Home 2023; 2026.
Don’t you think it’s interesting and also surprising how young people know old songs? Not necessarily the classic old songs of legend either, that we all tend to absorb – like those songs used in ads over the years that drive you to earworm insanity!
Nope, I’m talking about songs their parents haven’t played to them.
So I’m cooking dinner one night, an audio bystander while 15 year old Jamie has a shower. His Spotify playlist of extremely eclectic and loud music echoes out of the bathroom and around the house. I would have rather not had Nicki Manaj, Doja Cat and Lady GaGa inflicted upon my person, but every now and then Jamie’s playlist featured a nice surprise. This kid’s playlist is always a trash n’ treasure market of musical possibilities!
That unmistakable Pixies’ intro guitar riff started, floating down the hallway. As I am trying to sing along, it occurs to me that I have bugger all idea of what this song is about. References to boxcars, outside fires breathing and really cold faces. Lyrics I would still not know now if it weren’t for the internet.
Remember when we had to fill in the gaps for the lyrics we couldn’t figure out? Those lyrics we made up by accident or on purpose, so we didn’t have to stop singing along. Even though I can, and do, look up the lyrics now, those early formed mondegreens/mis-heard lyrics stick like old Blutak you can’t get off your walls.
So, somehow, there’s Jamie blasting Here Comes Your Man, a song from 1989, from the bathroom.
Three years on, Jamie’s latest musical infatuation is, believe it or not – Billy Joel. I know, right! I did say eclectic. Not just the hits either. Songs like the highly dramatic, ‘All For Leyna’, off his Glass Houses album. That vinyl album just happened to be one of the first I owned. Can you inherit the love for songs or artists genetically?
Jamie and I listened to Glass Houses together recently, analysing, deconstructing and interpreting what we think is going on there between Billy and the characters in the songs. Leyna sounds like a piece of work!
I have my own personal meaning to this song whenever I hear it now. My now 18 year old son Jamie is emerging into his own man – as a transgender man. A great song for a great kid, who knows who he is – a guy who loves retro music and has Gold FM and Smooth FM as his set car radio stations. A guy who meets everyone with an open mind and an open heart. A loyal and loving man.
He still loves Nicki Manaj.
Stereo Story 889
Postscript 1. How, then, did Jamie came across these songs? Turns out the Pixies song was on one of his dad’s playlists and the Billy Joel song found its way to him via Smooth FM and his 80 year old Yia Yia. Her favourite Billy Joel song? Yes, ‘All For Leyna’.
Postscript 2. Chris Phillips is a member of the Stereo Stories band, which is performing this Friday evening, 12 June, at the Williamstown Town Hall. Balcony seats now available.
lionhearts3
Chris is a singer with The Stereo Stories Band. Her previous bands include The Angelicats and Superfluous Velvet.
Yes Chris, kids have a great sense of being able to knock you over in the most unexpected way.
Great story as usual, I can see you cooking dinner with a bemused smile. Well done.
Thx buddy!
A great share, Chris!
Thx Bill.
Some interesting points to ponder here, Chris.
I do agree that the younger generation (in general) have more diverse musical tastes because they have instant access to so much music. Everything is at their fingertips, really.
And as for musical tastes being inherited…part of me says yes, part of me says it’s because they have has their parents’ music drilled into them!!
Thanks for the story! Familiar and thought-provoking!
Thx Smokie. I reckon you’re right on all points! It was so good to work with you again last Friday night.
Chris! I am also a Chris and Glass Houses was my first LP! I think there were five singles off it that got a lot of airplay, and I liked them all so I felt it was a no-risk investment. I bought it for $7.99 at the 7EX Record Bar in Fitzgeralds department store, Burnie in 1981.
I am genuinely shocked to realise there are only EIGHT years between these songs. In 1990 I was living in Melbourne. From listening to Triple J, I was of the opinion that the Pixies were three different bands, because their radio songs were all so different.
I have seeded a few specific sounds in my sons’ respective musical canons; but I am most proud of just teaching them to love music, and listen to *everything*.
PS I’ve just been to my first SS concert; you were all amazing. So much fun.
Hey thanks so much for coming to our gig last Friday night. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I love the show dearly, as well as all my bandmates.
Ahhh, a fellow ‘first’ Glass Houses owner! That’s quite a coincidence. I was also a Triple J listener for years through the 90’s – SNAP once again!! I reckon keeping our minds open to music is a great thing, from our youth & on. I mean, we don’t have to like it all, but to listen costs us nothing, right? Case in point – I still occasioally flick around stations in the car & give Triple J a go randonly. I’m usually either disappointed or instantly repelled!! (haha). I am more of a Triple R listener these days, though I regularly ‘do a Jamie’ & check out Gold FM. An appreciation of juxtapositioned radio stations is surely good for the soul. Thx so much for your comment fellow Chris. :)