9 Comments
Jul 8Liked by Geraldine Claudel

Steve Perry does have an energy in his voice. I must’ve been 8 or 10 years old when Don’t Stop Believing entered my world. I was singing out loud to it playing on my fisher price tape player while rollerblading the sidewalk in front of my house. An older boy from school walked by and made fun of me for it. I remember vividly thinking “you don’t believe” about the boy who made fun of me. And I also stopped singing out loud.

Expand full comment
author

Thank you, Teri. I love your reply to the boy for it is what I tell anybody who calls me weird! But it's a shame it stopped you from keeping on singing outloud!

I still do when I do my daily walk with my headphones on which must make me look a little crazy but I don't care, I take so much pleasure in singing!

Expand full comment

I love that song! I claimed it as my inspirational theme song! Did you see that guy on America's Got Talent? (Richard) sing the song? Even Steven Perry saw him and he loved it! You can watch this guy on YouTube! Loved your posts! You gave me an idea, but I'm not sure I can do it! It would have to be a short fictional story about The Beatles!

Expand full comment
author

Thank you, Connie. I didn’t see America’s Got Talent for I am in France and we have our own version of the show but I’ll check that on YouTube. If you have an idea to write a fiction about the Beatles and that brings you joy, you definitely should do it! I lack of tile right now to right besides Substack and I need to reorganize my days starting August to write consistently everyday. Lots of love.

Expand full comment
Jul 8Liked by Geraldine Claudel

I love the WTF energy. Honestly, I have several people whose music connects with me so deeply. Music is such a huge part of my life! I am always amazed at how some people do not seem moved by music and others (like me -- and you, I believe!) are instantly swept away, or start moving to the beat, or are brought to tears.... The first artist I thought of, was Elton John. I have seen him 6 times in concert, and the first time I saw him, was at 10 years old, and my dad took me to his concert (he sat, with his index fingers plugging his ears the whole time). I feel like I know him. I know about his life. I have 31 of his albums. As a teen, I waited in line for tickets (back in the day when you had to actually go to the Ticketmaster window to buy the paper tickets), from 5:00 in the morning. I was first in line (this was in the 80's). I had embroidered (yes, embroidered) "Madman Across the Water" on the back of my jean vest, in, as the album cover has on it, the ombre blue coloured threads. I still have that vest! (I am also remembering that on the front of the vest, coming down the "v" of it, was also "Stevie" on one side and "Wonder" on the other, but that's another story, I guess!)

I even wrote Elton a letter a few years ago (It's embarrassing, I know!), and told him about me, my life, my kids, and how much he has meant to me, during the ups and downs of life, such as the death of my best friend, my divorce, other losses and many celebrations, of course, as his music is the first I turn to in moments of joy and gratitude. He never wrote me back, of course, but I got to express my thanks and admiration to him. As always, thanks for your posts, Geraldine.

Expand full comment
author

Thank you, Gayle. I love your Elton John story and I would so love to see that vest! I was in my teenage in the 80’s and so madly in love with Duran Duran’s keyboard player! I would spend hours with two of my high school friends writing stories about them like we were going on tour with them as back singers and made their life a hell but at the end, they would end up ditching their girlfriends for us, of course! The stories were very humorous and so much fun to write! Some of the notebooks were lost but I still have most of them at home though I haven’t read them for a very long time.

Nevertheless, my Duran Duran love led me to learn and speak English fluently for I needed to be able to talk with my fancied « husband-to-be » so, at age 15, my mother sent me for a month in a family in Colorado and I came back fluent in English! Fantasies are always a good way to achieve goals even though - so surprisingly - I never married the guy and thank God for that! Lots of love.

Expand full comment
Jul 9Liked by Geraldine Claudel

Geraldine, that’s hilarious! I can just imagine the Duran Duran fantasies. Hungry like the wolf ;)

My best friend and I were sure we were going to create our own band — we were going to call it Jet Set! So funny to relive these memories. Thank you!

Expand full comment
Jul 9Liked by Geraldine Claudel

I love this for so many reasons! I saw Steve Perry many years ago when he was touring with Journey. He was an energetic force on stage for sure--and that voice so filled with emotion! Back in February, I saw Journey with it's not so new lead singer--who was absolutely delightful and so into the fans--and while I had a great time with those old classic songs, he wasn't, nor could he ever be Steve Perry. Nobody can replace him. What's interesting to me is that Steve stopped singing because he was afraid that if he didn't perform perfectly, he would be disappointing the fans. Don't Stop Believing is really the antithesis of that fear. Perhaps this was the energy healing in a way you received--keep in the space--write effortlessly and don't get in your headspace. Just write the book! And look you did! Love the synchronicities through which Spirit speaks to us. And I totally believe (pun absolutely intended) you will meet each other someday! Lots of love to you dear friend!

Expand full comment
author

Thank you so much Sondra. The incredible thing is, with Steve Perry, is than apart a few Journey’s fans, nobody knows him in France so I really had no way beside that Universe’s nudge to learn from him and his songs. I so agree with you, he is very paradoxical and I so relate to something I heard him say once: he said he thought that he went looking for the light because of his parents’ divorce for after that, as a child, he felt he wasn’t seen and heard anymore. And it felt so true for me as well when I heard him say that. Anyway, one way or another, I will write a book about him fictional or not and that I do believe. And I believe that I will meet him, there is no way around that, for I have things to create with him! Lots of love.

Expand full comment