Maybe
This Time
The song is from the musical Cabaret and was not in
the original Broadway production, but was added in the 1972 film for
Liza Minnelli. It always was one of my favorite songs as it so dramatic
and powerful a song to interpret.
The theme of this CD is 70’s and 80’s Broadway
which includes some of my favorite musicals that were “on the
boards” while I was a teenager and a young adult. I am changing my
concept slightly on this project. Instead of singing strictly diva
songs, I am including some personal favorite male solos that I have
either performed in shows or have wanted to perform…
What I Did For Love from A Chorus Line evokes
my memory as a teenager and watching a performance of a show that
included several gay characters and how I could relate to their personal
struggles. The song also reminds me of how much I have done for love and
how you must not look back (too much) and move forward from not so
successful relationships. I did what I had to do and am ready to move on
to meeting that person that I will share my life with.
Company is a period piece, which really
highlights married life in New York City in the early 70’s. It was
also a comeback play for me as I hadn’t performed in a show for about
six years and the opportunity presented itself sort of out of nowhere. I
was going through a particularly down period in my life and my Mom
suggested I try out for Bobby and I got cast in a local community
theater production. It was a breakout role for me and I really
identified with the character and was even “Robert baby” to the cast
off stage. The song Being Alive truly hit home for me personally
as at every performance when I sang it, I felt as though I was becoming
alive and vibrant again.
I have a special place in my heart for Into The Woods (notice the Sondheim influence?),
as I have never seen a show that brings you back to
your childhood and tells the story of the fairytales you love, but yet
teaches you about life and how reality is quite a shocking thing…It is
such a poignant show that influences me to this day. Even though I never
had children, the song Children Will Listen left quite an
impression on me.
I think I related to the fact that growing up in my
family, my parents and grandparents never really understood how their
words affected my brother and I. We listened to their arguments, their
opinions and their guidance and that shaped our lives…not always with
the best results. Mr. Sondheim really gets that point in this song and I
felt that he and I could relate to the fact that parents need to think
before they speak and be supportive role models to their children.
I saw Dreamgirls as a teen, as well,
and felt very close to the song of And I am Telling You, which I
always call You’re Gonna Love Me as that title is more close to
my heart and what I get from this song. As a child growing up, that is
what I wanted from my family and friends, acceptance. This song has many
levels for me. It is such a rousing song and gets your immediate
attention. It is so soulful and moving that it makes me want to scream
and let out all the passion that is contained inside of me. It also
reveals the need that lies within me to be loved not only as a person,
but also as a performer. It is by far, my greatest achievement and my
favorite song that I recorded on this CD.
Singing The Music of the Night from the Phantom
of the Opera is such a treat. Full of vocal range and emotional
crescendos and decrescendos, the song captures my love for romance, but
also for the darker side of me…the more animal side of my nature. I
love singing it and have many times over the years. I had to include it
on this compilation.
When I first heard I Am What I Am, I was
blown away. I actually heard it as a dance song by Gloria Gaynor in the
80’s and then saw La Cage Aux Folles in the Fox Theatre in
Atlanta, Georgia with my father and his wife later that decade. For
obvious reasons this song is my personal motto and have lived my life as
an openly gay man from my late teens. The song has such a punch and
courageously states to love me or leave me. My life has not been a sham
and have over the years allowed people that I have touched or vice versa
see that being gay is not a negative thing, but merely an aspect of
being a human being. I also have a vivid memory of my Dad standing up
during the curtain call of the show and clapping profusely for the
performance. I will never forget his exuberance and reminds me of his
support of my life and all that I have tried to accomplish. I love him
for that acceptance.
I hope that my music will also have that same effect on whoever listens. I hope that my interpretations of songs will allow people to overcome their bias of sexuality and see a man is who is happy with who he is and isn’t afraid of sharing it with others. I am not a person who needs to let the whole world know that I am gay, but I not ashamed of it either and am proud of who I am. As the song says, “All the odds are in my favor, something’s bound to begin…It’s gotta happen, happen sometime. Maybe this time, I’ll win!” H. Michaels 1-31-2006