Giving The Gift of Music
July 27, 2015 § 2 Comments
“Just take those old records off the shelf
I’ll sit and listen to ’em by myself
Today’s music ain’t got the same soul
I like that old time rock ‘n’ roll
Don’t try to take me to a disco
You’ll never even get me out on the floor
In ten minutes I’ll be late for the door
I like that old time rock ‘n’ roll …” – Bob Seger, in his hit Old Time Rock and Roll
The Detroit rocker is one of my favourite performers of all time and I’ve seen him in concert twice. In a recent visit to our son, Peter, in Kelowna, I did something better than enjoying music on my own. I delivered some iconic records from my own collection as Peter has a fondness for playing vinyl recordings.
The Ties That Bind is a tune from Bruce Springsteen, another treasured artist. Music is one thing that connects Peter and me the most.
While our son has expanded his tastes well beyond what I encouraged him to listen to, sharing a variety of music was something I made a priority early on.
Over the years, Peter accompanied us to concerts ranging from B.B. King and George Thorogood to the Rolling Stones, Jonny Long, ZZ Top, Seger, and the Boss himself.
Fostering an appreciation of music is important. From the earliest days of mankind, it’s been considered a vital art form.
Philosopher Plato said, “Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.”
Just as we teach our young to talk, read and write, music is another way to express ourselves. It can reflect our moods or get a message across in ways simple words cannot. It can buoy us when we are cheerful or soothe us if we’re down.
Five years ago, I wrote a blog in this space about what music means to me: https://themuseandviews.wordpress.com/?s=music
I’ve been to a few more concerts since then, including shows by Elton John, Steve Miller and John Fogerty.
The latter performer, as part of his band Credence Clearwater Revival, has long been part of my musical history and brings back childhood memories.
I recall Proud Mary belting out of my older brother Bob’s bedroom along with Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple, Mother in Law by Herman’s Hermits and We are Very Sorry Uncle Albert by Paul and Linda McCartney.
I grew up in Dawson Creek, B.C. where the country music fare was the order of the day on CJDC.
Although not a favourite musical genre, I do appreciate that Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, Hank Williams, Sr., Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, George Jones, and Willie Nelson were giants in the industry.
My own musical tastes range from rock and roll to blues, folk and jazz and I’ve been influenced by friends and colleagues over the years.
I’m glad Peter chose to explore music well beyond what I shared with him. But it was a proud moment when he asked to have some of my records.
These included albums by Elvis Costello, the Beatles, Credence Clearwater Revival, the Rolling Stones, Simon and Garfunkel, and ELO.
Here’s Peter’s take on the passing of the musical torch:
When you take a look at my most recently purchased records, the influence of my parents on my musical taste is hardly evident.
Last week I picked up Run the Jewels’ second LP Run the Jewels II, and a few weeks before that, my haul from the local independent record store included The Roots’ …And Then You Shoot Your Cousin, Canadian punk-rock outfit, Pup’s first self-titled full length, and Modest Mouse’s Building Nothing Out of Something.
That said, others in my collection represent a heavy influence from the music that was directly passed down to me (the guys from Gaslight Anthem might as well be Bruce Springsteen’s kids) via the stereo on the Saturday and Sunday mornings of my adolescence.
Nostalgia plays a big factor in some of the music that I like. I still think of those aforementioned Saturday and Sunday mornings whenever I hear a CCR song and a lot of the bands that I like pull influence from a genre I like to call “Dad-Rock.” But that doesn’t account for my love of Hardcore-Punk, my appreciation for Hip-Hop, my proclivity for Death Metal.
This is because the significance of what you pass on is inconsequential; it’s teaching how to like music that is focal to a shared generational appreciation for music. Sure, my dad instilled in me a love of Springsteen, Warren Zevon, and Thorogood, but it was far more crucial that he nurtured in me a penchant for the eclectic.
I have been to hundreds of concerts ranging from Pop-Rock acts like Bedouin Soundclash to Black Metal ones like Behemoth, from the Punk Rock of SNFU to the folky strumming of Dave Hause.
Some of my fondest memories are of concerts, punk shows, and festivals and I can’t say that a love for live music, no matter the genre, would have been sparked had it not been for my parents bringing me along to concerts when they could have just as easily hired a babysitter.
I look forward to the days when I can pass on a wide-ranging love of music to my future child or children as it is one of the most powerful things you can do as a parent.
While I enjoy sharing my taste in music with Peter, my own musical horizons have been broadened through him. Some of my collection includes artists Peter recommendations such as the Black Keys, Mumford and Sons and Seasick Steve.
Peter’s desire to carry on our tradition is music to my ears.
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Tagged: bob seger, Bruce Springsteen, CCR, death metal, george thorogood, hip hop, music, music appreciation, punk, rolling stones
The Muse and Views 
It is great to see Peter taking up the torch and also very apparent he has inherited Dave’s writing ability. I remember when he wanted to be a paleontologist! I think the writing career will suit him much better.
I too like the old time rock n’ roll – but that just makes me old – according to my kids.
Once necessities are taken care of, music is the greatest gift you can give a child. Listening to it, playing it, talking about it, writing it—music is the language that brings the human experience to life.