12/23/08 Bend
"It's Raining Men" and "Dancing Queen"...both belted out by male employees of KOHD (I won't reveal names or sources). Just a few of the fun and silly highlights at our station holiday party at Fireside Red. Once the karaoke machine cranked up, the hidden (and obvious) entertainers emerged again and again. Was I one of them? Let me put it this way: I'm a theatre major (so, duh!).
At last year's Christmas party, after most people had dispersed, a small group of us ended up singing and dancing in a circle to some ‘80's songs on a little portable stereo -- I don't really know how it all happened, but it was SO much fun! Apparently, we inspired the official karaoke at this season's party.
Our entertaining emcee, Jay Frank, kept things moving along smoothly. There was plenty of dancing with friends, and ladies' only songs...from Cyndi to Britney. I am a gigantic fan of music of almost any kind (except most country western, with the exception of Kenny Rogers and a few Garth Brooks and Shania songs). But really, I'll take pretty much anything with a beat. My parents were always hosting parties, and since I was typically the only baby in the room, I was picked up and bounced around to whatever record was blasting. My earliest memories include getting whirled around and dancing cheek to cheek on our dancefloor (also known as the green shag carpet in our living room).
(Lauren Biskind, Kiaora, Rachel Azevedo)
My musical influences are ridiculously varied -- for instance, I know almost every song by 1) Peter Paul & Mary, 2) Ice Cube, 3) Dave Matthews Band, 4) Gwen Stefani. I think that is probably the first list in history to include all four of those musical artists in one place. I can't pick a "favorite" type of music...but my top genres would be Techno/House music, Hip Hop/Rap, and Reggae/Island-style. But I'm a big fan of the oldies, too -- you'd be just as likely to see me singing along with Simon & Garfunkel or Air Supply as you might notice me rapping with Snoop Dog (though I usually save that for the car). I also LOVE indy music from Europe, with kind of a trip-hop/jazzy feel (used in lots of Bond movies and car ads)...especially Morcheeba, Massive Attack and Imogen Heap (I owe this last one to Jon Bellemore; thanks for the CD!).
As anyone at the KOHD Christmas Party will confirm, it's very difficult for me to listen to music without moving...meaning, I will DANCE to pretty much anything! At the party, my feet started moving sometime after dinner, and didn't stop until they got to the car to go home. I once helped organize a dance marathon for charity in college...and I was the only person who didn't take a break throughout the 24 hours. I'd like to say it was because I was committed to a good cause, and yes, it was great to raise the money...but now you know the real reason. I am insane!!! I haven't taken many dance classes in my time, so my dancing is much less organized, and much more random -- I just kinda get taken over by the music and start moving!!! Dancing always, always makes me happy.
(KOHD Newsroom)
Anyway, thanks to my fellow KOHDers who danced along with me at the party. One huge accomplishment (which I credit to Matt McDonald's tireless efforts) was getting our news director up on stage with us for a newsroom song...and I must say, it was pretty cool -- as we were singing that song, I looked around me and realized that I really liked everyone in that group. I'm lucky to work with such fun, fabulous and talented people...if not always so talented singing on the karaoke stage, at least talented covering and producing the news, right?! Regardless, they're brave on both fronts. Rock on!!!
(Brian MacMillan & girlfriend)
(Adam Clark & his wife)
