“Dick Edwards comin’ at you with a brand new smash from the Roc of Minnesota.” Roc couldn’t help grinning at Eddie’s well- practiced DJ routine on the talkback as he adjusted his headphones. Surrounded by candles and hunched over his guitar, he strummed through the chords for his newest song, written that afternoon on the patio. The days were beginning to blend together, and Roc found himself curiously calm, despite the storm of activity around his name outside the walls of the studio. Eddie’s voice interrupted his concentration. “We’ve got company. Hang on, Rocco.”
A blue light flashed above the door, and moments later Uncle burst in with a smug grin. “Hey, it’s the high priest at work. I have an offering for you.” He held up a VHS tape and bowed ceremoniously.
They went to the lounge, and Eddie popped the tape in. “Okay, it’s a rough cut,” Uncle said. “Sorry about the time code. But, check this. Tonight at eight p.m., it’s an MTV exclusive, and they haven’t seen it yet!”
The video began with a swirl of swan-shaped clouds that immediately gave Roc goose bumps as the opening wash of guitars ushered the song in. A montage of old concert footage treated in a silver colour accompanied the first verse, and you couldn’t tell that it was from a different song. Roc was impressed, and Uncle was in his glory. When the chorus of “Swan Dive” began, the concert was overlaid with waves in slow motion then the distant image of Roc in his parachute harness. He squinted like a kid watching a horror movie, but Uncle made calming motions with his hand. Diving swans and leaping dolphins took over until the second verse. Uncle could barely contain his glee at the reaction shot of Marie and Julie on the beach, mercifully in soft focus. More waves, beauty shots of clouds, and a freeze frame of Roc in midair spinning slowly skyward brought the video to an end. An expectant Uncle looked at Roc.
“It’s cool. You know I hate these things at the best of times,” said Roc. “It’s especially weird watching that skydiving stuff, but I’ll get used to it, I guess.” He shrugged and turned off the TV, preventing Uncle from playing it again.
“Too bad you couldn’t have landed on those luscious dunes waiting below, mmm?” offered Uncle.
Eddie chuckled at this, but it flashed through Roc’s mind that it could be awhile before he spent time with a woman again. He recalled that weird night with Marie and Julie, but then, quickly, his thoughts moved to Bobbie again, so he got up abruptly. “Listen, I’m in mid-masterpiece, so I’ll catch you later, okay? Eddie, you want to go back to work?”
As Eddie headed back into the control room, Uncle turned to Roc and lowered his voice. “Congrats on having the hit record you deserve, my brother.” Roc nodded, smiling, as Uncle continued. “I’ve got a favour to ask. You remember I told you I was trying to get something going for Marie? Honestly, I’m not sure how much hang time the Cocktails thing has got, and I think this would be a great time to launch some new projects.” Roc’s suspicions grew as Uncle’s tone turned a bit sheepish. “She’s all over me to …” he smirked, “I mean aside from that … to have one of your songs.” Seeing Roc stiffen, he continued quickly. “Hey, relax, she knows there’s lots of great stuff in the vault. She could do a duet with you, I mean with your supposedly late self, and what a great way to launch her career. What do you think?”
Roc stood silently and began slowly shaking his head. “Man, you have done some outrageous things over the years to get it wet, but this might be the coup de grâce, Uncle. Call me when the drugs wear off.” Without waiting for a reply, he passed through the door back into the studio, leaving Uncle with open palms and a sad sack expression.