Re: PERFORMANCE: Queen Barb
As an iconic, familiar bassline began to fill the studio, the lights flickered on to illuminate Queen Barb, clad in multi-zippered black vinyl pants, combat boots, and a ripped Heart tee over a long-sleeved fishnet top, her hair pulled up to slightly resemble the mohawk she used to wear. Strumming her guitar, she walked slowly to the mic, grinning to the audience.
"Once upon a time not so long ago
Tommy used to work on the docks, union's been on strike He's down on his luck, it's tough, so tough Gina works the diner all day working for her man She brings home her pay, for love, for love"
She looked at the fans in the audience, the ones who'd taken her post to heart: they were on their feet already, singing along with her every word.
"She says, we've got to hold on to what we've got It doesn't make a difference if we make it or not We've got each other and that's a lot for love We'll give it a shot"
She threw a fist in the air, voice booming out the chorus to the song, her energy and the energy of the crowd feeding off of each other perfectly.
"Woah, we're half way there Woah, livin' on a prayer Take my hand, we'll make it I swear Woah, livin' on a prayer!"
Barb could feel herself getting more of a rush the more the people interacted with her. This was amazing... even in her world she'd never had people seemingly showing her this kind of love before, and it was like a drug.
"Tommy's got his six-string in hock Now he's holding in what he used to make it talk So tough, it's tough Gina dreams of running away When she cries in the night, Tommy whispers Baby, it's okay, someday"
Running to the edge of the stage, to where she saw a couple of teenage girls dramatically singing along, and stood right in front of them, hammering out the notes on her guitar as she sang in unison with them. This is what she'd been trying to tell people since she'd arrived here: music was the most unifying language in the world.
"We've got to hold on to what we've got It doesn't make a difference if we make it or not We've got each other and that's a lot for love We'll give it a shot"
With a big smile on her face, eyes alight with energy and adrenaline, she playfully stuck out that long tongue of hers, wagging it in a way not unlike Gene Simmons of KISS.
"Woah, we're half way there Woah, livin' on a prayer Take my hand, we'll make it I swear Woah, livin' on a prayer Livin' on a prayer"
"Oh, we've got to hold on, ready or not You live for the fight when it's all that you've got!"
Rock was her life. Her heritage. He reason for being. She felt it running through her veins every bit as much as the blood that kept her alive. If Poppy had taught her the importance of all music and people living in harmony, being on this show was teaching Barb just how much music could unite people, how good it could make even the saddest people feel.
"Woah, we're half way there Woah, livin' on a prayer Take my hand, we'll make it I swear Woah, livin' on a prayer"
"Woah, we're half way there Woah, livin' on a prayer Take my hand, we'll make it I swear Woah, livin' on a prayer!"
As the last words left her lips, Barb dropped to one knee, striking a pose with her guitar before using the final moments to effortlessly play a small, original guitar solo that led right into the final notes of the song. She'd been working on it since arriving on Galador,,, but with this elation? This rush of adrenaline? This vest for life? This was the moment Barb finally felt like she was understanding what it felt like to be a person