Opera Makes The Family Grow Stronger
Like a good John Hughes movie, I feel as if my life has an amazing soundtrack. Sixteen Candles’ featured the Thompson Twins song: ” If You Were Here” and like Molly Ringwald I made out profusely to that song in high school.
My music playlist varied. I listened to the old stuff from 50′s LPs to Woodstock soundtracks, skipping right over disco, then heavily played 80′s pop, 90′s big hair stuff, metal and electronica. This was of course all balanced by some classical and jazz because it soothed me.
A music mutt if you will.
If asked to pick just one song to remember, it’s hard. There are so many to choose from, so many elicit such strong memories. The Sarah Mclachlan ballad “Angel” that we played at my Mom’s funeral, our wedding song, Sade’s “By Your Side”, or the fun “Tubthumping” theme song we had on constant repeat driving to my mom’s treatments. Any of those can steal tears from a happy moment without my seeing it coming.
One of my favorite songs though is rarely played on the radio or elsewhere. I have to seek it out to be stimulated by the rich memory it evokes. It’s the famous aria from Rossini’s, The Barber of Seville, Figaro, Figaro!
Most nights, we would sit around the table and eat dinner together. The three of us: Mom, Geoff and I. Sometimes it would end abruptly, the telephone would ring, a paper was due, or a fight broke out between us.
Other times, we got goofy. Really, really, silly.
One time in particular, dinner was long over and the dishes were piled high in the sink. We sat there still talking, nobody wanting to move to officially end this evening together. So somehow, we started singing, opera.
At the top of our lungs my brother and I tried to outdo one another singing ridiculous opera while my mother laughed in hysterics.
We got louder and louder.
Each one trying to out-sing the other.
With Mom’s encouraging laughter, we decided to take our performance up a notch and we started to act it out. We stood up from the table and chased each other around the dining room belting out: “Feeeee-gaaaah-roooow, feeeee-gaaaah-rooow…fee-gah-row, fee-gah-row, fee-gah-row!”
Over and over again. We were laughing so hard we were doubled over. Nobody wanted this moment to end.
A golden moment, together, over bad opera.
I think I’m going to go find that aria now and go call my brother. Love you G.
Sis.
2 Goofballs: Me and my bro
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I love it. Super funny, I was out with a friend for dinner last night and Dave text me saying Grant is in bed yelling Figaro. LOL!
OK he’s still such a little guy! where on earth did he learn Figaro from? And don’t say Bugs Bunny!
Defintely NOT Bugs Bunny! I am not sure where, but I find it so crazy you were probably writing this piece as he was singing it
Ok, I could so picture this, and I love the image in my mind.
I too am a “music mutt” – enjoying everything but country (Charlie Daniels Band doesn’t count) and Alanis Morrisette.
To me, the Barber of Seville equals one thing = Bugs Bunny.
Concrit: This part here “At the top of our lungs my brother and I tried to outdo one another singing ridiculous opera while my mother laughed in hysterics.” – I think this portion would have been a really good part to “show” us what happened. You tell us you tried to outdo each other, but not really from your point of view. This one sentence could be expanded, building the competition, making us feel your mother’s laughter. I saw this memory, but I wasn’t IN this memory, if that makes sense.
Here you did a great job of pulling me into the scene: “We stood up from the table and chased each other around the dining room belting out: “Feeeee-gaaaah-roooow, feeeee-gaaaah-rooow…fee-gah-row, fee-gah-row, fee-gah-row!”
I love this: “A golden moment, together, over bad opera.”
And the photo says it all.
Thank you for sharing that magical performance of bad opera.
Thanks Kelly for the concrit. You are so right – I definitely should have blown that part out more. It never crossed my mind but now I totally see it. Thank you!
If I had thought about it, I would have told you this… how my Mom was laughing so hard her cheeks were red and her eyes were teary. She couldn’t quite catch her breath to tell us to “cut it out” and even if she’d managed to she wouldn’t have, because she was having a blast too.
Glad we are “music mutt” buddies too
sadly my life’s musical soundtrack has a lot of country WESTERN music, complete with yodeling. Oh, and musicals. Gah!
I have a soft spot for the western, but the musicals kill me. I used to love them, what happened?
OK this is very important. WHICH MUSICALS? please answer with one of the following: Sound of Music, Les Mis and/or CATS. Ok, your turn.
I love this story, you took me right to your house and made me happy for you that you grew up there and had such wonderful memories created for you. Makes me want to call my brothers too!
Brothers are great when they’re really small, then they grow up and get bigger than you and do all kinds of neat things. Then they aren’t so great anymore, until they are. Which he is. glad you have brothers in your life too. They make things extra special.
You had me at “John Hughes” movies
This post reminds me of the scene in Step-mom when Susan Sarandon is singing “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” with her children. I’m sorry for your loss, but I’m glad you have some happy memories to savor.
I challenge you to a John Hughes movie quote contest. Ok no I don’t, but that would be fun wouldn’t it?
Step-Mom is my favorite all time “need to cathartic cry” movie. Conveniently it plays on TBS 24 hrs a day so I always know where to go to watch it.
I’m new around here, and I’m glad I read your post today. Pandora and me–today it was “If You Leave.” There was never a better time than the eighties, especially for music. Thanks for evoking my own memories.
“…please don’t take my heart away” great tune. great era for music. great era for good memories.
You described these moments so well, it made me a bit envious of the fun the three of you had. I’m so sorry about the loss of your mother. I think I may incorporate the term ‘music mutt’ into my everyday speak.
Thank you for your sympathies.
Three cheers for Music Mutts! Hip hip hooray!!
sweet. really. i love seeing how people bonded with their siblings over music!!
Our other favorite was “Da-Da-Da” by Trio. It’s obscure but I thought I’d mention it. It’s really good if you can find it.
What a great story. I can picture you guys, standing in the kitchen, singing. I love it.
Thanks for taking me into this intimate memory.
Here from TRDC.
The kitchen really is the hub of our lives isn’t it? Amazing little spot that kitchen
I loved how family time and music threaded this piece together,
It was, for sure, about the music but I learned so much about your family and your relationship with your brother.
I was right there with you in the kitchen with the piled high dishes. I hope that my own kids remember nights of just not wanting family time to end.
I adore this line: “A golden moment, together, over bad opera.” and of course, the photo!
I hope my kids remember those nights too – sometimes the best ones seem to be the most organic ones. no agenda, just going with the flow, you never do know what will happen. Thank you for reading and your comments, I really appreciate it!
Oh I love this. I come from a musical family (we were all part of a musical theater troop when I was growing up if you must know) and I can relate to this immensely. I also think there was a Bugs Bunny cartoon that featured Figaro prominently because he is all I picture whenever I hear this song. I hope there is a Bugs Bunny cartoon. Otherwise, I might be out of mind.
i am SO intrigued… Musical theater troop? In NY? Maybe I’ve seen your work… please do elaborate.
And Bugs Bunny? No wonder you and @DanceswithChaos are pals, she said the same thing!
I loved that cartoon, I think Elmer Fudd is in it too. Yes? No?
Sara, love this picture of you and Geoff. Give him our love, xoxoxo
Hi Annie! I just found a great pic of you, Barbara and I from my wedding shower. I will send it to you via email nxt week. (I’m away from that computer at the moment). xoxo
Sara, thanks sweetheart I would love to see it, all my love to you and your family
Oh, so fun. That was my wedding song, too, by the way.