Damned kids and their damned music these days

Oh! This is another part of it, I think. Parents of little kids today are more likely to retain control over the stereo and more likely to be their child’s playmate than my parents were. When I was a kid and up until my oldest was born, there was Kids’ Music and Real Music. When my daughter was born 13 years later, there was all sorts of “Real Music” that was compiled and sold for parents of small children to listen to with them without poking their ears out with bamboo skewers.

Sure, my parents listened to Peter, Paul and Mary, Harry Chapin, James Taylor, et al., but usually in the evenings when I had gone to bed When it was daytime, my friends came over to play, Mom put on The Muppets or *Annie *or Free To Be…, and then Mom’d disappear. When I was older, I “discovered” her records. My kids never had to “discover” Fugazi, 'cause they listened to it right along with me and never stopped.

That would be how my dad handled things as well. I grew up listening to his R.E.M. tapes, and his jazz, Elvis Costello, and Beatles records. I was surprised even as a small kid to hear some of the weird stuff they make for little kids to listen to.