Exceeding Expectations

5 Stars. Bravo! One cold and wet Thursday, one of our friends was performing for Thursday Night Live on Art Street. Due to the weather, the performances took place in Art Street Café, a cozy little area. As I walked in, it reminded me of a quaint downtown coffee shop with live performances. When I looked around, the place was PACKED leaving us to find a place to stand. Our friend, Mary Michael, wasn’t up yet, so we watched the ongoing performance. As soon as we knew it, it was her turn. She performed a total of six songs. From one song to the next, they flowed together seamlessly with similar beats, rhythms, and artistic genres. The first song was “Landslide” by Stevie Nicks. “I took my love and I took it down, I climbed a mountain and I turned around, And I saw my reflection in the snow covered hills, 'Till Landslide brought me down.” This song sounded familiar to me, but she sang with great ease. Second, "Loneliness is just a crime, look each other in the eye, And say hello-o-o-o-o, and say hello-o-o-o-o." This song was “Say Hello” by Sufjan Stevens. It was sung as a duet with another guy accompanying Mary Michael. Their voices complemented each other’s; however, I feel like she outshined his voice with depth and projection. I’m a fan of Sufjan Stevens with many of his albums; I was able to draw more of a connection to this song just because it was more relevant to my life. Third up to bat was “Stormy Weather” by Billie Holiday. “Can’t go on, ev’ry thing I had is gone, Stormy Weather, Since my man and I ain’t together, Keeps rainin’ all the time.” Another older song, but I still enjoyed it. She sang three other songs, but I was drawn to a song by Ingrid Michaelson. Porcelain Fists. “Looked in the bathroom stall, Your back against the wall, Cold tiles beneath your knees, Your body broke your fall, Spitting into your own reflection gazing back, Inside your porcelain fists, your palms begin to crack.” I enjoyed these lyrics and ultimately the song the most because she sang with them with passion, similar to the sound of Michaelson’s voice. I had heard Mary Michael’s voice down the hall once or twice, but I never realized how good she was; therefore, exceeding my expectations. Overall, she did a fantastic job by performing with her own twist, really making it unique to her, but at the same time, in touch with the music created and sung by other artists.