This morning early, I was on my way to Atlanta to catch a flight to a friend’s memorial service. I got caught in an accident and missed my flight. I’m going to miss that service as a result, and I’ll be regretful for the rest of my life. I do know, however, that my absence will hardly be noticed. As we’ve all seen this week, Matt’s reach spans well beyond this guy in Alabama.
“80s!” was the year. I can’t get more specific. “Late 80s”…how about that?
Karaoke was new, and bowling its way across the Midwest. I can only assume that by the time it hit our sleepy town it was a dull fad in places that seemed too matter most. I’m sure plenty will correct me on this, but my first memory of karaoke was as a supplement to the PCHS prom – again, in the late 80s – set in the auditorium for those to watch that didn’t feel like hearing “Safety Dance” one more time. Again, I may have this way wrong, but it doesn’t change the memory for me.
Matt Luecking and I “grew up” together (an overused phrase that I’ve always hated because of just that: it’s overused). In this case, however, it’s true. I have a lot of memories of Matt. Most of those memories involve baseball cards and trying to trick him into trading me one far superior to the one I offered in exchange. Our lives as kids in Princeton were pretty simple.
Karaoke hasn’t changed much in the twenty-five years it took to write this down. It’s still a lot of screaming horrible songs into a mic that no one seems to know how to use. Matt knew everyone, but seemed reserved in a way. He knew everyone, but I’m not sure everyone knew him. He chose that night to remind everyone that he was alive and well.
*Click the link below*
Billy and the Beaters…did anyone know that? The song was “At This Moment”. That was Matt’s choice. It started as a bit of a downer. I remember thinking, “what is he doing with this tear-jerker of a song?”. It was a coming out party for Matt in a way. Tear-jerker or not, by the time he started the second verse, everyone was on their feet. Remarkable is the best way I can describe it. I may shine at Safety Dance, but I’m glad I was there instead. When it was over, he didn’t actually drop the mic, although he should have. But figuratively speaking, that’s exactly what he did.
He walked out of that room and away from a sea of applause, but never really let the mic go. That was the moment that he chose to come alive and wake the rest of us up. He didn’t just love music, he lived music well.
Today, in my mind anyway, Matt Luecking is replaying his version of the ultimate “mic-drop”. He’s walking out and away from a sea of applause. Let us all learn from the unassuming kid that chose his moment. Be kind and live well.
He did.
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