Quote:
Originally Posted by sopsych
Maybe this thread is fail, done too well before. I didn't even think to search. If it turns into insults, I want it to be locked.
What adult music people liked under age 10 is interesting - but that's not the point of this thread. I just figured maybe there is a connection between very early tastes and adult tastes. I wasn't exposed to much children's music - I avoided shows like Mr. Rogers, partly because of the singing - and tend to think it's all sappy stuff. Now I like complex music that usually has some darkness in it. My assumption is that, unlike over in Pop, most people reading this have high-brow tastes - and that pop fans probably were the biggest children's music fans. There could be a link between kid's music and folk music, too.
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I feel your thread idea is a good one: it poses a different and broader question than my old thread about children's and family music, and I'm hoping it will do better than my thread did down in the Folk forum!
Your hypothesis that people who like children's music when they are very young tend to grow up to like folk music sounds reasonable. However, I was exposed to and liked both children's music and folk music when I was a little child, but I didn't grow up to be a huge folk music fan. I don't dislike folk, but I just don't listen to it much because I prefer music that sounds edgier.
About a possible relationship between liking children's music as little kids and liking pop when older, I know that my affection for children's music when I was small didn't predict my reaction to pop when I was older. I think I tended not to like pop music as much as many of my peers did. For example, when I first heard Michael Jackson's "Thriller" album songs on the radio, specifically "Billie Jean," I *hated* his songs. I had no idea who Michael Jackson was, but I remember mocking "Billy Jean" and Michael Jackson's vocal "hiccup" sound to my brother. Little did
I know...Michael Jackson then became super popular. I always hated Michael Jackson's music. I still do. I liked his moon walk, though.
About children's music being sappy: I agree it can seem overly sentimental and sweet. I think that's how many people feel about Barney songs, and I'd agree. I think most children's music is aimed at creating a supportive bubble of love and wonder in which adults hope children can grow up (before the bubble bursts), and so the music can seem very one-dimensional.
I'm curious, sopsych, how old were you when you were avoiding Mr. Rogers because of the sappy, feel-good songs? My observation of kids is that usually until age 5 or 6 they are happy listening to children's music, but then they want to "grow up" and so they dislike songs that remind them of their "baby years." Yet plunk a 3-year-old in front of the following song and my guess is she'd like it, while to the ears of a jaded adult (or youngster) it could be ear torture:
Barney - "I Love You"
Barney - I Love You - YouTube
Quote:
Originally Posted by ribbons
My early childhood is nearly a complete blur and I can't remember listening to much children's music, aside from random songs on PBS shows like Sesame Street, The Electric Company, and Zoom (loved the theme song to that show). As the youngest in the household I was influenced by what the other family members listened to. My parents had both liked The Beatles and I was exposed early on to their music. I remember specifically watching the James Paul McCartney special on t.v. with my mother as a child and loving the songs and melodies. My first musical memory of all was playing the vinyl record of The Concert For Bangla Desh album on our console stereo (because I thought the album cover was interesting and exotic and sad) and hearing the strains of the Indian musicians’ playing coming out of the loudspeakers. Didn’t play it for long, but it made an impression on me. I was also exposed to my father’s jazz albums as he had been an amateur jazz drummer, but that was a bit later on. My mother was also a country and western fan, so I heard a lot of that around the house. My sisters listened to ‘70s pop hits of the time and we used to sing together along with those. My eldest sister liked T. Rex and The Sweet, and Black Sabbath and Alice Cooper (I was scared of them! my sister was generally really nice but occasionally she threatened to put on a Black Sabbath or Alice Cooper record if I was annoying her). My middle sister liked disco and soul music. So I was exposed to this conglomeration of music in the home and I think it accounts in large part for my musical tastes.
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Heh heh..."Zoom"...I remember that. I never got into the Zoom show or music, Liz, but I did love Sesame Street!
You have such nice memories of music in your family. Your eldest sister sure had some mature music tastes. And among the three of you, it sounds like you got exposed to a nice variety of music. Your sister's threat reminds me of how I used to threaten my
older brother with a "Peter and the Wolf" song because it scared him!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Trollheart
Always loved this song, still do. It's sort of tragically comic now, as my sis who has MS has to move up the bed at night, as she slips down a little during the day, so as she wriggles up the bed I try to use my trademark humour and sing the inchworm song, which makes her smile. It's a great little song indeed.
But seriously, are you mad? Everyone knows THIS is the best ever Kermit song!! 
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That's a sweet interaction between your sister and you, Trollheart. I remember reading about your work as your sister's Carer. How nice that your singing "The Inchworm" song makes her smile.
Kermit's "It's Not Easy Being Green" *is* a cute song, but I stand behind "The Rainbow Connection" as being unequivocally the most brilliant Kermit song EVER!
