Musical Memories
If your five year old came home and said, "Mom, this is my new favorite singer,"
what would you do? My parents bought me a baby piano.
For those of you too young to recognize this ukulele playing icon, it is none other than the incomparable Tiny Tim.
My favorite tune of his is "Tip Toe Through the Tulips," but just today, I was watching the first episode of Spongebob SquarePants (1999) - yet another media icon with an uncannily positive attitude. Spongebob had just returned to the Krusty Krab having bought a special spatula just in time to rescue everyone from a mob of hungry anchovies - in his usual happy go lucky way. As he slings krabby patties out to the crowd, the viewers are entertained by "Walking in the Sunlight." Suddenly, I began to get this strange "flashback" feeling as one can only do as a child of the 60s and began my regular Googling of the tune and found a familiar friend.
I had a fondness for music as a child. (I still do.) Tiny Tim was the first of many musical crushes. He was quickly replaced with Charley Pride, Glenn Campbell, Andy Williams, Johnny Cash and finally the Jackson 5.
My dad was quite the audio/mediaphile. He owned this amzing reel to reel, cassette, 8-Track combination that we would use everyday. Dad even recorded our landlord, Mr. Stewart, playing the bagpipes on the reel to reel as a goodbye gift to me when we had to leave Alaska. I must have worn out that Jackson 5 cartridge listening to it over and over again. My parents got quite a kick out of my version of Eddie Arnold's song "Big Black Cloud" which I changed to "Big Black CLOWN." I still hear a four year old singing the words to Charley Pride's "Kiss an Angel Good Morning" even though she had no clue what "love her like the devil when you get back home" meant.
Music speaks to us in so many ways. It cheers us when we're sad. It helps us cry when we need it. It even relieves the stresses of daily life.
What was your favorite kind of music when you were younger? What moves you now? Do you still like the same music or have your tastes changed significantly? Share your musical tastes. The world wants to know.
what would you do? My parents bought me a baby piano.For those of you too young to recognize this ukulele playing icon, it is none other than the incomparable Tiny Tim.
My favorite tune of his is "Tip Toe Through the Tulips," but just today, I was watching the first episode of Spongebob SquarePants (1999) - yet another media icon with an uncannily positive attitude. Spongebob had just returned to the Krusty Krab having bought a special spatula just in time to rescue everyone from a mob of hungry anchovies - in his usual happy go lucky way. As he slings krabby patties out to the crowd, the viewers are entertained by "Walking in the Sunlight." Suddenly, I began to get this strange "flashback" feeling as one can only do as a child of the 60s and began my regular Googling of the tune and found a familiar friend.
I had a fondness for music as a child. (I still do.) Tiny Tim was the first of many musical crushes. He was quickly replaced with Charley Pride, Glenn Campbell, Andy Williams, Johnny Cash and finally the Jackson 5.
My dad was quite the audio/mediaphile. He owned this amzing reel to reel, cassette, 8-Track combination that we would use everyday. Dad even recorded our landlord, Mr. Stewart, playing the bagpipes on the reel to reel as a goodbye gift to me when we had to leave Alaska. I must have worn out that Jackson 5 cartridge listening to it over and over again. My parents got quite a kick out of my version of Eddie Arnold's song "Big Black Cloud" which I changed to "Big Black CLOWN." I still hear a four year old singing the words to Charley Pride's "Kiss an Angel Good Morning" even though she had no clue what "love her like the devil when you get back home" meant.
Music speaks to us in so many ways. It cheers us when we're sad. It helps us cry when we need it. It even relieves the stresses of daily life.
What was your favorite kind of music when you were younger? What moves you now? Do you still like the same music or have your tastes changed significantly? Share your musical tastes. The world wants to know.
Comments
As a child? I was a big Partridge Family fan. I've blogged about how Santa didn't bring the same tambourine as Tracy had. (Shaking my head). As I aged, Donnie & Marie, Olivia Newton John, the Manhattan Transfer, musicals (ie: The Chorus Line).
Now? It's harder to access music when my radio is hijacked by kids' music. Music can still make me laugh, cry, sentimental, etc. I love music. (I've learned that I can't distinguish between hues of colours based on the test on your blog but my ear training is significantly honed!)
My first LP was of The Partridge Family. I didn't even have a record player at the time. Just the album. I became one of the Jackson 5 when I danced to their tunes. The Osmonds.... The Eagles, whom I was able to see when they reunited for a tour, bring back high school memories.
80s music, sans dance beats, are probably my favorites, marking a time in my life when I was working my way through college and skydiving on weekends. REM (considered alternative back then), Edie Brickell, the B52s and the Thompson Twins, and so many others whose names are long forgotten.
My tastes have become more eclectic as I've gotten older, and I've become reconnected to music since getting my iPod for Christmas. Classical, top40s, country here and there, one or two hip hop songs... Sting and Natalie Merchant are, and always will be, two of my top favorites though.
(Sorry so long... I think this counts as a post on its own!)
Roban
My first musical memory is when I was about nine. I loved Neil Sedaka, Everly Bros, Gene Pitney, Mary Wells, Peter Paul & Mary (my hair was styled like Mary's). My father's favourite song was 'Rambling Rose' by Nat King Cole....we played it at his funeral.
As a teenager I adored the Beatles, the Turtles, Supremes, Mama's and The Papa's, Neil Diamond, Johnny Rivers, Cat Stevens.
In middle age I still enjoy all those old songs because of the memories they evoke. I am very partial now to songs with messages.
Songer writers like Suzanne Vega, Cold Play, Snow Patrol, The Killers, Leonard Cohen, Stevie Nicks, Enya, Jackson Browne, Toni Childs.....the list is endless.
My favourite song this month is "Trouble is a Friend" by Lenka and EVERY song on the Toni Child's new CD 'Keep the Faith'.
Unfortunately Playlist.com do not have any of Toni Childs new songs on their playlist to download.
So that is the long and short of my favourite music.....you DID ask!
:-P
Peggy
I remember listening to my parents albums on my turntable because I was bored with my kids records. Judy Collins, Roger Miller, etc. Then I collected my own albums... I liked soundtracks from movies...GREASE, XANADU, The Muppet Movie! LOL
I also had Olivia Newton John and then later, Rick Springfield.
Thank you for visiting my blog!
Eclectic: That was the word I was looking for!
I think a person with eclectic tastes is usually well rounded in other areas of life and "balanced" - to take a word from Peggy.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing.
I loved to listen to the reel-to-reel recording of the LP "At the Hop" (which included such hits as "At the Hop" (obviously) "Splish Spalsh," "Alley Oop" and "Mule Skinner).
I also loved to listen to KOOV, Copperas Cove's country music radio station from the late '70s into the 90s, especially Gaylon Christie who was the morning personality on the air while I was getting ready for school.
I was really into music in high school and college, but not so much anymore. I have satellite radio in the car, but I mostly find myself listening to Radio Classics, which plays a lot of the old radio serials ("Dragnet," "The Shadow," "The Whistler," "The Jack Benny Show," "Burns and Allen," etc.).
I could write volumes about Music.
Early memories of first records: The Platters, Gilbert Becaud, Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, The Jazz Messengers and above all, Ray Charles.
Now that I do a radio show, my wife chooses the music for me. I like Stacey Kent and Madeline Peyroux a lot, and all that swings!
NB (aka nbarnich)