Julia Louis-Dreyfus

And I think there are like 100 million songs on Spotify or something all right there at my fingertips. And how often do I listen to music in my own home? If I'm alone, never. Seriously, I'm not kidding you. Never. And what a giant loss that is. Our house used to be filled with music. I remember making cassette tapes of playlists when our kids were born.

And I think there are like 100 million songs on Spotify or something all right there at my fingertips. And how often do I listen to music in my own home? If I'm alone, never. Seriously, I'm not kidding you. Never. And what a giant loss that is. Our house used to be filled with music. I remember making cassette tapes of playlists when our kids were born.

Oh, my God, music for nap time, music for waking up. Just music, music. Our house was full of music. And it made such an imprint on our boys. For example, our son Henry, he started playing guitar in middle school. And when he was in high school, he was in a jazz band. So at Christmas, the school would have a holiday concert and the jazz band played a song or two. So fantastic.

Oh, my God, music for nap time, music for waking up. Just music, music. Our house was full of music. And it made such an imprint on our boys. For example, our son Henry, he started playing guitar in middle school. And when he was in high school, he was in a jazz band. So at Christmas, the school would have a holiday concert and the jazz band played a song or two. So fantastic.

And these were always instrumentals, right? But at this concert, at the end, they bring out a microphone. And our Henry, in his little suit and tie, steps up to the microphone and he says, this is tenderness. by Paul Simon. Okay, look, we had no idea this was going to happen. He hadn't said anything, nothing. So the band plays that first chord. Do you know that song?

And these were always instrumentals, right? But at this concert, at the end, they bring out a microphone. And our Henry, in his little suit and tie, steps up to the microphone and he says, this is tenderness. by Paul Simon. Okay, look, we had no idea this was going to happen. He hadn't said anything, nothing. So the band plays that first chord. Do you know that song?

What can I do? And Henry starts to sing his version of that song. And it was shocking. I mean, we knew he could sing. He was in a good rock band. But this? What? We'd never heard him do this. It was like a complete transformation. It was transporting. And it came out of nowhere. It's like a movie. We were so astonished. And girls were, whoo! They're all screaming.

What can I do? And Henry starts to sing his version of that song. And it was shocking. I mean, we knew he could sing. He was in a good rock band. But this? What? We'd never heard him do this. It was like a complete transformation. It was transporting. And it came out of nowhere. It's like a movie. We were so astonished. And girls were, whoo! They're all screaming.

And Henry's voice was like sailing up higher and higher because he has this gorgeous tenor voice. And his dad and I looked at each other and we knew without a doubt that this guy was going to be a singer, a musician. And of course, that's exactly what he is. In fact, he writes the music for this podcast. Do yourself a favor and listen to him on Spotify, if you can figure out how to work it.

And Henry's voice was like sailing up higher and higher because he has this gorgeous tenor voice. And his dad and I looked at each other and we knew without a doubt that this guy was going to be a singer, a musician. And of course, that's exactly what he is. In fact, he writes the music for this podcast. Do yourself a favor and listen to him on Spotify, if you can figure out how to work it.

Because seriously, he is just unusually good. And I say that as a music critic, not as his mother. And God damn it, I want to hear my own son's music on Spotify loud in my kitchen, which, okay, so this brings me back to my technical infirmities. Henry had a live show a couple of nights ago at a great venue here in Los Angeles called Zebulon. I bought tickets online.

Because seriously, he is just unusually good. And I say that as a music critic, not as his mother. And God damn it, I want to hear my own son's music on Spotify loud in my kitchen, which, okay, so this brings me back to my technical infirmities. Henry had a live show a couple of nights ago at a great venue here in Los Angeles called Zebulon. I bought tickets online.

And when we got to Zebulon, I brought the tickets up on my phone and I tried to get up the QR thing or whatever the fuck it is, and I can't do it. And, of course, there are people behind us in the line, and the show's coming up, and I don't want to hold up the line. And the nice kid at the box office offers to help me. Ma'am, he says. Oh, God.

And when we got to Zebulon, I brought the tickets up on my phone and I tried to get up the QR thing or whatever the fuck it is, and I can't do it. And, of course, there are people behind us in the line, and the show's coming up, and I don't want to hold up the line. And the nice kid at the box office offers to help me. Ma'am, he says. Oh, God.

And I see this very handsome young door guy watching this, and he's smiling. He's laughing a little bit at me, and I'm thinking, oh, come on. What? I'm that lady? I'm the one who can't figure out her own telephone? Please. The world has passed me by. God damn. But then the scanner went beep and we went in and the show started.

And I see this very handsome young door guy watching this, and he's smiling. He's laughing a little bit at me, and I'm thinking, oh, come on. What? I'm that lady? I'm the one who can't figure out her own telephone? Please. The world has passed me by. God damn. But then the scanner went beep and we went in and the show started.

And in 30 seconds, none of that mattered because the music was not just good, it was spectacular. And there I was doing one of the three or four things I love the most, listening to great music. And really, everything else fell away. Nothing else mattered. I was completely lost in it. Looking at my Henry on stage, I could see the direct line between his high school jazz band and this night.

And in 30 seconds, none of that mattered because the music was not just good, it was spectacular. And there I was doing one of the three or four things I love the most, listening to great music. And really, everything else fell away. Nothing else mattered. I was completely lost in it. Looking at my Henry on stage, I could see the direct line between his high school jazz band and this night.

And I was completely happy. Because really, is there anything better than the simple pleasure of a good singer singing a good song? Especially a singer you love with all your heart. So how wonderful then that today we are talking to the great Patti LaBelle. I'm Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and this is Wiser Than Me, the podcast where I get schooled by women who are wiser than me.

And I was completely happy. Because really, is there anything better than the simple pleasure of a good singer singing a good song? Especially a singer you love with all your heart. So how wonderful then that today we are talking to the great Patti LaBelle. I'm Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and this is Wiser Than Me, the podcast where I get schooled by women who are wiser than me.