EXTRA: It started with Angles...

Just because this is an "Extra", son't let that fool you into thinking this is any less meaty that usual. In fact, this is more than qualified to be a regular post.

Well, I was going to post about what a lovely (if not quiet, short and dull) time I had in the Peak District with my University. But something came up this week that I have to share. It's probably going to leave me short for this week's Blog, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it...

This Tuesday was the lovely Holly's 21st birthday (again). Now when I say in brackets again, I do mean again. Because of different friends, and family, and university, she has managed to get herself 4 birthday celebrations! This one (actually being held on her birthday!) started off at the Student Bar (the Zee Bar) on Chichester Campus. I had a half-pint of Coke (a - I don't drink, and b - I was the driver), and realised that it was a Karioke night. I've never been to Karioke proper before. Some of the acts were really good (rating 4 Escorts out of 5 and above!), whilst others were... erm... how can I put this delicatly? Special (only scoring really low on the PUSHBIKE scale - not even good enough for an Escort). To be frank, some of the "singers" needed to be taken out and shot!

Anyways, when we were on our last residential, my group and heard some of my singing (almost on the cat-killing scale), and we had even sang some queen together one night! They egged me on, and so I risked facing an angry drunken bar mob, and went up to the stage. I had decided I had to sing Robbie Williams, as he and I have very similar vocal ranges. Neither of us can really sing. Don't get me wrong, I love his music, but he admits he's pretty limited.

I was going to sing "Let Me Entertain You", as I had it in my head, and it had been a popular choice of mine for shower rehearsals! Unfortunatly this was a particularly cra- rubbish disco, and all he had by Mr. Williams, was "Angels". The stakes were raised higher - sing this like a dieing cat, and the angry drunken mob would hang me from the rafters...

But it was Holly's birthday, and I decided I would do it for her (I couldn't afford a card or a present... scumbag university student). The lady with the Karioke did warm me not to cock the tune up, because SHE wouldn't let me murder it (like so many karioke tunes before it). I picked up the mike, and started saying why I was on stage "Good evening ladies and gents, this is..." there were no sound. The blooming mike was off.

Now nervous as, I turned the mike on, and restarted. "Good evening ladies and gents. This is going out to a friend of mine, who's birthday it is tonight. HAPPY 21st HOLLY!" Then the music started....

As some of you will know, I work with a disco company, and we nearly always finish on Angels. I have only ever sung this to take the p*ss, and ruin it. I couldn't do it now....

I started singing to early (on later inspection, the karioke music had too longer intro), so this shafted me. Not going well. But I recovered, got back in time with the music. My friends from my Uni course started to gather around the stage, and gawp. Is Andy actually doing that? I could see it in their faces.

The tunes progressing nicely, I'm on top of things, and I don't think I'm singing too badly. The people that can hear are smiling, and seem to be enjoying. I might just pull this off...

"I'm loving Angels instead....
[her comes the chorus]
And through it -" And it was here, just before the last word of this line, why I remembered I never really sang this song. It was one of those split second thoughts, but it meant alot.
"OH BUGGER, THIS SONG GETS HIGH HERE ARGHHHHHHH!!!!!"

"And through it - ALLLLLL
She offers me protection..."

I got there! Hit the note, no squeakyness, and even in tune. The crowd cheer - job's a gooden. I get through the next verse fine, and into the second chorus. And again, I realised another reason why this is a bad Karioke tune. After the second chorus, there is a long guitar instrumental. Most of the time during Karioke, you look at a TV screen, and sing the words, but during instrumentals, there aren't any words. Worst of all, I DON'T DANCE. What do I do for a 45 second musical?

At discos, Stuart (the boss) would do a VO (voice-over), and say thank you for coming, goodbye. What could I do? Well, I did what any good soldier would (although actually, I'm a sailor...)

AIR GUITAR! To much laughter and applause. 4 times I got away with it. The last time, I even switched hands! Although to be honest, on that side, my air guitar looks more like some bizarre sexual act...

Anyways, I get to the end, everyone cheers, I get a few hugs, and nice words. Thanks to Holly, Hannah, Kat, Batman, Phil, Charlie, Ade, Thom, and Owain for all supporting me down the front (apologoies to anyone I forgot).

You'll also be pleased to hear that there is a video of my Karioke! As soon as I get it off Phil, you'll get to see it! Check the next Blog to see how...

This has been a long post, and this was just the start! This therefore is going to be my first two-part episode. I guess I'm not stuffed for this weeks post after all...

Will Holly have a good 21st (again)?
Will Batman poo his pants?
Will anyone get home before 6am?
Will I get lucky with some lovely young girl, and cure my problem?
Will I get offered a contract with EMI, to duet with Robbie Williams?
Find out on Monday, ONLY at CATCOUK.BLOGSPOT.COM... (say it with a deep voice, it's more theatrical)

...to be continued...