music in our house

My girls love music. When C was little, (around 2-2.5) I was on a Credence Clearwater Revival Kick and a Moody Blues kick. I remember listening to her sing (a word here and a word there) of Put a Candle in the Window or Have You Ever Seen the Rain from CCR it always made me smile. What made me laugh was to hear her sing along with the Moody Blues song Isn’t Life Strange. She loved the part where they sang “Cry, cry, cry...” she would be so very dramatic about it. She also loved to sing the instrumental parts of the orchestra with the song. The drums at the end were one of her favorite parts of the song. However, for all that C’s favorite music was and still is (for the most part) what she calls ‘Kid’s Sing’, which is, any music sung by children – particularly nursery rhymes and Sunday School songs.

When K was an infant, one song would usually calm her down and that was Amazing Grace (C’s favorite hymn is Battle Hymn of the Republic with Rock of Ages a strong second). I remember many, many nights where after I nursed her I would walk around the room singing Amazing Grace to her. However, as K grew older she developed a distinctive taste. Where C likes classical and is always excited when she hears and recognizes songs like Ode to Joy or the Hallelujah Chorus. K prefers rock and roll. In particular, K likes U2 and Newsboys. She loves to just listen to new rock tunes if she is unfamiliar with them. She doesn’t like it if you interrupt her listening.

However, one of the all-time favorites around here (at the moment) is Strong Tower by the Newsboys. This morning, before K got up, she lay in her bed singing it. It also pleases me that the other day while listening to the song, C pipes up “Is the strong tower, God?” C has a powerful grasp of metaphor and simile. (Excuse a brief brag moment. The other day while at the dentist, we were looking out the window at a swampy area full of very tall grass blowing in a very strong wind. C said “Mom, the grass looks like waves on the ocean.”)

Here are the lyrics to Strong Tower.

strong and mighty
strong to save us
like a fortress
never failing
strong in battle
strong in kindness
when we stray, Lord
You're strong to find us
when the winds come hard against us
You are steadfast, You are true
when the ground beneath us trembles
Your foundation never moves
CHORUS
strong tower
high and glorious
strong tower
mighty in love
our refuge
our defender
strong tower
Lord above
strong to lead us
through the shadows
strong to carry
all our sorrows
when the enemy surrounds us
closing in as darkness falls
though his armies rage against us
they can never scale these walls
- CHORUS -
BRIDGE
You are my shelter, my shield
You are the home I could never deserve
here I will serve, ever under Your gaze
here I will serve, ever singing Your praise
- CHORUS (2x) -
strong tower
Lord above
strong tower
Lord above

To my husband’s dismay, I’ve corrupted the girls and have them enjoying songs by people like Roger Miller and Johnny Cash. (I get a charge out of listening to C sing "Engaland Swings like the Pendulum Dooooo."

I can’t convince either of the girls to like The Proclaimers, much to my husband’s delight.

Oh well, I find myself skipping quite a few songs from all three artists if the girls are listening with me and there are lots of artists I don’t even bother with when the girls are around. Hubby sometimes puts on rougher stuff when the girls are listening. I wish he wouldn’t. (What do you say to a five-year-old who is asking about Cherry Bomb by Joan Jett?) I carefully refrain from any of my raw-edged faves (like Meat Loaf - I met him once - he is very cool).

It is fascinating what they are willing to listen to – they enjoy most Celtic albums but if I put on Loreena McKennit there is an immediate whine. They like a lot of classical music but they get anxious if we put on Twenty Fanfares for the Common Man. It is fun to listen to John Williams with them – they can tell when it is scary theme music. I love the Moldau by Smetna. K can’t stand it. 1812 Overture puts them both in hyper mode (do you think it could be the canons?) ;) Neither care to listen to Canon in D they don’t actively dislike it they just see know need to listen to it.

They both love to have Mom (whose voice is average to low-average in quality) to sing. They also love to have me make up songs (which I do remarkably well if I say so myself).