Jen Porter’s Blog

What a thrill….what a joy….what a completely AWESOME event I was honored to be a part of! I can’t really describe the feeling of standing there on stage, looking out over the sea of people, hearing the cheers and shouts of the girls up front and seeing the ones in the back waving their arms and saying,”Are you gals ready over here? (right)…how about over here, are you ready to sing? (left)…how about way back there at the monument, are you ready to sing? I can’t HEAR YOU!! Are you ready to sing???!!!” And the response: OVERWHELMING. I didn’t eat much that day for fear of being too nervous: but I wasn’t. I felt good - I felt right. I felt like I’d done it before, though I most certainly have NOT performed for so many people in such a well-known spot.

I led 3 folk songs, including a few where I was joined by my Mother (I’m a third generation girl scout - how ’bout that?), who was THRILLED to be onstage with her daughter, singing, clapping, and making merry. It was such a moving experience to be on stage with my Mom singing songs that she had taught me before I was even old enough to to know what the words meant. So this event was REALLY full circle for me!

Then I did my own tune - Your Child. I sat at the piano, explained how I’d written the song for my parents, and played the first notes. I wanted to relish that second as long as I could: and then I launched into the performance.

While holding out the first long note (near the end of the tune), the crowd erupted into cheers and screams. “They’re really digging this,” I thought to myself. “This original song of mine is really going over well - the band is with me, the crowd is with me and I want to do this FOREVER!”

And YES, I told everyone to go to JenPorter.com for more details on the second album, which contains Your Child….

As I finished, I went to the front of the stage and grabbed/shook hands all the way across. When I got offstage there was a throng of people at the gate and I can hear “Jen! Jen! You’re awesome! Jen! Will you come sign my shirt?? Jen - Over here! Jen! Can you please sign my book? Jen! Can I get your album? Jen! Over here!” My heart soared though I had a huge lump in my stomach from all of the adrenaline that had just coursed through me. The only feeling I can relate it to is being at the top of a mountain. If you’ve ever climbed - muscles burning, sweat in your eyes, lungs straining at times for enough breathe - then you have an idea of how it felt to be cheered by - well, over a hundred thousand people at once as I worked my muscles, sweated, and pushed out with the most full breath I could!

Then it was time for all of us - Odetta, Harolyn Blackwell, Michelle Shocked, Melinda Caroll, Sunny Sumter, Julia Nixon, The Chantels, Katy Benko, Patricia Shih, Myrh and Karen and I - to return to the stage and all sing together. I picked up the tamborine and played and sang as we all joined in This Land is Your Land and God Bless America. As we walked off the stage, I realized how proud I was to be a part of this. How exciting it had been and how much I appreciated the talents of the strong women around me and out there in the crowd. 43 states were represented and 120,000 girls left NOT ONE TRACE of garbage (of course).

All in all, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I will never forget! Wait a minute…that’s not true…because they’ve already asked me back for the 95th Anniversary in 2007!! Hopefully, by then, I won’t be the unknown underdog like I was this year. I got GREAT feedback from the fans, the producers and the other artists - I think everyone was surprised that an “unknown” like me could have such a powerful voice and a strong presence. But it’s you, dearest friends and fans, that have given me the strength. You that support me regularly. You that buy my albums. Your support helps me go farther and farther each day! Word of mouth is the best advertising of all!

Thanks again for all of your good vibes - they lifted me up and gave me strength in a moment when I wasn’t sure I’d be able to rise to the occassion. But with your help and strength, there I was, empowering girls, making lasting memories, and getting just of taste of what I want my life to be: onstage, performing, giving joy and receiving joy so I too can create my own happiness in life. NEVER STOP FOLLOWING YOUR DREAMS cuz this was a dream come true.