Yesterday I rolled out another rhyme for a colleague’s birthday, but with a difference. Inspired by James Simmons, I tried my hand at singing the rhyme. It went down very well, although it took my boss by surprise. I had printed off the lyrics and given them to a select few who could be relied on to sing the chorus (which was based on ‘The Sun has got his Hat on).
I like the idea of singing my poems. There is something natural about performing lyrical lines and it makes sense to have a chorus, so that the piece is not just a solo, but a unison of voices coming together.
That sounds a bit pretentious, but you probably get what I mean. Everyone sings in the shower, or in their head, some favourite song or other. You don’t have to be a chorister to enjoy group or community singing. I remember going to Trafalgar Square at Christmas time with my wife and our two sons where we joined in singing carols with complete strangers around the massive Norwegian Christmas tree. It brought people together in song and made us feel that we had something in common that we could share with whoever wanted to stand and listen or join in.
Football and rugby fans still sing lustily songs that have been sung for generations at sporting events. Hymns were very popular with our forefathers when church attendance was obligatory. That’s why the Welsh fans can be relied on to sing Bread of Heaven at rugby matches and the English to sing Swing Low Sweet Chariot. The Irish have Low lie the Fields of Athenry and Molly Malone and the Scots have Flower of Scotland. The Six Nations wouldn’t be the same without thousands of fans singing.
Football fans of local teams come up with songs to challenge the opposition – I like Sing when you’re winning, you only sing when you’re winning. Of course being a Chelsea fan, Blue is the colour although I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles is a deeply moving West Ham favourite (and one I like to sing).
Maybe there will be more of this performance poetry/ballad singing…I don’t know yet. Someone should film it so that I can be my own critic – I’m harsh but mostly fair.
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