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The year was 1992, and my oldest brother was home from California to attend his ten year class reunion. As it was the first time he had been home since high school, all five of us children and our mother decided to hit a local karaoke bar on his last night in town.

My brother was videotaping all of his experiences on this trip to take back to his wife and his two year old daughter, and the video camera came along to the bar as well. Now, singing talent is something that most of the members of my family have not been blessed with; my oldest sister can sing, but she is the only one of us five kids who can. My next sister harbors the idea that she can sing and with the right song can do an OK job. I, however, cannot carry a tune if my life depends on it; and such would be displayed this evening with proof forever captured on tape.

My mother and both sisters had already sang songs when I was called to the microphone. Not being aware of current artists or titles to song there was only one song I recognized that I knew the words to, and that was "Michael, Row the Boat Ashore"; probably not the best choice for a bar song! With camera rolling, I began to sing.

Part way through the song, a patron of the establishment fell down onto the dance floor. He continued to sing along with the song..."Michael, row the boat ashore, hallelujah!" as loudly as he could, while my brother panned the video between this man and me singing at the microphone. A few moments later the man on the floor passed out to rousing calls of 'knock 'em dead, honey' and he was dragged by the heals off the dance floor; again all of which was captured on film.

As I finished slaughtering the song, my brother, who swore he was not going to sing, is heard on the tape saying, "Hell, compared to that I'm freaking Elvis Presley!"; and so, he sang next.

The video is still played at all family gatherings and I am reminded often about the ordeal despite it being fifteen years ago; and needless to say, I have never returned to a karaoke bar!

Learn more about this author, Jeannine Saylor.
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