30 Day Challenge Day 9 - Music Changes Lives

Yes, I know Smule Sing! is just an "app" that you can download onto your smart phone, your ipad or tablet and sing Karaoke with other singers around the world.  In fact, its because it's an app, that Mitch B. (my duet partner, best friend and all-too-frequent topic of my blog) and I often reckon that the songs and our singing here is "just for fun." 

This past weekend, Mitch, Fernando Riley and I proved how MUCH FUN it could be when we held our "Songs We'd Never Sing" weekend by posting three songs each that we would NEVER sing, unless, of course, it was for an event like this!  Although Mitch's version of "Anaconda" proved to be the hardest, perhaps the clear winner in terms of "general fun" was my posting of Jimmy Wong's song "Bacon Pancakes."  This song set to catchy, bouncy background music was filled with both "normal" lyrics and bizarre bacon making instructions that caught most of my duet partners off guard and made me howl with laughter as I read the lyrics on the screen.

But as Mitch often reminds me, music serves other purposes, and in the aftermath of the event, it's THIS part of music that I've had the opportunity to experience--that of a healing. 

I was so privileged to receive both mentions in many of the songs as well as text messages later from Smule users that our general silliness in song made them feel better after a long day, or lifted their spirits after a particularly bad week, or made them feel better after battling illness or other health related issues. 

Perhaps the most poignant example of the healing power of music occurred on Monday evening with my friend, Cece.  Cec's only son was diagnosed about a year ago with a very aggressive form of brain cancer.  Thus far, he had been stable, but recently he was hospitalized and in a coma for almost a week before being released to his family.  Couple that with an extraordinary two weeks of trial and pressure at her job, and Cece appeared in my office somber and sad.  She told me her problems, and then asked me how my week was going, saying "tell me something happy..."

I recounted for Cece how Mitch and I had come "up" with the idea of singing songs we'd never tried before, and how this past weekend was filled with the same madness on the site.  Then I remembered that silly "Bacon Pancake" song...the one where Mitch and I filled the song with laughter, giggles and general craziness, and where his extraordinary comedic performance and thinly sung interjections of "bacon pancake" caused me to laugh aloud when I heard it.  I handed my earphones to Cece, cued up our Bacon Pancake duet, and watched as Cece exploded in much needed fits of laughter in hearing both of us sing the most ridiculous song in history.

"Is there more?" she asked.  I nodded "yes" and cued up ALL of the silly songs that Mitch and I had done including the Facebook Song, Parents Just Don't Understand and the Anaconda song that Mitch posted on his site.  I finished with the wonderful "Cartman" duet posted on Fernando's site and performed by two "besties" Fernando Riley and Mitch B.   The laughter and all of the silly songs had visibly and noticeably lifted Cece's spirits, and the sad look was replaced with a broad smile.

To finish, I cued up a duet I had done with Mitch that we always do well, which is Keith Urban's "Memories of Me."  Cece gave me a hug and told me I had "transformed" her day.  She left me that evening with links to all of the funny songs and to the most recent two Urban songs Mitch and I had done.  I was so happy that our dumb songs and our duets had made a desperate mother so happy and I texted Mitch to let him know. 

When he called me back later that evening, he was pleased to hear that we were able to lighten Cece's load and he and I are thinking of songs to record just for her, which I know she'll love when she finds out.  Mitch reminded me again of the power of music, and THIS time I did have to agree with him because I was able to see it, first hand.

So remember, it may just be a silly little app on your iphone, your Android device or your tablet, but you never can tell when something you record on Smule changes a life!!

About the Singers Mentioned Here:

Fernando Riley @fernandoriley is one of my nearest, dearest and best friends on Smule.  His vocals and his performances are second to none.  Check out his site for more OCs and good times.

Mitch B @WLM_Mitch22_SF is my duet partner and my best friend here on Smule and in real life.  Yes, sometimes you DO actually make REAL friends through social media.  Mitch recently suggested that I rename the blog after him because he appears in it so often...yeah, I love ya man, but that is NOT gonna happen... but I'll tell you what why don't YOU write the blog post this weekend for me, eh??  Yeah...maybe I should DARE YOU!! LOL!!

Me, I'm Grace and known here on Smule as Pokeypal.  Follow me for more information on fun activities around Smule and upcoming events with my pals!!