Above and beyond
My 14 year old niece is singing a song at the ceremony. My mother has been spearheading this effort and convinced her to sing 'All I Ask of You' from Phantom of the Opera.
There were some issues, there were certain parts that her voice cracked on but she said she was working with her chorus teacher and would be ready.
Then my mother found another song, 'I've Dreamed of You' by Barbra Streisand which seemed to suit her so much better. Not to mention, the song is specifically meant for a wedding. These are the lyrics, I'm so emotional right now I can't even read them without tearing:
I really really really liked this song better but I wanted my niece to be comfortable with what she was doing. I left it up to her and she decided on 'All I As of You'.
In speaking with my piano player/DJ (Charles Henry, a LIW vendor), he offered to practice the song with her at his home office. Failing that, he asked to have her chorus teacher contact him so they can talk about any piano changes, etc. I was floored, isn't that such a wonderful gesture?
I told my sister and she didn't seem that keen on it because it's lacrosse season and my niece has games constantly. Plus, my sister is a very busy person. It was a little upsetting for me to hear but I kept my mouth shut.
Then I found out just yesterday that my niece has been having voice coaching sessions with Charles for weeks. My sister bought a piano version of the song (no singing) from www.sheetmusicdirect.com which my niece has been singing to over the phone to Charles. They even made some changes to the key and to the end of the song together to fit her voice and the occasion.
And they did all this, without me knowing. My sister said that she sings it perfectly, and even she gets tears in her eyes when she hears her.
I just know I am going to be a blubbering mess when I hear her sing it for the first time on Sunday. Thank God for waterproof mascara.
Weddings bring out the worst in people a lot of times. But sometimes, just sometimes, they bring out the very best.![]()
There were some issues, there were certain parts that her voice cracked on but she said she was working with her chorus teacher and would be ready.
Then my mother found another song, 'I've Dreamed of You' by Barbra Streisand which seemed to suit her so much better. Not to mention, the song is specifically meant for a wedding. These are the lyrics, I'm so emotional right now I can't even read them without tearing:
I've dreamed of you
Always feeling you were there.
And all my life
I have searched for you everywhere.
I caught your smile in the morning sun
I heard your whisper on the breeze at night.
I prayed one day
That your arms would hold me tight.
And just when I
Thought love had passed me by
We met.
That first look in your eyes I can't forget.
You melted me with your tender touch.
I felt all fear and sorrow slip away.
Now here we stand
Hand in hand
This blessed day.
I promise you
As I give to you my heart
That nothing in this world
Shall keep us apart.
Come happily ever after be
The man I'll love until the very end.
I've dreamed of you
My great love and my best friend.
For God must know
How I love you so.
He's blessed us here today as man and wife.
Come dream with me
As I've dreamed of you
All my life.
Come dream with me
As I have dreamed of you
All my life.
I really really really liked this song better but I wanted my niece to be comfortable with what she was doing. I left it up to her and she decided on 'All I As of You'.
In speaking with my piano player/DJ (Charles Henry, a LIW vendor), he offered to practice the song with her at his home office. Failing that, he asked to have her chorus teacher contact him so they can talk about any piano changes, etc. I was floored, isn't that such a wonderful gesture?
I told my sister and she didn't seem that keen on it because it's lacrosse season and my niece has games constantly. Plus, my sister is a very busy person. It was a little upsetting for me to hear but I kept my mouth shut.
Then I found out just yesterday that my niece has been having voice coaching sessions with Charles for weeks. My sister bought a piano version of the song (no singing) from www.sheetmusicdirect.com which my niece has been singing to over the phone to Charles. They even made some changes to the key and to the end of the song together to fit her voice and the occasion.
And they did all this, without me knowing. My sister said that she sings it perfectly, and even she gets tears in her eyes when she hears her.
I just know I am going to be a blubbering mess when I hear her sing it for the first time on Sunday. Thank God for waterproof mascara.
Weddings bring out the worst in people a lot of times. But sometimes, just sometimes, they bring out the very best.
