#wfc 25

[nahisummerhold]

Hello everyone! Come out and see me perform on the Sunset Showcase Stage at the World’s Faire Carnival next week!

[nahisummerhold]

World’s Faire Carnival, Song 3

(Last song of my set, 25 by The Pretty Reckless listen here)

Nahi walks to the side picking up a leaden grey jacket, slipping it on and buttoning up to the high collar as she speaks. “My last song tonight is called 25. It is a story of struggle, and how life can change even when we do not expect it to.”

The music starts and she stands perfectly still through the quiet notes of the guitar that leads to the start of the lyrics. Her expression is calm, violet eyes taking on a slightly vacant look when she begins to sing, “Year one was lots of fun, but  nothin' lasts forever in my dreams.” Extending two fingers out on an elegantly outstretched arm, a memory of a smile gently curving her lips, a dramatic accompaniment to the counted progression, “Two, I followed you because you knew the way or so it seemed.” Letting a small huffed breath free to dance alongside a sad shake of her head. The smile now laced with poisonous irony, “And three, I still believed that we would be becoming destiny.” Pausing, her breathing slow and labored, shuddering in her chest like the last leaves of fall teased by a cool breeze, “And four, I wanted more but you were movin' on to better things.”

The music builds and she fists her hands in the pale curls at the back of her head, “At twenty-five and still alive, much longer than expected for a man.” Drawing her shoulders forward in an achingly tight curve. “At twenty-five, all hope has died,” her crystal clear voice soars with the weight of emotion driving it, “and the glass of my intentions turns to sand.” The music drops low, words following it down to hang in the air, “and shatters in my hand.” A slow breath is drawn through parted lips, “Oh, oh, oh.”

The  performer brings a perfectly manicured hand up to hold her throat, pink fingernails pressing to hold back the emotions that threaten to choke her, “Five to six, a lie, a kiss, secrets that were served, we'd never say.”  Pacing to the side, shaking her head back and forth, an expression of sadness staining her features, any semblance of faith dying in her eyes, “Skip to eight, we called it fate, to live, to let us die another day.”  Dropping her hand, forcing an exhale loud enough to float over the music, nostrils flaring with frustration, “And nine, I saw the signs reflected in the barrel of a gun.” A deep shudder of cascades through her with the memory. Eyes look to the night sky, a hint of tears threatening to   spill reflecting off the flame of the braziers nearby, “Ten, we're here again, those who loved me burned up in the sun.” 

“At twenty-five and still alive, much longer than expected for a man.” Drawing her hands up in front of her chest, fists balling tight enough to lighten her knuckles, “At twenty-five, all hope has died,” She looks out over the audience, her expression mixed in equal measure of misery and regret “and the glass of my intentions turns to sand.” Dropping into a crouch, her hand picking up some sand off the stage, letting it fall slowly from between her fingers, “And shatters in my hand… shatters in my hand.” Nahi rises up into a slow sway, her weight shifting like a pendulum, “From eleven, twelve, I held the future in my grasp.” In a dejected movement sucked dry of energy her shoulders dip, a marionette with frayed strings about to break free. Nahi opens her hands, holding them palms out, empty with nothing left to cling to. “And all through my teens, I screamed I may not live much past…” Words become robotic in their cadence, “Twenty-one, two, three, four.” Nahi walks the stage looking completely detached. “Twenty-one, two, three, four.” Holding up her fingers to count, her head tipping side to side with each number, the weight too much for her slender neck to hold, “Twenty-one, two, three, four.” She stops abruptly, each breath matching the pacing of the simple words, eyes looking out over the crowd with a blank expression, “One, two, three, four…” The power of the lyrics carry to the upper levels of the city past the audience, “At twenty-five and still alive, much longer than expected for a man.” Her head levels and she locks eyes with someone straight ahead of her, “At twenty-five, all hope has died,” her hand moves to her forehead then explodes open, expelling the pain that has twisted her core, “and the glass of my intentions… The glass of my intentions… The glass of my intentions turns to sand.” Her hand jerks down to her side, “It shatters in my hand…” The last word carries, soft and heartrending.

Dropping to her knees, last lines drawn out, a sad echo following the passionate outburst, emotion draining from her face. “Shatters in my hand… in my hand.”

(Thank all of you that came out that night, or that have enjoyed reading these over. Hope you enjoy the music selection too)

[nahisummerhold]

World’s Fair Carnival, Song 2

(I got involved in other storylines but wanted to circle back to getting these posted. This one was done to A Night Like This by Caro Emerald, click here to listen to it. ) Nahi looks out around the buildings and people, “I want to thank the organizers of the World Faire Carnival for putting in all the work they do. This song goes out to them. It is called ‘A Night Like This. Beginning to draw figure eights with her hips as a lively song begins to play, a fun little dance accompanied by a bright smile and her hands extended out to the sides. “From where you are, you see the smoke start to arise where they play cards and you walk over, softly movin' past the guards. The stakes are gettin' higher, you can feel it in your heart.” Using a little performer trick, she gestures and a small poker table appears on the stage and she walks around it dragging a single finger over the sleek wooden lines, “He calls your bluff, he is the ace, you never thought he'd play that much and now it's more than all these cards you want to touch.  You'll never know if winnin' this could really be enough.” Tipping her head up, gesturing into the sky, “Take a look beyond the moon you'll see the stars and when you look around you know the room by heart.” The dusky skinned woman covers the stage in a few long paces, “I have never dreamed it, have you ever dreamed a night like this?” Dancing, she turns and puts her arms up while fireworks explode overhead, “I cannot believe it, I may never see a night like this. When everything you think is incomplete.” She blows a kiss and dances across the stage, her eyes sparkle with a bright look, “starts happening when you are cheek to cheek.” Placing a hand over her heart, “Could you ever dream it? I have never dreamed, dreamed a night like this.” 

Nahi taps a finger to her cheek and sighs deeply, looking bored, “How many times have I been waiting by the door to hear these chimes?” Places a foot forward then shimmies her hips and steps back in a saucy little dance. “To hear that someone debonair has just arrived and opened up to see my world before my eyes.” Pointing at Anka, “That silhouette, creates an image and a night I can't forget. It has the scent of something special, I can't rest.” She dips her head to the side in coquettish flirtation, “If I resist temptation, oh, I know for sure that I will lose the bet.”  

Turning and walking to the side of the stage with an exaggerated sway to her hips. “I walk away and suddenly it seems I'm not alone.” Dancing back away from the audience. “In front of me he stands, I stop before he goes.” Waves absently toward Anka, moving over to a stranger in the front row, winking and offering a flirty smile.

“I have never dreamed it, have you ever dreamed a night like this?” Shrugging and dancing in a small circle, her hair flaring around her. “I cannot believe it, I may never see a night like this.” Stopping, Nahi gestures out towards the carnival, “When everything you think is incomplete, starts happening when you are cheek to cheek.” She winks playfully, “Could you ever dream it? I have never dreamed, dreamed a night like this.” Waving at the current target of her flirtation before walking to the middle of the stage. “I have never dreamed it, have you ever dreamed a night like this? I cannot believe it, I may never see a night like this, I may never see a night like this.” Opening her toned arms wide and turning in a slow circle, the night fills with colorful explosions as the song draws near its end, “When everything you think is incomplete starts happening when you are cheek to cheek.” She smiles and extends her hands out gesturing to the audience including them in her joy, “Could you ever dream it? I have never dreamed, dreamed a night like this.” 

(Belated tag to @lilyofporcelain loved having Anka there)