On March 20, the world of music experienced a terrible loss. Kenny Rogers, whose songs I've sometimes used in my stories and song collections, passed away at age 81. I thought it would be a nice tribute to him to include one of his first songs, which he did with the group The First Edition.
During the karaoke party at the end of The Secret Love Song, James finds another one of his favorite songs. He also learns that this is a favorite song of some of his friends, and he invites them to sing with him. Hugo and Axel even remember this as a song they did once, and they decide to re-live their own karaoke glory. Langlock is from Harry Potter. Kenny Rogers' music is not mine, and on a more serious note, rest in peace, Kenny Rogers.
As the karaoke party went on, Hugo was rooting through one of the boxes for another song. "Yes!" he cheered as he pulled a CD out.
"Did you find one you like, Hugo?" Sofia asked as Hildegarde and Cleo came back from doing a song of their own.
"I sure did!" Hugo grinned. "I remember once when Axel and I went with Dad to a tavern in Albuquerque. After he and his friends talked about some royal business, they were all talking together about other things, and so Axel and I did a few karaoke songs as we waited for him. This one right here is one of Dad's favorites!"
"So go on up and sing it, Hugo," Sofia smiled.
"Okay!" Hugo grinned as he gave the CD to Ezekiel and Deidre. They rolled their eyes at his enthusiasm, but since they couldn't speak due to the Langlock spell on them, they literally couldn't complain.
When the music started, Hugo's grin widened as he started, Yeah, yeah, oh yeah, what condition my condition was in
James grinned when he heard the opening notes. "I love this song, but I'll let you sing it!"
"Get up here, James," Hugo smirked as he sang, I woke up this morning with the sundown shining in
I found my mind in a brown paper bag within
"Okay, since you asked so nicely," James smirked.
Hugo helped him up on the stage as he continued, I tripped on a cloud and fell-a eight miles high
I tore my mind on a jagged sky
I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in
As James joined him on the chorus, they got a surprise as Axel came up on the stage and joined them, Yeah, yeah, oh-yeah, what condition my condition was in
Seeing Hugo's look of surprise, Axel grinned. "You know how much I love this song, baby bro! And you also know that I did a solo of this song when we were at that tavern!"
"Yes I do!" Hugo grinned as he sang, I pushed my soul in a deep dark hole and then I followed it in
I watched myself crawling out as I was a-crawling in
Axel sang back, I got up so tight I couldn't unwind
I saw so much I broke my mind
I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in
"I think I'll let you guys finish this," James smiled as he left the stage. "I can do another song later."
"No problem, but we didn't mean to kick you off the stage!" Hugo called after him.
"You guys didn't kick me off the stage; I volunteered to let you two do this," James assured him.
He and Axel sang together, Yeah, yeah, oh-yeah, what condition my condition was in
"If you say so, but thanks for singing with us, James!" Axel agreed.
"No problem!" James called as Axel started the last verse.
Someone painted April Fool in big black letters on a Dead End sign
I had my foot on the gas as I left the road and blew out my mind
Hugo joined in, Eight miles outta Memphis and I got no spare
Eight miles straight up downtown somewhere
I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in
He and Axel finished the song together, I said I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in
Yeah
yeah
oh-yeah
As Hugo and Axel came over to him over the applause, James grinned. "I know I didn't sing much of the song, but it's so brilliant to sing around you guys again!"
"I heard Daddy sing with you too," Amber agreed, smiling as she remembered Roland spinning her as the song played, and singing with Hugo and Axel.
"As James so eloquently puts it, I love this song!" Roland grinned, spinning her again, then reaching out and spinning James.
"Save it for family game night, Dad," James smirked.
"Oh, James, but it was nice of you to let Hugo and Axel sing this," Sofia smiled.
"And see, Amber, I'm not going to hog the karaoke machine," James continued. "I'm going to let all our friends sing something!"
"I know," Amber smiled. "And It's so wonderful to hear you sing around the castle again!"
"And you can sing as many songs as you want," Roland grinned, spinning them again.
