United Artists Band made Old-Timers Shake their Hips!
Mangaluru: Old is Gold!-that’s right.We don’t believe age is any more than a mere number. Not with these smooth party “young” ladies and men on the floor. Look at them go! Even in the glorious age of white hair and senior citizen benefits, their inner children are not only alive and well, they’re shaking things up too… literally. They are getting the groove, boogey-ing, dancing well, and having some fun and frolic. As they say that “Ageing is not ‘lost youth’, but a new stage of opportunity and strength”- there is no age limit when you are capable of having some fun and want to party- even senior citizens know how to party hard and have fun and frolic. You can call them the truly “Vintage Revellers?”
Life in a home for the elderly can get a little boring day after day. To spice things up a bit, the awesome music group, “The United Artists” under the able leadership of music maestro F M Lobo, and brass band genius Harry D’Souza, both residents of Bejai, decided to give back a little bit and surprise their favorite audience with an impromptu concert, at “Nazareth Nivas” a home for the elderly located near Bondel, Mangaluru, the band’s 4th Open Public performance in the City.
These amazingly talented musicians put on a spectacular show, and it was way better than any of the old timers ever expected. The group surprised the residents with a truly incredible music and ending their session with a non-stop baila, where some of the seniors got up and tried to shake their hips. The band giving renditions from the yesteryears, so this blast from the past was a much-appreciated surprise for the seniors. Once the Baila music started, the old-timers couldn’t stop moving their feet – the special performance by the band lifted their spirits! Who said that seniors can’t dance?
Those who had trouble speaking real good were just as welcome as those who have trouble walking. Avid dancers and belt-it-out singers and musicians mingled with a few quiet types, where some nodded to the music but didn’t get up to dance, but quite a few old-timers just got up and danced to bring back their memories of their teenage dance days.. Caretakers and management staff were in attendance, too. The festive mood was just right for the people in their old-age who came to dance, mingle and enjoy a couple of hours of unstructured fun in a supportive environment.
UAB has been doing a very good community service by entertaining the elderly at old-age homes, and the less-privileged at various other NGO’s thereby putting miles of smiles on the inmates and making a difference in the community. The United Artists Band which is a group of talented music lovers and players exhibiting their talent and passion for music by meeting up, practicing and playing together for the love of music, have done a great deed by entertaining the elderly folks with their music. No doubt the band group of talented artists, is a one stop destination for all you music lovers, out there especially the Brass Band. The Band group performed and spread the joy, happiness, and teamwork among all the Residents, of the Home with their music playing/singing with brass and string instruments.
The band is also on the lookout for generous sponsorship and patronage for their group.They also want talented music players interested to join them. you can call FM Lobo at 9341122044 or Sohan Albuquerque at 9731143043. The program was well attended by the citizens of Mangaluru. Team UAB plan to perform in the various other elderly homes located in the city in the future. The program was compered by Zeena Mendonca.
I end this column with few thought-provoking words of wisdom on “old age’-
“The tragedy of old age is not that one is old, but that one is young. The complete life, the perfect pattern, includes old age as well as youth and maturity. The beauty of the morning and the radiance of noon are good, but it would be a very silly person who drew the curtains and turned on the light in order to shut out the tranquillity of the evening. Old age has its pleasures, which, though different, are not less than the pleasures of youth. The old are in a second childhood. When we’re young we have faith in what is seen, but when we’re old we know that what is seen is traced in air and built on water. No one wishes to grow old, to outlive their illusions. Only a short respite from cares and sorrow, a brief time of flowers, and music, and love, and laughter, and ecstatic tears”.