Don't laugh...

...but I made the finals of a Hanoi talent show. And not only that, but I stand a very good chance of winning the $500 prize.

I said don't laugh!

Last Thursday an expat bar here held the last heat of their talent show, which I only found out about the day of. I had no intention of entering, but when I got there I realized some of the contestants were horrible. Expecting a well-rehearsed battle of the bands, I instead got a lone girl singing a capella. Badly.

So midway through I signed myself up and sang Dolly Parton's "9 to 5." Now that's a great song to sing with karaoke (as you Stateliners well know), but it's tough to sing a capella. I got nervous, started too high, asked to start again, started too high again, apologized and left the stage. But I'd won over the crowd, so they asked me up again. This time I did the gospelly part of "Shout!" ("I want you to know...I said I want you to know right now...") and rocked it.

Unfortunately it wasn't enough for the judges. "You're the best singer here, but you got nervous and forgot your lines, so we encourage you to come back next time," one said.

Luckily, the owners - who are, after all, shelling out the prize money - didn't agree. First they asked me to sing before the competition. Then they scrapped that and said, hell, let's just let her compete. So I'm in! I'm thrilled.

Right now I plan to sing "The Boy from New York City," which was a hit in a few outings at The Meeting Place in D.C. I dedicate it to all the boys I know from NYC: Mark G, Jeff S and Vivek (you did live there a few weeks). And Tuohey, too. Boston's close enough.