For any of you who don't know what that is...I'll explain. PRISM is a vocal music program held at El Dorado High School (where my kids went to high school). It is held in the spring, and is anticipated the whole year. If you are lucky enough to audition and make it, you have "arrived". It's called PRISM because it encompasses every kind of music, sort of like all the colors found in a crystal prism shining in the sunshine. The kids are free to choose any song, practice it, and audition for a place in the program. On this particular year, my two daughters put a group of four girls together and decided to sing "Breaking Up is Hard To Do" by Neil Sedaka. They practiced and practiced and auditioned singing acappella. Most songs are done with an accompanist, but Mr. Peterson actually preferred it acappella. So acappella it was. With their little poodle skirts and scarves in their hair, they made their debut at PRISM. What a hit! The audience loved it! They had made it! Life was good.
Later that year, the group was reunited to perform again. This time the words were changed to fit the occasion. Devon had cleverly asked Kimberly to Prom by sprinkling chocolate kisses all over her bedroom floor with a poster that read...."Now that I've kissed the ground you walk on, Will you go to Prom with me?" She wanted her answer to be just as clever. So...the words were changed, the song was practiced, and a cute group of teenage girls showed up at Devon's house to perform their newest rendition called..."Yes, I'll go to Prom with you."
Years passed, daughters got married, and the father of the bride turned 50. They wanted to do something at his party that would make him smile, so they resurrected "the song", changed the lyrics, recruited their friend Stephanie, and sang to their Dad at his big surprise birthday party. They didn't fit into their cute little poodle skirts for obvious reasons...
Recently,another occasion called for yet new lyrics to "the song".... Grandpa's 80th birthday party. This time there was no time for practice, not much time to plan, and just a few minutes (literally)for Robyn to write some new words, recruit her brother, and wait for her sister to arrive from San Diego. After a quick once over in the bathroom, they were ready to perform "the song".
Here's the latest rendition of "the song":
Do do do down doobee do down down,
Coma coma down doobee do down down
Coma coma down doobee do down down
Happy happy birthday to you!
You just turned 80 two days ago,
So today we want you to know
We think that you're the best,
Grandpa who's been put to the test.
You like to wear your special white hat,
And dig for rocks way out west;
Go on road trips and play basketball,
You've served six missions, you can do it all!
They say cayenne pepper makes a great drink,
A new health concoction every week.
You like to tickle with your Donald Duck voice.
Selling books, singing songs, yard work, what's your choice.
We love you Grandpa
Just the way you are.
You should be a super star.
80 years, still going strong,
We hope you'll be around for long!
Do do do down doobee do down down,
coma coma down doobee do down down,
coma coma down doobee do down down,
Happy happy birthday to you!
Who knows when it will be resurrected again!
13 comments:
I wish you had remembered that Michael also wrote some of those lyrics, and that there was a minor fight regarding which song to change the words to. Luckily, we stuck with "the song."
Oh how fun is that! It will be interesting to see when "the song" will pop up again.
And yes I do remember when 34 sounded old, it is all relative 70 sounds not so bad and I am always looking to see what the age is for the Senior Discount, pretty sad huh!
What a neat post! It made me laugh, for more reasons than one. First of all, Robyn was always 'the Sister who liked singing' in the Finland mission.. Well, at least among the sisters whom I knew. She sang often, but also (for our sakes) :) was very good at it! Secondly, the pictures made me smile. The first one, both ladies pregnant. The second picture, not pregnant, and both have shorter hair. :)
I am so sad I missed THAT! I bet it was awesome. Isn't it sad that I have never even heard them sing?
Well, for some reason, I've been given the assignment to come up with a song for Joe's extended family reunion to teach to all the "grandkids" and their spouses. Maybe I'll just have to write some more lyrics. My hair was much blonder in that pregnant picture...
I was hoping that those pictures were videos NOT still shots!!! Amazing enough after knowing Robyn for her whole life, I'VE NEVER HEARD HER SING (other than when we were little in the car or something)!!! What a cute song to change the words to all the time:)
It's wonderful to have such talent and to be able to perform in front of a croud. Great blog!!
Hello... Bob and Diane, I found your blog as I was totally blog searching, how FUNNY. This is Darcie(Davis) Evans. I love blogging it is a great way to keep in touch with those from your past. I thought I would just leave a note saying... HELLO!! Hope you and your family is well.
Awww! This is such a cute post! Have we really sang it that many times in that many different ways? Man, we really need to get a different song to make up the words to.
I remember when they came to the house to sing to Devon, he was so sick, poor thing. I can't believe the tradition has carried on, good job.
OMHeck!!! i love it, I sure wish I was there. I know kimberly and Robyn can sing anything, I'll bet it sounded just Awesome with Michael in there too! Ya'll have always been so musical! Robyn is so talented to be able to rewrite that song in such a hurry! This is the first I've heard of the party and If that was all I heard I feel complete in the moment. I love it! Thanks for having me in your favorites spot on your blog, it really means a lot to me.
I love you aunt Diane I hope you know that!
Love always
Aimee
I meant the first I've heard about how the party went. My mom said good, but that didn't tell me much. (smile) so thanks for the great uplifting moments! Love ya
Aim
I wish I could have been there. I miss you guys. I wanted to share my memory of you, but can't find the game posted, so I'll just leave it here. I remember my Mom and Patti talking to you about how mean they were to you when you were all kids. They said they chased you around with a bloody bandaid or something and made you pass out. I also remember your whole family always smelled so good to me, like pepsi. It was probably because you usually had just gotten out of the car after a long road trip that probably involved the drinking of much pepsi. I love pepsi. Mmmmmm. :) Thank you for your memory too.
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