Parents Forum

jmeyer3131 · 02-10-2007, 09:11 AM

Do you know your teen's favorite bands? Do you think it's important to know what they listen to?

I think you can learn a lot by knowing what bands they like and why they like those bands. If they listen to any music that you can also enjoy, it can be bonding provided they know you really enjoy it and aren't pretending to be "cool." My passion (other than family) has always been music, and my daughter has similar tastes, so we enjoy a lot of the same groups.

It's been a good year for concerts. We went to several, and I won meet-and-greets for two of her favorite bands. Several of her friends have said that they wish their parents listened to their music. For me, I can't help it; music is very important to me.

Some music, however, is fairly disturbing to me. I don't care for highly sexualized music, and hate music that promotes violence. I talk to my daughter a lot about the importance of what you listen to and how it can affect your mood and your thinking. I sometimes ask her about what she likes about her favorite songs. The answers aren't always what I think they'll be, but they're always revealing.

Do any of you pay attention to your child's music taste? Do you think it's important? (And if you're really into music, too...what are your favorite bands or types of music?)

Sam · 02-11-2007, 09:29 AM

There are some music that are crazy, but how can you tell your child what not to listen to? I think that will make them want to do it more, i thik its best to just have a talk and let them know the nature of the music is disturbing, if it is, other than that I dont think its anything to really worry about.

penguinmama · 02-12-2007, 08:00 PM

My kids listen to what I listen to. Since I dislike heavy metal and related things, they aren't into it either.

We mostly listen to "southern gospel" (Cathedrals, Gaithers, that sort of thing), but also some of the Disney stuff - High School Musical soundtrack, Aly & AJ, etc.

happy2bg33k · 02-18-2007, 06:55 AM

I'm kind of a hard nosed mom when it comes to music. My kids have been exposed to lots of different types of music, as my husband and I are both musicians, and they have very eclectic tastes. But more and more the older one is getting into the stuff her friends listen to as well. She gets very angry at me because when her friends give her CDs I won't allow her to have them until I listen to them first . I want to make sure the lyrics and so forth are appropriate for her.

blade · 02-27-2007, 01:48 PM

Me and my daughter do have a simular taste in music, she likes classic rock, and some indie bands like me, I think it's really good as it gives us something to talk about and I take her and a friend to concerts sometimes, I don't enjoy them all but it makes her happy and it kind of gains respect I think a bit. She likes all that screaming, miserable music though as well, it sounds awful! Maybe it's just me getting old though.
steve

reowen51 · 03-04-2007, 02:52 PM

Cool idea for a post! I like the old computer programmer acronym G.I.G.O. It stands for garbage in garbage out. When you program a computer wrong ie 2 X 2= 6 the computer will only produce wrong answers when asked to do any multiplication involving multiplying by 2. Likewise our minds work much the same as computers. As a programmer raising my child I want to avoid garbage going in at all costs. Just my opinion but you do the math!

Thalionore · 04-21-2007, 01:22 PM

This is long but parents should definately take the time to read it. Music is one of the largest areas of a teenager's life. Among the many genres of music there have been several that are labled as destructive, garbage, and downright bad. While some of these do fall in that category other types of music which are not only poetic, but also fun to listen to are being under-appreciated. Among these genres, the prodominant is rock. Many parents don't think twice before outlawing the "noise" before their kids get ahold of it. Simply because it's "too loud!". While their kids are listening to emo, pop, and rap music without a second thought. Compare these lyrics:

"Got a single Silver Bullet
Shot right through my heart.
To prove I can survive,
Without you."

and the next

Longing hides
like an insect
while asleep you don't notice
that it stings you
I'll never be happy anywhere
the finger slips to Mexico
but it sinks in the ocean
longing is so cruel

The first is an exerpt from the song "Silver Bullet" from the band Hawthorne Heights, a very popular emo/punk band in the U.S. today. The second if a translated chorus from the song Sehnsucht, from the band Rammstein. Yes, the same Rammstein that allegedly helped cause the Columbine school shootings. Which sounds worse to you. What I'm trying to say is that music is a mixed bag. Rammstein has some songs that parents would find questionable, but you have to appreciate the poetic side to all music. Likewise, Hawthorne Heights has songs that any parent would let children listen to. Rather than tryint to censor your child's music, try instead to talk about it with them. Make a game out of trying to find all of the metaphors in song lyrics. Above all, just let your kids know that music is there to be appreciated. Parents would do well to pay much more attention and try to embrace the music their children listen to.

newdad06 · 05-18-2007, 11:15 AM

I wish I could get more into my stepdaughters music, but I am a bit of a snob. The majority of the crap she listens I just can't stand, not even for her sake. I'm sorry if the music requires backup dancers to make it interesting it isn't good music. Thank God, some of the boys she likes listen to music like I like, she has been asking me more about some of the bands she has heard them listen to.

newdad06 · 05-18-2007, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thalionore

This is long but parents should definately take the time to read it. Music is one of the largest areas of a teenager's life. Among the many genres of music there have been several that are labled as destructive, garbage, and downright bad. While some of these do fall in that category other types of music which are not only poetic, but also fun to listen to are being under-appreciated. Among these genres, the prodominant is rock. Many parents don't think twice before outlawing the "noise" before their kids get ahold of it. Simply because it's "too loud!". While their kids are listening to emo, pop, and rap music without a second thought. Compare these lyrics:

"Got a single Silver Bullet
Shot right through my heart.
To prove I can survive,
Without you."

and the next

Longing hides
like an insect
while asleep you don't notice
that it stings you
I'll never be happy anywhere
the finger slips to Mexico
but it sinks in the ocean
longing is so cruel

The first is an exerpt from the song "Silver Bullet" from the band Hawthorne Heights, a very popular emo/punk band in the U.S. today. The second if a translated chorus from the song Sehnsucht, from the band Rammstein. Yes, the same Rammstein that allegedly helped cause the Columbine school shootings. Which sounds worse to you. What I'm trying to say is that music is a mixed bag. Rammstein has some songs that parents would find questionable, but you have to appreciate the poetic side to all music. Likewise, Hawthorne Heights has songs that any parent would let children listen to. Rather than tryint to censor your child's music, try instead to talk about it with them. Make a game out of trying to find all of the metaphors in song lyrics. Above all, just let your kids know that music is there to be appreciated. Parents would do well to pay much more attention and try to embrace the music their children listen to.

I agree with your analysis of the music. It is a good way to introduce children to literature as well. When they get the concepts of metaphor in the song lyrics they can transfer that to metaphors in books as well.

tater03 · 05-18-2007, 04:48 PM

My son's are not into music yet being somewhat young still. But you can bet that I will want to know what they are listening to. Some of the music out nowadays is just not something that I want my son's to listen to. I will explain to them about some of this music and why I would rather they not want to listen to it.

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