What’s a song that changed your life?
There are songs you enjoy, songs you remember, and then there are songs that somehow manage to rearrange your life without asking permission first.
For me, one of those songs is Benny Goodman’s “Sing, Sing, Sing.”
Now, if you’ve ever heard it, you’ll know it’s not exactly the sort of music that politely waits for you to finish your cup of tea. That opening drumbeat practically grabs you by the shoulders and announces that sitting still is no longer an option.
I first really discovered it through Uncle Frank.
Frank has a way of introducing people to things. He doesn’t give lengthy explanations or prepare little speeches. He simply put something in front of you and wait for you to catch on.
And so it was with swing music.
One minute I was listening, the next I was watching people move to it, and before long I was discovering a whole world I hadn’t realised was waiting for me.
Lindy Hop became more than a dance. It became a community, a way of meeting people, and eventually a place where I felt entirely at home.
But here’s the thing I didn’t expect.
It also taught me something about confidence.
You don’t need to be the best dancer in the room. You don’t even need to know every step. You just need to be willing to get up and have a go.
I’ve made mistakes, lost the rhythm, gone the wrong way and probably caused the occasional traffic incident on the dance floor. But that’s part of the fun.
Frank taught me to lead as well as follow, and that opened another door entirely. I began noticing the people standing nervously at the edge of the floor, wondering whether they were good enough to join in.
I knew exactly how that felt.
So sometimes I’d offer my hand and say, ”Would you like to dance?”
And suddenly, somebody who had been watching from the sidelines was part of the evening.
Looking back, I don’t think that song changed my life because of the music alone. It introduced me to a world, a community, and a little part of myself I might otherwise never have discovered.
All from a drumbeat and a willingness to get out of my chair.
Funny, isn’t it?
We spend so much time looking for life-changing moments that we sometimes forget they can arrive disguised as a tune on somebody else’s record player.
So if you hear “Sing, Sing, Sing” playing somewhere, do yourself a favour.
Don’t just tap your foot.
Get up and dance.
And if you see me on the floor, darling, there’s always room for one more.
Stay Fabulous,
Luce 💋
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