Featured songs:
"This is Me" from The Greatest Showman
"Take a Look at Us Now" from Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile
Carmine donned the veil he hid behind in his ShyGuy videos and went with Caroline to work the next day. And they brought Lamenta so she could see her parents' jobs in action, and because they couldn't get a babysitter.
Luckily, Mr. Rockus didn't mind the baby being there.
"You've mentioned even your baby liked ShyGuy's music." Rockus said. "I'd like to see it for myself."
A microphone was set up for Carmine to sing, and the aspiring singer took a place at the piano.
"This is a song that's very special to me," said Carmine. "Like many artists, I've been constantly told I'll never make it because I'm different and considered strange. But here's what I have to say about that."
Carmine began to play the piano and started to sing.
I am not a stranger to the dark
Hide away, they say
'Cause we don't want your broken parts
I've learned to be ashamed of all my scars
Run away, they say
No one'll love you as you are
But I won't let them break me down to dust
I know that there's a place for us
For we are glorious
Carmine thought about all the times people tossed mean words at him, telling him he wasn't good enough, that he'd never amount to anything, and that he had no chance of ever making it in the music industry. Well, now he was going to prove them wrong.
When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown 'em out
I am brave, I am bruised
I am who I'm meant to be, this is me
Look out 'cause here I come
And I'm marching on to the beat I drum
I'm not scared to be seen
I make no apologies, this is me
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh
Another round of bullets hits my skin
Well, fire away 'cause today, I won't let the shame sink in
We are bursting through the barricades and
Reaching for the sun (we are warriors)
Yeah, that's what we've become (yeah, that's what we've become)
I won't let them break me down to dust
I know that there's a place for us
For we are glorious
Mr. Rockus was amazed by how talented Carmine was. Such a clear and powerful voice. Not once did he sing off-key, nor did he need an autotuning microphone to perform like so many other singers he'd seen had.
When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown 'em out
I am brave, I am bruised
I am who I'm meant to be, this is me
Look out 'cause here I come
And I'm marching on to the beat I drum
I'm not scared to be seen
I make no apologies, this is me
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh
Carmine felt so empowered in this moment. He felt like he was really being himself in the moment.
This is me
and I know that I deserve your love
(Oh-oh-oh-oh) there's nothing I'm not worthy of
(Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh)
When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown 'em out
This is brave, this is bruised
This is who I'm meant to be, this is me
Look out 'cause here I come (look out 'cause here I come)
And I'm marching on to the beat I drum (marching on, marching, marching on)
I'm not scared to be seen
I make no apologies, this is me
When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown 'em out
I'm gonna send a flood
Gonna drown 'em out
Oh
This is me
And when Carmine finished his song, everyone around was clapping.
"What did I tell you?" said Caroline to her boss.
"You're good, ShyGuy. Better than good." said the producer. "Except..."
"Except...?" said Carmine.
"If you're gonna be on C.T.G, the name ShyGuy isn't gonna fly. You need a new name. One that really stands out. A name that says 'look at me,' 'I'm here to be heard.' We need the audience to see you as the King of Chords, the Prince of Pitch, the Count of Crescendo."
"Wait. Say that last one again."
"Count of Crescendo?"
"Minus the 'of'" Carmine said. "It makes sense. I keep in count, and all my best songs are in the dynamic crescendo."
"Count Crescendo." Caroline tested it out. "Count Crescendo."
"Crescendo!" Lamenta exclaimed, clapping.
"Sounds like Lamenta agrees." Carmine said. "Count Crescendo it is!"
"That's brilliant." said Mr. Rockus. "Can you have a new song ready by auditions for that show?"
"Normally, I have to let the nature of creativity run its course." Carmine said. "But, luckily, I happen to have some pre-written songs I have not released yet. Would that be acceptable?"
"Yes! The studio's reputation is on the line. If this goes well, you'll become more famous than you've ever dreamed of, and this studio's business will be saved. And, if you're gonna cover your face, I think you might wanna try something other than that veil. You don't wanna look like you're going to a funeral."
When the Jinns got home that night, Carmine looked through his song book, trying to figure out which song to play on Coruscant's Got Talent.
Lamenta was walking around in her playpen while her father was practicing on the piano. Lately, Lamenta had gotten to saying a lot of real words, but not a lot of sentences yet. Carmine thought maybe it was because she was shy. But, she always seemed intrigued by music, just like her parents.
"You know, Lamenta." said Carmine. "One of my teachers used to say how some tend to express themselves better through music than they do just talking."
"Music." Lamenta said, holding up her sheep. "Lammy likes music."
"That's right, Little Lamb." Carmine said. "And you know, anyone can find a way to express themselves in music. You just gotta find the right song."
That was when Carmine started playing another little tune he knew.
Carmine:
You can pack your bags, and start skipping town
Hang up your hat when the show shuts down
But when the world says you ain't quite, "World-renowned"
Don't count yourself out yet
Lamenta: la-la-la-la-la
Carmine froze for a moment. Did Lamenta just sing? It sounded so adorable! Carmine played the music again and sang again.
Carmine:
When you hit that lonely and lowest low
Well, up's the only way left to go
You're meant to reinvent the show
So ain'tcha glad we met?
Turn that dull 'n dusty solo to a dazzling duet
Lamenta:
La-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la
Both:
La-la-la-la-la
Carmine:
Maybe we started pretty small
But take a look at us now
Lamenta:
Take a look at us now
Carmine:
Suddenly standing ten-feet tall
Take a look at us now
Lamenta:
Take a look at us now
Both:
Though we had no way to stay afloat
We were scared they'd say, That's all she wrote"
We're ending on a sky-high note somehow
Carmine picked Lamenta up from her pen and started to dance with her in his arms.
Carmine
Baby, you were all it took,
Both:
so take a look at us now
When that perfect plan's goin' off the rails
A heap of trouble is on our tails
It's time to polish up those scales, and give it all you got
Carmine:
If you're out of step,
Lamenta:
If you're out of sync
Both:
If you care too much what those critics think
Well, when you find your missing link
They don't get a second thought
'Cause in the center of the spotlight
We just might have found our spot
The father and daughter started to dance and sing together more as Caroline was getting all of this on video.
Tryin' our luck with every leap
Take a look at us now
Take a look at us now
The road could be steady, could be steep
Take a look at us now
Take a look at us now
Though we might be sunk upon first glance
Well, who'd thunk that we had a chance
And life could be a song, and dance somehow
Carmine:
Baby, you were all it took,
Both:
so take a look at us now
Carmine held Lamenta close and looked into her eyes
Carmine:
So even whey you're terrified just smile a mile wide
'Cause lamb, when you and I collide
Standing side by side
We're gonna take a great big bow
Won'tcha take a look at us now
Give us a spotlight and a crowd
Take a look at us now
Ready to sing our song out loud
Take a look at us now
Won'tcha take a look at us
Take a look at us
Both:
Take a look at us now
Lamenta clapped her little hands as she and Carmine finished their little songs.
Carmine laughed and kissed his daughter's cheek.
"Someday, you might grow up to be a great performer too." Carmine said. "But I'll leave that up to you to decide."
"Is that the song you're going to sing on the show, Sweetie?" Caroline asked her husband.
Carmine shook his head. "I think that song will be just for us." he nuzzled Lamenta's little nose. "Just for Lamb and Daddy, right, Little Lamb?"
Lamenta giggled. "Right, Daddy!"
"Aww. Our baby's talking more now." Caroline said. "She's so smart."
"No surprise. She's your little girl too."
"So... what song are you going to sing?"
Carmine looked into his song book again, and then he found a perfect song for him to sing on Coruscant's Got Talent.