And parents!
Today's Harmonic Convergence Issue of the Axis of Weevil Thursday Three is devoted to both of those species, and specifically to the certain likes or dislikes that they share.
This particular set of questions was inspired by one of Mr. Skinnydan’s (not his real name) answers to last week’s T-3 regarding sounds he remembered from childhood. His?
Music. My dad at the piano in the house, playing stuff I liked, stuff he liked. I remember especially a time when his likes and mine coincided far more than they do now.
Hmm--interesting. AND SO, this week we would like to know the following:1) What sort of music did your parents listen to when you were young that you liked?
2) If you have kids, is there anything you listen to that THEY like? (If you don’t have kids, you are free to make up anything to go here.)
3) What was the first recorded music (of whatever medium--wax cylinder, 78 or 45 discs, vinyl LP, RTR, 8-track, cassette, CD, downloaded MP3) you ever bought with your own money?
As always, everyone is encouraged to play along by either leaving your comments below, or a link to your blog.
As for my answers--
1) Well, my dad (and mom, to a lesser extent) loved big band music. The Dorseys, Mitch Miller, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Harry James, Vaughn Monroe--and he was also fond of Hawaiian-themed music, as well as composers such as Henry Mancini and Montovani. And I thought they were okay, too. Not quite an undying passion for them, but even as a kid during the disco/Southern boogie rock era, they still had a nice spot in my heart. And I still have all the albums. Even if I don’t ever play them, I still like having them.
2) Being that aging baby boomers have such a stranglehold on pop culture, a lot of the stuff that was new when I was growing up is still being stolen and recycled today (sorry--I believe the polite term is “sampled”), so the sounds and rhythms of the stuff my kids listen to has a familiar feel. For the most part, we can listen to just about any station (short of gangster rap or some genres of country) and no one is really upset.
3) Let’s Get Small by Steve Martin.
So, there you go.
Posted by Terry Oglesby at May 18, 2006 07:50 AMI don't remember my parents, born 1911 and 1919, listening to any music at all.
They did watch "Lawrence Welk" on, what, Saturday nights.
Daddy died liking Neil Diamond in an amused way. He wondered at how someone who always sang so flat could be so popular.
Lyman's kids like a lot of the music we do.
The first music I bought with my own money? Dion's album with "Abraham, Martin, and John" and Janis Joplin.
Posted by: Janis at May 18, 2006 09:36 AM1) Southern Gospel. My parents both liked music, and we used to go to live concerts. They sang in the choir at church and also while working around the house. Daddy learned to play the guitar when I was a teenager.
2) Contemporary Christian. The girls also like country, but this is what I have on the radio when we drive anywhere.
3) Probably the soundtrack to American Graffiti. I still like the oldies.
Janis, I take it your dad never heard Lou Reed.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at May 18, 2006 10:25 AMNo, I don't think he ever heard Lou Reed.
I'm finding it curious that I can't remember a radio in the house before my brothers bought one.
Seems to me that chores like ironing might have been more pleasant with a radio on. But then, in a household of that number, perhaps silence was golden.
Posted by: Janis at May 18, 2006 10:31 AMI'm in, finally.
May I say I think my dad, fond of the same sorts of music your dad liked, would be horrified at the inclusion of Vaughn Monroe alongside Benny Goodman.
I won't even discuss what he might say about Hawaiian Music, other than this little number.
My dad's a musical snob, so don't take it personally.
Posted by: Skinnydan at May 18, 2006 11:48 AMOh, I don't--believe it or not, my mother actually purchased a Slim Whitman album off of the teevee. She told me many years later that she didn't like it because all the songs depressed her. Still got that one, too.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at May 18, 2006 11:53 AM1. My Dad liked the Sunday opera broadcast on public radio. As a kid, I would sometimes sit with him as we read newspapers and magazines even though I didn't (and still don't) care for opera.
2. It amazes me that with all the incredible technology we have the music we listen to hasn't really changed all that much in my lifetime.
3. My dad sat down with the first album I bought to find out what his oldest son was listening to. It had the lyrics printed inside. He called me into the living room: always a bad sign.
"How can you listen to this garbage? It's filth!" Songs about dead movie stars, lesbianism, odes to gangsters, getting drunk and fighting , and ... um ... enjoying touching yourself. I had to work to convince him that they were just songs and I wasn't going to do any of that stuff myself. He was skeptical and disappointed, but let me keep the album.
What was it, you're wondering? "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," by Elton John. I kid you not.
Posted by: mike hollihan at May 18, 2006 02:40 PMHard to believe there was a time when Elton John was considered shocking.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at May 18, 2006 02:54 PMYay! I have answers!
Posted by: Chez at May 18, 2006 10:02 PM