Musical Influence

Today, I am enjoying the soothing sounds of Black Sabbath and Jethro Tull. I just discovered some old Black Sabbath tunes with amazing lyrics and great use of the flute. The flute is an underrated instrument, and the 1970s utilized it like no other decade has since. This is a curious statment for me to make, seeing as I am only 28 years old.

My mother raised me on the music of her generation, and not just the Beatles and other incredible and popular bands of that time. My mom is into true rock music. My parents took my brothers to Kiss concerts while they were in elementary school. I distinctly remember the day I tuned in and really listened to what Jethro Tull was saying in "Aqualung." I was completely in shock that my mother was listening to a song about a man with snot "running down his nose." I wasn't just appalled at the mucusy imagery, I was shocked that my mother was listening to something so completely wacky. Did my mom turn the song off? No...instead, she whipped out another album and said "have you ever heard of Blue Oyster Cult?" I was hooked on her generation's music before it was fashionable to be so.

My mother never censored much music and television from me, and for that I am forever grateful. Parents have long tried to shield popular music from their children from Elvis' swinging hips to Snoop Doggy Dogg's completely explicit, yet catchy, tunes. I never had my tapes or CDs taken away from me, nor was I ever told to turn MTV off, even if it did raise her eyebrows from time to time. I wouldn't describe her as lax, yet strict wasn't her style, either. Whatever her style was, I was parented reasonably and, looking back, I never felt sheltered or stifled. My mom didn't shelter me from the truth or the real world (and not just the MTV reality show). My mom knew when to be my mom and when to let me be a person.

When I tell her this as an adult, she wonders if maybe she should have monitored my media "to be a better parent." Given the hard knocks she and I went through, I'm glad my mom didn't take cues from society on parenting and trusted her gut. My mom and I bond really strongly over music, whether it be the soft rock of Josh Groban or Jethro Tull and his heavy horses. Her music taste is eclectic, a trait that I have inheireted. One day, we might be listening to Andrea Bocelli and the next, we have the Moody Blues playing on vinyl. Whatever we're playing, I know for sure that my mom has taste. We've been to many concerts together like Yanni, Janet Jackson, and most recently The Eagles. 

Thanks to my mom, I also have musical bonds with my late father. She always told me which songs were his favorites and which he hated. Even though he didn't like Seals and Crofts, he bought her concert tickets anyway. Whenever Kansas comes on the radio, I think of him. 

I have an appreciation for almost anything from Mozart to Tupac. I don't play an instrument, but I can sort of hold a tune. I can't read sheet music, but I can whip your ass any day of the week in music trivia...except if you are my mom.