THE BEST CHOICE

I couldn't help remember one night, years ago, when my sisters and I were watching TV. Mommy heard us laughing at, and critiquing someone who was performing. She was annoyed with us, but she didn't yell or reprimand us. Her approach still caused us to reconsider our actions. In her quiet way, as she stood up and headed to the kitchen, she said, "Hmm. They're on TV. You all are sitting on the sofa in the living room". She never looked at us. She just dropped that bomb and kept walking. We shut up, and thought about that thing. The people on TV were trying. They were being brave. They were taking a chance at facing rejection and ridicule. Okay. Maybe they weren't good, but was our insensitivity unfair? Were we wrong for thinking that if it's on television for people to hear, Music should be...uh...well... good? Have we so embraced the visual that we no longer care about sound? Do we just excuse it, and give performances a pass simply because of a performer's history?
Putting oneself out there to be picked apart by people can be nerve wracking, but kudos to those who continue shining and sharing, in spite of their fear and the complaints of listening naysayers. 
 The posts on social media reminded me of that night years ago, except the performers we were dissing never heard our words, or experienced our disdain. Social media was relentless and cruel tonight. Maybe Madonna wasn't the best choice for the Prince tribute tonight, but for whatever reason, she was the choice. 

Bringing out the great Stevie Wonder may have been not only a genius move, but a great comfort. Nobody was going to throw any eggs, tomatoes, or shade at Stevie. He could have sung the telephone book and all would have been well. Perhaps it's because of the exceptional, stellar, incomparable caliber of musicianship. He is the proverbial iron that can only sharpen, and be sharpened by iron. His presence caused many to put down their remotes.

Someone tweeted that Madonna never "had the audience". Maybe not. I don't know what the temperature was at the venue. What she DID have, though, was weeks and weeks of knowing that she wasn't wanted, because people weren't the least bit shy about saying so. There was even a petition to have her replaced. That's some seriously passionate stuff right there. Knowing how much your presence and performance would offend could put a lump in anyone's throat-- to match the one already there because a dear friend had died. Maybe she was able to quash the noise; be encouraged by those who did want her. Still, the anxiety was audible and visible. It's a wonder she could stand up, let alone sing. I have to hand it to her. A lot of people would have simply bowed out. Perhaps because of relationship, she decided that no one was going to ruin the opportunity to publicly honor her friend in her own way.

I do wonder, sometimes, how decisions are made; why some people get the call to do certain things when there are, in my mind, much better, available, sensible choices. Is it money? Do some people bring drama and difficulty? Is it emotional? Is there bad blood or a poor working history? Is it laziness, spite, thoughtlessness, naivete, or cronyism? Is it a time or logistics issue? Is it simply business?

I'm the first to defend Art and a person's right to express themselves. I'm all for friends honoring friends. I just wonder why putting one's best foot forward is often hijacked by pettiness and politics; why mediocrity is preferred over excellence and expected to be consumed happily. Why aren't people who know better consulted? Why is popular opinion discounted? Why is wisdom, rational thought, and common sense ignored?

It doesn't matter who controls the narrative about what you experienced. You know what's great because you have history with greatness; you know the sound, sight, feel, and smell of it. Your senses can't be deceived. They respond. You know what misses the mark--even if your mother insisted that you be nice, and not say so.

Mommy was an English teacher, and words mattered. I checked Mr. Webster to see whether I'd missed something. According to the dictionary a tribute is "something that you say, give, or do to show respect or affection for someone; something that proves the good quality or effectiveness of something." 

Ummm. Okay.