I love music...all different kinds...
I love old music especially.
I love Nat King Cole and Louis Armstrong, Johnny Cash and Elvis, I love The Temptations and The Beach Boys. I love that one song...I'm not sure who it's by but it goes
Sugar pie, honey bunch.
Baby I love you,
I can't help myself,
I love you and no body else.
At least I think those are the lyrics, I'm not 100% sure, all I know is that when that song comes on all I can think of is my baby brother sliding through the kitchen in his socks, singing at the top of his lungs. Ba-dah-da-da!!
Okay, he's not that much of a baby, he's 9 now. So grown up. Sometimes while me and him are in the car we'll listen to the radio together. Sometimes my mom's and dad's song comes on and he'll freeze in recognition before starting to loudly sing along...
You are the love of my life
You are my inspiration
Just you and me
Simple and free
Girl you are everything I've ever dreamed of...
He swears that he's going to play that song at his wedding. I just laugh because my little brother is singing along to Chicago and absolutely loving it...
I love my little brothers enthusiasm for music, as well as his tastes. If he's singing it, then it's good. It's probably old and quirky, it's probably classic, or about to become a classic. It's just the way loving music should be.
His other old favorites are Billy Idol's "Still Rock & Roll To Me" (something he picked up out of a jukebox in a real estate office in Ohio a few summers ago.) and "Surfer Girl" by The Beach Boys (He heard it was a favorite of our mom's when she was a teenager, and once curious, he had to listen and love it too.)
About a week before I left home the kids were all in my room hanging out and just talking. Josh was going through my stuff as usual, looking for cool things to add to his knowledge. He loved to go through my books periodically just to see if there was anything that looked cool and was good enough for him to read...
"Hey Em, what's this book?"
"That's The Godfather, Josh, you're not quite old enough for it yet."
"Oh, is there lots of graphic parts?"
"Yeah, it's not really for kids..."
"Okay, so I can maybe read it when I'm 10?"
"Uhmm, probably a little older."
"How about 12?"
He came across my Billy Idol cassette tape, the old MTV one with the interview on it from the 1970's, shocked and appalled that I would keep such a treasure from him he ran over to the boom box and stuffed in side A, clicking play.
The dancing that ensued as soon as the guitar kicked in for Dancing With Myself was crazy and wild and by far one of the favorite memories I have with my siblings. The song feels a whole lot longer than 3 minutes and 15 seconds when your goal is to stay standing till the end of it. With the way the mini mosh pit was going it was an unrealistic goal...
Coincidentally, when I moved away I left the tape for Josh, any kid who enjoys Billy Idol that much needs a cassette. Just like anyone who enjoys Bing Crosby needs some vinyl and a good 12" soundtrack of White Christmas. It's pretty much essential.
(Psst, Bing Crosby is awesome by the way.)
Seeing as it's late, I'll finish this post some other time, but I leave you the open invitation to fall asleep to "Helplessly Hoping" by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
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