Fifty Days Underground

April 9, 2014

Who inspired today's broken heart song?

A woman who had her heart broken by a man who didn't love her anymore. They met freshman year in high school. They became best friends, but he started to fall for her. He asked her out, but she declined and started dating someone else. Years later and after college, they reconnected. She immediately fell in love with him. After spending some time together, she realized that she wanted a life with him. She believed they were meant for each other.

He suddenly drew back, stopped talking to her and said that he needed some time to think. A few weeks later, she became insecure and impatient with his silence. He ignored her phone calls. She drove to his house looking for an answer. She sat in her car, parked at a distance. She saw him through his living room window sitting on the couch with his arms wrapped around another girl. She was completely devastated and left without looking back. Years later, she is married to a man she loves, but still holds on to the resentment she felt a long time ago. 

Time Can Be So Cruel is all about bad timing. Sometimes love isn't enough. Right time and right place must come into play as well. This story was just tragic. I decided to simply narrate it in third person from start to finish. This is sometimes challenging for me, but it seemed to work well for this person's story.  

Where did you play?

Grand Central — 42nd Street

How much did you earn?

$3.32

Did anything unusual happen? 

Yes! I had fierce subway competition today, hence the low earnings. The Ebony Hillbillies were performing at the other end of the tunnel. If you haven't heard of them before, definitely check them out. They are by far my favorite subway musicians in the city, and a force to be reckoned with. They are extremely talented and very entertaining. I honestly had moments today where I stopped singing and just listened to them.

The woman who I mentioned last week came to shoot me for her documentary today. We had so much fun, and having the company was also really nice. She kindly shot footage for today's video. I still need to conquer my fear of video cameras. I can have the most passionate and intimate conversation with someone, but as soon as there's a camera in my face, I freeze. It was funny because we would be talking, and she would say, "Oh, say that on camera!" But it was never the same, haha. I don't know why I get so awkward. It's just a little machine.

Did you meet anyone interesting?

I met a young man named Robert. He walked straight up to me, and started talking. He was an interesting character. He said he used to write songs, but then one day just decided to stop. I was really intrigued, mainly because I can't fathom just deciding to stop writing songs. That would be like deciding to stop living. He talked a little bit about the music industry. In hopes of getting him to write songs again (because I think everyone with a gift should use their gift), I gave him a card and told him to reach out if he ever wanted to collaborate.

A man walked up to me in a hurry, and picked up a card. He asked me if I would sing other people's songs. He said he works in a studio and they often need female singers to record. I said yes because hey, you never know what will come out of it. I still get really self-conscious about my voice though. It's weird. I am confident in saying I'm a songwriter, but not so confident in saying I'm a singer. I know, I know, I need to get over it.

What's the best advice you received from a stranger?

The woman who was shooting me for her documentary today heard me singing Burn In Hell, and suggested I sing the line, "Thought you were so special because you were an Englishman," in a British accent. And I am totally going to do it.

How are you feeling?

Wonderful! It's the most beautiful day we've had in New York City in a really long time. I actually almost had a little breakdown last night though. I think I was feeling overwhelmed and stressed out about finishing this project. I have some huge plans after this, and I'm really excited to start working on them. I think I often just get ahead of myself, but I feel ready for this chapter to be over so i can start focusing on the next one. I also don't want to be cooped up inside blogging and songwriting when the weather is so amazing outside. Having said that, I don't know how many times in my life I'm going to be able to sing and write songs everyday, so I know I need to be grateful and cherish these days.

It was really nice hanging out with the woman filming me today. I'm really excited to see how her documentary comes out. She is going to film me tomorrow and Friday as well, so that will be fun. Interesting fact about her. A few years ago she had a seizure. She had never had a seizure in her entire life. She woke up from the seizure, and is now able to fluently read and speak backwards. She was showing me today, and it's absolutely incredible. It sounds like the most interesting language. I was shocked and not going to lie, somewhat jealous. She actually has a superpower!

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© 2014 Kelly Bazely