Wise words from Hans Christian Andersen.
Growing up, music was an integral part of my life. My Mother’s father was a music teacher and known widely amongst the educators in the ACT where I grew up. Every time I was with him, if I said something that reminded him of a song, he’d sing the whole thing to me. There was always music playing in my house: from the clarinet and trumpet scales (my sister and I), to ABBA (my mum’s favourite), to U2 (my dad’s favourite) to Roxette (it was the early 90s) to Pavarotti.
Growing up, music was an integral part of my life. My Mother’s father was a music teacher and known widely amongst the educators in the ACT where I grew up. Every time I was with him, if I said something that reminded him of a song, he’d sing the whole thing to me. There was always music playing in my house: from the clarinet and trumpet scales (my sister and I), to ABBA (my mum’s favourite), to U2 (my dad’s favourite) to Roxette (it was the early 90s) to Pavarotti.
Little L and her Daddy sharing a moment When still in utereo, my husband would play his guitar to my bulging belly every day and I’d feel the kicks and jumps of reception to it. He even wrote Little L her very own song which is still in the process of being perfected. My husband is no great poet or musician but the point is he wanted Little L to have a song, just about her. It’s a statement of love, and it’s not a new thing. All of these people have written songs about their kids too:
John Lennon wrote ‘Beautiful Boy’ for his son Sean;
Billy Joel wrote ‘Lullabye (Goodnight My Angel)’ for his daughter Alexa Ray;
Thom Yorke from the band Radiohead wrote ‘Sail To The Moon’ for his son
Noah;
Eric Clapton wrote ‘Tears In Heaven’ for his son Connor (warning: if you don’t already know the story behind this song and you want to know, Google it. It’s far too tragic to note on this blog);
Keith Richards wrote ‘Wild Horses’ for his son Marlon and performed it with his band the Rolling Stones;
Stevie Wonder wrote ‘Isn’t She Lovely’ for his daughter Aisha;
Delores O'Riordan from The Cranberries wrote ‘Animal Instinct’ for her son Taylor;
Bob Carlisle wrote ‘Butterfly Kisses’ for his daughter Brooke;
Ben Folds wrote ‘Gracie’ for his daughter, well, Gracie;
Will Smith wrote ‘Just The Two Of Us’ for his son Trey;
Jack Johnson wrote ‘My Little Girl’ for his daughter. Like her two brothers, her name has never been disclosed to media. And my personal favourite;
John Butler wrote ‘Peaches And Cream’ for his daughter Banjo.
John Lennon wrote ‘Beautiful Boy’ for his son Sean;
Billy Joel wrote ‘Lullabye (Goodnight My Angel)’ for his daughter Alexa Ray;
Thom Yorke from the band Radiohead wrote ‘Sail To The Moon’ for his son
Noah;
Eric Clapton wrote ‘Tears In Heaven’ for his son Connor (warning: if you don’t already know the story behind this song and you want to know, Google it. It’s far too tragic to note on this blog);
Keith Richards wrote ‘Wild Horses’ for his son Marlon and performed it with his band the Rolling Stones;
Stevie Wonder wrote ‘Isn’t She Lovely’ for his daughter Aisha;
Delores O'Riordan from The Cranberries wrote ‘Animal Instinct’ for her son Taylor;
Bob Carlisle wrote ‘Butterfly Kisses’ for his daughter Brooke;
Ben Folds wrote ‘Gracie’ for his daughter, well, Gracie;
Will Smith wrote ‘Just The Two Of Us’ for his son Trey;
Jack Johnson wrote ‘My Little Girl’ for his daughter. Like her two brothers, her name has never been disclosed to media. And my personal favourite;
John Butler wrote ‘Peaches And Cream’ for his daughter Banjo.
Today I’ve had music on all day. I am far more productive when it comes to housework if I have it playing and Little L loves to tap her feet to it while playing on the floor. It gives another dimension to the atmosphere and everyone at my house loves that. A while ago I made Little L a playlist with a stupidly eclectic spectrum. There’s more than a hundred songs, but I’ll list a few (if you can’t tell from the above paragraph, I do love lists):
‘The Dog Days Are Over’, Florence and the Machine – I put Little L on my lap and sing her this loudly while alternating between moving her arms and legs and bouncing her to the music. She thinks this is hilarious.
‘(I’ve Had)’ The Time Of My Life’, Bill Medley and Jenifer Warnes – because it’s the Dirty Dancing song and it sounds great. Nuff said.
‘Love Is Endless’, Mozilla – the title says it all really
‘The Scientist’, Coldplay – Chris Martin’s silky vanilla vocals and the melodic piano makes this a great tune for quiet time.
‘Sea Of Love’, Cat Power – This is from the Juno soundtrack. When this song played in the movie, I was incredibly moved and I always knew I’d play it to my baby someday.
‘Splish Splash’, Bobby Darin – Best.Bathtime.Song.Ever.
‘Clair De Lune’, Debussy – A beautiful, classical piece.
'Sweet Child Of Mine', Guns N Roses - a classic rock and roll ballad with a soft centre. Good on you Axl Rose.
‘A Thousand Years’, Christina Perri – from the last instalment of the Twilight Saga (Saga alright… anyone?!) Corny, Yes. But whenever it plays and I sing it I get really chocked up. Oh God I get emotional.
‘The Dog Days Are Over’, Florence and the Machine – I put Little L on my lap and sing her this loudly while alternating between moving her arms and legs and bouncing her to the music. She thinks this is hilarious.
‘(I’ve Had)’ The Time Of My Life’, Bill Medley and Jenifer Warnes – because it’s the Dirty Dancing song and it sounds great. Nuff said.
‘Love Is Endless’, Mozilla – the title says it all really
‘The Scientist’, Coldplay – Chris Martin’s silky vanilla vocals and the melodic piano makes this a great tune for quiet time.
‘Sea Of Love’, Cat Power – This is from the Juno soundtrack. When this song played in the movie, I was incredibly moved and I always knew I’d play it to my baby someday.
‘Splish Splash’, Bobby Darin – Best.Bathtime.Song.Ever.
‘Clair De Lune’, Debussy – A beautiful, classical piece.
'Sweet Child Of Mine', Guns N Roses - a classic rock and roll ballad with a soft centre. Good on you Axl Rose.
‘A Thousand Years’, Christina Perri – from the last instalment of the Twilight Saga (Saga alright… anyone?!) Corny, Yes. But whenever it plays and I sing it I get really chocked up. Oh God I get emotional.
“The day we met, frozen I
held my breath...
Right from the start I knew
that I found a home for my heart…
Beats fast, colours and
promises”.
I’m sure you know the rest. It’s been played within an inch of its life.
Music, just like books is so very, very important to a child’s development. I hope you have fun making your own playlist for your little one – they’ll remember the afternoons dancing around the lounge room to the songs you both loved, forever.
Love to all you mums with bubs on this first day of winter. Enjoy your snuggles, keep each other warm.
The Emotional Mum
Music, just like books is so very, very important to a child’s development. I hope you have fun making your own playlist for your little one – they’ll remember the afternoons dancing around the lounge room to the songs you both loved, forever.
Love to all you mums with bubs on this first day of winter. Enjoy your snuggles, keep each other warm.
The Emotional Mum
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