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Elizabeth's Thoughts
Inspirational, Music


Elizabeth's Thought's
THE KARAOKE MAN
by Elizabeth Geyer

 Last weekend I went to my favorite pizza place where everything is always the same. But this time it was different. A man arrived, dressed like a taxation officer, wheeling a karaoke machine!

I liked watching him set up. I liked his assurance, the way he plugged in a few leads, stood back, hitched his belt up, surveying the progress, no mucking around. The musical signs weren't good. But it still FELT good. It felt like we were all in safe hands.

Then he pressed PLAY. Now I don’t know how to say it - but after a certain amount of gigs there are particular things you come to dread and avoid, and over the next 45 minutes he happily embraced my whole list.

He sang the theme from Titanic, Always on my Mind, Unchained Melody…the backings were tired, the saxophone sounds plastic versions of plastic saxophones. He transported me straight to a country Australian RSL Club, somewhere dark and cool, where there's hardly anybody around, just the blazing afternoon outside, the mindless looping din of poker machines, somewhere beer soaked, where the carpet is sticky.

And I was HAPPY! Beforehand we had been a disconnected roomful of strangers. Now people were smiling at first ABOUT him, but truly in no time at all, WITH him. We were connected.

It hit me again, the awesome power of live music, even when it is a man and a karaoke machine. He still bravely exposed his heart and guts to a bunch of strangers. It's amazing how live music can melt strangers and any feelings of loneliness and make us warm inside.

He reminded me of the real reason I love to perform…but also what an enormous privilege it is. It was one of the happiest nights I can remember.

Elizabeth's Thought's
Being Cool Like Everybody Else
by Elizabeth Geyer
I used to binge drink when I was a teenager. I wasn't out of control, but still I would wake up the next morning looking and feeling disgusting, faced with an ugly embarrassing trail of things I had said or done the night before. I began to hate myself, so I stopped, and lost all my 'friends' in the process. It turned out that unless we were planning a drunken night out we had nothing to talk about.

I am not advocating life without fun!!! And what doesn't work for me may not mean it doesn't work for someone else. I suspect that drinking and drugs have inspired some amazing pieces of art and songwriting. But my drinking wasn't helping me write songs, it was helping me be an impostor. I was only doing it so I could fit in with everyone else.

The fact is I have never been cool, not for a second, and never will be. Hooray yippee DOO DAH !!!!

I wish, wish, wish I could stand on a rooftop and scream out to the entire world ' DON'T DO STUFF because he, she or everyone else is doing it'.

If we are all only supposed to just wear, be and do what is 'cool', what is the point in every single one of us being created unique?



About Elizabeth Geyer: Elizabeth Geyer began playing piano at age 4 and trumpet at age 12. Following a Bachelor of Music performance degree (trumpet) at Adelaide University she performed in piano bars then as a commercial trumpetplayer playing jazz festivals around Australia, Monterey Jazz Festival, USA and backing artists including James Morrison, Gene Pitney, Barbara Morrison (US), Harry Secombe, in the Don Burrows Quintet, and with Swing City for the 2000 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. Inspired by singing teacher Kerrie Biddell, in 2000 Elizabeth recorded an album of jazz standards, began receiving national and ABC radio airplay and joined John Morrison's Swing City, firstly as trumpet soloist and then feature vocalist. Her second album 'The Dream' (2004) , a collaboration with award winning songwriter/multi instrumentalist Tony King, led to a top 5 placing in the Australian Songwriting Competition with 'You Carry Me Home' (2006), a national tour and unearthed her passion for songwriting. In 2007 Elizabeth travelled the US and Europe performing at venues including Galli's Bar, Karma Cafe in Los Angeles, Cafe Tirebouchon in Paris and in New York at Yippie Museum, Googie's Lounge over The Livingroom, and with residencies and repeat performances at Cafe Vivaldi and legendary New York songwriter venue The Bitter End. Elizabeth has just released her third self-penned album 'On Patrol With The Jazz Police'.

Elizabeth has started her own blog that led to regular contributions to thefabulouswoman.com. We are very thankful to her for sharing her thoughts among us. We are looking forward to featuring Elizabeth's story and music in the near future.

www.elizabethgeyer.com
www.myspace.com/elizabethgeyer


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