Almost Real

So, there is a musical called the Bridges of Madison County, and there is this INCREDIBLE song in it called "Almost Real." It was introduced to me by my voice teacher, G.M.

I'm obsessed with it.

It's an absolutely stunning piece of music, and watching Kelli O'Hara sing it is amazing, because she is SO committed to the character, and there is so much emotion.
Basically it's perfect.

And also.... I can't get over this song, because it expressed something I couldn't- that is, the feeling of being not quite real, overshadowed by and compared to those around you. But this song did for me. In fact-earlier this month I wrote a poem about it...

So, here is my

Almost Real

Almost real... What a feeling
Or, more like a dream
It's silently wishing
When you want to scream
And I didn't expect
To find my story
Or someone to connect
In that girl from Napoli
But I listened to her voice
And I watched her sing
And it wasn't my choice
But I knew she was me!
I was myself mirrored
In the story she sang
And saw myself clearer
In that tragic refrain
Almost real- when you live in shadows
And never can compete
When your friends are all heroes
And you're the deadbeat
You feel like you don't matter
And you have to run away
Before they see you shatter
There has to be some place
Where you won't be compared
To them, you can just feel
But it's too far to get there,
To the dream of being real...
And, forced to doubt yourself
By the superior types
You don't look for help
Of any meaningful kind
Because those closest to you
Somehow make you feel small
Like you could disappear
And they wouldn't notice at all
And so I understand 'Cesca
And so I want to sing
Her song of Italia
Because it's also of me!
And I know the desire,
The horrible need, to feel
Like you're significant:
To be almost real


Yeah. Wow, that's long. But it's how I feel, more often than I'd like. And why this song is everything to me.

Plus, also, it's basically perfect.