185. The Sound Lounge

This Okay Listener gets together with some pals to sing favorite songs in a groovy basement. The Sound Lounge isn’t about how good of a singer you are — it’s about the harmonies you make together. 

Transcripts may not appear in their final version and are subject to change.

INTRO MUSIC 

STANDARD INTRO

Okay Listener: My friend Sherri has a fabulous spot in her home that I’ve christened “The Sound Lounge”. It’s in her basement bar area and it’s painted a soothing charcoal grey with a turntable and plenty of vinyl, lava lamp glowing, vintage beer signs dotted here and there, and her collections of midcentury ashtrays and glassware.  It’s a very groovy space. 

[RECORDING FROM THE SOUND LOUNGE]

Sherri loves to singalong to her favorite songs, many of them from the 60s & 70s and later.  Our gatherings with a few sets of couples have, after dinner and some drinks, evolved into singing together to our favorite songs. This now happens on a regular basis.  We have, in fact, created our own Spotify playlist for this sole purpose.  That’s how much we love it and are into it.  There is laughing: LOTS of laughing. There is a tambourine from time to time (!) There is “hey, let’s do this one” or “we need to add that to the playlist” and even, “that’s not my thing but you go ahead.” It’s very egalitarian.   But make no mistake, none of us has vocal training unless you include singing solo in the shower or car as “training”.  Some of us are pretty good, some just OK, and some quite bad at singing but we don’t let it stop us.  Not at all.   

There are times when we are singing together, sometimes arm in arm, heads back, eyes closed, attempting harmony when we can (sometimes to hilarious effect!)  that part of me stops, opens my eyes and takes it all in.  I am in the embrace of dear friends with music that transcends our worries and concerns, music & lyrics that take us back to our youth that we didn’t spend together but find common ground in now, all within the virtual womb of The Sound Lounge. It’s a moment, it’s fleeting and it’s JOY!   I realize how lucky I am in that moment.  And I’ve discovered that when one is in The Sound Lounge, time stands still and I feel like it’s going to be OK.

[RECORDING FROM THE SOUND LOUNGE FADE OUT]

STANDARD OUTRO 

OUTRO MUSIC

CREDITS