Ever since Syd was born, I've begun wondering about what she'll be like when she's older. She's already growing up too fast for my liking but, as I was driving to work this morning, listening to the new Dirtbombs CD, I began to wonder about the music that she'd be listening to once she hits high school, and older.
Sure, it's a bit too early to be thinking about this I suppose but I'm trying to think back to my youth. The stuff I was listening to and the stuff my dad was listening to. The Generation Gap is never quite so wide as when you try to maintain youthful affiliations. The one thing I don't think I could ever be accused of doing.
I want Syd to think of me as out of touch. I want to be rocking out to the Pixies, or Future of the Left, or even the Lucksmiths one day in the back room and I want her to come out and say, 'are you still listening to that old people's music, Dad? Get with the times!!' As she rocks out to whatever is going to be popular when she's a teenager.
And, as much as I'll play the Pixies etc, while she's young, I don't want her to get too attached to that stuff. It'd be great if she could appreciate it the same way I do, but I don't expect it. And really, I'd rather she didn't. Because I want her to have her own life. Her own music. I want her to be thinking, 'man, music sucked so much in the past. Imagine having to grow up listening to Joy Division, or the Cure or (insert name of band that you loved growing up who still mean something to you now.) I'm so glad I'm living NOW, when music is so vibrant.'
Because we all think that. It takes a while to appreciate history. I know I didn't appreciate someone like Robert Johnson until I was 26-27. Yet my dad listened to him heaps. But, to me, it was 'old people's music.' I was rocking out to Asia. Now THERE was a band.
So I wonder, what will she be rocking out to in the far-off future? I don't know. But one thing I'm sure of, I'm not going to be a big fan. Music today SUCKS man. And get the fuck off my lawn.
3 comments:
Parental expectations for their offspring are so funny! I would just love the irony of her hating all pop music and listening to Beethoven and Brahms!
You're following a tried and true path. Geezerdom, here you come!
Just noticed the Nick Hornby quote over on the right. It made me laugh out loud!
I think the end result will be that she will cherish the music she grew up listening to, while adding her own taste to it as she grows. I love the music of my youth, I love how hearing just a few chords instantly melt my layers away and I especially love watching my sons sing along to them while doing chores or playing games. Music is such a great foundation to have in life, it will always be a part of her.
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