A Vociferous Voice: The Digital Story online with excerpts read by the author embedded
(photo taken from the site unsplash:david von diemar)
ISBN Number: 978-9920-34-615-3
Dedication
To everyone who's struggling alone
To everyone who feels somehow helpless and yet still goes on
To everyone who has experienced despair
To everyone whose vociferous voice is never quenched
You are the heroes of all times
INDEX
Preface
Chapter I: The awakening
Chapter II: The Birth of a Star
Chapter III: Your Voice.. My Rock
Chapter IV: The Halloween Night
Chapter V: The Rebirth of the Phoenix
Chapter VI: Singing for a Peaceful World
Chapter VII : A Shift in Style
Chapter VIII: Honoring a Star
Preface
When you think you can reach the sky..you have wings and can fly..when you are heading steadily like an Arrow to your target..suddenly you loose everything ..health..home.. money..friends and family but you find the real you.
You feel death is just behind the corner..you feel all is demolished and the sky you can reach is ruined over your head.
When you go back to the starting point after all..and with perseverance you manage to remain alive..to stand up..again..to make your voice heard..to enjoy every minute in life..
When you are unable to move your hands.. let alone your fingers..but you are determined enough to reach your pen and jot down lyrics..and sing out your heart outloud after many misfortunes.
When you feel you could have died but your presence is still a nuisance to some of your peers and your thinking is focused on the dancing lurid shades of death you encountered.
When you falter..fail..get up.. stumble..and fall, you resume your strength ..against all odds.. to walk on your feet again..It is only then that you deserve the title of a heroe.
This boils down to the teachings that strength comes from confrontation with life struggles, no matter what happens to you, remain positive, give much even if life treated you poorly and keep going on and hoping for the best.
This is a true story that is taken from real life only names and some facts are changed.
Chapter I: The awakening
It is 04.00 am, Lovrenco Svoboda woke up with a twisted neck as he is uncomfortable using a pillow to sleep. He woke up with a distorted back as well. A glance at his cell phone to know the time was enough to confuse his nervous system. He just remembered that he turned off his phone just before sleeping because there was a strange woman that got him twisted, calling a wrong number. How, the hell, did his phone work after he turned it off, that he could not figure out. Not only that, he fancied he was talking to someone over the phone but his memory holes can't serve him. He went through the call list and found out he turned on his phone and called John. He pushed a sigh of relief to know he was not talking to a stranger. It was just john, so no need to worry. He resorted to sleep again although with a lot of anguish. He feels lonely amidst such an embarrassing situation.
During the day, John came to visit his friend bringing some fruits and drinks. John tried to talk to Lovrenco and felt he was absent-minded trying to gather pieces together to recall details of his life.
“ Being amnesiac is hard to cope up with, Lovre, I know.. but try to do some efforts to remember at least your life marriage. You cannot stay disconnected from the world for long ..believe me” said John.
“You think am comfortable in this situation. You are wrong, I feel like someone riding on a plane that cannot land..it is the most painful feeling you can experience” answered Lovrenco.
“Ok I ‘ll try to help as much as I can. I will spend tonight in your company. Let’s listen to some music and have drinks. Ok?” said John.
“All right.” Said Lovrenco.
“Shall we listen to Led or any other preference?” asked John.
“Yeah, anything will do.” Uttered Lovrenco seemingly unsure if his memory serves him right in matters of music as well.
John, his best friend and fellow, was like a young brother to him. John has his long hair with a hue of flames. His hair is curly and flies like waves. He served him a drink and brought some doughnuts too. After listening to few Led Zeppelin songs, Lovrenco who did not have a good night's sleep, the day before, started yawning. He started snoring like a baby after a while. John noticed that his friend had already gone to sleep so he brought some sheets and covered Lovrenco. John stayed near his friend and turned off the lights there remained only the dancing flames of the fireplace enlightening John's thoughts. John could not close one eye, he was pondering about his friends' future and most importantly his health. Lovrenco cannot remember a lot of things about his past. He has also to deal with his articulation troubles. One hour later, John was thinking about how to help his friend. All of a sudden, Lovrenco turned the light on, stood up and started uttering some words in a stressful manner and looked doing this unknowingly.
“What? What are you saying? Asked John scared.
Lovrenco was walking and talking to someone but not to John. He was doing it unconsciously. Then, Lovrenco heard John talking and turned back then he was like rushing back to bed.
“ You should go back to your doctor Lovrenco. Things are going worse it seems.” Said John to his friend the following morning.
Lovrenco was most of the time absent-minded like a haunted man who is just sleeping and eating . Once at the doctor's, Lovrenco started answering few questions.
“ Your friend says that not only you have loss of memory but you walk and talk while sleeping. Is that true?” asked Dr. Roberts.
“ I cannot say but It happens to me that I find myself sitting or standing, still I don't remember what I was doing before that, I normally should be sleeping. I, then, have a feeling of waking up from a dream, of which I cannot remember any detail just very few clues if any at all." Answered Lovrenco.
“ That’s what we call somnambulance Mr. Svoboda" said the doctor. "You should avoid any stresseful situation in your life. Take this treatment and let's see you in a month".
Lovrenco decided to go back to song-writings and music. He and John were trying to write some lyrics but Lovrenco who was the front man of the band and the main lyrics' composer had his head disconnected and looked even sleepy sometimes. John wrote a verse and read it to him:
“Listen to this: Honey, come back..Let's talk..lalala” John sang repeatedly in low-pitched voice.
At that time, a phrase repeated itself in Lovrenco's brain. It resonated something like "Honey, let's talk about our vacation just once in our life”. Then, it was like something smashing his face from nowhere. Lovrenco recalled his ex wife's voice talking about their vacations. He was so busy with rehearsals, the couple never benefitted from an escape. Now he just remembered that he had a wife who left him when he mostly needed her. They also had a baby girl called Petra. That was the beginning of his awakening.
Chapter II: The birth of a star
At the age of sixteen, Lovrenco Svoboda used to go to the church choir with his father Victor. The latter was a conservative father who grew up in Praha, the city of musicians, and moved to the US to settle there. He picked up his two sons from the Czech Republic as soon as the occasion presented itself.
Lovre was used to the life of artists in Praha, where freelance artists are performing in touristic squares, in the streets and in the open. He learnt how to sing with the church choir and was influenced by his father's tendency to listen to country music. He began to learn country songs at an early age.
At seventeen years, Lovre discovered with his friend john another type of music, hard rock, rock n’roll, metal music. This type of music rang a bell in the ear of the youngster. They were playing piano and guitar together.
Lovre was looking glamourous in his adolescence with his long girly hair and was full of energy and stamina. With his fellows, they decided to create a rock band and try their luck with the recording companies in New York. The eldorado his father brought him to was a golden opportunity for his artistic creativity.
"Don’t make fool of me, it is ridiculous how our friends will realize that my son sings that type of music ! you should stop that band immediately! " said Vicky to his son.
"Lovrenco! Come back immediately!" shouted Vicky like an enraged dog.
Lovre was heedless of his father's call and was determined enough to wrote several lyrics for songs with his friends and even registered a CD with them. The CD seemed to fall into oblivion on a pile of other CDs when sent to the recording company who seemed too busy to go over all those hips of requests.
"We should try again.. who knows it might work" said Lovre to his friend John.
One Tuesday morning, Lovre received a call from someone called James from a recording company in NY city.
"I listened to your song", "I said it’s not bad, let’s try your performance. Am gonna send you a contract to sign and return as soon as possible ".
" Wow ! John, we got it ! " screamed Lovre with happiness and excitment "We’ve got the contract, they just called me now " said Lovrenco loudly like a fisherman who just caught a big fish.
"We should come up with an album, a good one" said John.
Having performed Robert Plant, Lovrenco received a phone call from Don Wilson saying that the show was very entertaining and that his voice casted a spell. He was asked for a rehearsal in Norwalk City.
Lovrenco then joined a group called "Rage Band" with three friends among whom was John. Instead of majoring in aeronautical engineering at college, Lovre chose to get rid of his books and gave all his time and passion to music.
Having completed an album, Lovre and john set out to Los Angeles to get a record deal. A record deal with a recording company was arranged and a manager found in no time. The first debut album of the band was with "Your Voice .. My Rock", followed by a second one and a world tour in Europe, Asia and the US.
Chapter III: Your Voice is my Rock
"Hey! Lovre.. this song should start with slow music and then rise with a high-pitched voice like yours. Am sure you can do it." said John.
"All right, let's see." said Lovrenco trying his vocals on the lyrics.
Your voice is my Rock
Take my hand and walk
Into light from the dark
Bring me some good luck
Your voice is my rock
Please do come back
Pray God to change this shock
and Clear this sky thunderstruck
Your voice is my rock
Unravels this deadlock
Let's go smoothly to unlock
This setbakc, let's sing together and talk
Your voice is my rock
your voice ..my rock
it is always my rock
Your voice is my rock
Lovrenco sang with his multi-octave voice with great emotions. His phenomenal vocal range while performing the high notes enabled him to produce mixed sounds and modify vowel sounds and sing mid-range before high choruses.
"It sounds nice like Thin Lizzy" commented John.
"Let’s do some rehearsals and see. I should try with the recording company for this album". said Lovrenco.
He was disappointed at the recording company which was less cooperative and decided to travel outside the country looking for another one.
"we should try places like Asia where the high technology or whatever, why not Korea ?" wondered Lovre.
"Yeah. You know am joining you in whatever you suggest. We should try some contacts there and see " answered John.
After a month, the band could record its album "Your Voice is My Rock" in Korea and made some concerts in Tokyo, Jakarta, Hong Kong and New Delhi. It was an amazing tour where Lovrenco and his band were most welcomed.
"Am stunned to see the public’s reaction to this album." said Lovrenco with a broad smile. The band were making tours again and again in Asia. They had fans there more than in the US. the fans were singing with Lovre "Your Voice..my Rock" and it sounded like a wave of admirers dancing and swaying to the vibrations of that song which they learnt by heart.
"Wow, that's great!" said John "We are winning" said he jumping.
"We should do some tours in the US and Europe as well" said Lovrenco to his friend "let’s see the european reaction to this album " wondered he.
After five years, the album was in its way to be a golden disc. Lovre's distinctive voice was full of dynamism and energy and was conquering the world's fans.
(image from the site freeimage.me)
Chapter IV: The Halloween night
Three years later, on a bloody 31st october, Lovrenco Svoboda and his band had a concert in Colorado for the Halloween. As usual, Lovre was very excited and was screaming on the scene with the applause of fans.
He was dancing like a tranced ghost. He did not know that his overexcitement was going to cost him too much.
Suddenly, a daring idea of climing the lighting truss to the right of the scene crossed his mind. That was the most foolish idea he ever had in his life. It happened that it was improperly secured and while he was trying to avoid the falling rig in front of thousands of fans, That rig smashed Lovre on the back of his head and brought him down to the floor.
A live footage of the accident made a buzz in the net showing the super star dancing and jumping, then sticking by the rig that was not solid enough and fell to the ground on the back head of Lovre who could not get away from it. Fans were shouting loudly, the drummer continued playing whereas the tragic accident left Lovre with a broken jaw, a broken nose and serious injuries on the head.
The guitarist went on a frenzy of anger. Knowing the show went into a dramatic night, he started throwing musical instruments on the ground, whereas Lovre could gather his strength and managed to walk out of the scene, where an ambulance was waiting for him.
His friends travelled back to New York, there remains only John who was also hit by that damned pole and had serious injuries as well.
After a month, the two victims had many surgeries on the back and Lovre had many stitches on the head and face. He endured serious brain damage and had to stay in bed for several months. The pain was excruciating but the emotional loss he felt was even more painful. Lovre could not move from bed and the slightest movement was maddening.
Two years later, Lovre was left with no money, no family, he lost his parents and friends. He was alone. While he was in bed, all he could do is to write with his pencil some lyrics. The accident costed him three years of loss of memory. Having met a neurophysiologist, he understood that it was a traumatic Brain Injury and that it needed more years of continuous concentration and focus to go back to normal life.
That was the most terrifying halloween night in the life of Lovrenco . He felt he was still alive, he’s not dead despite the pain and trauma he endured. He saw death that Halloween night, he could not breath and was lost in space and time and lost his memory and could not remember a lot of things for years' long.
Lovre wrote some lyrics, one was starting with the phrase 'about to be killed..' But in the aftermath of the bombings of the 11th september in the US, all the lyrics containing words like 'Kill, Die..' were banned so he had to think about something else.
Lovre had to release the recording company and his old manager first by paying them big sums of money then decided to move on and gather another band with John, Alex and Kenny and a new album was released called "surviving".
"It can't be am still surviving
I can' believe that my heart is still beating
Despite the pain am living
Glad to be still breathing
Am still alive and feeling
am dreaming and flying
I can walk I will be dancing
Am alive and surviving
I am glad I thank God
I can sing I can Rock
I can play I can write
I can shake my body and fight"
Chapter V: The rebirth of the phoenix
Lovrenco felt he was born again, and felt happy to be living, after many years he would carry his guitar with him to the farthest peak in the mountains and sing to thank God.
That event only made him more spiritual and after feeling being annihilated, he felt regenerated.
"Am a new person. I just found myself. I want to give to all my fans my life" he would say to John.
"Am gonna be another Lovrenco, will you follow me ?" asked He.
"Yeah of course you know you are like a big brother" answers John.
" You're gonna be at first the bassist.. I know you are better at the drum but meanwhile I find a good bassist, you can do it, all right ?" asked again Lovre.
"Ok by me, you can count on me" said John.
"Look here, i have written some lyrics, let’s see what we can start with, see this one here called « the phoenix» tell me what you think " he went on.
"Cool.. Not bad!" said John.
"Let’s show them the phoenix is regenerated" said Lovrenco.
Lovre reconstituted his band and renamed it " the Phoenix band", it was composed of John, Alex, Kenny and James, with a new manager. They had to do several rehearsals to come back to stage with a good spirit.
"Our first show will be in Korea and Japan.. I will never forget their support in the beginning of my career" said Lovrenco.
The first come-back show was amazing. Dozens of thousands of fans still singing and an endless wave of applause was echoed towards the bottom of the hall.
Lovre felt resuscitated and felt like dreaming while singing « Your Voice..My Rock » and the excited fans singing after him.
The phoenix was regaining its strength and rebuilt again after being burnt by an unlucky event in that dreadful halloween night when death was trying to enchant him but Lovre was strong enough to be seduced by that mischievous creature called death.
Death is like a whirlwind that tries to take one in its wheel dragging one bit by bit and once it gets control over one’s body one is gone in the whirlwind to the point of no return.
Usually, death tries to seduce the most sincere souls and those with less mischief. Death is astute in its selection it seduces the most likeable creatures, humans or animals alike.
That’s the death’s eye, it is the ability to choose slowly those that should remain alive and grab them aggressively to the abyss.
Our phoenix was happy to remain alive after all that he's undergone. He saw death in person and was able to be born again . Indeed, Lovre decided to be another person. He met his fans with a different look, one that is more mature and more decent. He no longer lets his girly hair and no longer shows off his chest. He is more sober and looks a bit older. Yet, Lovre gained more power. He seems to come back stronger than ever before and his voice only became more powerful and matchless.
Lovrenco’s voice is now like a polished diamond, a gem that cannot be broken but can break other gems.
He felt more inspired than ever before and ideas pouring out of his mind in an awakening-like manner. Many journalists were striving for an interview with Lovre whose agenda was too busy, even the most renowned tv channels from all over the world sought Lovre.
Lovre was asked to take part to several asian tv series, where he performed some local songs. For that, Lovre was doing a lot of efforts learning by heart those songs and understanding words from different asian languages like Bengali, japanese and so on.
That earned him nicknames in Asia like the thunderman , the storman, the lightning man..
Chapter VI: Singing for a Peaceful world
Despite his achievements, Lovrenco wanted to do something worthwile with his voice, something noble for humanity. He had a dream to sing for the world.
"Hey john, I wrote some lyrics for peace in the world ..If you dare and have a look and give me some feedback " asked Lovre.
"Show me here" said John "humm, yes it seems very interesting but that would suit to be sung in a choir or the like" said John reading the lyrics:
For a brighter future, for some glorious days
Tell our bosom friends overseas
We want to go hand in hand With no crime in land
To make it a world of peace
let's call this war to cease
and stop these fatalities
Give us all our liberties
We want to lift up the boundaries
No hatred no animosities
Everywhere you see racism and rivalry
Only discrimination and xenophonic bigotry
Even the baby is born with an enemy
Raise our voice tell our neighbors fight these blasts
stop all the slaughters
for a world with no boundaries
Enjoy our existence
erase our yesterday
let's be a global family
full of love and no jealousy
Why not intertwine efforts
We are human beings
We want to go ahead
Carry the torch in hand
Say the truth outloud without being afraid
Be united like one body
yet each with a specificity
With our difference respected inside unity
We strive to save our dignity..
"Yeah, why not. We can gather a bunch of people in a choir too, that’s not a bad idea" said Lovre.
"But that would require a lot of money too" said John with some reserves.
"Well, my aim is not gaining moeny I can give my own money to do this." said Lovre.
Lovrenco's come-back helped him regather a fortune that was worth a billion dollars. His know-how helped him launch a brand of coffee with the name of his band 'the phoenix" which could sell quite well. Then, with his fans growing in number, he could sell t-shirts and jackets with the logo of his band as well.
Later on, he thought to create a tv-channel as well, being a good cook and a comic person with a good heart, he was cool enough to manage with his friend John some good tv shows. All that, helped him create his worldwide song « peace in the world ».
Strangely enough, creating this song coincided with the covid-19. Being in confinement, that allowed him and his band to work hard on the song before gathering a bunch of people to the choir.
"Am gonna launch the peace song on oct 31st, the night I had that dreadful accident so let’s commemorate that with something good for the world" said Lovre.
Lovrenco launched a call to his fans to join the choir. That was indeed a good gesture to involve his fans that love him and he loved to his work and to go hand in hand together.
There was a huge crowd to record the song with thousands of fans involved in the choir. Thousands of cameras to shoot the video of the song were clustered in a big truck. Lovre was happy to do something for peace in the world.
Lovre likes to go shooting at the highest peak of the mountains. He gathered his crew at the wee hours of the morning to go to the mountains. They started shooting the sunrise and you could see Lovre with a broad smile, breathing the morning breeze and thanking God for everything that went good in his life.
Lovre's complexion looked bright and shiny with the sunrise, he could send his message for peace from that farthest peak clothed with snow. He took a dove of peace between his palms and kissed it before releasing it to the blue sky making a wish for the sake of establishing peace in the world.
Chapter VII: A shift in Style
Lovrenco made several tours around the world and has gained the love of millions of fans worldwide.
"I should do something special. I want to do something new, John, d'you understand?" said Lovre.
"Yeah, like what?" asked John.
"What about mixing my songs with some middle-eastern music?" wondered Lovre.
"Do you remember, when we went to Marrakesh and performed with them in Jama'a el Fna. It created a good ambiance there!" said Lovre.
"To go there, we should schedule an event and talk to the manager," said John.
"Yeah of course, let's talk to him" said Lovre.
The experience of mixing western and eastern music was like a desert melody to the audience. Especially that the audience in Morocco has a special ear to mixed music.
Mixing his songs to middle eastern music or gnawa music was like a spell that made Lovrenco more reputed for his innovation in the world of music.
In addition to his high-pitched voice, more creativity and talent earned Lovre more credit and he was able to smash all his contemporary peers.
He grew admired more and more from all categories: youngsters, adults, elderly people and renowned figures as well.
Lovre received many invitations to national days' receptions and was asked to animate them and sing in many solemnel occasions.
(image from the site freeimage.me)
Chapter VIII: Honoring a star
Lovrenco grew more and more reputed in the world. He was notified that he would be receiving a decoration for his cultural efforts in bringing close different cultures and for his creativity and talent.
He was convened by the J.F. Kennedy Center in D.C. to be decorated as an artist with a good renown. A musical tribute was organised in his honour for his contribution through performing extraordinary art. The celebration began with a violin concerto followed by music performed by a huge american orchestra.
Lovrenco then, was invited to stage to be decorated by a high official. There was a big surprise waiting for him there, his baby daughter Petra grew into a beautiful woman that looked like him. He did not see her for years now. She was convened to attend the honours. The two intertwined in a warm hug like one soul, drifting tears and comforting each other. Lovrenco proceeded to pronounce a historical word to the audience that was highly emotional:
" I have always strived to uplift my creativity for good quality art. One thing that has helped me through is having a good heart full of love, unconditional love. Throughout the various performances I gave, I've had two things in mind, the love of my fans and the passion to give more and more, giving without receiving, for others and the world.
Today, am more flames than ever before, I feel reborn again, I feel regenerated from the ashes of the past.
The viberations of my songs will live forever for you and through you. Thank you for this gathering. I love you!"
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