If you know me at all, you know that I have a great passion for music - unfortunately, most of what I hear on the radio anymore doesn't inspire anything in me. I will admit that I find a lot of Lady GaGa to be hopelessly catchy - I'm sure therapy down the road will be in order. Her lyrics are just silly and childish, but the songs stay in your head for a long time after you hear them. Kind of like brain freeze after a giant straw full of Slurpee.
My tastes are pretty eclectic. If I had an iPod (which I may be the only person living who doesn't), I would have everything on it from Josh Groban to Disturbed to Chris Botti (look it up if you don't know who anyone of these artists is - I suggest going to Amazon and listening to the free snippets that they offer to entice you to buy).
As I sit here, I'm listening to the Rent Soundtrack and swaying a little. There is nothing in this world, in my opinion, that can enhance, or change my mood like music. If I feel lousy, certain songs pick me up. If I want to relax, I play something instrumental. If I feel a little angry, I pop on some Disturbed or go back even further and go for Public Enemy.
I hear what my kids enjoy, and it makes me choke a little - but then, my music choices did the same thing to my father. Dad was all country, all the time. When I was in High School, my dad was the unofficial taxi to many of the hockey practices and games because we had a big Suburban. If you didn't tolerate country music, you might just as well look for another ride - he was very stubborn that way. His car - his music. End of story.
I find myself doing the same thing sometimes, and my kids get angry about it. I have zero tolerance for Miley Cyrus - if I met her, I might want to hit her with a wiffle bat and tell her just to stop - stop everything. The bad acting, the helium sounding voice, the holier than thou attitude. Unfortunately, my daughter loves her. So I drive through gritted teeth as I endure "The Climb" for the 4,734,892nd time.
I get upset though that, for the most part, the kids don't keep an open mind regarding my choices of music. Because of my father incessantly playing country music, I found myself as I got older buying the very same things he had on cassette (remember THEM?) in the truck. So my collection does indeed include Marty Robbins, the Oak Ridge Boys, Jerry Reed and some other things. Emily does enjoy some of the old stuff I picked up from my Dad. She loves Dolly Parton's "Jolene" - which I picked up because of my Dad.
So - what do you dabble in? Do you, if you are in my age group, revert back to our wonderful 80's hair bands (Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Poison)? Do you go a little edgier (Ozzy, Iron Maiden)? Do you jam out to the old stuff we listened to at Berties or Let's Dance? Are you a hip-hop connoisseur from years ago (Rob Base, LL Cool J, Run-DMC)? Do you watch Glee, and smile at some of the stuff they do? I do. HUGE fan of that show!!
Here's my challenge to you - find 3 songs you listened to religiously, and play them for your kids, and have them play 3 for you - and don't judge - just enjoy. If you don't enjoy the music, enjoy that they're enjoying it. Close your eyes if it helps. Trust me - things grow on you. I hated Lady GaGa - but now I find myself humming that "Bad Romance" song, so I just go with it. You only live once - might as well enjoy it with some good tunes.
Tell me what you blast in the house when nobody's around - and be proud of it!!
ROCK ON!!
I've already considered what I might do if Jack turns out to not like Journey. I think mutiny might occur. However... I'm a firm believer in "my car, my music, walk if you don't like it" ... except if course when my parents are in the car :)
ReplyDeleteI think I may be one of the lucky parents. All 3 of my kids will blast Lady GaGa just as loud as they will any of my so-called "old" music. The whole family listens to everything from rap, blues, hip hop, rock, pop, country.. etc. On any given day coming to my house you just never know what you will walk into. Right now for instance... "Let me clear my throat" but in an hour it may be Kiss crooning "Beth" to me. However, if you were to come to my door and hear Seether screaming "Fake it" you might want to run. Having such a wide variety of music also helps me understand what kind of mood the kids are in by listening to who is (way too loudly may I add) singing through their door.
ReplyDeleteI love music of all sorts, and I agree totally that you just can't live your life without good music to help you through!
One nation, under a groove! So music...this is a touchy subject. My kids are still at an impressionable enough age (10 and 6) that I can influence their musical taste. When you are driving down the road and your six year old says "Can you play Bulletproof by Five Finger Death Punch?" it is enough to make you smile.
ReplyDeleteMy musical collection resembles a record (did I say record???) store. I can be listening to Digital Underground one minute, and switch to Paramore the next. I am not, nor have I ever been, a slave to trends, so I do not have Gaga or Beyonce, or Kanye in my ipod. I am, however, a slave to music. Not alot of heterosexual guys can go down the road rocking Karma Chameleon...I pull this off. The music of "our time" is still my anchor. Beastie Boys, Run DMC, Public Enemy, BDP, Al B. Sure, Keith Sweat, New Edition..to name a few of my regular listens. But if a new quality artist hits XM (Paramore, Five Finger) I am all over it.
My oldest came in the living room last school year asking me if he could get a Soulja Boy cd. I asked him if he had ever heard Soulja Boy's music. He hadn't, but the kids in his class were telling him it was cool. I promptly found some of this "music" and played it for him. I have never heard the name (or the music) in my house since. He does enjoy the Fat Boys, Weird Al, and The Ramones (along with newer stuff, I don't shelter him people!).
Music is what makes the world go round. And for every Rush and Eric Clapton fan there is a Kanye and T-Pain fan to match them. It is not my intent to tell anyone what kind of music should move them, but like religion...don't force your crap on me!
(right now listening to "The Formula" by the D.O.C)
The Avett Brothers, Guns N Roses, Old Crow Medicine Show, Alison Kraus, 80's, Sheryl Crow, Dave Matthews Band, Black Eyed Peas, etc etc. Anything. Everything. We love all music in our house. We tend to listen to whatever Mommy is learning for her cover band (random) and the kids haven't yet rebelled. Ahhhhhh....
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