brain's brian

Note: These are individual, unforgettable, fleeting moments in my appreciation of live music and musical theatre. One of my favorite concerts of all time was Billy Joel… he rocked for 2.5 hours and I didn’t get bored once, but there just wasn’t one “take your breath away” moment, so for the purposes of THIS list, it is not below.

• Phantom of the Opera - “Overture,” either when I saw it in New York as a 5 year old or San Francisco a few years later, I can’t remember. This and Les Mis laid the foundation for my love of music.
• Les Miserables - “Do You Hear the People Sing” the first time I saw it in Birmingham. Highest my heart rate has ever gotten during a musical, concert, anything. So stirring.
• Jesus Christ Superstar - Ted Neeley, at the age of 64, sent chills down my spine with his rendition of “Gethsemane”
• Wicked - “The Wizard and I” when she sings “And I’ll stand there with the Wizard feeling things I’ve never felt” was one of the best things I’ve seen in Birmingham. I’ll also never forget the roar at the end of Act I - Most enthusiastic I’ve ever heard Birmingham.
• Brandi Carlile - “Before it Breaks” there were a few seconds during this song that I got chills because I realized it had to be the most beautiful music being made in the whole world at that given moment.
• Paul McCartney - “Let it Be” At Piedmont Park with tens of thousands all singing along. Unreal.
• Elton John - “Tiny Dancer” not my favorite Elton song, but during this song it hit me that I was actually sitting there listening to Elton John.

Note: one of my favorite concerts of all time was Billy Joel… he rocked for 2.5 hours and I didn’t get bored once. If those 2.5 hours can count as a moment, that should be added to the list as well. There just wasn’t one “take your breath away” moment, so it is not listed below.

I’ll do moments I was involved with some other time. I am going to bed now.