Collective Karaoke in Moratuwa
Captain Elmo JAYAWARDENA
Bad news blow so much at us that nowadays even the Nobel Peace prize
is up for argument. Then Miss Rodham turned world politician rants about
rape and is seen in Shin Fein land talking peace and lucky for all of us
that the IRA has buried the guns, if not there would be another episode
of dodging bullets for borrowed bravado. Enough is enough, let's talk
something pleasant.
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‘Sing
Along’ fund raiser for the Moratuwa YMCA |
Sunday night I was in the audience of a 'Sing Along' fund raiser for
the Moratuwa YMCA. Ran Mal hall by the Bolgoda Lake filled with all ages
and known faces of yester year, guitar strummers from the seventies
mingling with the young musicians of today and everyone singing melodies
that are etched in the 'all time' favourite scales. It was simply great.
The band was Super Pink and Purple and they knew what to play for
whom, super performance, lived up to the name. For once I did not have
to yell to talk to my wife seated next to me and for once the band
wasn't trying to show off how loud their imported amplifiers could be
with the kana palena volume.
Lincoln led the group and I've heard him four decades ago; age may
have lined the face a bit, but the music was all there, nostalgic to a
point of absolute appreciation. Then there was Priya Peiris, the "cockadoodle
man" and Merril Fernando of Amigo Romanticas fame who sang his original
Ruwan Ambara which back-tracked everyone to an age and time they would
love to remember.
The crowd sang, of course this is Moratuwa and everybody sings and
knows what it is to have a good time. Mahen from the UK singing Bill
Forbes ("no better way to make a greater fool of myself" his words) and
veteran band men Hiran and Brian (who used to play the guitar
upside-down) led the singing along with so many others bringing home the
truth to me, how great it was to be back where I belonged.
Then there were the two super greats at their magnificent best, Sohan
and Annesly, what an evening they made for everyone present. We know
they are good, no! They are very good; we hear them on CDs and on stage
at the best hotels at weddings. But this was different, a class by
itself, the way they moved the crowd and got them going on this
"Collective Karaoke" that reverberated from every nook and corner of the
packed hall.
With Judy and La Bamba, Sohan took us to the "way it used to be" and
Annesly came on to give us Thotiya and then moved to a medley that
included Dilhani and wouldn't walk away without giving us what? Yes!
Mango Nanda.
Three hours plus of music, a time to forget life and loads and stamp
feet, clap hands and sing to our heart's content. Pinsiduwanne to
Whispering Hope then move to Olu Pipila to Kumbaya in solemn mode,
everything blended so well that time simply moved on winged wheels.
Curtains came down and people walked off, chatting to former soul
mates and going back in time to long forgotten friendships, remembrances
tugging at heart strings like old romances. "Thank you for the music"
that certainly was the sentiment shared by everyone. I too made my exit,
saying my 'so long's and making promises to meet my old friends again.
One thing was clear to me, clear as the star lit night that canopied
above and the breezes that blew from Bolgoda! - I was home.
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