I’ve reached that interesting stage when, as a parent, my kids are beginning to teach me things. If it weren’t for Crox Minima (aged 10), for example, I’d never have written a children’s book called Defiant The Guinea Pig: Firefighter!, which my our agent liked so much when she read it over the holidays that she’ll be sending it to a prospective editor very soon.
And a couple of long road trips with Crox Minor (12) has given me an insight into her musical taste. We plugged her iPod into the car sound system and, as well as a few tunes by the likes of Queen and Styx (refugees from her Dad’s collection) I was introduced to some new sounds, all of which were extremely pleasant. (Oh noes, it wasn’t as it was in my teenage days when my father would barge into the wall of Van Halen emanating from my bedroom and invite me to ‘turn that f***ing noise down, boy’).
There was Avril Lavigne, who was a bit whiny, but overall quite good – especially the trash-metal guitars. There was a remarkable song by Katy Perry called ‘I Kissed A Girl And I Liked It’ which, apart from being a great tune, had a very well-crafted and frank lyric of the kind we’d just never hear when I was a lad. But most of all there was, and still is, and will ever be, the remarkable Lady Gaga, who reminds me of a very young Madonna but with a much more knowing head on her shoulders. Her songs are all about glitzy clubland, but full of wit, vocal gymnastics and (my favourite) extremely antique synthesizers. The whole effect is very, very sexy – to the extent that I do wonder what my 12-year-old thinks she’s listening to. 
For driving through a long, foggy English night, the heavy club drums and bass keep you awake like nothing else. But the track that gets us both turning up the volume to eleven is ‘Gay Bar’ by the Electric Six – a track that Crox Minor heard somewhere and which I happened to have secreted in my collection – atomic surf guitar mayhem. For my next trick, I must take up Crox Minor’s invitation to dig into the Death Note graphic novels to which she seems to be partial. As a Dad, I feel it’s my duty to have some familiarity with what makes my kids tick. Not just to keep a weather eye in a protective way, or even out of a yearning for a lost youth – but because I might learn something interesting and new.
Nice taste in choons. Gay Bar is awesome; I presume you have seen the animation that goes with it (featuring the Flying Viking Kittens). I hesitated to listen to Gaga, but I also must admit it’s pretty good (and her name and style comes from her love of Queen, so maybe that’s what’s coming through for you). Try (for you and Crox Minor) also my Chemical Romance and AFI; and in the ancient synth category, Blaqk Audio and La Roux will take you back to 1984 (ish) in style. I hope my kids do the same for me in a few years.
Oh dear, the music of today. My good wife has been playing the nice Mr. Barry Manilow at me.
@Benoit: I thought the Viking Kittens pillaged along to Led Zep’s ‘Immigrant Song’? Thanks for the suggestions – however, Crox Minor is at the age where I feel I have done my bit as regards casting the baleful pall of parental influence. I now look forward to see what she brings in, of her own accord, as it were.
@Bob – my favourite Manilow song is ‘Copacabana’ in which Rico addresses Lola as a dog. ‘He called her Rover’, I think it runs. Ah, the blessed days before political correctness (go to 1’23″ in this video)
Heh. I’d watch out for the lyrics in Lady Gaga and suchlike. Mrs. Ricardipus, who is a primary school teacher, tells me that much of the hip-hop-type-stuff that her students listen to is extremely racy indeed, but the raciness is hidden beneath layers of euphemism, slang and jargon.
Obviously, she has a lot more street smarts than I do. Me, I’m still trying to figure out how FM radio managed to play “Who Are You” by The Who for so many years, when it blatantly contains not one but several F-bombs. ‘Stonishing.
Bob – Barry Manilow is teh eviln3ss. I recommend a large dose of AC/DC as an antidote.
My daughter (12 years) loves Katty Perry, Kesha, Lady Gaga and can sing several songs lyrics of these muses, I must say that he sings very well. My child (14 years) had heard lately Metallica and the hip-hop also Spanish and “Nach Scratch”, loves “Ska-p” group and “move” song and he like some pop songs of your sister. I think I approve.There are very beautiful songs.
But please let me listen to “Tommy”(The Who) on vinyl disc.
See the flying viking kittens here: http://www.rathergood.com/gaybar, where my other fave, “We like the moon” can be found. I love the Immigrant song one, as does my 4 yo, for whom Led Zep was his first musical love.
The suggestions were for you too; cool stuff that you might enjoy.
@Ricardipus – the other day on the beach I found myself humming ‘Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap’. I can’t imagine why.
@Alejandro – it seems children everywhere have the same tastes.
@Benoit – I mentioned that Gaybar video to Crox Minor and she knew all about it. Rathergood.com is another of those things she’s introduced me to. Our favourites include the axolotl song – great for a developmental biologist! – and also this searing commentary on organized religion.
Henry – I just love the idea of “atomic surf guitar mayhem”. Must give it a go.
Best of luck to you and the junior Croxes on your musical journeys together. My three haven’t really brought much musical novelty to my door – their tastes are more comedic; hence our enforced trip to the Edinburgh fringe festival last summer. That was an education for me – and one that I greatly enjoyed.
Henry, also create these scenes:
“Gato Rockz”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cYCtcSZVzU
Is very funny!
Has Crox Minor heard the surf guitar adaptation of the Greek song “Misirlou”, by Dick Dale and the Del Tones? The Pulp Fiction version on YouTube is great, but the old 1963 B&W version is even more entertaining (and classic).
I would also recommend some California surf punk, but just mentioning the names of some of the bands might get me in trouble with your fancy blog rulz.
Benoit – “We Like The Moon” is 100% certified awesomesauce. I could watch it all day.
Henry – remind me never to dig too deeply in the sand at Cromer Beach.
I did find a couple of mermaid’s purses yesterday. I checked, but there was no money in either. Proof, if any were needed, that the recession is so deep it’s begun to affect mythical creatures that live underwater.