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The Wheel Truth About Song
Cycles
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We’re a cult. It’s true. Why else
would adults don purple and lime-green attire and try and drown out the
noise of big-city traffic with melodic odes to the bicycle? Back in 1993,
it struck us as a bit unlikely too. But founding member Sue Zielinski had
a dream of "a symphony of self-propelled humanity," and a few
of us humoured her for what we thought would be a one-off performance at
Toronto’s annual Bike Week.
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It immediately became obvious that we were
on to something, because before we’d even learned one song we were
interviewed by CBC radio. Then they told two friends, and they told two
friends and within a few weeks we had been on local radio and televison,
the front page of the Toronto Star, Midday, the National, and in Macleans
magazine. Those of us working as sustainable transportation activists took
careful note of the lesson: making space for humour and fun and musical
community not only lifts our spirits - it’s a darned effective way
of spreading the word.
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Six years later, we still gather every Monday
night to sing and celebrate the beauty of the bike. Along the way we have
been, as one newspaper headline said, "spokes-people" for the
environment at dozens of special events, concerts, conferences, parades,
demonstrations and festivals, not to mention making the first-ever singing
deputation to Toronto City Council. We would like to do more cushy international
junkets, so if you are interested in sponsoring us (especially to Barcelona),
give us a call.
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We're always open to new members, but be forewarned:
being a choir member is not just fun and games. First of all, there is no
danger pay or special insurance to compensate for the occupational hazard
of glancing down at sheet music while pedaling. Then some folks don't like
the part about having to marry the choir. Worst of all, you may have to
be creative. Song Cyclists have been driven to author songs and lyrics,
design T-shirts and flyers, sew helmet covers, and write Valentine's poems.
Being so empowered may be hard to handle.
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We hope you enjoy our unique brand of "bicyclized"
tunes, and we encourage you to use the music (especially Two Wheel Tango)
to seduce the unsuspecting to join our ever-widening circle of crooning
cyclists.
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Shannon Thompson
for Song Cycles
Toronto, May 1999
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