Born to be Wild....................

The fiasco happened 9 years ago. On the occasion of Independence Day, my school had organized ‘Vande Mataram’ singing competition. A representative from each class had to sing it for the prize being given to the class with the best singer.
Like a normal teenager, too full of myself, I agreed to represent our class.

I wouldn’t say I went up on the stage just like that, I had practiced a lot. Being a good bathroom singer is different from being a good singer on stage was something I hadn’t realized by then. On the D-day I went on the microphone, smiling at everyone, as if I am going to give the best performance. Music was played and I started singing, needless to say badly, but I found it so amusing that I started laughing (on the mic). For people who don’t know, I laugh like either an evil giant or a neighing horse “depending on the situation”. Apart from the teachers, everyone else started clapping. I realized the principal is quite angry, tried to be serious and started again but the same story. I got a scolding from the teachers on insulting the national song which made me feel quite guilty.

I apologized and requested for the permission to let me sing again. When the time came, I chickened out and said I can’t, I am Sorry. The fear of public singing had been haunting me since then. Whenever there was anything related to singing on the stage, I would run miles away.

Around a year back, getting into my head the notion of taking as much fear out as possible (ultimate goal, being fearless of everything, not sure if that’s attainable), I decided on doing something about this fear of public singing. Finally, I came to know of an amazing place called Opus in Bangalore where every Sunday is a Karaoke night. After deliberately delaying it for 3-4 weeks, one fine Sunday, me and Divya (my flatmate) went there for her birthday dinner and I took the plunge to sing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMbATaj7Il8 - ‘Born to be Wild’ Steppenwolf version . My turn came, I downed a large peg of Old Monk, closed my eyes, stood up and said to myself, ’Let’s do it’.

I went on the stage with shaking legs, trying not to look at anyone in the eye. Music was played and I started singing “somehow”. After one line, I was actually enjoying and smoothly going on with the flow, the voice going stronger with every word. For the first time, I realized the kind of high a good applause can give. It took me 5 minutes to reach my seat back with almost everyone on the way saying ‘nice singing’, ‘you have guts’, ‘well done’ :-) . I was smiling for the following full week and even now when I think of it, I smile. I was wondering how a band like Queen, Metallica or Iron Maiden would feel after a rocking performance in front of thousands of people. I guess ‘Toooooooooooooooooooo tooooooooooooooooooo high on life……….’, would really like to ask them this question if I ever get a chance.

As far as I am concerned, for me, for the next visit, the song is ‘Fear of the dark….’