Truth be told, I do most of my singing in the car, not the shower. One of my favorite memories of years gone by is driving around town doing errands and singing with my two daughters, Katie Beth and Amy. In the very early years we sang along to the radio or cassette tapes (yes, yes, we did!) and then graduated up to CDs.
Now that CJ, my 13-year-old is in charge of what music is played while we run errands, she commandeers my iPhone and scrolls through Spotify to find favorite songs. And yes, we sing together, just like I did with her sisters.
If I allowed my son Josh to chime in on this blog post, he would tell you how much he didn’t enjoy those sing-a-longs with his first two sisters. He usually demanded we change the radio station or turn off the tape or CD after five or ten minutes. Sometimes he just suffered in silence while we sang at the top of our lungs. No, we weren’t trying to drive him crazy — or at least I wasn’t. I can’t vouch for his sisters.
One daughter — who shall remain nameless — is a rock star diva in the shower, singing at the top of her lungs. And I love it — her shower-serenades always put a smile on my face.
If you’re waiting for some serious application to this post … well, there is none. Sometimes a quote is just fun, you know? And sometimes life is just about the moments that you sing in the car with your kiddos … or rock out in the shower by yourself.
In Your Words: So are you a rock star or an opera diva? Do you sing along with your kiddos? Your BFFs? Your spouse? Or do you prefer to sing solo? What’s your favorite kind of music?
Comments 11
I don’t sing – I don’t even talk much. Better to listen.
My taste in music is pretty wide; I like what I like. I’m particularly for of Linkin park, a mainstream band that has strong Christian messages in its music (reminiscent of U2).
I’m also fond of some rock anthems, like Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It”and Queen’s “We Are The Champions”.
And then there’s marc Cohn’s “Walking in Memphis”, which is blues.
The opening bars of Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto #1 have always haunted me; for some reason they call to mind Eero Saarinen’s design of the TWA terminal at JFK airport in New York.
Howard Hanson’s second symphony was panned by Virgil Thompson as being completely devoid of originality, but has the only successful “big ending” I have ever heard.
Lars-Erik Larsson’s “Forkladd Gut” (God in Disguise) has one movement, I believe the sixth, which is arresting. It’s choral, and the use of antiphony is striking.
Coldplay’s “Life In Technicolor II” is quite good, and has a goofily fun music video.
But what about YOU, Beth? What do you like? What inspires you? Do you listen while you write?
Andrew, I love Walking to Memphis! And since my next series is going to be set in Memphis, I’ll probably be listening to it quite a bit in the coming months.
Author
It was fun reading about your widespread musical choices, Andrew.
And me? I’m the same way.
I love everything from opera to country to Taylor Swift’s new tune, Shake It Off.
I have Spotify playlists for each of my novels — and yes, I love to listen to music while I write. During a writing/editing weekend with some other writing buddies, I found out that not everyone enjoys music-to-write-by.
On my playlist: Kari Jobe, Pentatonix (an a capella group), The Piano Guys, classical (Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 shows up in A November Bride, as does Born in the USA), Chris Tomlin, Lady Antebellum …
Favorite Songs: How He Loves Us by David Crowder Band; Begin Again by The Piano Guys; Brave by Sara Bareilles; I Run to You by Lady Antebellum; Bleed Red by Ronnie Dunn.
Thanks for asking, Andrew.
Opera!!!
All the way, baybee!!
And, I sorta know some.
Author
Why am I not surprised.
And if you read my answer to our friend Andrew you will see that I love opera too.:)
Oh, Beth, I’m sorry to say I don’t sing anywhere except in my head. I.cannot.carry.a.tune. Not even if the bucket didn’t have a hole in it. But I sing in my heart and my head so loud the angels can hear me.
Author
That’s singing, Pat, that’s singing. In your head and heart counts!
Rock star. Absolutely.
And – is it terrible to admit this? – one of the songs I love singing loudly with my kids is Pink’s “So What?”.
The first line of that song? “So what? I’m still a rock star!” 😀
Author
Oh, Jessica, I think that’s great that you sing that song!! You’re a rock star, bay-bee!
I sing whatever is on the radio/CD/playlist, at the top of my lungs, usually solo. Honey can sing, but he’s like your Josh, usually suffering in silence.
I love singing in the car when I’m all alone. And I sang to my babies all the time, but when they got older I slowed down because I really can’t carry a tune.
Thanks for sharing this fun quote!