Let's Be Honest Folks

I confess, I’m a Gleek.  There is it, I said it; and I never thought I would at this point in my life admit to such a thing.  I can’t help it if I love musicals with all that singing and dancing – on TV, in the theater, in the movies.  I love the energy and the fact that the music puts me in a good mood.

I don’t sing -- my children used to tell me to please not sing the hymns in church; but I sing out loud in my house when I’m watching a show like Glee, have the radio or one of my favorite CD’s cranked up, and I do sing out loud at the concerts at Camp Jefferson.  I don’t dance but I liked aerobics, I not too long ago exercised to  dancing to the oldies with Richard Simmons,  I love being on the dance floor at a wedding with my girlfriends (my husband doesn’t like to dance), I want to try Zumba, and I admit to dancing in my kitchen.  I danced with Patch Editor Sue Toth on Jefferson Township Day in front of the stage listening to the Robert Murdock Band and just recently at the Bon Jovi Tribute concert sponsored by Jefferson Highlights.  So, I can truthfully say I have sung and danced in public! 

Anyway, back to Glee.  I was immediately hooked two years ago when I tuned in – a little confused about some of the storylines since I had missed some seasons but I’m catching on.  I am mesmerized by the musical talent of those young people on the show, and they stage some great elaborate energizing musical numbers albeit a little much for a high school setting.  The show’s themes also deal with many relevant issues facing young people today:  bullying, homosexuality, teen pregnancy, relationship issues, homelessness, etc. 

I found out quite by accident that my friend Shelia loved the show as well so we went to the 3D Concert movie the other night, donned our 3D glasses, and settled into our seats wondering how embarrassed we might be assuming the theater would be full of younger people.  However, as we looked around, we saw a mixture of many different aged people. We really were not the oldest people in the audience at all!   We came to the conclusion that Gleeks span all age groups –how interesting.

Then as we watched the concert and the cameras panned the live audience at this particular concert, there were not only young kids but old folks like us on their feet dancing in the aisles, singing along, screaming, and just having a great time, many with their children.  What I didn’t expect were interviews throughout the movie about young people who felt that their lives were positively affected by watching the show and identifying with certain characters who were different in some way -- just like them -- and watching those characters deal with certain issues. 

For example, there was an interview with a young man who realized his homosexuality as a freshman in high school, hid who he was, and was tormented when his classmates found out.  He related to the Glee character Kurt who suffers the same harassment on Glee in high school and was inspired to also change schools, start a new life out of the closet, and enjoy the person who he was. 

The movie like the show shares powerful messages that being different is ok, and everyone can live and co-exist together in harmony.   Baby boomers like me will remember the TV commercial that Coca-Cola produced about teaching the world to live in perfect harmony, people of all different nationalities joining hands on a mountaintop.  It probably will never happen in this tumultuous world we live in; however, it’s always something to imagine.  Maybe in some small way, TV shows like Glee that don’t depict murder, rape, alien invasions, werewolves, and so many God-awful scenarios can at least make people smile for an hour once a week.   

There are millions of people out there who are Gleeks and proud of it as well as others who don’t want anyone to know.  Music is infectious and brings smiles to people’s faces.  We might not be talented like the Glee cast, but who cares if we sing off-key or don’t have that rhythm on the dance floor.   I find it so awesome to see children dancing and singing with their parents and maybe even grandparents at a concert!  Music does and always has spanned generations with many popular artists like The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, The Beach Boys, and many more. 

As one of the popular original Glee songs goes, “Just go ahead and hate me and run your mouth so everyone can hear.  Hit me with the worst you got and knock me down, baby, I don't care. Keep it up, and soon enough you'll figure out you wanna be a loser like me.”

So stand up, make a big “L” with your thumb and index finger on your forehead, and don’t be embarrassed to be counted as a Gleek.  Or we can go to the nearest mountaintop, join hands, and sing.