Up with people

My friend Mitchum used to throw backyard barbecues at which, once the feasting was done, guests were expected to perform a little something, sing a song or recite a poem or tell an amusing story. No stage, no curtain, no vaudeville hook, just a bunch of game revelers sitting around in lawn chairs and watching each other create a little art.

Hilarious and and awkward moments ensued, as you might imagine, and also moments of transcendent beauty. One of the most beautiful was when Melissa, our friend from the Great White North, gave an a cappella rendering of "O Canada." Brought the house down. Great, too, was Liz's striking interpretation of "Copacabana," also a cappella.

More of this sort of thing, please.