There is still hope for my daughter ...

[mmd]

(I realize that this is probably better located in the bilge, but I don't feel comfortable placing a topic about Gwyn down there. Monsters be there! :eek: )

There is still hope for my daughter.

As I presume most fathers of daughters know, for a short time Daddy is the hero of the world and his little girl wants to like everything he likes. Then adolescence sets in and spoils it all. We Dads are relegated to the scrap heap due to our impossibly ancient outlook and profound inability to be cool. Well, I'm here to tell you that occasionally our coolness resurfaces and our daughters become ever so much more beautiful and smart.

When Gwyn was five, she loved blues and classic rock, just like her Dad. She'd request Santana to do crafts by, ask for Emmerson Lake & Palmer to do "creative dance" to, and blow my friends minds by asking if they's like to hear "our" latest Muddy Waters CD when they visited. I was so proud.

I lost her when she was around nine. Brittany Spears took her away. She was then passed on to be the willing slave to the Backstreet Boys at ten. By age eleven she was all mooney-eyed over the likes of Enrique and Justin. As puberty set in and she began to be overwhelmed by the hormonal war in her head, she found the rebellious voices of Eminem and Fifty Cent irresitable. Oh, the shame! My little girl, the fruit of my blues-soaked, rock immersed loins, becoming a hip-hop and rap fan! AARRGGHHHH!

But wait! A few weeks ago there was a faint flickering of light in the blackness of my dispair! She offhandedly said one day that, "I think I'm getting bored with hip-hop. I'm starting to like hard rock." Could it be? Is there hope?

Then it happened. She asked a question today that tore back the shrouds of gloom that had assailed me! A joyous glee flooded every fibre of my body and soul! A re-joining of our spirits! A chance at redemption! I'm cool again!!!

When asked to select some music to play during supper, she replied:

"Do we have any Ramones? They're cool!"

And I was able to shout unto the heavens, "YES! THANKS TO ALL THAT ROCKS AND ROLLS, YES!! :D

[imported_Conrad]

:D Mine (13,10) have moved from country to classic rock- everything from the Beatles to Zep. We had to stay in the car the other night to hear the end of Frampton's "Live" torture of his guitar into a voice box. (Is he REALLY doing that with only his guitar?) :D :cool:

The best news is that they now recognize real talent, singing or musicianship, from the sexed hype of Spears et al. smile.gif

[ 03-11-2004, 02:01 AM: Message edited by: Conrad ]

[John B]

Thankyou Michael. Did I say thankyou... because thats what I mean to say. there IS light at the end of the tunnel after all eh.
Here's to hope and the trust in goodbringupness that will see others like ME into the clear at some stage in the future.( wish I drank scotch because I'd have one about now)

[Billy Bones]

Thank you, bretheren, thank you thank you. Every moment I sit on the threshold I cherish, because I see demons in our future. Thank heavens there is hope for some.

[Greg H]

:D

[Venchka]

Yes, there is hope! Everytime I thought my daughter had left home, she came back. At first it seemed like I would never get rid of her. Then I began to appreciate having her at home as an adult. I didn't appreciate her all the time, but most of the time. As the years went by and she came home to roost for a few months she brought with her the first cutest granddaughter ever! The one who learned to crawl in front of my wife and I with video camera running. Way cool!

They haven't been back for more than a few days in a long time. Now she brings the two cutest granddaughters ever. And she cooks!

Don't ever close the door. They never really move out. It's a good thing.

[John Bell]

Some of you will appreciate this...

My 5yo son's favorite record is by the Punters. I picked up a 6 or 7 song demo out of a geocache in NB a year ago, and he just loves it! My wife and daughter on the other hand can't stand it.

When my kids were little babies, I sung them to sleep every night with song penned by Jimmy Buffett, and it remains among their favorites to this day.

[Popeye]

Ah success!

[JimD]

Remnds me of that quote by Mark Twain that went something like "When I was 16 I couldn't believe how stupid my parents were but by the time I was 20 I was amazed at how much they'd learned" smile.gif

[Bruce Taylor]

Bad news here, I'm afraid. Mine (9) came home from a birthday party saying she really liked that Shania Twain...

Things are looking up with the boy, though. Last time I drove him to karate he actually asked me to play Tom Waits.

And the 4-yr-old still likes Screamin' Jay Hawkins.

[On Vacation]

Originally posted by John Bell:
Some of you will appreciate this...

My 5yo son's favorite record is by the Punters. I picked up a 6 or 7 song demo out of a geocache in NB a year ago, and he just loves it! My wife and daughter on the other hand can't stand it.

When my kids were little babies, I sung them to sleep every night with song penned by Jimmy Buffett, and it remains among their favorites to this day.And yes most kids at that age never think about singing in tune either. Keep that in mind in a few years when you attempt to huge them and sing around their friends. smile.gif

[John Bell]

And yes most kids at that age never think about singing in tune either. Keep that in mind in a few years when you attempt to huge them and sing around their friends. You ain't never heard me sing! Why, I've been compared to Kristofferson... ;)

[ 03-11-2004, 01:38 PM: Message edited by: John Bell ]

[igatenby]

Why, I've been compared to Kristofferson... That wasn't necessarily a compliment :D

Ian

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

After we returned from a recent Simon and Garfunkel concert our babysitter (around twenty two or so) lamented the fact that her generation will never have the timeless acts that ours does. Never thought of it until then but will people still be listening to Enimen twenty years from now? Or even two years from now?

[ 03-11-2004, 04:18 PM: Message edited by: Captain Pre-Capsize ]

[imported_Steven Bauer]

You mean people actually listen to him now?

Steven

[Hwyl]

I took my daughter (14) to "BareNaked ladies" huge success, and I would reccomend them to any father and daughter group. I enjoyed it as much as she did. She did ask me if rock concerts were always that loud, my (predictable) answer was "No, they're usually much louder".

Unfortunately, stadium shows are so choreographed these days that there is no room for serendipity in a show. The concert etched in my memory is the Doobies and Allmans together. You were never quite sure which members of which band were on stage at any one time.

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

I saw them too, but together? Man... I missed out on a twofer. The Doobies were the best.

Clapton gets the nod from me. What endurance as an artist. Willing to change with the times. I did see the Moody Blues with the Marshall Tucker Band as a warm up. This in Texas and MTB got more of an ovation than the Blues did!

[On Vacation]

Now that we have totally hijacked Mikes thread. ;) The other night there was a blip about some new mixing of music. It had the Beatles on one of them and some form of Norm's stuff tongue.gif on another, all blended together. I have no idea what it is called. But the guy mixes old music to new rap and stuff and plays it together almost like a music video. I heard it was the new thing with internet music now.

[ 03-11-2004, 08:51 PM: Message edited by: Oyster ]

[Hughman]

Ah, you guys are too normal tongue.gif

My daughter relaxes to Bagpipes!

[John B]

What was the song, John. Margaritaville I just bet. :D

[John Bell]

Originally posted by John B:
What was the song, John. Margaritaville I just bet. :D Actually, no. While tequila might be good to put infants to sleep, we never actually used that method. ;) The song is Chanson Pour les Petites Enfants, and that's why my boats are all named Mister Moon.

http://mistermoon.home.mindspring.com/Mr_Moon_logo.gif

[ 03-11-2004, 10:57 PM: Message edited by: John Bell ]

[mmd]

No worries about hijacking the thread, Oyster; it's a good, pleasant free-flow of conversation. Ramble on.

[Wild Wassa]

Nice thread Dads. The first song that I taught my daughter Lucy (who turns 10 tomorrow) to sing was, 'nobody knows the trouble I've seen, nobody knows my ... sorrow'. She would sing it in such a deep voice, it was joyous. We find songs for occassions, her and I.

Lucy plays the trumpet in her school's, Year 5 band.

Warren.

[Dave K]

The Mark Twain quotation is true - our daughter thought we parents were so-o-o smart when she was 10, just knew we had lost it by 15, but at 21 was using a lot of our ideas in her own life. We got smarter. I can't say I am tuned in to all the music represented here, but I will share one piece of wisdom I have gleaned - "Treat your kids well when they are young - when you are old, they get to choose the nursing home!"

[Wild Dingo]

Michael with young Gwyn you will have no worries! a fine young lady she is growing up to be :cool:

Now as for songs I sang to the girls as little ones 20 years ago? well when driving from Carnarvon to Overlander {100klicks) to put them to sleep at night it would start out nice and soft a bit of a mix mash Me an Bobby Mcgee Jannice style for lissa followed by croonin blues of BB King or Muddy Waters for Yaz... at which stage Lissa would scream bloody blue murder so Id uptempo it a bit and she would shut up again and Yaz would arc up cause Id messed with her song all the way down the highway it would go like that... turn around singing purely country and about halfway back there would finally be silence from the munchkins in the back... Boring em to bits works a treat! :D aaahhh bliss and Id happily be drivin along all serine and happy with life...

Till we hit the turnoff to town and the only set of overhead lights in 100klicks on the corner with the service station would blast into the back of the van... and instead of turning left to head into town and home Id turn slowly right and point the car to Manilya 100klicks northward and start singing You are my sunshine and Felix the cat to soothe the riot in the back and happy gurgling would be the order of the day

To this day when Lissa is feeling blue and needs a hug I sing You are my sunshine and she calms down and Yaz gathers a smile when Felix gets his bag of trix out

Twas the ONLY way we could get any rest when the twins were babies was for me to drive them to sleep... 3 hours or so usually did the trick then tuck em up in their shared cot as they refused to be parted and you would get oooohhh about 10 minutes before Melissa would be movin about cuddling up to Yaz and fiddlefaddling with her hair or inspectin her throat with her fingers at which point Yaz would wake and start to scream the neighborhood down... soooo back out Id go so Jo could get up and feed Tiffany who had been awoken to be reminded that the boobmilkshake was on tap and she better have some... meanwhile down the track Id go singin away at the top of me lungs... joker at the servo thought it was a huge hoot watchin me trundle up and down the highway singing to two feisty bubs at all hours of the night eyeballs hangin on the steerin wheel

For the others Tiffany goes for my general massacre of ACDCs "Highway to hell" or "Jailbreak" and slaughterashun of Meatloafs "Bat out of Hell" Aaron gets off on my rendition of Slades "All right now" but cant abide anything country Beth just loves my version of Cat Stevens "cats in the cradle" and Bob Segers "beautiful looser" Jacinta adores my version of Randy Travis's "Diggin up bones" and Slim Dustys "Pub with no beer" Brie goes nuts over my messup of John Williamsons "Old man Emu" and Ted Egans "Poor Buggar me Gurrinji" and Josh just likes the sounds of the guitar and does the old guitarman thing and tells me to "shutup da Im tryin to listen" when I open my mouth to start singin!! :eek:

When born the first words they heard from me were the strains of "Amazing Grace" sang while rocking them in my arms... from then on its just lost control :rolleyes: everything from Mario Lanza to Country to Blues to heavy metal to KORN I have a go at... I tried that Emeinem and some other rap crap but got a major "booohisssgerrouddaityerolmug" from the lot of em so I have barred it totally from the house!.. and now live in peace :D

Give them the widest possible selection of music and make none your favorites {to them that is the missus you just gotta have a favorite for} and they grow up loving them all and will find their own special Dadda song... to them all the song they associate with me is "Wind beneath my Wings" by Colleen Hewitt {among others} which I masscre beautifully tongue.gif :cool:

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

To hijack this in an entirely different direction, my favorite Mark Twain quote:

"We must be careful to get out of an experience only the wisdom that is in it lest we be like the cat that sat on a hot stove. It will never sit on a hot stove again but neither will it sit on a cold one."

[Domesticated_Mr. Know It All]

It's your job as a parent to expose your kids to other music besides the stuff they listen to on the radio.

My parents did a great job and I am a huge fan of polka music to this day. :D

[cs]

So there is hope. My daughter (11) is mired in the hip hop crap, maybe one day she too will see the light and come back to the dark side.

Chad

[David Tabor (sailordave)]

It's your job as a parent to expose your kids to other music besides the stuff they listen to on the radio.

My parents did a great job and I am a huge fan of polka music to this day. SOME things just ain't right! That's one of em!

[rbgarr]

I agree about the widest possible exposure idea. I personally am as tone deaf as a post, and a musical moron too boot, but my wife has a great interest in music and passed that enjoyment on to our children. I'm a lost cause, but enjoy hearing her singing all day. She even taps out the notes unconsciously to music in her head (she played piano) when we're lying abed. If her hand is on my arm I can tell she's 'playing music in her mind' and I ask "What's on the mind-radio?" She giggles about it.

The room lottery for dorm rooms where my son goes to college has a fun contest involving a talent show. If you win, you get first pick of rooms in your class. He plays the cello, and in a three minute 'performance', he and his roomates-to-be will play and sing a barbershop piece, a Beastie Boys song, and a Beach Boys tune.
The 'finals' are this Monday night and we asked him to videotape all the talent show acts. It should be fun to see.

[ 04-10-2004, 12:22 PM: Message edited by: rbgarr ]

[Ron Williamson]

My daughter (11,this Thursday) blew out her first set of speakers last week,listening to Hillary Duff.Actually they're mine :( ,but they're old and over-amped,so it's not the end of the world.I'm just glad that my Bose speakers are in use elsewhere.
"I dunno Daddy,they started doing that when you guys weren't here, and I had the music blasting..."

Sigh...they grow up so fast.
R

[cs]

Now I've blown speakers, but never listning to Hillary Duff, I may shoot the amp, but wouldn't blow the speakers.

Of course we blew a set of Cerwin Vegas PD-9's with "Hells Bells." One speaker went on the first gong and the other set on the second gong. Now that I've got 901's I ain't had that problem. :D

Chad

[Peter Kalshoven]

What a great thread.

So far, I haven't really had that problem. Oh, there have been a few peer tugs into hip-hop, but I am lucky in that I have three kids (14, 12, 10) wwho actually say things like, "Oh, John Lee Hooker...cool!" My 14 year old, (who is learning to play my old cheapo Squier Stratocaster) is into Clapton, Stevie Ray, and most of all... (wait for it!).... Jimi Hendrix! How many 14 year olds you know go to sleep every night listening to the Experience CD, and count "Hey Joe" as one of their top favorites?
Oh sure, it may not last, but for now... we be cool!

[Ron Williamson]

My daughter is a girlie girl,but my son,yikes!
"Dad,can you put The Ramones on?That's not loud enough yet!" :cool: