Thursday, September 18, 2003

NOSTALGIA ISN'T WHAT IT USED TO BE: One thing I wanted to say more about in the Simon and Garfunkel post -- that there is a fear of disappointment if the performers can't bring it the way they used to.

Early in our courtship, Jen and I went to Atlantic City to see Hall & Oates in concert. Please don't laugh. Ain't nothing wrong with a healthy dose of white-boy soul, with appreciating the chart-topping duo that brought the world such memorable songs as "Sara Smile", "Private Eyes", "Rich Girl" and, my favorite, "She's Gone".

Ah, yes, "She's Gone". Just a great, soulful song with nice emotional glory notes at the end, on the final "She's go-o-o-o-o-ne!" that expresses Hall's finally acceptance of the fact that, yes, no doubt about it, she's not coming back.

So I'm looking forward to the song all night long, at the same time telling Jen my fears -- he's gonna punt the note, isn't he? "I hope not," Jen said.

Well, show's almost over. They start playing "She's Gone", and the anticipation builds. It's nice. It's soulful. Even Oates has a meaningful role to play. And then, the big finish:

Splat. Hall goes low and short on it, a perfunctory "she's gone" while the rest of the band tries to cover him on backing vocals with a more prolonged "she's go-o-o-o-one", but it's not the same. It was more like watching Joe Montana playing for the Chiefs in that last season -- occasionally reminding you of former greatness, but too often mortal.

So, Artie, don't let us down.

Have you ever been similarly disappointed in a concert? Tell us about it.

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