Belly Singing

Summary

Peter, a tone-deaf man, finds solace and connection through music by singing to his lover's belly and later discovers his estranged daughter has become a singer, covering songs he once sang to her in utero.

Abstract

Peter, who struggles with singing in tune, finds a deep bond with his lover by singing to her pregnant belly. Despite his lack of musical talent, he passionately sings songs by female artists like Carole King and Phoebe Snow. After his lover leaves him, taking their daughter with her, Peter's singing becomes a rare occurrence, reserved for moments of heavy intoxication. Years later, while living on the West Coast, he stumbles upon his daughter's album in a music store, realizing she has grown up to be a singer. Listening to her album, which includes covers of the songs he once sang, fills him with overwhelming joy and a sense of rebirth.

Opinions

Peter's love for music transcends his inability to sing well, emphasizing the emotional power of music.
The author uses redundancy in describing Peter's singing to underscore his lack of musical ability in a humorous manner.
The story conveys a sense of nostalgia and the enduring impact of music on personal relationships and memories.
Peter's emotional response to his daughter's album suggests that art can bridge gaps created by time and distance.
The narrative implies that Peter's dedication to music, despite his shortcomings, has a profound and inspiring influence on his daughter's life and career.

Belly Singing

Penetrating music

Peter placed the side of his face up against his lover’s big fat belly. He then began singing.

Peter could barely carry a tune. He was tone deaf, off-key, and infuriatingly pitch imperfect. (Redundancy intended.)

But he knew all the words to his favorite songs, most of which were sung by women. While his naked lover dozed off he sang to her belly. With the warmth of her belly on his face Peter sang So Far Away, It’s Too Late, and You’ve Got a Friend by Carole King. He sang Harpo’s Blues, Poetry Man, and Easy Street by Phoebe Snow. He sang Stevie Nicks, Aretha Franklin, and Glady Knight.

Occasionally he would sing Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da.

After the baby was born, with her cradled in his arms, he would sing those same songs to her.

After a few years Peter’s lover got bored with him and dumped his ass. She took the girl and left town.

After that the only times Peter ever sang those songs was when he was really drunk.

A couple of decades later Peter was walking down a rain-drenched sidewalk in some city on the West Coast. Passing a music store he spotted a poster and stopped dead in his tracks. The poster was advertising a new album by a new young female singer. Seeing the name of the singer he was shocked to realize that it was his daughter.

He went into the music store and bought his daughter’s album. At home he turned on his sound system and began playing the album. As the album started he collapsed on the couch in a fetal position. Closing his eyes he listened to the whole album. On the album were four cover tunes of songs that he had sung to her when she was still in her mother’s belly.

With tears of joy pouring out of his eyes, Peter was reborn.

Fiction/Music

Belly Singing