P.E.I. piano player makes karaoke videos on YouTube for isolated seniors
Postie Connolly makes videos of music and lyrics for senior singalongs, and shares them online
A P.E.I. piano player is posting karaoke versions of his favourite old songs online, hoping to bring joy to older Canadians who have been isolated in care homes during the pandemic.
"Sometimes they're pretty lonely, and singing just brings them life, brings a togetherness," said Postie Connolly, from Charlottetown.
"And whether they know the words or not, they enjoy the piano playing," he told The Current's Matt Galloway.
Postie has been a musician all his life, playing in bands and piano bars. Until the pandemic, he also entertained residents of seniors' homes with music and singalongs, but restrictions cancelled Postie's visits.
Postie and his nephew, Island musician John Connolly, were concerned about seniors losing access to music. They've seen the positive impact it has had on their own elderly relatives.
"My great uncle Cliff, we go visit him and when the songs start, his eyes get as wide as teacups, and he sings along with Postie," said John.
"It just takes him right back. He's right there with us, so there's an immediacy and a connection," he said.
The two musicians hit upon the idea of filming Postie playing John's upright piano, then overlaying the lyrics and posting the videos online. They've posted a series of 10 videos on YouTube in the past month, in collaboration with the Kings Playhouse, a community venue on the Island.
The most popular of the videos is a medley of three songs: Oh Lonesome, by Don Gibson; Woody Guthrie's This Land is Your Land; and Daddy Sang Bass, made famous by Johnny Cash.
Postie said the videos are just like karaoke videos, except "nobody's doing it for seniors, and so this is filling a major void there."
He said they've already had positive feedback from staff caring for seniors, including his own Uncle Cliff.
"One of the caregivers called me to say that he took the songs in on his laptop, played them for him, and he sang along, every single word," said Postie.
"It's inspirational just to hear that story about Cliff. Singalongs are therapeutic; music is therapeutic."
John said the videos have been "a point of connection" for people, and he's been thrilled by the response. But he gives a lot of the credit for that togetherness to his uncle Postie, who he described as "a walking party."
"I've seen it hundreds of times, whether it's a hotel lobby or a long-term care home or somebody's home. He brings that beautiful energy," John said.
Postie laughed, and said: "I'm 77 years old, so 'a walking party' is not a bad compliment."
Written by Padraig Moran. Produced by Mary-Catherine McIntosh.
