Community editor has a voice best heard through newsprint, so if she starts singing, stuff some in your ears. Fa la la la la, la la la la.
By
By TAMMY MALGESINI
Community Editor
Published on December 22, 2015 2:06PM
I can’t sing. I take the Bible literally where it says, “Make a joyful noise.”
And my co-workers can attest to this fact. I presented a short stand-up comedy routine for our office Christmas party, which included a couple of parody songs. I twisted — twisted is the key — the words to “The Little Drummer Boy” and “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer” in a way that was truly amusing to “all of the other Heralds.” I’m pretty sure my co-workers were laughing with me, not at me ... .
As I’m typing this I’m hearing the off-key words in my head,
“Write they told me
Pa rum pum pum pum
A new story to file
Pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest words we bring
Pa rum pum pum pum
To lay out the paper
Pa rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum.”
Maybe, that’s why I like Bob Dylan so much. A brilliant songwriter, but with his raspy baritone voice his rendition of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” is more like a funeral march than the joyous song it’s meant to be.
Also, it took several times of listening to “O’ Come All Ye Faithful” before I realized Dylan wasn’t singing the opening stanza in English.
Despite my singing handicap, I enjoy music and I like to make up parody songs.
When I ran residential programs for adults with developmental disabilities, I teamed up with Suzy Tosten, one of the group home managers. As The House Mommies, we co-wrote and recorded a Christmas CD for our boss, Candy Lukens. She played it during their family Christmas gathering, which included Jim Stearns, a former Hermiston fire chief.
After hearing the songs, Jim expressed amazement at how well Suzy and I harmonized our off-key voices together.
“They can’t really sing, but they are funny,” he said.
Weird Al Yankovic ain’t got nothing on me — well, except of course, he can carry a tune.
Tammy Malgesini is the community editor. Her column, Inside my Shoes, includes general musings about life. Contact her at tmalgesini@eastoregonian.com or 541-564-4539.
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