Dreamgirls, or, "I don't DO backup!"

So my partner was on a retreat for the past three days and I got several girly movies (by the way, Georgia Rule is entertaining but strangely not that great). One of them was Dreamgirls, mostly for the musical aspect. I just saw Mamma Mia and was anticipating something like that...with some heavy themes, but mostly fun and great music and fluff.

Well, Dreamgirls is not that movie. I found myself bizarrely and unexpectedly identifying with one of the main characters, Effie White. Clearly I am not a gorgeous third of a girl group with a huge voice trying to break into music in the late 60s. But there were things about the movie, and in particular, her character, that felt familiar to me as I work out my call, and where I'll be for my next call.

The dreamgirls don't win a talent show, in spite of their obvious talent, and how amazing Effie is when she sings lead. Right after, they're talking about if they should just quit the music stuff altogether when Jamie Foxx (forget his movie name) walks up and offers them a job ($400 a week!) singing backup for Jimmy Early (Eddie Murphy, fabulously coiffed). They're excited, until you see Effie's face, and she says, "I don't DO backup."

At this point in the movie and for many minutes afterward I was like, "YES, girl! you don't DO backup! You deserve better! You know how good you are!" And I was sort of talking about myself and preaching, and associate gigs, and all that kind of stuff.

But halfway through the movie, things change a bit. Effie falls down on her luck. She won't look for a job because "singing is all I know how to do," even though at this point she has to support a daughter. She won't "lose the attitude" even though that might get her a job singing, which is the point, right? I started feeling like Effie needed to be realistic about her options, and as one character says, "you make it all about YOU." She did get screwed, but life goes on, and it takes her a long time to get where she can just sing, without worrying about what she deserves or where she SHOULD be or what she SHOULD have.

Eventually, the truth comes out, and she does get what she deserves, both financially and musically...it's satisfying, but not in a terribly sappy way, especially for a musical.

I came away thinking that it's always a struggle, and not just in the music profession, or in MY profession. We all have to figure out what the balance is between being true to what we're called to do at all costs and being able to work in our chosen field and get paid for it. It's not exactly compromise, as I'd never suggest that someone should compromise her basic beliefs or call, but it's something like knowing that indeed, it's not about you, and sometimes (Bull Durham reference alert!) going to the ballpark and getting paid to do it is enough.