Musical Mom Moments

I'm that weird breed of person that music can legitimately alter my entire day and mood. I will listen to the same song on repeat for like an hour if I think it's awesome and it speaks to me. I spent hours of my childhood reading CD inserts, learning lyrics or just listening to the albums over and over to memorize everything. I can now remember those lyrics perfectly, the artist that sang them, and have a good idea of when they came out, but usually can't remember why I just walked into that room. Because motherhood and adulting rock.

I've been making my daughter listen to music since she was conceived and, very much like my parents, have ingrained in her a sense of epic eclectic taste. Another perk that I have, that my parents never did, was due to my 90's childhood, I know just about every pertinent Disney song by heart and often learn all the new ones too. When Moana came out I put that on Spotify immediately and tortured my daughter with "You're Welcome," on a regular basis. We still fight about me singing.

Lately she asks to listen to just "radio." Last week I was singing every 80's song and she was like, "Why do you know all of these? Seriously, Mom?" Why? Because the songs are epic and I am awesome. To me, music is life. 

Ironically, I never successfully played an instrument to where I actually learned it. Flute was like 4th grade maybe? Piano lessons 6th grade. What did I do? Voice lessons. Consistently. And then choir in high school. Sadly, I was never in a school-produced musical because the only year I tried out, I did a dual audition with a girl from my grade school that I had won out all previous solos to, and I was not picked for the musical because she was in the one last year and I was not. Politics man. P.S. she was not better than me, sorry not sorry.

Okay, back to the music. So music gets me through everything so I've passed that onto my daughter for sure. When Spotify came out, what everyone else hates that I thrive on is, you make your own playlists. As dumb as this may sound, I always wanted to be the person that collaborated on soundtracks in Hollywood. I always loved to collect movie soundtracks and used to think "Oh no, I would have put that song!," because I LOVE making playlists.

When I first started Boot Camp our trainer used to have this challenge of "Make a playlist and we'll alternate it in weekly." Challenge accepted. Even one of the grumpy older guys always asked for mine. Why? Because I rock, pun intended.

My daughter learned quickly that not only did I make her a Disney and Movie soundtrack playlist, but she could ask me to add things to it or remove them. Car rides became an adventure. There are certain songs I could never get sick of, and that even applies to Disney songs, but the "Life is a Highway" cover from the Cars soundtrack? Yeah I don't have to listen to that one maybe ever again.

What's funny is that the music my parents "tortured" me with is now what I listen to in random times of discontent. In 2018 I avidly rocked some Dire Straits, which my dad had on often through my parents divorce. It oddly hit me in a completely new way while going through a really crappy place personally and I had one of those, "Oohhhh,  I get it!," moments. 

I have a friend that claims he doesn't "Like the Beatles," and I said, "You mean they aren't your favorite thing like you wouldn't choose to put on Abbey Road for a drive home or you like turn them off on the radio?" He explained he just thought all the songs were dumb. I honestly had a moment where I was so afraid I may not be able to speak to him ever again. IT'S THE BEATLES! 

Now full disclosure, in my teen years I longed to be a Punk Rock Princess. I saw the movie Almost Famous when I was 17 or 18 and got so depressed I was born in the complete wrong era and that those days were over. But then I discovered live music and my best friend had a band that I supported blindly and they all got me into punk and I totally loved the loud and sometimes poetic lyrics. Most of it I just found fun.  

The Pacific Northwest is an amazing place for music. There was an intense Punk following and the Indie movement was huge when I was living there. Strangely I loved both. So one weekend I was avoiding the mosh pit at a NOFX show and the following I was at Rilo Kiley at some no name club wishing I could be Jenny Lewis when I grew up. My mission was concerts. I collected concert experiences and found epic bands because of it. And now have great stories!

As a result now I have the most random, and weird collection and taste for music you could ever think. Despite being endlessly teased, my favorite band is none other than Hanson, yes, MmmBop HANSON, although they are so much more than that, I can teach you! With that said, I also love Dashboard Confessional, Reel Big Fish, Foo Fighters, Death Cab for Cutie, The Decemberists, Flogging Molly and way too many others to list!

My daughter tolerates most of it and some of my tastes have rubbed off on my husband, who will always follow me to any performance involving The Decemberists or Jenny Lewis but has only been dragged to one event involving Hanson. 

I totally wish for my child to grow up as obsessed with music as I am. So even when it drives me nuts all she wants to listen to is the My Little Pony Soundtrack, I totally let her rock that over and over because it's what she loves most right now! 

I think music is very underrated in terms of healing abilities because I will say that in my darkest moments, when I've found a song or album that speaks to me and makes me feel "gotten" and less alone, it relieves so much stress. 

Music is such an amazing gift and one that I feel goes unappreciated. Sure not all music is "good" or noteworthy but if one band reaches one person who needs it that day? Mission accomplished. I hope everyone has a favorite band, no matter how embarrassing, and that they find music to be therapeutic and amazing. My days can get infinitely better with the right soundtrack. So what's on yours?