Page 2 of 3 < >

Dan Glickman: Best Original Song

Discussion Policy

Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.

His right index finger skittered over the keys. It wasn't a song; it was a show. The New York Times called him "about as bland as Jack Valenti is colorful," but when Dan sang he was another man -- a grand, charismatic showman.

"You are my sunshine!" Dan boomed. "My only sunshine!"

The couch vibrated with the noise.

"You don't have to push the pedal the whole time," Rhoda said.

His range was too narrow to reach all the notes, so he jumped octaves, vaulting up and down, as he moved from phrase to phrase. His performance exercised the ear with feats of audio-acrobatics.

"Enough! It's enough," Rhoda said.

She added: "In life, you're a politician, you're cautious. But when it comes to singing, you don't care."

"You're not vulnerable when you're singing," Dan explained. "Well, I'm not."

"A lot of people find that fairly amazing," Rhoda said.

At Dan's birthday party, Washington lawyer Bob Barnett recalled with an affectionate laugh, "he stood up and sang -- poorly." At Dan's anniversary party, recalled columnist Margaret Carlson, Dan also sang: "It was beautiful only because it was off-key. It brought tears to my eyes." And, at a gathering of Democratic congressmen, when Dan began to sing, Rep. Barney Frank (Mass.) led a walkout.

"-- and I stopped," Dan said.

"No, Danny," said Rhoda. "You finished your song."

< 2 >