My Name is John Daker
You know how there are special videos that come along maybe twice in a lifetime that you must share with others. Well this little gem is one that I consider worthy for you viewing pleasure. It has changed me in ways that I cannot even express.
Here are a couple of things that are noteworthy to look for:
1-The sweet sister at the piano who I can't even understand (I think she may have a drinking problem or overly large dentures), probably lives in a small town and because she was once featured as a soloist in her community choir 50 years ago, feels qualified to teach voice lessons. And she thought it would be a fantastic idea to put her students recital on the local public access channel. Wise choice? You be the judge.
2- John Daker is one of her finest voice students but he is a little slow on the pick up. Notice he doesn't really get that the music has already started and yet he insists, like all good recital participants, to give his name missing his first note.
3-I am not sure but I think his voice teacher sat down with him and said to old John Daker, "John I have a fantastic idea. I have two songs that would go great together, Christ the Lord is Risen Today and That's Amore. What do you think? Oh, it doesn't matter what you think, I am the voice teacher, you will do as I say. Oh John this will be your best performance ever. Oh and remember John to make sure you express your feelings with your eyebrows just as we have practiced, lo these many months."
Haven't you had bad dreams like this? Standing in front of a crowd of people and then all of sudden you are expected to perform, but then once the music starts you realize you don't know the song and so you just make up stuff as you go along hoping that your use of jazz hands and facial expressions will overcompensate for your lack of preparation.
Thank you John Daker. You sir, are a delight.
Here are a couple of things that are noteworthy to look for:
1-The sweet sister at the piano who I can't even understand (I think she may have a drinking problem or overly large dentures), probably lives in a small town and because she was once featured as a soloist in her community choir 50 years ago, feels qualified to teach voice lessons. And she thought it would be a fantastic idea to put her students recital on the local public access channel. Wise choice? You be the judge.
2- John Daker is one of her finest voice students but he is a little slow on the pick up. Notice he doesn't really get that the music has already started and yet he insists, like all good recital participants, to give his name missing his first note.
3-I am not sure but I think his voice teacher sat down with him and said to old John Daker, "John I have a fantastic idea. I have two songs that would go great together, Christ the Lord is Risen Today and That's Amore. What do you think? Oh, it doesn't matter what you think, I am the voice teacher, you will do as I say. Oh John this will be your best performance ever. Oh and remember John to make sure you express your feelings with your eyebrows just as we have practiced, lo these many months."
Haven't you had bad dreams like this? Standing in front of a crowd of people and then all of sudden you are expected to perform, but then once the music starts you realize you don't know the song and so you just make up stuff as you go along hoping that your use of jazz hands and facial expressions will overcompensate for your lack of preparation.
Thank you John Daker. You sir, are a delight.
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Reva Cooper Unsicker taught singing, piano, and organ. Twice a year she would have her students perform their recitals on the local cable access channel, and the hour-long programs developed a cult following in the vein of Mrs. Miller. Videotapes of the "revafests" as they were called were sought after. John Daker was always on the Revafests. He sang among other songs the theme to "The Woody Woodpecker Show." Sadly Reva passed in 1995.
Bless you, John Daker.