If you want to sing out, sing out

As trite as it may sound, I recently saw a phrase painted on the wall of a cafe that profoundly moved me.

Sing more than you shout.

I shout, probably far too much.  I could offer excuses like, "I'm tired!" and "Life is hard right now!" but that's a copout.  Shouting comes too easily to me, and it doesn't give Xander the respect he deserves as an individual.

And music is important to me.  So that phrase struck a, um, chord, deep enough that I've actually considered getting it as a tattoo.

Since then, I've been trying to sing more with the kids.  Xander has been coming home from school with new songs, and it's always fun trying to decipher his version of the tune and lyrics.  I think it's a family trait, though; hubby has always delighted in twisting lyrics (and has totally ruined some of my favourite songs by making them completely filthy, darn him).

And it's rubbed off on me, so now Finn and Vieve regularly get treated to a variety of adapted songs.  "It's Peanut Butter Boobie Time!" is common, along with "Boobie Boobie Mushroom Mushroom".  The particularly insistent and earworm-y Telecom ad has become "Everywhere I go, I'm gonna wiggle-bum", complete with actions.  The immensely adaptable "I like to move it, move it!" has become everything from "I like to burp it, burp it" to "I like to wipe it, wipe it".

When I'm not feeling creative, I tend to fall back on the traditional songs I sang Xander when he was little.  I'd just moved away from Dunedin where I was on the fringe of the folk scene, so the twins often get lulled to sleep by a healthy dose of murder ballads, such as Annachie Gordon and Matty Groves.  And of course, Xander reduced me to tears in the hospital by telling me to "sing her the Hush Little Baby song".

We have a family tradition of selecting a song for each person from the Top 40 of the week they were born.  My song is Bright Eyes (and to save you the google, that's from 1979, which makes me the big 3-0).  My sister's is Sweet Tania.  My big brother's is Baby Blue.  My little brother's is Why Worry.

Given the state of music these days ("I remember when..." she says, in an old fogey voice) I was anxious about choosing a song for Xander, but the Finn Brothers obliged with Won't Give In.  But now I need to find TWO songs off this list and I have no idea what any of them sound like, or the lyrics (one of the many disadvantages of a car radio that tunes only to talkback).

So... any suggestions of songs of that list with nice meanings for me to check out? Don't suggest number 3, or I'll have to, like, leave a disapproving comment at you or something.  You know I'll do it.  DON'T MAKE ME DO IT.

Whoops.

"La la la, don't make me do it, la la..."

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ernie   #1   11:48 am Dec 02 2009

One of your twins is a girl right? In which case "Always on my mind" is nice...

Donnelle   #2   11:55 am Dec 02 2009

Yep, one of each. Nice suggestion, thanks!

...Louse...   #3   11:56 am Dec 02 2009

I've always made up songs for my babies. Thought it was just me. And now that big boy is 4 and a half, I get requests - I have to make up songs about rocketships and dinosaurs.

However Donelle you make me feel really old - I only know one song on there - Bulletproof - so my recommendation is Bulletproof. Not ncessarily logical but hey...

This time baby, this time baby This time baby, this time This time baby, this time baby, bulletproof

Markboy   #4   12:06 pm Dec 02 2009

Yeah, I'd be saying Tiki for Vieve... I have a strange soft spot for the Taylor Swift too... can't be sure whether it's appropriate or not.

Tiki - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3euc9pmst4M

Taylor - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBKvzGmdxNA

Captain Spanky   #5   12:06 pm Dec 02 2009

"one of the many disadvantages of a car radio that tunes only to talkback"

Disadvantage my arse, There are only three songs on that piece of crap list I'd actually listen to:D

Amelia   #6   12:12 pm Dec 02 2009

What about "She's a genius" for your little girl, maybe setting a high expectation, but could be cool?

And yeah, the Tiki song is good.

Ginny MacKay   #7   12:17 pm Dec 02 2009

I like "Oh My" by Gin Wigmore, "Heavy Cross" by Gossip, and "She's a Genius" by Jet

MissS   #8   12:24 pm Dec 02 2009

There are some fantastic choices on that list! She's a Genius by Jet would be cool for you little girl, fun and also about the strength and intelligence of a woman... all good things I think. A bit stuck for ideas for your wee boy thought sorry!

JeM   #9   02:41 pm Dec 02 2009

I know most of those songs, and i'm not sure any are appropriate as such as a baby, but could be cool when older. I love the idea behind it!

My plan is to get a good wine to cellar from the year of my daughters birth.

If Finn is likely to be into Transformers, the Linken park song is the theme song to the Transformers movie (as terrible as the song is).

Taylor Swift is likely to be inoffensive in terms of lyrics though I don't know the song!

bella   #10   02:50 pm Dec 02 2009

Definately Jet - Shes a genius. or perhaps coldplay or taylor swift. Not much to pick from but i really like the idea of that tradition.

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