Rock Ramblings: Thank you for the lifelong music

By Medicine Hat News on October 5, 2017.

You know how some families go around the table at Thanksgiving and everyone shares what they’re grateful for? Yeah, we don’t do that. However, if we did, I’d have to say I’m thankful for my kids, and not just for all the obvious reasons.

See, there are so many interesting, odd, gross, awe-inspiring and terrifying things that happen when you have kids. But the one thing I didn’t expect — and have thoroughly enjoyed — is how this parenthood journey hastaken me back to my musical roots.

Way back.

Past the 1990s alt-rock of high school, beyond the eclectic mix of hair bands, Cyndi Lauper and my odd Randy Travis fascination of the late- ’80s, all the way to the first music I have clear memories of loving.

Sesame Street. Raffi. Sharon, Lois and Bram. All those old songs I remember falling asleep to while listening to my Fisher Price Record Player have come flooding back into my life via my kids, and I’m so thrilled that they’ve grown to love them, too!

But that’s the thing. My kids have grown well past the “Baby Beluga” stage of kid-dome, yet they’re still falling asleep to Big Bird and friends. So, Hubby and I decided to start the transition to a more ‘mature’ musical appreciation, and nothing segues from childhood lullabies to classic rock better than Pink Floyd.

“The Wall” became essential listening for our family this summer, and now when “Comfortably Numb,” “Mother,” or any one of those unmistakeable tunes comes on the radio, my kid proudly pronounces, “Mama, it’s Pink Floyd!”, making Hubby Dave and Uncle Poncho both very proud, I’m sure.

Next came Queen, and though the boys had stomped around the house to “We Will Rock You” plenty of times before, they now sing along to “Bohemian Rhapsody” with as much passion as Wayne and Garth did 25 years ago.

Now, be honest, can you sing every lyric to Monty Python’s “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life?” My boys can, and the day I realized they could was one of my proudest mom moments yet!

From Green Day and Imagine Dragons to Johnny Cash, CCR, even Cyndi Lauper and Oingo Boingo, taking this journey of musical discovery with my kids is something I really am thankful for. Getting out of my ‘whatever’s playing is fine’ mindset and relearning the great artists, old and new, has been so much fun!

Of course, when “We’re Not Gonna Take It” comes on the radio, and my kid proudly pronounces, “Mama, it’s Queen!”, it’s clear he still has much to learn. But then again, so do I, and I can’t wait to see what we’re all singing along to next!

Chrissy Cruickshank is a creative writer here at 105.3 ROCK. You may hear her from time to time with comments on Poncho and Cassie’s morning show. Listen at 105.3 FM and 1053rock.ca.

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