Wednesday, March 28, 2007

La Vie Boheme

Saturday morning I was cutting the grass and I stopped to increase the volume on my Ipod so I could hear it over the motor of the mower. As I was adjusting the volume control I noticed a group of nicely dressed people going door-to-door through the neighborhood. I did not think too much about it. I locked the control switch on the Ipod so I would not accidentally turn it off during my chores, slipped it back into it’s case and then placed it in my pocket. I continued to mow.

Just as the soundtrack to the musical Rent started blaring in my ears I noticed two of the nicely dressed people standing at the edge of my lawn. I waved and continued to cut along the edge of the front garden. The two people did not move. I figured I would save them a trip to the front door being that no one was home and I turned off the mower and walked towards the couple. The song La Vie Boheme just started to play.

The song La Vie Boheme is about the Bohemian lifestyle of the characters in the musical with the lyrics referencing many artists, influences and phrases that are integral to the characters. La Vie Boheme, for lack of a better term is a cross between Rock and Rap, where the last line of each verse is punctuated by the singers shouting the word or line.

I approached the couple as I took the ear bud speakers from my ears and I rested the wires over my shoulder. The volume was so loud that I knew they could hear the music but it was not too loud to hold a conversation. I asked them if there was anything I could do for them. The song played.

"To days of inspiration Playing hookie, making something out of nothing
The need to express To communicate,
To going against the grain, Going insane
Going mad! "

They told me they were promoting a new church in the area and that the were just letting people in the area know about it. They were not trying to convert anyone or anything like that but that they were just giving out information. They noticed our house was for sale and they were not going to stop but since I approached them they figured they would just tell me. They were waiting for other members, who were down the street, to catch up to them. They were very nice and polite.

"To hand-crafted beers made in local breweries
To yoga, to yogurt, to rice and beans and cheese
To leather, to dildos, to curry vindaloo
To huevos rancheros and Maya Angelou
Emotion, devotion, to causing a commotion
Creation, vacation
Mucho masturbation"

I heard that last line and I tried to see in their eyes if they heard it. I grabbed the I pod in my pocket to shut it off. They started to thank me for my time and I have no idea what else they said because I was so preoccupied with trying to turn the ipod off. Because I knew what lyrics were coming next and I did not want offend anyone’s sensibilities.

"Bisexuals, trisexuals, homo sapiens,
Carcinogens, hallucinogens, men, Pee Wee Herman
German wine, turpentine, Gertrude Stein
Antonioni, Bertolucci, Kurosawa

Carmina Burana"

I fumbled with the controls but since I “locked” it, the volume control did not work.

"To apathy, to entropy, to empathy, ecstasy
Vaclav Havel - The Sex Pistols, 8BC,
To no shame - never playing the Fame Game

To marijuana
To sodomy,
It's between God and me
To S & M "

Again I don’t know if they heard it but I found the whole thing funny.

17 comments:

eclectic said...

Ah, the joys of musical theater! Non-theater folks just don't get it.

At least the words "God and me" were in there somewhere. That had to make them feel better, right? ;)

Julie said...

Oh, yikes! Been near there with some surprise chats with co-workers. For future reference, pulling the headphones out of the jack stops the song, too.

Anonymous said...

William, you get into more trouble as an adult than you did as a child. You were the best little boy. Such a good imagination, well-behaved, happy, kind, friendly...What happened? When did you turn? You always get caught! And always in public! I will be watching very closely when you come north:)

SciFi Dad said...

Dude, your mom reads this blog?

No way I'm making the joke I was going to make now...

Anonymous said...

The fact that you have Rent on your Ipod, does not shock me. The fact that you let the people listen to it, is even more non shocking. The fact that you know all the words to the songs from the Musical does worry me some. Once a Gay-Bird, always a Gay-bird. Bill, you may not be on our softball team now. I'll check with the guys and get back to you.

Stepping Over the Junk said...

It's kind of like answering the phone while having sex (like, in college) and having your grandmother on the end of the line.

I LOVE Rent and the soundtrack. My kids like the soundtrack too but I have to sensor the songs (so that narrows it down to about two) and when I anticipate the words I dont want them repeating, I just hold my hand on the dial and mute it...which is tiring, so I pretty much try not to put it on in the car when they are in it with me.

Note to self: dig out Rent soundtrack for drive to Boston today. Put on in car. Turn volume way up. Sing really loud.

I cried in that movie, through the whole thing.

OhTheJoys said...

...a song for every occasion.

Unknown said...

Hehehe...LW's comment cracked me up.

Anonymous said...

I actually thought that song was about you

Anonymous said...

Here's a true story.

Rent is my favorite Musical.

Let kids listen to it all the time.

Bring them to see it (get dirty looks from other theater goers)
Kids sing lyrics anytime anywhere. They don't understand the content. (like Celine or Pavorotti singing in English for the first time)
Out of nowhere 10 year old asks what is Masturbation.

Long winded 20 minute dissertation follows on self pleasure.

My son has not looked me straight in the eye ever since.

Kami said...

Way to make an impression on the church people, William.

Anonymous said...

Waiter Waiter Waiter

Unknown said...

I can't think of which CD it is now, but one of the ones I regularly listen to at work has lyrics that I don't think twice about when I'm in the van... but when I'm at my desk and my boss is at my desk talking to me about a project, and these lyrics come up, I must turn a few different shades of red. I've taken to muting my radio when someone comes to my desk.

Judypatooote said...

Oh My......your mother raised 8 of you boys....hummmmm....and she still sounds sane...... amazing...

Can I ask you where you are moving too......back to PA?

Darren said...

Excellent. I love that song too.

Anonymous said...

Whatever. You are so totally going to burn in hell now.

I'm just saying. They're not going to put a good word in for you with God now, that's for damn sure.

ieatcrayonz said...

I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. Thanks, W.