There’s a black moan coming and it’s coming for you
Coming for you, oh Lord.
There’s a black moan rising and it takes no prisoners.
Keyboard solo
The day you left I couldn’t breathe
It’s like the air and water squeezed out of me
You left a hole in my soul
And I couldn’t fill it
Couldn’t fill it, no.
There’s a black moan rising and it won’t let you say no.
Drum solo, bass first, repeat
* * *
Excerpt,Industry News LA, 2019
…deal reached with Groff Entertainment,rep the Vendetta, and Five-Star Pictures for use of “Black Moan Rising”…
Film to be announced.
* * *
“What isAmerica Sings!?”WeNeedMoreIdol.com
After its debutas a summer filler competition show on network TV in 2016,America Sings!rapidly rose in popularity.Loosely (okay, maybe not so loosely) based on Europe’s sensationalEurovisioncompetition, winners from each state in the great old U.S.of A.are chosen to perform an original song in a tournament-style competition.After each state votes on their favorite song submitted by performers, the winners are sent to perform live on national TV to be judged by the masses.And do they ever show up for it.Last year, the votes for the winning song, a fierce battle between the social media darlings from Wyoming and the devil-may-care contingent from Alabama, nearly broke the internet.Producers had to delay the finals presentation to get the voting system back up and running.
Some people might say it’s cheesy, as a lot of performers choose to dress in wild costumes and stage elaborate production numbers.There was the infamous incident of 2017, when a sequin-jacketed capuchin monkey escaped backstage and ended up in the costume trunk of the contingent from Vermont, where it shat all over the band’s matching leather jackets.Some people say it’s a sign of America’s cultural demise, where we hack other nations’ good ideas.
I say it’s a work of art.And when you get a performance from a relative unknown that knocks your socks off, I know you reach for your phone and web browser too.
Just look at Ellery and the Vendetta.
CHAPTER18
Now—Ellery
“And this is Maria.”Ellery slings her arms around her assistant’s shoulders.Her skin is warm and flushed, but she has a bright, happy smile on her face.“An incredible mother, friend, and support person.She grew up down the 5 in Irvine, California.And none of us would be here today without her.”
Maria turns and presses her wet cheek to Ellery’s shoulder.“Thank you.”
Ellery steps away from the mic and holds her.Maria’s strong, she won’t break if Ellery squeezes tighter.“I couldn’t do any of this without you,” she says, keeping her voice soft, between them.
“This is good.Your parents would be so proud of you.”Maria squeezes her again and leaves the stage with a wave.
A black hole opens in the midst of Ellery’s stomach, yawning and threatening to suck her down into it.
She’s fought her way out of that hole too many times to count now.She climbs out of it every night she performs.The songs she wrote have left craters behind that outside criticism deepens.It’s too much.
The crowd has gone silent behind her, as if they too, feel like the sun will never rise again.
