The Off-Keys

In Ireland, you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a busker.  Nine times out of 10, they’re usually brilliant and I’ve run into my fair share of amazing buskers.  (And if you’re here for Christmas, there are buskers EVERYWHERE and they’re insanely good!)

Today, however, while wandering around a bookshop in Cork City I heard the most godawful howl of a song and I had no idea where it was coming from.  I first thought to myself, ‘Why on Earth would they play this on the radio.’ Then, a door opened the the volume of the wail increased tenfold.  

A female gardai snickered while looking at a table full of science books but, in my head I thought to myself…  ‘Oh man….’ but not in a bad way.  I was smiling because I was thinking to myself… ‘He’s really going for it!’ 

I went outside for another look and that’s when I was pretty chuffed at what I was seeing.  Not only was the old man singing his heart out, but there was a lady in a wheelchair singing with him!  

This was cool!  While they finished up their song, I started to think a bit about what I just experienced.  I realised that there was some sort of life-lesson in this.  A few actually.  As I slowly walked away from the newly minted indie rockstars, The Off-Keys, that’s when it hit me: 

The pair singing off-key didn’t matter to me – It was their spirit that made me smile.  I think that sometimes we strive way too much for perfection when really we should just relax and enjoy the fun we could have together. 

What are your thoughts? Do you have any experiences that you gave a red-hot go?  I’d love to hear about them!