...I choked. Y'know, I quite enjoy meeting new people. The hand shakes, the hugs, the cheery salutations...what's not to like? Take a peek at my dinosaur of a MySpace page and you'll see the proof should you need it. However, one tends to forget the new-introduction protocol when the person you're meeting is someone you've admired for many moons. Raul put on an amazing show at The Ark in Ann Arbor. Accompanied by the always sturdy and stylish Michael Guerra, he delivered all of my favorite ear treats; 'I Said I Love You', 'All You Ever Do is Bring Me Down', the perfect set list goes on. Yet, somehow when the time came to chat a bit with Raul and give the abridged version of how he's influenced my music and provided unending inspiration, all I could muster was a minutes-long diatribe on the virtues of his 2004 Mavericks DVD release. "I watch it nearly every day." (cringe) "I got it as a Christmas gift." (stop now, Danielle) "It's really good." (Can't you hear yourself, woman?!) So, just to cleanse my system, here now is what I should have said:
Hi Raul, it's an honor to finally meet you. Your limitless talent, boundless musicality, and genre-less take on music today has inspired me to continue on the musical path I've been taking. Where others are limited by titles, you hurdle past the defining labels of music and create a style all your own. Where I've admired country, rock, world and honky-tonk artists, you emody them all and for that, I am a forever fan...and of course I'll duet with you, thanks for asking.
***cleansing sigh*** I feel much better now. Thanks.
