Day Seven ... NaPoWriMo / Poem-a-Day 2019

Maureen Thorson’s NaPoWriMo prompt: “Today, we’d like to challenge you to write a poem of gifts and joy. What would you give yourself, if you could have anything? What would you give someone else?” Robert Lee Brewer’s Poem-a-Day prompt: “For today’s prompt, write a jealous poem. Maybe you’re jealous. Or maybe someone else is jealous of you — or someone else. Whether envious of another or suspicious of a partner, dive deep into this emotion today.” Mashing up these two prompts gave me an opportunity to write about my current YouTube obsession. Not a passing fancy, though . . . these young women I discuss in the poem are destined for greatness. Hell, they're there already. The Warning This is a tribute to three Mexican sisters who’re in a rock band: Alejandra, bass. Paulina on the drum kit. Daniela, guitar. They may be the best rock band in the world right now. Particularly because of how old they are: Dany is 19, Pau, 17, and Ale, just 14! But, man, can these sisters play! Google “The Warning” videos. Huge props! Can’t wait for their US tour; that would be the gift I’d give to my kids: tix to one of their concerts! I gotta say, though, I’m a touch jealous. Not of their musical chops or their dynamic stage performances. But just that I wish sometimes when I was their age I and my bandmates in high school — Pat, Steve, and Bob — had had just one night playing the Whisky a Go Go, like The Warning did last year. Oh man! Pat and I trading riffs on guitar, Steve thumping his Vox bass, and Bob laying down drum fills under red and blue spotlights, our voices soaring. But I’m really not jealous. I’m just ecstatic for these three sisters, the unbridled joy they bring to thousands of fans — energy, passion, electricity! Rock on, Dany, Pau, Ale, The Warning . . . rock on! —Draft by Vince Gotera    [Do not copy or quote . . . thanks.] I tried to maintain a conversational tone here: just a fan talking. Linked haiku again, all strict 5-7-5. Here are a couple of photos of the band from The Warning Official Fan Page on facebook. I think these may be fan art. Couldn't tell from the captions. Or they may be official band photos. Kudos to the artists, in any case. In the poem above, I recommend googling The Warning videos. I'll just post some links here for you. First, a November 2018 live performance of "Dust to Dust," the opening song of their concept album, Queen of the Murder Scene, a rock opera. Dust to Dust - THE WARNING - LIVE at Lunario CDMX. Next, from 2016, a video of their first TEDx concert, in which they talk between songs about their development and passion. It's quite amazing to see how articulate they are in English, their second language. Ale starts off speaking, and she's 11 here! Her sisters are 13 and 15. They perform their songs "River Soul" and "Exterminated"; they also cover "The Pretender" by the Foo Fighters. Young Girls Love to Rock. | The Warning | TEDxUniversityofNevada. The Warning were asked back in 2017 for another TEDx concert. In this video, they are 12, 14, and 16, having just finished recording their first album, XXI Century Blood. Here they perform three songs from that album: "UnMendable," "When I’m Alone," and "Survive," with commentary in between songs again — very eloquent once more. Pau's drumming is particularly powerful and impassioned in this video. You’ve been warned! | The Warning | TEDxUniversityofNevada. Before these concerts, they recorded performance videos from their basement! Here is one that has gone massively viral, with over 18 million views! It's a cover of Metallica's "Enter Sandman." Dany, the guitarist, is 14 here; Pau, on drums, is 12; and Ale, the bass player, is 9! Wonderful cover, with a tremendous guitar solo, and all three girls on vocals. Evidently Metallica noted and applauded this video. Enter Sandman - METALLICA Cover - The Warning. Here's a video from a rehearsal, not great production values, but really showcases Ale's prodigious bass skills . . . at age 8! she starts off the song with a very difficult bassline. Her sisters are 11 and 13 here. I'm just blown away by Ale's bass work here. Hysteria Muse Cover Practice Dany, Pau & Ale. Finally, let me leave with you another live performance, again from November 2018, of a song from Queen of the Murder Scene. This video shows the band's strong singing in a slow number. Crimson Queen - THE WARNING - LIVE at Lunario CDMX. The Warning have a website at thewarningband.com. You can support them at their Patreon page, with a tier as low as $1 per month. I'm hoping they tour the US soon. In the meantime, join The Warning Army! Friends, won’t you comment, please? Love to know what you’re thinking. To comment, look for a red line below that starts Posted by, then click once on the word comments in that line. If you don’t find the word “comments” in that line, then look for a blue link below that says Post a comment and click it once. Thanks! Ingat, everyone.  ヅ

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