ENTERED INTO THE
750 WORD PROJECT 2024
A generous acknowledgement to member AlexBailey for your invaluable advice and edits in helping this story come to life. Thank You!
*
"Mr. D'Angelo? How you doing in there, sir?"
"Fine, Joel, anyone have some water?"
"Water, please!" requested the sound technician, "You ready for another take?"
"Yeah, count me down."
"Ok,
Untitled
, take 27 in 3, 2, 1."
(Music builds from slow intro...)
🎵Girl, it's only you. Have it your way...🎵
"Sorry everybody," D'Angelo stopped singing, "Just feelin' like my inner voice is backed up and I'm sounding a bit flat."
"No problem, sir," Joel said into the intercom from the recording booth, "Take your time and let us know whenever you're ready."
"He can't hear us, right?" interrupted Max Austin.
"No, sir," replied Joel, "We're muted. Mr. D'Angelo can only see us."
Austin smiled broadly and gestured a friendly wave towards D'Angelo while saying through clenched teeth, "Why'd you fuckin' tell him that? Are you blind, Joel? Don't you see what's all around you? I've got people here with cameras trying to get this song down and taped with a video. I've got big monied interests back at the label that I gotta answer to! Its sunny and 82° in L.A. today. I should be at my pool having my Guatemalan servant shakin' his ass and bringing me margaritas! There was nothing wrong with all the previous takes. I need you to stop acting like a caring, coddling babysitter, costing me money, and start laying this damned track and video!"
"Sir, I've worked with Mr. D'Angelo from the start. He knows his voice and once he gets comfortable you'll see the difference."
"Yeah, he has been a bit flat," chimed in Austin's assistant.