Re: PERFORMANCE: Neveah Dean-Ramirez & Alex Manes-Guerin
Alex was standing on the stage in front of the mic. Not too far from his duet partner, neither of them quite center stage. Staying true to his style in a tan button up shirt, a few buttons open at the top, paired with black jeans and dark colored boots. This time wearing an extra special accessory, Michael’s cowboy hat. Holding a comforting instrument, the guitar. It was something mirrored with Nevaeh.
It wasn’t his first time singing a duet since arriving on Galador. The first time was with an Idol alumni. It didn’t seem to quell his nerves on if the judges would think the meshed well together.
He started strumming the music before one foot stepped forward as he leaned into the mic. Looking over at Nevaeh with a smile as he sang.
“Baby, when I met you There was peace unknown I set out to get you With a fine tooth comb I was soft inside There was something going on”
His voice was joined by the harmonizing tone of his duet partner. This was the part he was worried about. He had always messed up the part where she joined in during practice. Yet there on stage he didn't skip a beat.
“You do something to me That I can't explain Hold me closer and I feel no pain Every beat of my heart We got something going on”
Alex carried onto the next verse by himself as his gaze moved from Nevaeh to span the audience. It was halfway through the voice when the beautiful voice joined him again. Seamlessly joining in. He couldn't imagine it going any better. His thoughts drifted to what Michael would think of it. Thinking of his husband only helped him to feel more at ease on the stage.
“Tender love is blind It requires a dedication All this love we feel Needs no conversation We ride it together, ah-ha Making love with each other, ah-ha”
Their voices combining for the chorus as the hope and relief Nev was clearly feeling now radiated from her. She wore a flowy off-white dress with flats and a vintage Dolly Parton t-shirt.
“Islands in the stream That is what we are No one in between How can we be wrong Sail away with me To another world And we rely on each other, ah-ha From one lover to another, ah-ha”
Strumming her guitar, bopping a little to the rhythm of the song, Neveah smiled at Alex and began the next verse. It was nothing fancy, or showy, or anything of the sort. They were having fun, and she wanted to make sure that was evident.
“I can't live without you If the love was gone Everything is nothing If you got no one And you just walk in the night Slowly losing sight of the real thing”
Clearly, Nev was finally finding her confidence and her desire to perform, as with each week, her songs were now becoming less about dealing with her grief and more about the pure joy of sharing her talent with the universe.
“But that won't happen to us And we got no doubt Too deep in love and we got no way out And the message is clear This could be the year for the real thing”
Pleasantly surprised by how well her voice and Alex’s sounded together, it gave Nev the boost she needed to really pour all of herself into this. They were feeding off of each other’s energy and it was a wonderful thing.
“No more will you cry Baby, I will hurt you never We start and end as one In love forever We can ride it together, ah-ha Making love with each other, ah-ha”
He stepped away from his mic to make his way to stand close to Nevaeh. The two of them now sharing a mic but still enough space not to seem crowded with their guitars.
Islands in the stream That is what we are No one in between How can we be wrong Sail away with me To another world And we rely on each other, ah-ha From one lover to another, ah-ha”