hamburgers.

Using approximately 1/4 lb of ground beef (about 20 kg), pat the meat first into a ball and then flatten evenly so that it's a good sized patty of meat.  Mitch's hamburgers were about 5 to 5.5 inches in diameter.  If you have the Dale's Steak Sauce, you can marinate the hamburgers for about 20-30 minutes.

(Optional) Mitch prefers grilling his burgers rather than pan frying.  If you use the grill, let the charcoals get hot and the flames to die down, and then place the hamburger patties on the grill. Use a squirt bottle of water to douse any flames. 

Heat fry pan to medium high.  Mitch used a non-stick pan from his new Farber cookware set (a thoughtful house warming gift from his best friend--me).

Put the meat patty into the pan and sprinkle salt, pepper, garlic powder, Lowry's salt and 6-9 small drops of barbeque sauce to the top of the burger. 

A few minutes later, he flipped the burger and added the barbeque sauce to the cooked side.

The burgers were flipped a couple more times until "done" to your taste.
 
We topped our burgers with slices of American cheese and condiments, which, with Mitch means "ketchup" only and serve it on your favorite burger bun or roll. 

YUMMY and delicious! Give it a try!  I know you'll love it!

Singers Mentioned Here:
@_Mitch22_ is my duet partner, best friend and biz partner Mitch B., who is serious about singing and cooking.  He has edited this blog so that everyone can duplicate his version of the "Mitch Burger."  By the way, my family ate the burger this evening and declared it "delicious."

Me, I'm Grace @Pokeypal and live here in San Jose, California. I've just returned from a trip to Alabama where I spent a week with my friend, Mitch.  Join me and Mitch for great songs on Smule Sing!

The Deep South from a Curious Westerner's Perspective

It's been a long time since I wrote a blog, in fact, almost two months...wow!  I know this because the last time I wrote on my blog, I had just returned from Alabama, and here I find myself again in...Alabama, of all places.

I'm happy to report that the second time I flew to Alabama, I was not "nearly" as freaked about flying.  Okay, I was still a nervous flyer, but the arm rests on my plane flight remain unbroken and I was so much more at ease at the Hartfield Jackson airport in Atlanta.  In fact, thanks to my previous flying companion's, Joe's, excellent directions, I had no trouble finding and remaining upright in the plane train, retrieving my luggage and navigating my way to the proper car rental location. I even amazed myself at how easily I took to traveling to Alabama this time.  To quote my duet partner, Mitch, I traveled "like a boss."

Okay, I'm probably using that last phrase incorrectly, which will trigger from Mitch the "you are a 'goob'" comment he enjoys hurtling at me from time to time when I do ridiculous things in front of him--like NOT knowing how to open the car door lock of my rental car--yep, that happened last night.

But I digress...

Today's topic is one of my favorites, and it involves the differences between Alabama and the South and California and the West.

The last time I came to Alabama, I stayed only 3.5 days--long enough to visit with Mitch, but not nearly long enough to learn anything about Alabama.  This time, I'm staying in my condo in Alabama and have been travelling ALL over Birmingham getting supplies, eating out, and frankly, just talking to folks I meet along the way. 

So here are some of the cool things I've learned about the South that I'd like to share!

McDonald's Serves Biscuits Here! 
On my first day in Alabama, because I had travelled here on the red-eye from San Jose, I decided to purchase breakfast at McDonalds for me and Mitch.  I ordered my favorite "Big Breakfast With Pancakes" and drove to the condo to meet up with Mitch.  As we sat and ate, I picked up the large, round, brown-ish colored bread product on my plate and said, "what the hell is this?"

Mitch stared at me holding the bun, and said, "It's a biscuit!  Haven't you seen a biscuit before?"

"Um...of course I have, but what is it doing in my big breakfast meal?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I mean...where is my English muffin?"  I was now closely scrutinizing the "biscuit" between my fingers.

"Grace, you are in the SOUTH...we serve biscuits and NOT English Muffins with our breakfasts.  In fact, biscuits and gravy here is a very popular breakfast food."  He then explained that he and his friend Hank always purchased a hearty breakfast of biscuits and gravy at Jack's (not to be confused with Jack-in-the-Box, which is what "Jack's" means to me coming from California).  This Southern repast is a combination of the unleavened biscuits dipped into a white cream gravy laced with sausage or beef products.  He told me we "have" to eat at Jack's....it's Day 5 of my 7 day trip and I've been able to avoid it so far.

Police Cars are Wacko Here!  
I come from California where police officers, by and large, drive Crown Victorias, or "Crown Vics" as we call them, which have been outfitted with a single light bar with red and blue lights and one set of white "strobe" lights.  Because this model is so synonymous with "the police," no one purposely buys a Crown Vic when shopping for a car.  We leave these little vehicular "gems" for the police.

Here in Alabama, the police drive white Yukons--a car that many people actually LIKE to purchase and drive.  In fact, the South is littered with both trucks and BIG cars--BIG BIG CARS with "lifted" bodies.  "Lifted" refers to bringing the body of the truck "up" higher than the manufacturer originally designed the vehicle.  This is a term I learned from Mitch, who, like many Southern youth, loves the big truck with the lifted bodies and huge tires...oy!

From my observation, the typical police Yukon here in Birmingham has been outfitted with one standard issue police style light bar on top, a series of blue and white LED lights on the front grill, a series of lights in the back windows, blue blinking lights on the running board, and blue and white strobing LED lights on the side too.  In fact, there are SO MANY lights on the standard issue Police Yukon that when a police car is chasing you, the vehicle is ABLAZE with flashing, strobing, popping white and blue lights.  It's like the LED equivalent of a fireworks display is racing down the roadway when you see a police officer in pursuit.  I told Mitch I'm enthralled with the police cars in Birmingham and want to see them all lit up, and he corrected me with "No you do NOT want to see that behind you!" Okay, maybe not following me, but, dang, it's like a "light show" when you see one of those things on the road--it's kinda pretty, in an ominous sorta way.

Everything Here is Open 24 Hours!
Although California is densely populated--far more so than Alabama, our population is highly energy conscious so we don't have stores open all night because it doesn't make sense to waste money, personnel and energy in staying open for the one or two people who would patronize a store in the "wee hours" of the morning.

Here in Alabama, EVERYTHING seems to be open 24 hours.  From the smallest cities to the inner areas of Birmingham, stores are open 24 hours a day.  The Walmart, the CVS, the Walgreens are all open 24 hours here.  Many fast food establishments never close either.  If the store doesn't stay open 24 hours, it's has crazy long hours of operation.  For example, the Home Depot (which I have been a regular visitor of late) opens at 7 a.m. and closes at 10:30 at night ON SATURDAY. 

If you're a shopper, then Alabama is your place to hang out!  24 Hours of shopping can be found virtually anywhere.

Gas is Crazy Cheap Here!
Gas is a whopping $1.85 a gallon here in Birmingham.  Before I left California, I paid $2.85 per gallon for gas--that's a $1 per gallon difference!!  I just filled up the tank on the rental car I have (a Camaro...yes, I love a FAST CAR), and it barely cost me $30.  Can you imagine?  I paid under $2 per gallon for gas here in Alabama.  'Nuff said!


I'm sure there are more cool things to report about Alabama, but I'll save those for my next blog entry! 

In the meantime, join me and my duet and business partner Mitch whose sing tag is @_mitch22_ (yep he shortened it, thus taking away my favorite joke about him having the "longest Smule tag in history) for cool songs on Smule!!

More about the singers mentioned here:
@_Mitch22_ is my bestie, duet partner and biz partner Mitch B., who happens to live here in Alabama! Mitch recently celebrated his 24th birthday (yep, he's a young-un) and was thrilled and humbled by the wonderful birthday "card" we all did for him on Smule!  My thanks to everyone who joined us in making this special card for a special guy!

Me?  I'm @Pokeypal on Smule and my name is Grace. I am from San Jose, California, and I don't know why the heck I'm back here in Alabama except to work on my Southern "drawl."