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lead singer is addicted to karaoke...
- Thread starter powderfinger
- Start date
Cousin is now on a feeding tube. He will not eat on his own. He hasnt spoken a word in days now. He is now bed-bound. He wont get out of bed. He wont look anyone in the eyes when they speak. Just a blank, cold state. I went in there last night with my ukelele. I sat by his bed, and sang him an island version of In Dreams by Roy Orbison. I then held his hand and told him I will continue to hold out hope we will come around, and sent him out my best wishes. Reminded him we all love him. I cried as I left the rest home.
Yesterday morning I went to visit cousin at the rest home. Still no response. Still in bed on his feeding tube. It was a short visit, as I honestly can't stand to see him this way. It hurt me to see him just laying there, feeding tubes... he had all the talent in the world to be a world class singer. But he wasted his life on karaoke.
I went back last night to bring him a cd player and some Roy Orbison cds, hoping it would comfort him. He was gone however. The window of his 1st story room was open, and the wind was blowing the curtain. I walked over to the window. The sky was purple... lightning off in the distance.... the wind blew. I saw a note on the table next to the window.
"Cousin... if you have come looking for me, just know that I love all of you, and I am so sorry to have let you down in this way. Please do not attempt to contact me, or track me down. I do not wish to be found. I am free now...."
I took the note to his mom and dad. They immediately contacted local authorities to hunt him down. They believe he may be dead. I know better. Cousin is silently running.... long may you run, friend.
I went back last night to bring him a cd player and some Roy Orbison cds, hoping it would comfort him. He was gone however. The window of his 1st story room was open, and the wind was blowing the curtain. I walked over to the window. The sky was purple... lightning off in the distance.... the wind blew. I saw a note on the table next to the window.
"Cousin... if you have come looking for me, just know that I love all of you, and I am so sorry to have let you down in this way. Please do not attempt to contact me, or track me down. I do not wish to be found. I am free now...."
I took the note to his mom and dad. They immediately contacted local authorities to hunt him down. They believe he may be dead. I know better. Cousin is silently running.... long may you run, friend.
Karaoke is a common way for alot of singers to practice. He can work on his voice and never have to be bothered by a live band messing him up with mistakes. He might be working on his own ear training if he's asking about what key songs are in. Anyway...Not really sure why it bothers you.
@totallyfrozen, why does it bother me? Because he ended up in a catatonic state, on feeding tubes, psychiatric drugs, and has disappeared... all due to his karaoke obsession. That's why it bothers me.
Last night was so emotional. I went up the karaoke bar (our usual dive), and they were holding a Memorial Concert for cousin. He is presumed dead, and IMO, this is jumping the gun a bit, but, what can you do? I know in my heart that cousin is out there silent running.
Anyhow, they had a large portrait of cousin (oil painting) set up on an easel in front of the elevated stage. The soundman made sure to shine a spotlight on the painting during the tribute.
All of his friends showed up and dedicated various songs to him. The Roy Orbison guy, along with a couple of other guys did "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye" by Boyz II Men. His ex gf sang "Good Riddance" by Green Day.
The finale was very tasteful. For the last song of the night, the soundman set up an empty stool on the stage, and shone a spot light on the stool, and played the instrumental track for "Pretty Woman" by Roy Orbison.
In my heart I just knew he would jump up onstage at any minute, and sing his favorite, trademark song. Never happened. I hope you are well wherever you are cousin.
Anyhow, they had a large portrait of cousin (oil painting) set up on an easel in front of the elevated stage. The soundman made sure to shine a spotlight on the painting during the tribute.
All of his friends showed up and dedicated various songs to him. The Roy Orbison guy, along with a couple of other guys did "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye" by Boyz II Men. His ex gf sang "Good Riddance" by Green Day.
The finale was very tasteful. For the last song of the night, the soundman set up an empty stool on the stage, and shone a spot light on the stool, and played the instrumental track for "Pretty Woman" by Roy Orbison.
In my heart I just knew he would jump up onstage at any minute, and sing his favorite, trademark song. Never happened. I hope you are well wherever you are cousin.
I did believe most of these stories until the last one. Being in emergency medicine for 17 years, if your cousin was placed in a rest home for psychiatric behaviors, he would be in a lock down unit. And if he was on a feeding tube and on heavy psychiatric medications, he would definitely be in a psyche HOSPITAL, not a "rest home." And the legal ramifications of a facility losing a patient, the state could close down the home and the financial lose could bankrupt the facility.
Thought of politics? Your full of BS!!!
Thought of politics? Your full of BS!!!
I did believe most of these stories until the last one. Being in emergency medicine for 17 years, if your cousin was placed in a rest home for psychiatric behaviors, he would be in a lock down unit. And if he was on a feeding tube and on heavy psychiatric medications, he would definitely be in a psyche HOSPITAL, not a "rest home." And the legal ramifications of a facility losing a patient, the state could close down the home and the financial lose could bankrupt the facility.
Thought of politics? Your full of BS!!!
I bet you tell little kids that Santa doesn't exist, too.
Cousin went to a new-age rest home, where feeding tubes and psychotropic meds is a new fad. I wasn't crazy about it, but I digress.
So last night, I am walking down the street, and I see, spray painted on the side of a white brick building, "Billy Lives" (Billy is cousin's name). All of a sudden, as I went to get in my car, a huge voodoo man in a cloak comes out of the shadows and grabs my shoulders, "The Karaoke King is coming.... THE KARAOKE KING IS COMING!". The man was shaking, almost crying and in hysterics. I ask the voodoo man, "who is coming? who is the karaoke king". "BILLY...BILLYYYYYYYY" he replied. I got in my car, turned on the radio, and "Pretty Woman" came on. I was totally freaked.
So last night, I am walking down the street, and I see, spray painted on the side of a white brick building, "Billy Lives" (Billy is cousin's name). All of a sudden, as I went to get in my car, a huge voodoo man in a cloak comes out of the shadows and grabs my shoulders, "The Karaoke King is coming.... THE KARAOKE KING IS COMING!". The man was shaking, almost crying and in hysterics. I ask the voodoo man, "who is coming? who is the karaoke king". "BILLY...BILLYYYYYYYY" he replied. I got in my car, turned on the radio, and "Pretty Woman" came on. I was totally freaked.
If you build a karaoke bar, they will come. I predict that cousin will arise to take the world by the balls and squeeze his way to victory. Or he will continue jumping sharks. I'll say it's 50/50, and those are damn good odds. Any takers?
So yesterday afternoon I got an invite on Facebook for an event at the karaoke bar called "Billy Lives". I was quite skeptical of this but apparently cousin was giving an impromptu live concert. I called up the bar and asked the owner what's going on. He told me that a talent agent named George Ball had called up and offered to rent the club for a 5 minute karaoke "concert" for his client, Billy The Karaoke God. Nothing like a little bit of karaoke payola, I joked with the bar owner. He didn't think it was funny.
So last night I set out to the karaoke bar outside the Queen City. At around midnight, George Ball finally took the stage to announce his client. I was so nervous, having no idea what to expect or why this was happening. How could cousin let his family believe that he had died or vanished, only to reappear at the local karaoke bar.
"Ladies and gentlemen... Ballin' Entertainment proudly presents...." *a drumroll came over the PA system* "......the Queen City singing legend.... Billy the Karaoke God!!!". The lights dimmed... and the multi colored spotlights came on.
The opening notes to "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel came on. Cousin walked natrually across the stage, smiled at the crowd, and was greeted by applause from all 20 patrons.
Cousin began singing, and sounded so good. He looked so alive. I was in utter shock. Disbelief. I waited until the song was over, and when I saw cousin slipping out the back of the stage, I went to go grab him. He was a hologram.
"BALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL", I screamed in my best James T. Kirk voice. George Ball had already slipped out the front door. I chased him, but when I got to the front door, his unmarked sedan was already halfway down the block.
So last night I set out to the karaoke bar outside the Queen City. At around midnight, George Ball finally took the stage to announce his client. I was so nervous, having no idea what to expect or why this was happening. How could cousin let his family believe that he had died or vanished, only to reappear at the local karaoke bar.
"Ladies and gentlemen... Ballin' Entertainment proudly presents...." *a drumroll came over the PA system* "......the Queen City singing legend.... Billy the Karaoke God!!!". The lights dimmed... and the multi colored spotlights came on.
The opening notes to "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel came on. Cousin walked natrually across the stage, smiled at the crowd, and was greeted by applause from all 20 patrons.
Cousin began singing, and sounded so good. He looked so alive. I was in utter shock. Disbelief. I waited until the song was over, and when I saw cousin slipping out the back of the stage, I went to go grab him. He was a hologram.
"BALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL", I screamed in my best James T. Kirk voice. George Ball had already slipped out the front door. I chased him, but when I got to the front door, his unmarked sedan was already halfway down the block.
I've had a band member who ran away from any mention that he was in my band.
When it finally became obvious how much he simultaneously loathed and loved being in the band (he loved being in A band, he loathed being in MY band), I fired him.
I had no way of knowing what kind of **** he was telling people about us, if he thought so little of what we were doing.
