Changing Channels

Last night while I was out with the girls, DH and The Mad Hatter met my parents for dinner.

DH called home this morning with the story he forgot to tell me last night although how he forgot to tell me blows my mind because I would have still been laughing.

As he was getting MH out of her car seat, she said "Daddy, what does it mean to talk with your hips?"

Uh, according to Mommy it means time to change the station.

Yes, they had been listening to the radio (Oh, come on! Don't tell me you listen to Barney all day long!) and she'd heard the lyrics to the song Don't Trust Me by 3OH!3.

Although I normally flip the station if a song with inappropriate lyrics comes on, Daddy missed it and MH doesn't miss a beat.

(I must add here that DH is a wonderful daddy and I'm in no way insinuating otherwise)

Daddy's response? "Oh, that just means moving your hips and dancing."

To which she broke into full-on hip-swinging head-bopping action and asked "Like this?"

After confirmation that her understanding of said concept of "talking" was indeed correct, they had dinner and never spoke of it again.

This morning, my mom watched the MH for a couple of hours.

MH walked up to her without a sound and started wiggling those hips. And proceeded to say, "Sweetheart, I'm talking to you with my hips!"

Which most definitely made my mom raise an eyebrow and stifle a giggle, but she just went with it. (she, of course, got the explanation later)

Dear Lord, we are seriously in trouble.

I'll admit that though I find the following lyrics completely offensive, the song has a great beat and gets me moving.

Shush girl, shut your lips

Do the Helen Keller and talk with your hips.

I'll be interested to hear what Kidz Bop 17 does to modify that one.

Author's note: I feel it important to note that 95% of our musical time in the car is filled with Music Together, Kidz Bop, Disney, and Sesame Street CDs. The other 5% we go wild with a variety of Top 40, classic rock, 70's, 80's, disco, funk, and the like so we keep a bit of sanity she has a well-rounded musical palate.

Rock on with your bad self!

We love music in this house. All kinds with the exception of country (I apologize to all of my Texan friends - I can handle some crossover stuff!).

When DH's gave me an iPod Nano last year along with a stereo on which I could play it, I was over the moon!

And when he upgraded that Nano to an iPod Touch this year, well, we all know how I feel about that! You would be absolutely amazed at the insanely diverse selection of music stored on my favorite gadget.

However, I digress.

I used to listen to music of all kinds while pregnant with the Mad Hatter. I loved to sing along to my belly.

We brought CDs and played music the entire time I was in labor.

When we brought her home from the hospital, we constantly had music going - it seemed to have a complete calming effect on her.

And as she's grown, she has shown a love for music that thrills me beyond belief!

When she was around 6 months old, we discovered Jack's Big Music show on Noggin and although her taste in TV has changed as she's grown, she still asks for it here and there.

We did a Music Together class for two years in a row. I'm not sure who loved it more!

We have just about every musical instrument imagineable, and often have impromptu band practice.

We have found some amazing artists that completely redefine "kiddie" music. If you haven't checked out Dan Zanes, Milkshake, Laurie Berkner, or David Weinstone/Music for Aardvarks, you most definitely should.

But what makes me the proudest is that we don't just listen to "kiddie" music around here. She comes to us with very specific requests for what we play!

As I sit writing this post, my little girl has been rockin' out to a variety of songs including Earth, Wind, & Fire's "September" (better known in our house as the Bah-Dee-Aah song), "Dancing Queen by Abba", "I Want You Back" by the Jackson Five, and "Rock the Boat" by the Hughes Corporation (can you tell we're in 70's mode this morning?). We just moved on to the groove-contagious Celebration and she can't stop boogie-in (her term!).

We're (or should I say she, some stuffed animals, a couple of Barbies, and a few My Little Ponies) having one hell of a dance party in my kitchen right now! And my girl has more rhythm in her pinky than my entire family combined.

We have no idea where she gets it but it is awesome.

The best (and most entertaining part)? She does not need music when it comes to moving. She is in constant motion and sings her own songs all day long. It's a hoot!

I hope that she will always continue to have such a zest for music in her life - whether she learns to play an instrument, continues to dance, or just keeps growing and developing her appreciation for it, because I believe music helps make the world go round.

And who doesn't have that one song (or a few) that can completely turn their mood around and put a huge smile on their face?

I am lucky enough to have both a list of songs that do that for me AND the sheer joy of just watching the MH.

And I guarantee you that if you were watching what I am right now and listening to her sing every lyric to Barry White's "My Everything" as clear as day while dancing along with Barry the Dog (more on him at a later date), you'd have a smile the size of Utah on your face too!

What's your happy song?

The thing I swore I'd never buy.

I have nephews.

3 of them - 16, 12, and 8.

They are on DH's side of the family, and I love them dearly.

Every year when it comes to holidays and birthdays, I ask if there's something special they might like.

When the boys were younger, my sister in law would almost always tell me they wanted those Kidz Bop CDs.

I researched what they were on line, even listened to a sample or two.

And I refused to buy them.

10 year olds singing Top 40 hits?

It's weird.

And just plain silly.

It sounded ridiculous.

Was the music even appropriate for their young ears?

Since there was always something else they wanted, I'd politely choose something else and everyone was happy.

Then I became a mom.

For the last 3 years and (almost) 8 months, I've listened to kids' music.

Slowly, the 6 CD changer in my car has been taken over by music from Elmo Live, The Backyardigans, Gymboree, Music Together, Sesame Street, and more - you get the picture.

And slowly over the past year, we've started listening to Mommy and Daddy music in the car once in a while.

Just for a change of pace.

It's usually a big hit.

MH, being so into music, has developed a major love for The Boss.

She loves to sing the bah-dee-ah song (known to the rest of the world as Earth Wind & Fire's September).

And we can not forget her newest found love - Dee-onis Lewis.

Yep, Leona Lewis. My girl belts out Bleeding Love like nothing you've ever heard.

She sings it to family, friends, and herself, and even managed to realize on her own that the latest Leona song on the radio is in fact Leona.

Smart girl.

Back to my story.

In this house, we have major love for Dora. I DVR almost every episode and she asks for them by specific name.

Inevitably, a few commercials get captured in these recordings.

One morning a few weeks ago, I got out of the shower to hear my munchkin singing little snippets of current songs and wondering how on earth she knew them.

I popped my head out of the bathroom, and there it was - the commercial for Kidz Bop 14.

Clearly she had seen the commercial before (she has amazing auditory memory skills like her mommy, and managed to learn each and every song snippet they show).

And this particular Kidz Bop cd is special. Not only does it contain many songs she's never heard, but it's home to two of her absolute faves - the first, of course being Bleeding Love (she sings the line "my heart's crippled by the vein that I keep on closing" clear as day), and the second being Love Song by Sara Bareilles (according to MH, Uncle Dave's favorite song, as he was at our house one day when we were having an impromptu iPod dance party and he sang every word to her while showing her some rad dance moves).

Listening to her sing along with these little kids is one of the cutest things I've ever seen and heard.

My first thought was that I needed to get her this CD.

Actually, I lie.

My first thought was Oh no! It's one of those weird CDs with the odd little 10 year olds singing Top 40. Seriously, these CDs are still around, let-alone on version 14?

I can't exactly put my finger on it, but there's something that disturbs me about the music.

There's nothing wrong with it, per say.

The songs do not contain inappropriate lyrics.

As I said before, I let MH listen to some of them - we've actually enjoyed some fabulous car singalongs together with them.

But still, it's just odd. Weird. Disconcerting. Like I said, I just can't put my finger on it.

And then DH witnessed the MH reaction to the commercial. And I told him how just the other morning she told me she wanted the CD (and this, my friends, is also new to us - the viewing of a commercial and the "I want that").

And you know what DH said? Awww, we should get it for her. How cute is she?

So, dear readers, today we headed to Target for a couple of things and DH went straight to the music department. And among today's purchases was Kidz Bop 14.

We managed to hide it and I slipped it into the CD player before MH even knew we'd gotten it.

As we hit the road, I told MH we had a surprise for her, and quickly hit track 7. The car immediately filled with what sounded like 20 little munchkins singing "Closed off from love, I didn't need the pain . . ."

I looked back and her little face was incredulous. That I know I've heard this before, but huh?

And I told her. She was now the proud owner of that CD she saw on TV and really wanted.

You'd think I'd know by now, but I'm still always amazed at how such a small gesture on our part makes such a huge impact on them.

The ear to ear grin on her face paired with the dancing (such rhythm!) and perfect (in tune) singing (of every single word) along with those kids was all I needed to remember that there is nothing I won't do to make my little princess happy (when possible, of course).

She was like a kid in a candy store - Mommy, can I hear a different one? Ooh, I LOVE this one! Can we have another one now?

We sampled every song on the CD within 15 minutes. She danced, we all sang, it was one of those fun family moments we all cherish.

DH said (after he sat in the car with her listening for another 10 minutes while I was in CVS having prescriptions refilled) "this one's gonna get old fast".

And the irony is that it's in my car, and I'll likely be the one to listen to it over and over and over.

And you know what? When Kidz Bop 15, 16, and 17 come out, I'll be right there buying them for MH (as long as she likes the songs).

Why?

Because she so clearly loves music. Because watching her dance and sing fills me with joy.

Because when we got home and got out of the car this is what she said to me:

"Thank you so much for getting me dat music nyusic CD. You made me so happy. You and Daddy are my very best friends."

Does this mean I am a parent who will cater to my child's every desire and whim and purchase every item she bats an eyelash at?

Of course not.

But seriously, what she said to me when she got out of the car still hasn't left me.

Could any of you ever argue with that kind of reaction?

I challenge you.

Top 5 Tuesday - Favorite Movie Soundtracks

OK, this week's theme (Favorite Movie Soundtracks) really made me think!

Here's a list of my favorite movie soundtracks, and I think I can limit it to just 5 this week (my movie memory is horrible!).

Beaches - I love every song in it - especially the Friendship theme that carries throughout the whole movie as the girls are writing their notes back and forth to each other. Of course, I am a cheeseball and will always love Wind Beneath My Wings, but also love all the other songs on the soundtrack. You haven't lived till you've heard the whole version of Otto Titsling!

Hairspray - I don't know why I love it more - because I love the movie and the music was so catchy I couldn't sit still even with a bad back, or because my mom bought the CD and has it in her car and the Mad Hatter begs to listen to it all. the. time. She knows every word of every song by heart and belts it out with such fervor! For further proof, check this out.

Mamma Mia! - yes, I love me some Abba! Of course I knew Dancing Queen and a couple of others before seeing the play, but after seeing this play, I could not get enough of the soundtrack (I'm assuming that the movie soundtrack is the same). Another get you out of your seat (or out of your funk and back into a good one!) and get you moving soundtrack - love each and every song!

Dirty Dancing - it's on my list of all time favorite movies, and one of the reasons is that I have the fondest memories of listening to my TAPE (yes, I had it way before I had a CD player) over and over. There's not a song on that soundtrack I do not love. In fact, I can remember many an evening spent with my friends across the street choreographing dances. Our best on was to "Be My Baby" and if I do say so, we were fabulous. One of us would always be the lead singer (I believe it was Ronni) and the other two would be the backup Ronnettes! Oh, I am dating myself for sure!

Waiting to Exhale - I probably should have added this one to my list of movies that I could watch over and over again. I love seeing Whitney at her best, both as an actress and a singer. She was a good girl back then. I loved the story of friendship in the movie, and every time I listen to a song from the soundtrack, I can envision exactly what scene it came from. Great mix of music.

Well, I actually managed to keep it to 5 - maybe Dana should make me a special award or something!

If you want to play, head on over to Supernanny, Where Are You and link up.

And if you want to play but don't want to do your own post, leave your list right here in my comments section!

Who's the Boss?

The Mad Hatter is a music fanatic. If there's a beat, she's in motion. Most of the time, she doesn't even need the beat. We're convinced there is music in her head.

There are times in the car when DH and I just need a break from MH's "nusic". We like to expose her to other things besides her beloved Laurie Berkner, Sesame Street grooves, and the like.

For example, she is a huge fan of J-Lo's Let's Get Loud. Give her some Barry White and she goes nuts. And we all know how she feels about the music from the Hairspray soundtrack.

This weekend, we were flipping through stations on the way down to the beach. DH settled on a Bruce Springsteen classic, Dancin' In the Dark. As I was reminiscing aloud about how Courtney Cox got her start in his video when he pulled her up one the stage to dance in his video (I don't know about you, but I so wanted to be her in that video back in the day), I noticed that the MH was singing along at the top of her lungs. She had never heard the song before, but she had no problem adding in her own words and rockin' out in the back seat.

She asked us who was singing and DH told her "that's The Boss". From that point on, all we heard every time we got in the car was "I want to hear The Boss! When is The Boss going to come on?" And DH kept flipping channels, promising her that we'd find him. At one point we actually heard a radio DJ say that Bruce Springsteen was coming up in the next set.

You try explaining the waiting to a 3 year old who has a new rocker love. After every commercial, she asked us again. And of course, when the commercials were over, we listened to four songs before pulling into our driveway and sadly, did not get to hear The Boss. MH seemed so sad - she was so intent on hearing him.

It had absolutely nothing to do with the song itself. I think she just liked the sound of it. The Boss. She knows where it's at. As soon as we walked in the door, I downloaded a couple of songs for her. She was ecstatic, and I managed to get a little music video of my own - starring the Mad Hatter. The lighting isn't great, and you might need to turn up your volume.

Hey, maybe this is how she'll get her start!

I'd guess not.

However, DH went through our CDs and found that he had a Springsteen CD he'd forgotten about. He put it in his car and the two of them listened while they ran errands (and let me sleep) on Sunday.

And now all she talks about is how Daddy got her a CD with The Boss and it's special just in his car.

Aww, Daddy. Talk about being a hero.

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Edited to add: wow, the picture is really dark (sorry about that). She is standing on DH's feet to dance, the way my dad taught her, and the way I used to dance with my dad. I love it!

Tiny Dancer

With a HUGE personality!

The Mad Hatter has a love for singing, dancing, and all things musical like NOTHING we've ever seen. We go to music class, own just about every musical instrument possible, and have been known to have an impromptu dance party or two in our kitchen (even if my moves are both slow and geriatric at best these days).

MH absolutely LOVES the "aaaahhhh-pod", and knows how to turn on the player all by herself. She thinks the music on the on there is fabulous. Of course she does, it's set to the mix I made for her 3rd birthday party!

Anyways, when I was in my early teens, I could not get enough of the movie Hairspray. I just loved watching underdog Ricki Lake beat out mega-bitch Amber von Tussel, and watching the world fall in love with her while she fell in love and fought for de-segregation on The Corny Collins Dance Show.

I especially loved the cameos by Ric Ocasek and Pia Zedora.

When I got wind of the fact that Hairspray was being re-made AND it would be starring John Travolta, only one of my favorite actors in the world (he's on my list of 5), I knew nothing would stop me from re-living my youth again at age 32 in the local movie theater.

DH selflessly sacrificed 2 hours of date night and took me to see it. I was a little worried he'd hate it, but quickly got over it because I knew I would love it (I mean, it IS all about me, right?). I'm happy to report that it didn't take long before I noticed his feet tapping along to the beat. The soundtrack is contagious! I, of course, had no problem with the added bonus of looking at James Marsden and Zac Efron for a couple of hours. The outcome - we both had a ball and date night was hit.

My parents saw the movie not too long after we did, and my mom instantly purchased the soundtrack. Shortly after, I had my first back surgery and was unable to drive, so MH and I were spending a lot of time in her car as she shlepped us around to doctor's appointments, physical therapy, and any other errand I had to get done (another big shoutout to Sweetheart!).

The Mad Hatter is quite used to having a very large selection of "nusic" in my car, as her favorite CDs have slowly taken over every spot in the 6-CD changer. Mom only has a single CD player, and the first time MH asked for her "nusic", she had nothing but Hairspray in the car.

This was not a problem for my little music lover. Since that day, she has memorized just about every song on the CD. I get such a kick of hearing her little voice belt out (in great tune, I might add) the lyrics when I'm least expecting it. She knows the words better than I do, and she sings with such fervor and gusto!

A couple of weeks ago I went nuts when I found out that Hairspray is currently airing on HBO. When I told Hubs we needed to DVR it, he said he didn't think she'd like it. Mommies always know best.

While I didn't DVR it, one day we were at my parents' house and we put it on for her through On Demand. Watching her face as her favorite music came to life on TV was one of the most priceless things I've ever experienced.

She stood, jaw dropped, glued to the TV for a few minutes, and promptly launched into full-on song and dance. It was fantastic! And while she has no understanding whatsoever of the storyline, which is really pretty sad (until, of course, they overcome segregation on the Corny Collins Show), it's all about the singing and dancing for her. She begs to watch it, and each time just has a ball turning into a dancing fool and singing her little heart out.

Last week, MH requested dinner nusic, and we were happy to oblige. When we had finished eating and DH was cleaning up, MH turned our kitchen into Dance Fever. We were dancing to a variety of faves ranging from Dan Zanes to Barry white, when all of a sudden we got a burst of our now favorite soundtrack ever. "You Can't Stop the Beat" came on, and there was no stopping her. I grabbed my camera, which I am thrilled takes video, and watched her go to town.

And now, making her Bloggywood Debut, I present to you The Marvelous Miss M:

My only hope is that she's still young enough to miss the actual storyline and is only paying attention to the music when she's watching. If she ever comes out with a comment like "I wish EVERY day was Negro Day", I'm done for!

And yes, we will be signing up for dance classes in the fall. My girl's got rhythm!

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Edited to add: please ignore the Mommy's singing voice - to the Mad Hatter's credit, she seems to have found the musical genes I am missing.