The last laugh

As I was perusing the photos and videos posted from the Rick Springfield fan getaway trip in the Bahamas, I found myself thinking of little Ricky Springthorpe feeling so despondent in his younger years.

RS has written and talked about his struggles with depression and about how he’s felt like a failure when depression hits. I thought about how he probably felt like he wasn’t living up to what people expected of him as a child because he wasn’t successful in school and scholastic achievement is typically how adults measure success in children.

When he was struggling in school and getting reprimanded for spending so much time on music, if only he could have known that decades later he’d be at a resort in the Bahamas with hundreds of women spending thousands of dollars to spend a few days with him and listen to him perform music in a variety of ways – with his band, in an acoustic set on the beach, in a piano bar and in a Beatles tribute band. Hundreds of people singing and dancing along to songs that he wrote. Songs that wouldn’t exist if he would have let those naysayers get to him. These fans also paid hundreds more for some extra time with him – swimming with dolphins or visiting his hotel suite for an intimate musical gathering (with a group of other adoring fans).

That reality probably never crossed his mind. (Or maybe it did, he has quite an imagination…) So there, all you people who gave him a hard time when he was young – the last laugh is on you.

So if anybody reading this is feeling discouraged in their current situation, just remember that there’s always the possibility that things will take a turn in a better direction. And may you experience whatever the equivalent of the resort-beach-Beatles tribute band dream is for you.

#HappyThanksgiving #Donotletothersgetyoudown #Followyourdreams

 Here are some great videos I came across from the fan trip:

“That One,” off of his newest album “Rocket Science,” at the welcome concert: 

At the piano bar singing the classics; here’s one by the King of Rock n’ Roll:

“Something” during the Beatles tribute show:

“Written in Rock,” from the 1985 album “Tao,” at the beach party:

One of the new cover songs he’s added to the set list, “Foxy Lady” at the farewell concert:

 

Passport through technology

I of course was bummed that I wasn’t able to travel to the Bahamas this week for the Rick Springfield fan getaway, but through the amazingness of technology -and the kindness of fellow RS fans – I feel like I got a little taste of it tonight.

In addition to all the videos that fans posted tonight, there are also clips on Rick Springfield’s own Facebook page: from the soundcheck, from the opening song of the welcome concert – “Living in Oz” – an aftershow piano bar cocktail party with RS singing his songs and Beatles songs (with sharks or really big fish swimming by on the other side of the window) and even a personal message from Rick wishing that I was there! (OK, that’s my 12-year-old self talking, it was really a message to whoever visited his Facebook page. Of course.)

The Rick and the NEWSflash folks – who are so INCREDIBLY kind to share so much cool stuff – even posted more songs from the welcome concert, which included songs from “Shock/Denial/Anger/Acceptance.” It was SO cool to hear those songs live. And it shows how awesome his band is – they had to learn all these songs!

Also RSandUS, a fan-based site, is posting videos on its YouTube page. You rock!

One bonus of technology is how customized it is. For instance, on my Twitter page for this blog, my feed is a whole lot more fun to read than the depressing news/comments on my personal/work feed this week. Some of the posts on my Facebook feed are the same way. Because these days you can create your own reality based on who you follow on social media, tonight I’m sticking to the RS Facebook fan pages and enjoying a little time in the Bahamas.

 

 

 

On the eve of the election

Tomorrow’s the big day – the culmination of this year’s crazy election season. Crazy isn’t even the right word  – tumultuous, disgusting, frustrating, embarrassing, maddening, tragic, maybe? THESE are our “leaders”?!?!

Anyway, Rick Springfield and friends have the right idea – get out of the country. He and his wife, along with his BFF Doug Davidson and his wife, are on their way to the Bahamas today for the fan getaway. (They posted an adorable pic of the four of them en route). And fans from around the world have already started to head there as well for the trip, which starts Thursday.

For those of us fans not physically heading to the Bahamas this week, we’re on our way mentally. Imagine a Rick Springfield concert with songs you’ve never heard live! And, wait a moment, did he just finish another concert without playing “Jessie’s Girl” and nobody seems to mind? (Not that I don’t still crank up the radio when I hear it, but there are so many other songs I’d like to hear him perform live.) And five days of chances for chance encounters? Wow.

I’m going through some serious withdrawals. Each time the fan club access sends out an email announcement of an upcoming show, there’s those few seconds of anticipation before clicking on the email to see if it’s announcing a concert that doesn’t require an overnight hotel stay or airfare. But nothing local for the past four months. (Has it only been four months? OK, maybe I’m a little premature in complaining.) I’ve enjoyed all the great concert photos and videos people have been posting, but sometimes I get a little carried away, especially if he’s looking into the camera. My first reaction is, “He’s looking at me!” (as I did back in 1983 from my seat in the 16th row looking through binoculars…) and then I remember that not only did I not take the picture, but I wasn’t even there. Darn it.

Do I feel silly having this little obsession in my 40s? Shouldn’t I be a grown-up and go watch some election coverage or something? No. I already mailed in my ballot so now all there is to do is wait for the results, an activity also filled with anticipation. But not the good kind.  Maybe I’ll just go rewatch that video somebody posted of RS singing Jimi Hendrix song “Foxy Lady” at the Nov. 6 show in Fort Myers, Florida. He ROCKED!

To those who are going to the Bahamas this week – wishing you safe travels and an AMAZING time (can you maybe sneak in an extra RS hug for me?)

 

 

 

 

So versatile: Duet

I have watched lots of Rick Springfield videos over the past 2 or so years:  videos from live band shows, videos from solo acoustic Stripped Down shows, interviews, random TMZ sightings in the airport. But here’s something new. He recently did two shows with Richard Marx and here’s a great clip from this. Shows what an amazing musician and performer he is.