Although my teenager does have this tendency to morph into moods that make me ponder, “Who are you and what have you done with my child?” overall, the lines of communication are open and clear. This rapport of ease may have something to do with the fact that he is a boy. But, the strength may have more to do with our shared taste in music. To a degree.
I can remember my own teen years, with my parents shaking their head, saying “These kids and they’re music today! Turn that off!” The division between our world and theirs become clear with a single strum of a guitar. Our generations were completely and utterly different, the divide could not be crossed — thank goodness. Secretly, we wondered why it had to be this way, while we simultaneously professed we were glad to be so unlike our parents.
We were adamant: Our music was the coolest sound in the world.
If our kids are any judge, I think we were right all along. The latest version of Guitar Hero World Tour, my son’s all-time favorite birthday present, is chock-full of our generation’s classics, like Fleetwood Mac’s, Go Your Own Way, Steve Miller’s The Joker, The Eagles’ Hotel California, and The Doors, Love me Two Times.
My ten-year old asked, “have you ever heard of Flock of Seagulls?” He was surprised, based on the sounds he heard of the band, that they have been around since before he was even born. The bands from my youth are still within ears reach: Paul McCartney, Peter Gabriel, Talking Heads, The Beatles, and one of my favorites (that has still YET to make an appearance of Guitar Hero… and I’m sure it will), the 1910 Fruitgum Company’s Sugar, Sugar. Our affinity for some of the same music does make walking through the house one less stress, and a bit more harmonious, although there are still some guitar rifts that make me shudder.
When things get too heated, and I do wonder “what have you done with my child,” at least we have our music as a touchstone to bring us back on common ground. And with my arsenal of knowledge of the best hits and album titles from the band, Tears For Fears, I seem to have the upper hand on this one. Tears for Fears sang, Seeds of Love a sound that epitomizes the 80s in my heart. Who knew then, when I sang those songs in my car, that I would be doing this today? Instant credibility in the eyes of a teenager. Sometimes, I let him teach me about the latest and greatest I have yet to discover.
Hearing these songs recycled, and kids loving it as if it were the newest releases from Motown, is something I wouldn’t have expected. Although most music is all digital these days, replaying these vintage tunes may serve to feed our underlying need to recycle during hard times, and as a token green movement for our environment.
And here, is my all-time favorite 1910 Fruitgum Company hit, 1-2-3- Red Light, here. What is NOT to love about that Star Trek turtle neck, or those matching suits?! And remember, the answer all lies in “promotion.”
Posting will be minimal over the next few days. As my site continues its big behind-the-scenes-move. Nothing will change here… just all behind-the-scenes surgery.
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i hope mq likes some 80s music! she DOES love the beatles!
Who would’ve ever guessed that Guitar Hero could bridge the generations? Fantastic!
I totally agree with everything you wrote about and was just thinking that the other day. I remember driving in the car with my parents and they would turn on “their” music and we would all moan and groan in the back seat. Now, I share the same playlists with my kids on our IPODS!! How cool is that!
I really enjoyed this post, Susie.
We received Guitar Hero as a gift recently, and are having so much fun with it as a family. The children laugh and laugh to hear me sing some of those songs from my youth, and to see me rock with the music while singing. It is so much fun, and as you point out, it’s a bridge to understanding, too.