"Barry, Babette & Windsor karaoke"

The Willistead
 

 Babette
 

February 2008, it was to be a trip to Windsor Ontario. Canada, if you can call it a trip. It’s only ten or twelve miles, from Dearborn, to Detroit, then thru the tunnel to Canada.

The sole purpose was to meet with some “Singsnappers,” a few from that universal group of online singers. It had been an urge for quite some time. I understood that some of them lurked at a place called “The Highway Tavern”. It would have been awesome to have had a date for this special meeting, but schedules and obligations intervene. Once there, nothing or no one was going to terminate my smiling glow!  

   How on earth could this be a “high priority goal’? Maybe ‘cause the household now consisted of only two; a Dad and a son. A few years earlier, there had been six people. Extra interaction? Maybe it was because long ago “the dream had gone up in flames”; The goal of being a ‘marketing researcher;” an interesting position that encompassed writing, statistics and psychology. This helps? 

Self expression is always in need of rescue. You work a few afternoon shifts somewhere. Then some more, and this thing called karaoke starts beckoning. The allure. You gravitate. Yes, it is the Long & Winding Road; (You’ll never know the many ways I’ve tried). “Trying to try”, becomes A God, whose church embraces the many! Those little pleasures become so big.

Babette had “met” Barry, while she lived in New Jersey, four years ago. Barry was here in Windsor. He had been singing in a Yahoo online chat room, while she listened! Within months, Babette relocated to be with Barry. He's been singing since he was six years old, plays guiter, and had studied music, at the college level, for awhile, in Sudbury Ontario.

I went on to be introduced to maybe seven Singsnappers, in total. (It’s been sixteen months, I’m foggy!) I sat down with “ProRacer” (Dennis) and “MacBlueEyes” (Sheldon). We were constantly engrossed in Singsnap discussion. Dennis and I applied the “gift of gab”, while “Mac” was quiet, and looked at us, as if we were interesting or important. The thought was that “maybe this fellow didn’t sing too much”.

Forty five minutes later. "MacBlueEyes" got up to sing. Memory has it, that it was a Sinatra era, or 1960’s song. Oh my goodness! Never did he miss a note. A baritone with fine vibrato, being so smoothly controlled and pleasurable. You knew it right then, that ProRacer and I had been two guys with much bluster and much beer!

Now, with the tables turned, you sure wanted to sing good enough yourself, as you’ve been officially introduced to Mr. “Mac Blue Eyes". A man who lets his voice do the talking! Less ego than I’ve ever seen, in a singer of this calibre!

http://www.singsnap.com/snap/r/b0bbd325    "Don't Close Your Eyes"  By     "MacBlueEyes"  (Sheldon).

Soon ”Wayne The painter” was met. Wayne declared: ‘At home, I’ve got a $10 microphone, no reverb, everything’s cheap. It’s all me. What you see is what you get!’. Well Wayne DOES have the reverb, for this one. He’s celebrating his birthday, the night he sang this song. “Glycerine”. This is a might fine version, indeed!     http://www.singsnap.com/snap/r/b51072909        "Glycerine"  By Birthday Boy,  "Wayne The Painter".

Just a steady stream of enjoyable songs and characters. The goal was being reached. By the end of the night, after 2:00 A.M, they uncorked the “song of the evening” “The Love You Lost”.

 http://www.singsnap.com/snap/watchAndListen/play/b6b647ed   "The Love You Lost" Often the Grande Finale! I certainly remembered it well! .Definitely a show stopping, table tapping dazzler, led by ”Committ", along with Barry, Stevie, and HuggableDan.

Yes, by 2:30, it was time to leave. I had a wonderful time. Soon the tunnel to the United States was jammed! Since 9-11, this has been the case; bumper to bumper, for one hour plus. What a dilemma for a hungry, very tired, beer filled traveler. It was "cat naps", behind the wheel, the entire time. But it was so worth it!

The Highway Tavern is now a name that exists no longer, in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. No fears! The same dynamic, talented, fun filled bunch, has migrated over to the “Willistead Restaurant” Thursday nights 7:00-11:00 P.M.

The Willistead is very nice and relaxed. Barry and Babette also now do an impersonation show. They imitate Wynona Judd, Elvis, Tim McGraw and James Taylor, Barry’s favorite singer. They also do various benefits also, in the Windsor area. They bought a new home in November, and built a pond they’re trying to raise Koi fish in.

But don't miss this one! Here’s an original composition by Barry, about Babette. The title refers to one of her often used expressions and beliefs about  life: “Singing Soothes The Soul".  In comparison to most  dedications, it is surprisingly and compellingly good! Very worthy of some of the real favorites sung by James Taylor. Taylor himself would be quite proud, and not evade a tear!

http://www.singsnap.com/snap/r/bab1f829     "Singing Soothes The Soul"   Mr. Barry Bailey.  What an original song! And also the 5000'th "live karaoke" song, done in association with Singsnap!

The following is a sampling of greatly enjoyable,  LIVE, on location, songs from this  "Windsor, Ontario, Canada"  gang.

 http://www.singsnap.com/snap/r/bdf70081   "When Lights Go Down"  Terrificly accomplished by Kim.

http://www.singsnap.com/snap/r/b9ed42e5    "Innamorata"   "Willie"   Purely outstanding!

 http://www.singsnap.com/snap/r/bbd383dc     "Love can Build A Bridge"    Babette & Leslie  with a beautifully sweet number

http://www.singsnap.com/snap/r/b5fb0557     "Maybe I'm Amazed"    Local contest threat, "Steve", is awesome!

http://www.singsnap.com/snap/r/baf9f024      A very excellent version of "Neon Moon"   "Chris"  

http://www.singsnap.com/snap/r/bcf151c5    "Me And Mr. Jones"   "Dawn Marie"   Much beautiful dancing goin on here!

 http://www.singsnap.com/snap/r/b2ab43bd    "That's Amore"  By "Stevie", exhibiting his very

http://www.singsnap.com/snap/r/bb12e8729    "It's Your Love"   HuggableDan  and Cynthia.  Much fun!

 http://www.singsnap.com/snap/watchAndListen/play/c310362f5   "Willie  and Mary"

   "Too Much Too Little Too Late"  

 http://www.singsnap.com/snap/r/b612402b1    "Too Sexy"   Describing the excellent, hot, "Matt", who smokes this one!