So, you know when you see yourself on video or hear yourself on tape, and the first, nay, ONLY thought that pops into your mind is, “GOOD GOD, HOW DO PEOPLE STAND THAT VOICE?”
Well it could be worse.
The other day, my parents lured me downstairs to nothing other than my own voice playing on the tape deck... from when I was 2!
They had made a few tapes when I was a kid, and we listened to them over a very jilted meal.. a kid’s piercing warbles don’t exactly blend into the background to make for perfect dinner music.
Let me just say, my voice was so weird. Firstly, it sounds like it’s breaking. Not too much unlike a boy going through puberty, no joke. Secondly, I have a really bizarre accent, a creepy mix between Japanese, and a total, true blue Aussie.
As the tapes progressed, we were priveliged enough to listen to my exemplary musical talents. I played the keyboard; I played the guitar; I sang. Sometimes all at once, and never in time or tune. I often made mistakes and that prompted me to restart from the beginning of a song. “Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden growwwwwwww? *twang* With.. um... I meayyn... Mary, Mary....” etc.
Though, the fact that the instruments drowned out my voice a bit was definitely a plus.
The funniest thing though, was the Cookie Monster Incident. My parents had been telling me about this for ages so I was very excited to listen to it. Apparently, when I was a kid, I couldn’t say “Cookie Monster”, and instead, continuously uttered “Cookie Montahhh!” You know, like kids do. Say things retartedly.
Presumably, we had a Sesame St book out, because my mum asks me, “Asako, who is this? What’s this guy called? Can you tell me?” I answer, “Big Bird”. I can hear the laughter in her voice as she continues to probe me and anticipates the oh-so-hilarious mispronounciation. She can’t hold it anymore so my dad enters the situation, very seriously saying “Please Asako, tell me, who is this? What’s he called, who is it?”
To which I reply, slightly hesitantly but nevertheless, “Cookie Mon......STER!!!!”
Moral of the story? Oh who am I kidding, there is none: just keep your chin up, don’t forget to have a laugh, it has got to be the home stretch by now.. HSC is almost over, and for some of you perhaps already over! Make sure you don’t taunt the poor souls doing Japanese Extension or Society and Culture; they still have at least one to go...
As for me, I've got two down, two to go.. and I'm counting the days!