The Set List

The set list for a show is by far one of the hardest things to put together for many reasons. There are many things to consider such as: the costuming, lighting, dancers, transitions etc. Not to mention, you need to keep a good balance in a show so that it’s assertive, yet fun and emotional at the same time. You’d be surprised how long it takes to build a set list. To this day, I have not completed the final set list for the May shows. Part of the reason is because I let my feelings, my moods drive that. Granted, I need to take into account that people MUST have songs like Thriller, Beat It, Smooth Criminal and Billie Jean. These songs are the ‘untouchables’ and will be in the show, regardless. The rest is up to balance, feeling and emotion.

While I am not going to give away the set list, you can definitely expect a very intense show, overall. When I define it as intense I do not mean aggressive or anything like that. I mean intense in an approach type of way. Interestingly enough, this show is coming together after much turbulence between the last show and this one. Believe it or not, the feelings, emotion and personal undertones carry into the work. It sounds very cliché but this (my art) is my way expressing my feelings and emotions. Lyrics fill in for the things I cannot, or choose to not express in words or actions. MJ wrote incredible songs that carry so much weight in their lyrical content.  There are also songs that are very fun, light, feel-good classics like “Black or White”, “The Way You Make Me Feel” and “Remember the Time”, which always make people dance, smile, jump off their seats and scream off the top of their lungs.

The heavy songs tend to make audiences (and myself at times) lose it and cry. From the stage, I sometimes see people reaching for tissue to wipe off the tears. Other times they just ball, literally! They lose it. Performances create a connection that I cannot explain. There exists a  unique relationship betwen the performer and the observer. When it's done right, a feeling and a message is communicated which in turn produces a reaction on both sides. It’s quite beautiful. There is no feeling like it. It’s something I cannot understand nor do I care to as long as that feeling is present. Sometimes the most beautiful feelings we don’t have to understand and that's when we need to learn to let go of our insecurities and torment. Easier said that done. 

-LC

Lyrics carry weight. Songs express and do for the soul more than years of therapy ever could.  

-“You’re kicking me down, I got to get up. As jacked as it sounds the whole system sucks.”

-“Beat me, bash me, you can never trash me, hit me, kick me you can’t ever get me.”

-“You and your friends were laughing at me in town. But it’s okay. You won’t be laughing girl, when I’m not around”

-“So I’ve learned that love is not possession. And I’ve learned that love won’t wait. Now I’ve learned that love needs expression but I learned too late and she’s out of my life.”

-“Just promise me whatever we say or whatever we do to each other for now we’ll make a vow to  keep it in the closet.”