The Universal Language

Music truly is the universal language. This past weekend was the annual Charles Village Festival. I finally got over there late Sunday afternoon for the final live band performance—Trinidad and Tobago Baltimore Steel Orchestra. They played lots of fun, typical steel drum music, including a tribute to the late great Harry Bellefonte. But it was the “Can this song be played on steel drums?” segment that was particularly delightful. Who knew that John Denver’s “Take Me Home Country Roads” or Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” could, indeed, be played on the steel drums?

I loved watching:

~ the Rita Moreno doppelganger elegantly swaying in her flowy, flowered skirt waving the Trinidad and Tobago flag

~ the child of the lesbian couple joining with the little girls of the young, hetero couple for a joyous, jumpy, giggly circle of kinetic expression

~ the woman who could NOT stop dancing even while wrestling with her stubborn chair trying to get it open

~ the mother, who really knew how to move her hips, dancing as partners with her little girl (and later being joined by her almost-adolescent son who clearly didn’t want to miss out on the fun)

~ the balding, paunchy, probably a little drunk “Bubba” who couldn’t help but loudly chime in at the right moment, “I will survive!”

The music crossed boundaries of all kinds—age, sex, gender identities, married status, ethnicities, favored musical genres—unifying everyone in attendance. It was a lovely, universal way to spend a Sunday afternoon.