My musical tastes have evolved through the years but instead of changing completely my love of music has grown stronger and my repertoire wider. This is something not everyone understands and so depending on who you are you may only know part of my musical taste – the chosen few will know the full extent of my listening pleasures. From Robbie to Kylie to Buddy – The Killers, The Cure, The Chemical Brothers – Johnny Cash, Brenda Lee, Connie Francis – West Side Story, Wizard of Oz, Les Mis – Goldie, Groove Armada, Massive Attack and Basement Jaxx. I love them all and want my children to sample each and everyone of them … and more …
The music I loved in my own childhood was heavily influenced by my parents. In particular one mix tape that we listened to over and over in the car featuring Buddy Holly, The Everly Brothers, Paul Anka, Neil Sedaka and more … It was badly recorded and over recorded and we knew where all the breaks in the songs came and what song came next. I loved 50s and 60s music as a child and I still do. I definitely want my children to understand the history and significance of rock and roll.
As a child of the 80s there was a time I am afraid to say when I loved all things Stock, Aitken and Waterman, especially Kylie. I still do have a secret thing for Kylie and have already introduced my daughter to such classics as Never Too Late and Wouldn’t Change A Thing. Thank you You Tube!
Around this time my cousins also introduced me to INXS, Bon Jovi and Aerosmith, alongside Wham! Another branch on my tree of music was born. Many of my dips and dives into different artists and bands have been influenced by Paul and Glen (the cousins) – Wet Wet Wet, AHa!!, George Michael and much much more.
As a young teenage I loved James, EMF, The Farm, Happy Mondays, Stone Roses and The Cure amongst others. I also love Madonna and began to get into Rave! At Youth Club I loved Guns n Roses but would equally love dancing to Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch! Oh the memories!
As an older teenager my heart was firmly attached to dance music particularly house but also drum and bass whilst frequenting Cream at University! I spent many mispent nights at Cream, Gatecrasher and many other, smaller, better, underground clubs across Europe. I danced right through to my late 20s, until I was 30. During this time I saw The Prodigy and Moby live many times and just LOVED them!
Alongside dance though I also loved alternative music particularly Tori Amos, Massive Attack, Primal Scream, Leftfield, Radiohead, The Verve, REM, Ocean Colour Scene, The Levellers, Bjork and there was still an allegiance to rock / grunge – U2, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Faith No More, Foo Fighters. I also liked Def Leppard at some point and Metallica too.
And then came Brit Pop – Oasis or Blur – I unashamedly loved BOTH! And I still do! I also love Dodgy. I love Dodgy!!
More recently I have fallen in love with The Killers and The White Stripes with thanks to David for these.
I could go on and on and on about music and there will always be something or someone that I would have forgotten to mention.
Here are some songs though that I would not want my children to miss – in no particular order and again there will be omissions that I will kick myself for later!
Put Your Head On My Shoulder – Paul Anka
Grace – U2 (contributing factor to Esther’s middle name)
If You’re Thinking Of Me – Dodgy
No Regrets – Robbie Williams
Hotel Yorba – The White Stripes (David was singing this to me when I first realised we would get married, way back in 2007, just weeks after we had met)
Take Me to the Place Where the White Boys Dance – The Killers (listened to on journeys to and fro NICU)
Wires – Athlete (a tale of a premature baby)
At My Most Beautiful – REM (Thinking this will be the song that I walk down the aisle to!)
I’ll Stop the World – The Cure (Mine and David’s song)
Groove Is In The Heart – DeeLite
At the River – Groove Armada
Cherish – Madonna
Movin’ On Up – Primal Scream
Waterfall – The Stone Roses
Champagne Supernova – Oasis
This is a Low – Blur
Leftism – Leftfield (whole album)
Blue Lines – Massive Attack (whole album)
… there are just so many more …
I can feel a muscial evening coming on very soon. How I love mornings when you wake up to find your CD collection spread out all over the floor where you have been playing song after song in a haze of memory and music. I want my children to have that. I want my children to grab music, embrace it and let it feed their soul, fuel their lives and be the soundtrack to their memories.
Music and life go hand in hand and help everyone tell their story.
I am sure that music will play a huge part in my children knowing mine.
This post was inspired by http://ghostwritermummy.wordpress.com/2011/01/16/music-i-want-my-children-to-listen-to-daniel-johnston/
