The other day my son came to me and asked me to put on one of my CDs, because there was a specific song he wanted to listen to. The song? Iron Man, by Black Sabbath. It seems the guitar riff in that song is one of the easy rock riffs music students learn early on (along with Deep Purple's Smoke on the Water) when taking guitar lessons.I delved deep into my CD collection, and discovered that I had exactly five Black Sabbath CDs, which, co-incidentally, is the same number of slots in my CD changer at home. I put all five of them in, hit random, and let 'em rip.
I then sat and watched my son's head bob up and down in time to the music and thought, "Oh. My. God." I have created a heavy metal headbanger.
I mean, I'm glad I have passed my love of music on to him, and I'm happy that we share similar tastes, but I remember being a heavy metal head banger in high school. I remember the kids I used to hang out with. I remember the parties I went to, and the stuff that went on at them. And now I get to spend the next ten or so years worrying about it.
Looking back from this vantage point, I suddenly have some insight into what my parents went through when I was a teenager. I can only shake my head in amazement at how reserved they managed to stay in the face of what must have been overwhelming worry about sex, drugs, and rock and roll.
I only hope I am able to live up to the example they set. Mom and Dad, thanks for being great parents.
11 comments:
LOL! As a baby, Pie always responded to Led Zeppelin & Pink Floyd :) The other day, she asked me to guess her favorite song. I went thru the list of "Twinkle, Twinkle", "B-I-N-G-O", etc. She looked at me like I was an idiot and said "Did you forget it was "Jump Into The Fire"(Harry Nilsson)? We then had to listen to it about four times, with Pie pounding on her Fisher Price drum during the drum solo:)
Wow, wish my first guitar instructor would have had that nice of a grasp on classic rock. I started my first 'real' lessons learning 'Ode to Joy' , Patriotic classics, and ALOT of Church Music. Perhaps thats because most of the above mentioned music can be played on only the first 3 strings, with near zip actual chord work involved. My dad knew what was going on..I could play the lead for 'Margaritaville' by the time I was 8, and knew the now loathed 'Stairway to Heaven' by 10. Even though all that crappy nu-metal rock thats coming out nowadays have definately given me a greater appreciaiton for F. Couperin and Young. Please let your son listen to more music like this. It won't turn him into a head banging cokehead, I promise. This isn't the 80's, lol. But...it will make his quality of life a bagizaillion times better. Plus, everyone likes being able to talk about how cool their dad is and how good of taste he has in music!
P.S--For the inner part of you that might just yearn for a good classical piece performed on guitar, I recommend anything played by Christopher Parkening. Total virtuoso.
Isn't it scary ? Mine are in their mid to late twenties now, thank God ! I managed to live through it, but it wasn't easy. My daughter was fine, but my son? Let's just say he was as adventurous as his father. Here's the good part, though ... Most of us come through it all just fine ! Hang in there, Dad ! Tina
p.s. Isn't it a hoot when your kid wants to borrow your CD's ??
If I had inheritated my parents taste in music I'd be listening to Roger Whittaker, Neil Diamond, Englebert Humperdink, Neil Sedaka and Hank Williams. They hated my music. My kids tolerate my John Denver but love all my other choices and beg to go to concerts with me when I go. I took one son to hear Kansas. Now his friends make fun of him because he has their cd in his rap collection. I think I have a better insight on my children in their teenage years than my parents did of me, but then I also know for a fact that my kids are better teenagers than I ever was, and I am very thankful for that.
As a mother of three - I am so there! And things are so much worse than when we were kids! (Didn't our parents say that?) Do you know what my son picked up at school this year? I found out tonight when he said something about a cartoon he didn't like. He said it was humping like a dog! He was insulting the cartoon, upset about something else and decided to take it out on the cartoon to get a rise out of the nanny (neice helping out for the summer). I know... warped line of thinking. You can add sending the children to school as a worry- not to mention guns and all that too that we didn't really even think about as a worry as kids. Like, here's another thing: LOCKDOWN. The schools now have LOCKDOWNS. IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS! That's a word our generation didn't have to grow up with. And my children go to one of the best schools in the county in a charming small historical town. Ok, going to try to get the kids to say bedtime prayers now. Maybe it will help. ?? Nightie night. Hugs,
Lisa
http://journals.aol.com/randlprysock/AdventuresFromFlorida/
p.s. love the twitchy eyebrow in your 'about me'. judi
How very true this is....... the things that I did as a teen and young adult now curl my toes. It is amazing I am not dead.:) So glad you have passed your love of music on, and something tells me you have passed some other good stuff on as well.... I think he'll turn out all right. judi
I have a few of them runnin around here...amok at the moment!! My older boys are "head bangers" All my fault as well, as I listen to SLipknot, Pantera and yes even Black Sabbath along with classical, and whatever else...THey all play a musical instrument as well. I enjoy that they have grasp the arts. The oldest is now at "that" age, where I look at him and can be right back there. Then I shiver. It is scary, but I thank my parents{I dont think I turned out tooo bad} and I just hope I can do the same in return.
Peace
Jodi
PS
Rebecca is your counterpart for the writing. I will have the formal question coming your way shortly...
You know what the scary part is? They will TAKE your music. I grew up hooked on rock & roll, from the famous bands to the jam session in someone's basement...it was all good. One of my favorites, Jackie Wilson, an unbelievable talent and sadly a sorrowful life....I finally got the songs that I wanted on a CD and though & behold...went to look for it again - it was GONE!! It seems my 22 year son has become addicted to my "old" music...Seems MOM did have good taste after all!..But I still have the vision in my memory of watching him perform live in New York and hearing those fantasic notes that he reached....Sandi
ahahaha welcome to the wonderful world of teenagers! Good luck Paul!
Just last Thursday, one of the Two Minute Warning Dancers was watching videos at my house and asked me- I swear- "Ozzy used to sing?"
Post a Comment