Hugging and kissing
Last year, when I was in Milan, I was surprised by a man coming out of the band’s dressing room, who looked at me, startled.
“I am the man who asked for Bound”, he said, (one of the songs off of the new album), staring into my face while his wife? girlfriend? smiled at me from behind him.
“Oh thank you. I guess you must know the new album pretty well then??”
“Yes” he said, still staring at me. “I have all your records, and I have been listening to you since Left of Center.”
“Oh, that’s great.” I said. “Thanks for coming.”
“I feel as though I want to thank you for being so honest in that song Bound, I think it’s very brave.”
I tried to think if I was being brave, but it didn’t seem that way to me. However I am almost always in the mood to sing Bound or Penitent, songs of complaint.
“I feel as though I want to give you a hug,” he said, continuing to look into my face, and stepping toward me.
“Oh, dear. No thanks. My husband doesn’t like me to hug men that I don’t know. Or even men that I do...” I trailed off, feeling faintly ridiculous.
He laughed. “Ok, I just wanted to thank you very much for your music.”
“Well, I will shake your hand”, I said, which I did, and we scurried off in different directions, smiling.
“He was nice,” said the security guard.
I was reminded of this event when I came out to sign autographs the other night in Lyon. A young woman was there with a young man, and she said to me, “When you open your mouth to sing you are 20 years old!”
“Well, thanks.” I said.
“It’s because in your mind you are still young!” she said.
“Well, I suppose you are right,” I said, though I didn’t like the sound of that. Of course it’s true, though. This seemed to move her for some reason. It’s possible she had tears in her eyes.
“I want to give you a hug and a kiss,” she said firmly.
“Well, my husband...” I began, and then I said, “Ok, well, just a small one.” After which the young man with her wanted a hug and a kiss from me too. Then an old fat man near the end of the line wanted one, and then Alain the promoter began demanding hugs and kisses from me (loudly), and I felt it was all getting out of hand.
I understand the reason for this, although I don’t like strangers hugging and kissing me. When I met Debbie Harry for the first time in 1987, she came up to me at a party and said, “I want to congratulate you on all your success.” I was knocked out. Her beautiful famous face right in front of mine! I grabbed her shoulders and kissed her cheek. Even though I should have known better.
Photo by iBooth.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008