Did you have a 'party piece' when you were younger?!!

[Astrid]

I'm probably showing my age but I had a conversation today and wondered whether it was only me that had a 'party piece' when I was little!!

My Dad was always really proud of me because I could recite the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World - (something he'd drummed into me at a very early age!) and whenever my parents had friends around I was asked to repeat them (much to my embarassment as I got older!!).

My Dad's 'party piece' was, and still is, his recital of The Owl and The Pussycat (he's even got a bag of props stashed away somewhere to go with the verse - my Mother can't bear the humiliation and hides in the kitchen at this point!).

Anyone else out there have the same or was it just my family?!!

Astrid x

 

[Olaf]

I was made to recite Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Can still do it.

"Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth . . . . yada, yada, yada.

You aren't alone Astrid.

 

[WDWfan uk]

I'd love to see his rendition of the Owl & The Pussycat, props and all!!
Reading your post reminded me of how I was filled with dread when in a room full of people, my mother used to try to get me to dance, sing or act - there was no one particular dance etc, but because I took dancing exams and had parts in plays and took verse speaking exams, she'd be proudly telling someone about this, and consequently they'd always ask me to show them and it was a constant disappointment to my mother that I never would !!

 

[Janice]

Oh goodness me - has this revived some memories! LOL

Well, I always used to get up and sing "There's a hole in my bucket, dear Eliza, dear Eliza" LOL My best friends dad, who was blind, used to play the piano accordian and I would stand at his knee and he would play and I would sing and dance!!!

I am three days older than Sharon, so we always had two birthday parties in quick succession and thinking back, this must have been where my obsession with shopping came from. My mum would never let me wear the same dress to both parties! So we would always trot off to the shops on January 1st or 2nd for Party Dress Shopping in the Sales! LOL...........oh dear! Such a snob my mum in her day! Bless.

My Dad had a party piece too Astrid. He recorded a record when he came home from the war and he used to put it on the record player and sing along....."If I didnt care, more than words could say, If I didnt care......" His version of the Inkspots song.

Then my Aunt would play the Piano (which we still have!) and Dad would stand at his sisters side as they played and sang their hearts out. ~The parties used to go on literally for a couple of days!~

Blimey - really showing my age now, but we didnt have a telly in those days! LOL

 

[nativetxn]

Before I started school, my father always made me read the newspaper to show me off.

After that my sister and I sang, Swing Low, Sweet Chariot in harmony or some other hymn.

By the time I entered high school my mother caused her guests much pain, I'm sure, by making me read my adolescent poetry to the gathering

Those poor people

 

[Madjock]

Coming from a huge Scottish clan we seemed to have a family get together on a regular basis, which is probably where my love of a good party comes from. Everyone would take a turn at singing a song and everyone had their own particular song so even to this day if I hear Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Tom Jones and the Carpenters it invokes such great memories!

Unfortunately however, being completely tone deaf myself I was never asked to sign so my 'party piece' was to recite Rabbie Burns: To a Mouse:

Wee sleekit, cow'rin, tim'rous beastie,
O, what a panic's in thy breastie!
Thou need na start awa sae hasty,
Wi bickering brattle!
I wad be laith to rin an chase thee,
Wi murdering pattle!

Yes I still pretty much remember the whole thing!

Oh those were the days

Annmarie

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Astrid..

This got me thinking.

When I was very young (10-14) I had a perfect pitch soprano voice and sang in the local church choir. The choir sang in various music festivals around the country, Salisbury, Burnley and other Cathedrals and each year we would sing at the Bishop of Dinard's festival in France. So of course, I therefore had to sing at every opportunity whether I wanted to or not. Also I had to sing in school assembly every week.

Then my voice broke!!!

I am now able to clear whole rooms/pubs/halls etc in seconds. Annie would be happy to confirm this for anyone.

Spotty.....no you won't get a rendition in a couple of weeks.

Mr Dazzle