A big part of parenting is teaching your kids about music
Just listen.
I've documented my love of music in a number of ways on this blog and across my social networks. My playlists span the depths of music's best, from Frank Sinatra to Miles Davis to Stevie Ray Vaughn to Jimi Hendrix to The Four Tops to The Eagles to Billy Joel to Dilated Peoples to Tribe Called Quest to The Beatles...and on and on and on and on.My eclectic music tastes come from two sources: my pops and my mother.
I've written about Dad's influence on me. After all, he wanted to be a rockstar, lived like it for a while and most definitely played like one when he was on stage or simply playing his guitar for the grandkids. Dad loved the Beatles, Stones, Zeppelin, Jim Croce and more.
Mom, on the other hand, loves the Motown classics and disco. I can't go through a Christmas Holiday without putting the Jackson 5 Christmas album on rotation because she'd play it constantly. I also have no problem throwing on The Four Tops or Stevie Wonder and singing the classics.
The juxtaposition between the two styles -- rock on one end and R&B on the other, has created such a vast acceptance of all types of music.
My wife also has the same tastes in music, which is why every time she cooks, she has Sonos rocking throughout the house. I do the same. During dinner, we will keep that music playing and we will talk to the kids about who we are listening to. We will also test them from time to time. A simple, "Who's this guys?" usually gets a Jeapordy-like answer.
Who is Awrosmith?
Who is New Edition?
Who is Dean Martin?
Who is Prince?
Yes, Prince...which is why I wrote this post in the first place. It's been over a week since the legend passed away unexpectedly. The world continues to mourn while also celebrating his incredible musical talents.
For my wife and I, it's not just about his music, but rather about those acute moments of time when Rassberry Beret or Purple Rain blared in the background.
You see, most iconic musicians have a period of time that they own. Prince transcended decades, however. While some of most recent stuff wasn't as popular as his 70s, 80s and 90s hits, the guy was a genius. Some of his most popular hits were written for other people.
When Prince died, we had to put his hits on rotation for the kids. We needed them to know the impact he had on music and the void he left.
There's talk about Prince's fame transcending to the likes of Elvis, Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston. I absolutely believe and it. He was an icon. He was a trend setter. He was a shooting star that burned out too soon, yet left a permanent streak in the sky.
If you haven't purchased his "best of," do it. You see, Prince stood up against streaming services and felt that they disrespected artists. He held his ground and people still bought his records. In fact, they are still buying his records. Afterall, they are timeless.
And speaking of time, that's one thing that is so limited in the grand scheme of things. How much time do my wife and I really have to educate our kids about music and the importance of a wide range of acceptance? Not much. That's why music is such a big part of our family. It brings us together. It creates great memories. It allows us to be on a single plane, coming together as a string of notes on a sheet.
Music is timeless. So is Prince's hits. So are the memories we are making with our kids.
Just listen.
