He was belting it out.
Really singing, and singing well.
“♫Are we human…♫”
I’ve heard a few cover versions of The Killers’ songs but this guy was different.
Probably because he was dressed like a hybrid John Lennon and Paul McCartney from the Sgt Pepper album.
“♫or are we dancer"♫”
I’m in Liverpool.
Or, as you could call it on Mathew Street by the Cavern Club, Beatlesland.
The singer belting out this Brandon Flowers Lonely Hearts Club Band version of ‘Human’ was immensely talented.
He was also brave.
Maybe brave isn’t the right word.
But he was up on stage in a packed pub, stationed by the open window for passersby to see as well, singing his heart out to a backing track… while some 6-year old kids twirled directly in front of the stage and their slightly sozzled parents watched.
I’m almost positive this isn’t the success the singer had dreamt of but man, he was nailing it.
He was creating memories for those kids and their parents.
I mean, I was just passing by and I’m writing about it.
He. Was. Nailing it.
He was making an immense impact on more than a few people that they would carry with them for the rest of their lives.
Maybe some would take his lead and start performing.
Maybe this was the lifeline they needed to keep going.
Maybe this was the light they waded through weeks, months, or years of darkness to reach.
Am I overstating the impact of a pub singer in Liverpool?
Maybe.
It sounds like it, but I’d argue no.
At least not this guy.
This guy probably dreamt of, or still dreams of, massive sold out arena shows.
People chanting his name.
Adoring fans and hit songs of his own on the radio.
That’s not the success he currently had, but the success he had was success nonetheless.
We all strive for success.
Most of us do anyway.
We think we know what that success will look like… but I don’t think we do.
I think we need to open our eyes a little wider.
Sometimes success isn’t the dream we’ve dreamt.
Sometimes success just kinda looks like that dream.
###
So hard to take that success at the pub level and rejoice in it without giving yourself the subtext of “yeah yeah it’s a pub in Liverpool not the Palladium “ ( does the palladium still exist. I am so out of the loop)
#commonsensejournalism
Thank you for another "eye opening" piece