Althouse: Are the kids alright?

January 12, 2009

Are the kids alright?

more music charts

(Via Erik J. Heels.)

(Bonus link.)

25 comments:

Unknown said...: Well, look, if that's what it takes to get them listening to the classics... :); 1/12/09, 9:35 AM
traditionalguy said...: Once they do listen for whatever "Reason", they are soon hooked. There has never been a better creative period for music. Plus the i-pods and other digital media have re-opened the floodgates to the good stuff again.; 1/12/09, 9:41 AM
Darcy said...: My kid (15) loved this stuff before Guitar Hero, and I'm just so thrilled that he does. We share a lot of the same taste and it's such a wonderful feeling - a real connection.

I'm so glad these kinds of games are turning kids on to classic rock. Movies do it, too. My son downloaded a bunch of Johnny Cash after seeing "Walk the Line". *joy*; 1/12/09, 9:48 AM
Bissage said...: Both “Guitar Hero” and “Rock Band” are the result of “Maximum R & D.”; 1/12/09, 9:54 AM
Darcy said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 1/12/09, 9:57 AM
Unknown said...: Even though I'm not ready to introduce my 5-year old daughter to my full rock catalog there's plenty of good music targeted to kids that is also reasonably fun for parents, too. No not the syrupy Disney tween pop, but adults with real musical sensibilities that just like entertaining kids: artists like Dan Zanes, Laurie Berkner, Trout Fishing in America, Justin Roberts, etc. Sirius/XM has a great station highlighting this stuff.

I figure that the more we listen to music together the more influence I can have on her tastes over time. I don't mind her hearing most of my music but she just doesn't connect with it. (And in many cases I am glad!) This kid-folk stuff, though, she does---and so can I.

I have no illusions that she'll have her own tastes, but if a little bit of my catalog is mixed in there, so that when we're together we can continue to share, I'll be happy.; 1/12/09, 10:13 AM
Unknown said...: "illusions that she'll" ==> "illusions: she'll"
Sorry; 1/12/09, 10:15 AM
Anonymous said...: You do realize that when kids talk about classic rock, they are referring to Nirvana, not Pink Floyd right?; 1/12/09, 10:16 AM
TheCrankyProfessor said...: I had to give my nephews itunes gift cards rather than music this year. I couldn't bear to buy the kind of horrific arena rock they have become accustomed to through guitar hero.; 1/12/09, 10:28 AM
Christy said...: My 8 year old nephew just explained to me that he is in his Bob Seeger phase. Awesome kid! Er, he also plays a lot of Guitar Hero and Rock Band.; 1/12/09, 10:29 AM
SteveR said...: The "Classic Rock" station in my area has never played anything younger than early 80s and mostly it is late 60s and early 70s stuff.

My older kids liked it before Guitar Hero, although my youngest caught onto it with Guitar Hero. They do like the current stuff as well, but in contrast, I never paid any attention to the music my parents listened to. Later on, I appreciated some of it (e.g. Billye Holliday).

In part its a function of the relative continuity of the music over time, but in large part to how easy it is to listen to it Ipods, radio stations, etc. vs pulling out some 78rpm from a dusty cabinet and finding a turntable that would play it.; 1/12/09, 10:29 AM
kjbe said...: Give her a little time, mcg. When our 21 yr old was 5, all we ever listened to (it seemed) was Riders in the Sky. Time passed (and a few Sprintsteen concerts) and her own collection has become quite eclectic, with plenty of the good stuff (pre-Nirvana) thrown in. The cream always rises to the top. If they have an ear for it, you'll know.; 1/12/09, 10:29 AM
Ann Althouse said...: @downtownlad -- I would have thought Led Zeppelin, but I don't have kids in the house playing video games these days. I thought grunge was a bit disrespected by the currently young.; 1/12/09, 10:30 AM
Icepick said...: You do realize that when kids talk about classic rock, they are referring to Nirvana, not Pink Floyd right?

Another sign that fogey-doom arrived for me long ago. When I think of classic rock of I think of Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly.; 1/12/09, 10:37 AM
Unknown said...: It will be interesting if she introduces me to some good stuff!; 1/12/09, 10:37 AM
Tibore said...: "downtownlad said...
You do realize that when kids talk about classic rock, they are referring to Nirvana, not Pink Floyd right?"

Oh, God...

It just shakes me to my core that today's version of the metalhead looks at bands like Motley Crue and Metallica as "old", and damn near "classic" themselves.

Then again, back in the 80's in high school, I always looked at bands like Led Zepplin and Black Sabbath like that, and that was way closer in terms of years than what 80's metal bands - Metallica, Crue, whichever other GreatWhiteSnakeLion hairband comes to mind - are to us today.

Blech... talk about feelin' oldish fogeyish.; 1/12/09, 11:06 AM
Richard Dolan said...: My girls (13 and 10) don't have the slightest interest in my views about music, classic rock or otherwise. Fine with me, as long as they keep the volume down on whatever they prefer.

But it's the caption of this blogpost that caught my eye. Even if, as Ann says elsewhere today, split infinitives and fewer/less are matters of concern only to middle-brow grammarians, since when has "alright" become acceptable?; 1/12/09, 11:35 AM
MayBee said...: No, Ann's right. It's Led Zeppelin, not Nirvana.; 1/12/09, 11:37 AM
theobromophile said...: In the words of my father, "You were weaned on rock n' roll, like mother's milk." Count me in as part of the blue slice of the pie.

In fact, my father not only got me into classic rock, he's actually shelled out - not once, but thrice! - for Who tickets for me. Centre section, between ten and twelve rows back, so I can drool over Roger Daltrey.; 1/12/09, 11:58 AM
Unknown said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 1/12/09, 12:05 PM
Unknown said...: since when has "alright" become acceptable?

Since July 1966.; 1/12/09, 12:06 PM
George M. Spencer said...: Caution, mcg. Since 1965.

Did it matter? Does it now?

Answers aplenty in the bye and bye.

There is no ceiling.

There is no floor.; 1/12/09, 12:57 PM
Unknown said...: Ah thanks for the correction.; 1/12/09, 12:59 PM
Tank said...: downtownlad said...
You do realize that when kids talk about classic rock, they are referring to Nirvana, not Pink Floyd right?"

My girls are 24 and they're referring to Cream, Billy Joel, SRV, Allman Bros and, yes, Pink Floyd. Of course, YMMD.

Mine also listen to harder country stuff, softer music, and really "bad" music that makes me want to ... close their door. At least it's not Rap.

We've even been to some of these concerts together. Hard to imagine that with me and my own parents.; 1/12/09, 1:37 PM
chickelit said...: My whole family gets into "Rock Band", with me playing the drum parts. IMO, it's still rather limited in song choices. Here are two songs I hope they'll include one day: One for Keith Moon, and another for Bonzo (sorry it's not him but this guy gets it right).; 1/12/09, 5:40 PM