Summary: 10. Today's Episode People Pleasing Music Company Ltd (incorporating Publishing and Management) in association with Authentic Promotions Agency, Enigma Artistes Internacional, Surreal Events, Angry House Productions and Derek Chiswick Management presents a: Mike Sidaway Music Entertainment Production Sunday Love Songs: Sunday 3rd May 2020 Mike is carrying over a hangover into this morning's performance. He is young, and naive and wears his heart on his sleeve. The hangover is not from an all-night, alcohol-fuelled, binge-fest (unfortunately), but rather a combination of factors including a friend's sadness at losing someone close to them, watching a particularly violent film the night before, maybe some home-life stress and just a general low-mood. In short, this temperamental musician is a moody bugger. He always has been. He always will be. Whilst Mike is under no illusions that it is not the most professional thing in the world - to bring his mood, and indeed his 'personal baggage' to the table every time he performs - privately, he does not 'give much of a toss.' Okay, perhaps that is a little blunt. Let's rephrase that to be more subtle and nuanced: This particular performer is in a tussle, wrestling to find that happy place centred between, on the one hand, the people-pleasing fake happiness, and at the opposite end a genuine and honest authenticity to the point that he is displayed and presented as an utterly and unashamedly miserable individual! - which he is not, by the way! It's an interesting discussion - to be completely 100% yourself out there, warts an' all? Maybe I should try to conduct a survey amongst presenters like Philip Schofield, etc, who have to invest themselves and show their personality. I'm sure they would urge extreme caution! Mike does not like to conform to expectations and the like. "It's nice to be different and show a little emotion out there - as long as it does not adversely affect the overall performance and musical quality, then what's the harm?" One could also argue that feeling something, some underlying emotion (whichever emotion that may be), whilst performing does add a certain extra element and energy to the performance of a song. Music, be it listening to music or performing music, can transform the mood and feelings of not only the audience, but the performer too. It can take you outside of yourself. It can take you on a journey. That is the power of music. And what a wonderful and powerful force (of good) it is. It must be harnessed! I guess it's fashionable, these days, to talk about mental health - it seems to be a big issue, a big talking point, an issue of these days, this generation perhaps - featuring in any number of radio and tv discussions/phone-ins on a weekly basis it seems. It is a struggle that affects us all at some point in our lives. Whether that's just the daily stress of our complicated lives, or something deeper. It's an issue that is relevant today, more than ever. Simplistic, but: if one is feeling a 'bit down' at the beginning of a set, that can soon be forgotten merely minutes into the set, and you, and indeed your audience, can be be transported to another place, outside of yourself, just for a while, perhaps even just for the length of a single three-and-a-half minute song. Or maybe even just a chorus or two. Perhaps that is enough. To get lost in a song, or a piece of music, or a film, or a book. Just for an hour, or a few minutes, or even just for a fleeting moment or two. To be taken somewhere else for a while, away from the stresses and problems of our daily lives... In any case, another performance, another Facebook 'live' session under the belt, and another lesson learned with each one: bring emotion to the performance, invest yourself in the performance, but don't over burden your audience with your mood, don't bring too much negative energy to the thing. Just because you are a little down, you don't necessarily have to let people know. That's fine to a point. But you don't have to bring down all those around you! Invest some emotion, invest some feeling, but try to gage, judge and feel the level to maintain a centred and professional performance. You can leave all of the 'personal baggage' at home! Songs Today Fields Of Gold, Sting Help Me Make It Through The Night, Michael Bublé (Kris Kristofferson) Just The Way You Are, Billy Joel Strangers In The Night, Frank Sinatra Can't Help Falling In Love, Elvis Presley Chasing Cars, Snow Patrol Amazed, Lonestar The Way You Look Tonight, Tony Bennett Are You Ready For Love, Elton John You Raise Me Up, Westlife, Josh Groban Thanks to our team - Sound: Nathan Production Team: Beryl, Betty, Deidre, Doris, Ethel, Elsie, Evelyn, Blanche, Fred, Irene, Ken, Mabel, Mavis, Pearl, Phyllis and Reg. PodCast Editor: Brian * Thank you everyone, for listening, for downloading this PodCast. I hope you enjoy the selection of love songs in this episode. Thanks..and keep listening!
