Lullabies for a Daughter
As part of the brainwashing music education of my 6-year-old, I created a CD of slow songs for her to fall asleep to. The results have been astounding.
She immediately took to the CD, and has been playing it nightly for about six weeks. Unfortunately, it has had a negative effect on her sleep patterns; she tends to stay up later, listening to the music. I taught her how to use the skip button so she can hear all the songs (she tends to fall asleep after about 6-8 songs).
She hasn’t asked for the lyrics, but I sneak by her room after the lights are out, and I hear her singing Chris Brown’s “Waiting for Caroline” word for word. She has asked to see the videos on YouTube for all the songs on the CD.
Many people beam with pride when their children perform in dance recitals or read their first book. I, too, have done this, but to hear my daughter enjoying the same music I have worshipped is the ultimate gift. I have not forced it on her other than just giving her the CD. The rest has been all her.
Her favorite song on the CD? “When She Loved Me” by Sarah McLachlan (from “Toy Story 2”). “It makes me cry,” she says. I must admit tearing up when I first heard this song, too.
The playlist:
- Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel) – Billy Joel
- Waiting for Caroline – Chris Brown
- Time After Time – Cyndi Lauper
- Time and Tide – Basia
- Everyday – Buddy Holly
- Warm and Beautiful – Linus of Hollywood
- When She Loved Me – Sarah McLachlan
- At My Most Beautiful – R.E.M.
- Goodnight My Love – The Nines
- From a Distance – Nanci Griffith
- Can’t Help Falling In Love – Lick the Tins
- God Only Knows – The Beach Boys
- Yesterday – The Beatles
- Sentimental Heart – She & Him
- Here, There and Everywhere – The Beatles
- Sunday Morning – Susanna Hoffs & Matthew Sweet
- Till There Was You – The Beatles
- Blackbird – The Beatles
- Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles
- Mother Nature’s Son – The Beatles
- Julia – The Beatles
AMD
That is so great. Your daughter will grow up with good taste in music. Don’t let her lapses bother you though. My son, now 14, is a massive Beatles fan, and picks up a lot of music that I listen to. But occasionally he’ll express a liking for the kind of shit your blog was intended to protest again. Bloody Akon! But, hey, I’ve listened to some rubbish in my time. Probably still do. The important thing is that our kids are open to music which many of the peers don’t even know, or wouldn’t be interested in. That, I think, is a wonderful gift to give a child.
Barely Awake In Frog Pajamas
I’m not sure if I wish my folks had been more into music or grateful that I had a clean slate to find my own way.
Isn’t that Lick The Tins version of “Can’t Help Falling In Love” from “Some Kind Of Wonderful”?
peter
Yep – It plays as the credits roll. BTW, it’s the best soundtrack ever made. Get it.
peter
Yeah, I know the time is coming when she’ll bring home something objectionable. I figure I’ll try to inoculate her as much as I can, though. ;)