Monday, August 19, 2013

We be jammin'...wait what did you just say?

"I know you want it"

"Must wanna get nasty?"

Huh? When I heard these words come out of my 7 year old's mouth, I felt dizzy.

Then, I back tracked. Now, I know I don't listen to that song. It's got such a good beat and I feel myself wanting to bounce to it. I know her karate teachers do and they pick her up after school.

Ever been in that situation where you are getting your groove on to a certain song but you know the lyrics are totally inappropriate? As an added benefit, it's a song you know you shouldn't be listening to with your kid in the car?

The song Hummingbird was jammin' to was Robin Thicke's Blurred Lines. I mean, who could resist the nice beat that song has (I know, I mentioned that aleady). I don't mind her jammin' but I have to draw the line somewhere as the Mom. With the line drawn though, where else is there for us to travel? Today's music is so questionable.


Back in my day (yeah, I went there), all my parents had to worry about was Madonna gyrating on the floor, singing "Like a Virgin". Now that I think about it, I don't think they even worried about that. Growing up in the 80s helped to define who I am. I don't care what anyone says, the 80s put out some of the best music!


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Things are so different today. Even when you think you're doing good, you're not. Case in point, Kidz Bop. Sure, there are kids singing the songs, a few lyrics may have been changed so that the song seems more kid friendly. But when you strip it down, it's the same song with the same meaning. The lyrics used in music today just lay it all out there:
  • From Nicki Minaji's Starships: "Jump in my hoopty hoopty hoop, I own that. And I ain't paying my rent this month, I owe that. But f**** who you want, and f*** who you like, dance our life, there's no end in sight. Twinkle, twinkle, little star." 
  • How about Beyonce's Single Ladies: "If you liked it, then you should have put a ring on it" Exactly, what is "it"? Is it any better that one of Hummingbird's favorite movies, Alvin and the Chipmunks, has the Chippettes singing this song? Then, who can forget Beyonce's video, with all of the booty poppin'? Beyonce is a beautiful woman and I admire the things that she's done but not sure about the message of some of her songs. Wonder if things will be different now that she has a daughter?
  • Here's one that, again, I bounce to, it has a good beat. But, man, those lyrics, YIKES! Daft Punk featuring Pharrell, Get Lucky: "She's up all night to til the sun, I'm up all night to set some. We're up all night for good fun, I'm up all night to get lucky".Of course, kids in their innocence, probably believe that "getting lucky" is a good thing, like finding all kinds of treasures cause they are staying up all night. 
  • Former Disney star, Selena Gomez: "If you're ready, come and get it." Again, what exactly is this "it" she's inviting everybody to come and get? I will not even recognize her Disney counterpart, Miley Cyrus with her "We Can't Stop". 
There are many more snippets from many more songs that I could post up here, but I think you get my point. I'll say it again, many of these songs have great beats that make you wanna get up and move a lil something. That moving a lil something  works for me cause I am an adult. I don't want my 7 year old moving anything like these songs are telling her to do. These folks are out to do one thing and that is to make money selling their music. Catchy phrases, good beats, hot bodies sell music, kids just happen to be caught in the middle of all that. I am not knocking that this is their way of supporting themselves, not knocking freedom of speech. I am, however, knocking any parent that listens to this type of music with their kids and are surprised at certain words or body movements their child is saying or doing. Alright, so it's not my job to judge anyone's parenting style. But it ticks me off when I invest in my kids and they get influenced by somebody else's kid, when they haven't made the same investment. Yes, that influence ticks me off but it can still turn out good because my kids get the opportunity to withstand it. Or my kids could feed right into the bad influence, I know mine are not perfect.

Now, I am not saying we should just listen to christian music all the time (before you go there, I have christian music on my Spotify and Itunes lists). I like a good mix of music genres. I am, also, not saying that we should stop listening to music, just cut it out like the town in Footloose cut out dancing. What I am saying is that I am more of aware that there are songs I should not to listen while Hummingbird is in the car with me or if we are at home (I play music all of the time, when I am cleaning, working out, just sitting at my laptop, at work at my desk, everywhere). As her parent, that is part of my responsibility. Yes, in due time she will hear worse than some of the lyrics I mentioned above. I would like the opportunity to explain these things to her, ok, I may sound a little naive.

So, what are your small kids listening to? Seriously, I am looking for suggestions on the types of music young kids (ages 4 to 10) are listening to. I picked those ages because before 4, they are still kinda into Disney Jr. type music. After 10, they're getting into popular music (maybe sooner). What are you both bouncing (do kids still say that?) to in the car?


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11 comments:

  1. Wasn't the song "F**k Tha Police" from the 80's? and I know George Michael's "I Want Your Sex" came out about that time. Going back to probably cave men jamming on rocks, I think all parents think the current music pushes it too far. It is a challenge with younger kids, we listen to talk radio or news in the car and only listen to programmed music channels on TV, no commercials and you know EXACTLY what kind of songs you're going to get :)

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    1. Ah, yes, Joy, those were songs from the 80s, late 80s though, which were progressing a little differently than early 80s music! I am laughing while I am typing this cause I am rationalizing. That's a great strategy you're using though. Curious, how old are your kids? I have 17 year old as well and certainly don't mind him listening to music with questionable lyrics, he's old enough to decipher the meaning. Hmmmm, forgot about the George Michael one though, might need to download that! Thanks for stopping by!

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  2. My son loves all that music as you would expect. When we go on itunes to buy some not many have a radio edit. Luckily i think he doesn't takes much notice of the actual words. .

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    1. Yeah, I don't think the lil kids really pay much attention to the actual words of songs, they just like the beats. So innocent!

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  3. I totally know what you mean. I get so concerned about the music today and I am a true music lover. But, becoming a parent definitely changes your perspective. Yes, there were some very provocative lyrics in songs when we were coming of age and we probably should not have been listening to some of those songs. I really try to shield my kids from a lot of today's music because as you said, the lyrics are so in appropriate. Oh, and Kidz Bop... so not better. I try to introduce things that I deem appropriate while my daughter is in this transitional phase. We listen to fun, upbeat and very musical gospel/inspirational such as Deitrick Haddon as well as artists like India Arie and others with positive messages in their music. We also listen to a lot of alternative music because it tends to be less inappropriate. Finally, she loves the Disney radio station on Sirius XM and I enjoy it as well.

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    1. Hey, Pink!
      Yes, my daughter likes the upbeat music she can dance to. Questionable lyrics just happen to be a by-product of the good beats! We love all types of genres in our house, so she gets an awesome mix of music that a lot of kids don't get. Disney makes me a little weary though, I got my eye on them!

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  4. Honestly, my children listen to whatever is on the radio. When they were younger, we listened to a lot of country music - not that they don't allude to things, but because the way it was alluded to was so beyond their comprehension.

    I'm a little different in the parenting department as in I don't really concern myself with those lyrics in music or shows on television. I listen to them with my children and sure - there are times when I think a song is just too much and I will change it - but usually some type of life lesson gets thrown in there, Momma O style. (For instance, "You Better not let anyone like ANYTHING until they put a Ring on it. And I mean a real Ring. After the Pastor MARRIES you."

    There are so many things out there to stress about that I probably put music lower on the list. I am more concerned about why they are making thongs for 7 year olds and trying to dress little girls like grown street walkers.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Momma O! I love your strategy and may have to borrow it sometimes.
      And yes, I am ready to have some conversations with other parents about the clothes being made for little girls. Trying to find decent length shorts for my 7 year old this summer was like pulling teeth.

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  5. I love this post. I also listen very carefully now to lyrics especially since I have kids of my own. A few days ago we were in the car and my 3,8, and 9 year old were singing along to Macklamore "Thrift Shop" and I heard some words come out their pretty mouths that did not need to come out.I tried getting them into the kidz bop music but that did not seem to work. Some lyrics are pretty crazy these days. And by the way I agree 80's music totally rocks. I saw you on bloggymoms. The link to my blog is http://momsworldbloggy.blogspot.com/

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    1. Hi Emma! Glad you stopped by and love that you love the 80s!!!! What an awesome decade. Yeah, the music these days just puts it right in your face.
      Your kids are so beautiful, will definitely check our your shop.

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  6. Music is powerful. That is why it is important to monitor the music our kids listen.

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