It’s the last Saturday of Spring Break, I’ve got a dress to finish ASAP, food to make for Easter tomorrow, and potatoes to plant today. I also need a nap. I have no time to sing along with Pink Martini in Pioneer Square.
But guess what I did? I didn’t work on the dress. I didn’t get all the food made. But I did plant potatoes, nap and sing along with Pink Martini in Pioneer Square.
The first 300 people got songbooks. And very nice songbooks they were, too. They had words AND piano music.
We had the bonus of having both China Forbes AND Storm Large lead us in song. Also, the Von Trapps were there (four fresh-faced, college-looking members). And former Governor Barbara Roberts was up on stage too, singing her heart out. Members of the Oregon Symphony were there too. It was a very full stage.
In my haste to leave, I forgot my camera, so these photos are taken with the cell phone. I was delighted at the earnestness with which this deadlocked-haired youth sang along with the lyrics. I was simultaneously disturbed because the song we were singing at the time was “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad” which apparently he’d never been exposed to?
In case of rain, local umbrella makers ShedRain gave away free umbrellas. It was not at all rainy, but at one point everyone put up their umbrella for a photo op.
And we sang! We sang nearly every song in the songbook. The songs ranged from classic sing-along songs: “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad,” “Home on the Range,” “On Top of Old Smoky.” There were also songs from musicals: “Edelweiss,” “Summertime,” “A Spoon Full of Sugar.” And there were great surprises that were incredible sing-alongs: “The Theme from All in the Family,” “Copacabana,” “The Gambler,” “Nine to Five.” Aside from all that singing we did, we got performances of Pink Martini songs, as well as Sound of Music songs performed by the Von Trapp singers.
At one point, Thomas Lauderdale referred to Edelweiss as one of five songs that everyone knows. I emailed him, curious to see what he thinks the other four are, but he has not responded. What five songs do you think everyone knows?
I love this idea! There's a movie chain out here called the Alamo Drafthouse. We frequented it often when we lived in Austin (we're getting the first one here in Dallas – very close to where I live – in a few short months, yay!). They do sing-a-long nights. I never went to one, although I have been to their movie quote-a-longs. Anyway, once we get the one here, I'll have to go to a sing-a-long.
SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Jealous! I want them to come here for a sing-along. Portland and Pink Martini is so cool! Thank you for choosing this AND letting me live vicariously through you.