Well, folks, it's official - The Vlade has finally made it to the big, big, big time (not really, but don't tell anyone!).
My song has been airing on the radio for a solid four weeks now, and I just managed to hear it live for the first time. I know, I know, it's a little late to the party, but hey, better late than never, right?
It's been a rollercoaster ride getting to this point. When I first submitted my demo to the radio station, I was convinced they would laugh me out of the building. But to my surprise, they actually liked it! They started playing my song on the airwaves, and I felt like a superstar. Okay, maybe not a superstar, but definitely like someone who had accomplished something.
But here's the thing - I could never seem to catch my song when it was actually playing. Every time I tuned in, they were either playing ads or some other band that was not me. I tried to figure out the schedule, but with my limited grasp of time zones and radio programming, I might as well have been trying to read hieroglyphics.
Finally, after weeks of trying, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I checked and double-checked the radio's programming schedule, made incredibly complicated math calculations, adjusted daylight time-saving zones, put a reminder in my calendar...and finally managed to catch the program being aired live online.
I put it on my iPad and waited. The DJ introduced "The Vlade" and my song came on the airwaves. I cranked up the volume and almost started dancing, feeling like a kid who just found the last slice of pizza at a party.
But my moment of triumph was short-lived. Just as the chorus was starting, our very opinioned little green pet parrotlet Petie decided to chime in. And when I say chime in, I mean she started singing along - in her own unique way. (BTW, let me quickly explain why her name is 'Petie". The fact is - when we got Petie, we all thought he was a boy... until one day he started laying eggs.)
Now, Petie is a little bird with a big personality. She's got a voice like an opera singer on helium, and she loves to show it off. So when my song came on, she started singing her own rendition of it. At first, I tried to ignore her. But as the song went on, she got louder and louder. It was like she was trying to out-sing the song. And I'll admit, she was doing a pretty good job of it.
I couldn't help but laugh. It was just too ridiculous - The Vlade and the bird, singing a duet on the radio.
But despite Petie's interference, I'm still thrilled that my song is getting some airplay. It's a small victory, but it means the world to me. I've been playing music for years, but this is the first time that anyone outside my family and friends has heard my work.
And who knows, maybe Petie is actually helping my career. I mean, if a bird can sing along to my song, surely there are humans out there who will appreciate it too, right? Or maybe I'm just grasping at straws. Either way, I'm not giving up on my dream.
So if you're out there, listening to the radio and you happen to hear "The Vlade" come on, give a little shout-out to Petie. She might not have the best singing voice, but she's got heart. And hey, maybe someday she'll even join me on stage for a live performance. I hear there's a market for musical parrots.
