Too Old, Too Plain? No Way! - Marc Cendella

Let me set the scene.
You're a dowdy 47-year-old from Northern England. "Never been married, never been kissed." No love in your life. No job. No luck.But you have a gift within you. And you know it.

And you've somehow managed to make your way onto a TV Show called "Britain's Got Talent" and you are now standing on a national stage.The crowd is hooting with derision. That smarmy judge on the left is snickering at you. Simon Cowell is rolling his eyes. Everybody is pretty much certain that "little old you" is going to crash and burn in a way that will be hilarious to all.

You've "never been given a chance before." And it's pretty easy for everybody to understand why. You're an odd-looking lady from the North. They are serving you up to the laughing wolves for the sake of the television audience. This is going to be funny. What do you do? What do you do? Well, if you're my new personal hero Susan Boyle, you wrap your two hands around the microphone and slowly focus and... Click on image to see video

Then you sing your song to the rafters. Your lift your voice to the heavens. You give a life-defining performance, and you sing an audience of millions into tears.

You hit your high note and bring a lump to the throat of the judges.

You bring the audience to their feet and watch as they realize they can't possibly reach their hands high enough in the sky to applaud you.

You inspire a planet.

You knew you had the gift within you. You just needed to be given a chance, that's all you ever wanted.And when you got your chance, you shined brighter than any starlet or supermodel ever could.

Readers, I know I've learned a very important lesson from Susan Boyle the other day...

Dream Your Dream.

You've got a friend - Carole King

When you're down and troubled

And you need some loving care

And nothing, nothing is going right

Close your eyes and think of me

And soon I will be there

To brighten up even your darkest night

You just call out my name

And you know wherever I am

I'll come running to see you again

Winter, spring, summer or fall

All you have to do is call

And I'll be there

You've got a friend

If the sky above you

Grows dark and full of clouds

And that old north wind begins to blow

Keep your head together

And call my name out loud

Soon you'll hear me knocking at your door

You just call out my name

And you know wherever I am

I'll come running to see you

Winter, spring, summer or fall

All you have to do is call

And I'll be there

Ain't it good to know that you've got a friend

When people can be so cold

They'll hurt you, and desert you

And take your soul if you let them

Oh, but don't you let them

You just call out my name

And you know wherever I am

I'll come running to see you again

Winter, spring, summer or fall

All you have to do is call

And I'll be there

You've got a friend

All about soul - Billy Joel

A principios de 1979 entré a estudiar inglés en Manhattanville College ubicado en Purchase, NY, yo era uno más de cientos de estudiantes de todo el mundo viviendo en dormitorios en ese hermoso complejo por todo un verano. Tenía casi 33 años pero durante esa época hice grandes amigos, jóvenes la mayoría que venían de Japón, Irán, Arabia Saudita, Colombia, Haití e incluso del Perú. El ruido y la música acompañaba mis noches y días, incluso la marihuana inundaban ese apocalíptico y juvenil ambiente de niños millonarios. Yo estaba casado y ya tenía una hija esperando por mi llamada para que se unieran a mí. No me desvié y logré mis objetivos. Pero fue allí donde aprendí de Billy Joel, me enamoré de Piano Man (1973), Honesty y otras tantas maravillas de este gran cantante y mejor compositor.

Pero no fue hasta 1993 viviendo en México, cuando llegó a mis manos el álbum “River of Dreams”, y hubo una canción que me arrobó, y hoy 16 años más tarde recobra su total sentido y verdad. Para todos y para ti, alma de mi alma, que en algún lugar estás, dedico este espacio… con amor.

All about Soul
She waits for me at night, she waits for me in silence
She gives me all her tenderness and takes away my pain
And so far she hasn't run, though I swear she's had her moments
She still believes in miracles while others cry in vain

It's all about soul
It's all about faith and a deeper devotion
It's all about soul
'Cause under the love is a stronger emotion
She's got to be strong
'Cause so many things getting out of control
Should drive her away
So why does she stay?
It's all about soul

She turns to me sometimes and asks me what I'm dreaming
And I realize I must have gone a million miles away
And I ask her how she knew to reach out for me that moment
And she smiles because it's understood there are no words to say

It's all about soul
It's all about knowing what someone is feeling
The woman's got soul
The power of love and the power of healing
This life isn't fair
It's gonna get dark, it's gonna get cold
You've got to be tough, but that ain't enough
It's all about soul

There are people who have lost every trace of human kindness
There are many who have fallen, there are some who still survive
She comes to me at night and she tells me her desires
And she gives me all the love I need to keep my faith alive

It's all about soul
It's all about joy that comes out of sorrow
It's all about soul
Who's standing now and who's standing tomorrow
You've got to be hard
Hard as the rock in that old rock 'n' roll
But that's only part, you know in your heart
It's all about soul