The Gulf Coast Dispatch
If You Believe…

A while back, in Amsterdam, I had an occasion to stop by an establishment of questionable repute. It wasn’t one of those places, per say, but… Put it this way: part of the show was a man and a woman making love on a portable mattress. (Mind you, this was a storefront “theatre” on a well-traveled street.)

There was a stage where the couple performed, and a seating arrangement of church pews. That’s what they were. Church pews. No other way to describe it.

Behind my pew, a contingent of Asian businessmen (in suits, no less) enjoyed Heinekens, the native beer. The principles began, and the soundtrack to the act was all manner of completely forgettable pop songs.

All forgettable, but one.

In the middle of the show R.E.M.’s “Man On The Moon” came blaring through the speakers and the businessmen lost it. They got to their feet and, with great zeal, began to sing along. “If you berieve/They put a man on the moon/Maaan on the moon!” Lost in the moment, they (and I) forgot all about the copulating couple and gave themselves over to the most awesome song ever.

Clinking glasses, dancing in the pews, and one (word-for-word) perfect sing-along.

I thought about this on Monday, the 40th anniversary of the moon landing.

Know what? Some humans are way cool.

JH