Singing in a Microphone

Coming home from Sannomiya the man was standing in front of the pillar next to the travelator, also known as a walkalator. That's the term I like the most. A walkalator is a beautiful device that makes you feel as if your floating on air. But I digress...

This my normal route home but this was a special trip because I don't usually go into Sannomiya on Fridays. One the teachers had an emergency and I was covering for her. I went into Sannomiya on Friday to cover her classes while she went back home to Canada to treat her diabetes.

I came down the escalator in front of the McDonald's at Umeda station. I normally make my way from the Hankyu line to the subway through Umeda station. When I walked around the corner to see a man standing next to the walkalator in front of one of the big pillar holding up the whole underground operation. He was standing there with a bag at his feet, ear buds in his ears, sunglasses on his face, holding a microphone. There was no amp and no wire. Just a microphone held out in front of his chest.

At first he was dancing when suddenly he pulled the mic in and began singing a tune right there in front of the hundreds or so people traveling through Umeda station. I stopped to take a look and gazed at him as I made my way onto the walkalator. He stood there unflinching, with no embarrassment just singing his heart out. All we could hear from our position was the acapella version of his Japanese crooner tune. Everyone around me seemed not to notice and just kept moving on with their night.

I've seen things like this before, but usually when people sing on the street or in front of crowds they bring a karaoke machine and sing with the music. Usually young girls hoping to get discovered or build a small fan base. Maybe to earn money or maybe not. I'm unsure of the different motivations people have for performing in public without an instrument or a band.

The man singing next to the walkalator was in a total different reality. He was happy and seemed proud of his ability. I'm not passing judgement on him but just feel like telling the story of him standing there for everyone to enjoy.