Okay, y’all, what key are we singing this thing in? Because I think I just burst an eardrum.

I sing with the praise band at our church’s contemporary service and I love it. There are some super talented people there, but they’ve made room for those of us who are more in the normal talented range which I truly appreciate. I’ve loved music all my life, and I’ve spent a big chunk of it singing with groups. Let me tell you this: the key matters.

I started my not-quite-illustrious singing career dabbling as a second soprano – that’s the one who sings the high part but not the stratospheric, breaking glass high part. Over the years my register just kind of dropped into the alto range, so now songs that are relatively low feel like slipping into soft, comfy slippers. Singing in the lower octave is my first choice every single time.

So can someone please explain why Christmas carols are written in a key for Mickey and Minnie Mouse? Those things are so freaking high there’s an 87% chance I’ll pass out by the time we hit the fourth verse. Because all those songs have a bajillion verses with stratospheric notes and close to zero opportunities to take a deep breath – well, let’s just say it wasn’t unheard of for me to put my head between my knees after a particularly lengthy practice rendition of Handel’s ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ back in my soprano days.

Give me those sweet low registers and I’m a happy girl.

Linda hosts Stream of Consciousness Saturday. This week’s prompt is “key.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!