My parent’s musical influences on me and my sibs were Elvis, Beach Boys, 1950’s Rock and Roll (via Sha-Na-Na), Motown and Neil Diamond. There was many a Sunday afternoon listening to records of these artists. As we got older of course each of us developed our own taste in music. We all pretty much had the same taste; we all liked the same music.
I remember when Pink Floyd’s The Wall made it into our house. My mom had to put up with all us singing, “Mother do you think they are trying to break my balls.” over and over again. We listened to Neil Young and Crazy Horse, singing Powder Finger at the top of our lungs. “Look out Momma there’s a white boat coming up the river”. Notice the mother theme in these songs. We were just serenading my Mom.
There, of course, were arguments over who was the bigger fan: who knew the words to every song. Kevin and Sharon would argue over lyrics to AC/DC’s Back in Black. Who was Little Nemo from Genesis’ “Then There Were Three”? Why did Peter Gabriel Leave? Silly squabbles over music.
My first record album that I bought with my own money was Barry Manilow’s Greatest Hits.
Why Barry Manilow? Because all of the other decent bands and singers were taken. I am the sixth of nine children. My older siblings already had cornered the market on Pink Floyd, Abba, Genesis, Neil Young, Beach Boys, The Who, BeeGees as well as anyone else. As an individual each of tried to stand out from the others. Dan liked Cheap Trick. Sharon liked Peter Frampton. Kevin liked Genesis.
So when it came to music I tried to stand out. Break out from being the middle child. Maybe get noticed for my musical tastes. Barry Manilow was a way to do that. The Lawn Whisperer, the other middle child, chose Andy Gibb.
We argued over who was better.
According to the readers of Poop and Boogies Lawn Whisperer Won. He is very happy.
Now should I be embarrassed about being a Barry Manilow fan? Should Lawnwhisperer be ashamed of Andy Gibb? Or is it even more embarrassing to admit that we know all the words to the songs in Grease 2. (That would be my mom’s influence)
“Who’s that guy? On the motorcycle. What would they say if the knew it was Michael?”
Monday, October 24, 2005
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15 comments:
One should never be ashamed of ones taste in music, I had Zeppelin and Streisand, and Denver, and Sinatra, and Percy Faith, and Dr Hook, all on 8 track. Sure ya get beat up for the Streisand, okay and all of the show tuness 8 tracks too, beat up but not embarassed. "Way out west they have a name for rain and wind and fire..." Paint Your Wagon Clint Eastwood and Lee Marvin I AM NOT ASHAMED
Looks to me like he could really fly! Who's that guy?! Hahaha!
I picked Andy to be cooler if I were a boy mostly because he was the only one brave enough out of the Gibb brothers to go off on his own. But Barry, oh man, he wrote the songs, ya know?
Lois Lane
Dude, see, now you asked which was cooler -- Andy Gibb or Barry Manilow. Totally Andy Gibb -- however, I always always always liked Barry better.
And yes, there was a time when I knew all the words to the Grease 2 songs -- and it was my own doing. I totally wanted to be Michele Pfieffer in that movie. Heh, I still do. :)
I grew up listening to Creedence Clearwater Revival, 3 Dog Night, Blue Oyster Cult, stuff like that from my parents.
Too many nights I remember my parents and their friends drinking and listening to that music so loud in the kitchen...
My daughter knows all the songs from Grease 2-I honestly am so sick of that and Grease 1 I can't take it no more.
Glad that debate is over...that was a toughie.
While I am not exactly proud of the fact that I was an Andy Gibb fan, I am proud of you bloggers that voted for him. It is just one more area that I have one-upped Bill. Sibling rivalry runs deep in a 9 child family. Bill have have gotten more attention from the parents, but Andy won the vote, so I won. Thank you.
You should be totally embarressed by all of the above. You now need to restore your coolness factor by telling us about the latest underground alternative emo funkadelic hip hop album you bought.
I think Lawn Whisperer cheated (I hate going against the author of the blog so bare with me here) anyway..Andy Gibb was more popular too because he had a tv show..remember the Hardy Boys? and 3 older brothers to pave the way for him. He had way more exposure than Barry, so I think Bill should win this debate cuz Lawn cheated! Stacie
I was a big Simon and Garfunkle fan in junior high. Nobody understood me.
Um, did anyone else think it's amusing that anonymous, who is not ashamed, is, um... anonymous? Hmmmm... Maybe it's Mandy -- you came and you gave without taking, but I sent you away OH MANDY!
A coooool rider, a co-oo-oo-ool rider.
If he's cool enough,
He can burn me through and through.
Reproduction was my favorite, though.
The first album I bought with my own money was Dolly Parton.
Okay, "Oh Mandy" wins hands down. Props to eclectic.
My claim to dorkiness is my love for Neil Diamond and my favorite song of his is Solitary Man.
I also love ABBA.
:o)
"You can dance, you can dance/ having the time of your life/ oooh see that girl watch that scene/ dig it the dancing queen"
No, I'm not cool.
I'm real. :oD
LOL! My sister and I knew all of the words for Grease 1 & 2 and had the whole "Cool Rider" dance memorized! My first cassette was "Huey Lewis and the News"!
OTHER PEOPLE LOVE GREASE 2 TOO??? I'm NOT the only nerd in the world. REJOICE!
As long as you weren't running around dressed like "Lola who was a show girl, with yellow feathers in her hair, and a dress cut down to there"...I think your choice of music was ok.
How could you forget to mention Roy Orbison. I think I heard him playing in the house on Sundays more then any other music. The first album I bought with my own money was Hall and Oates and the same day I bought Brian Adams.
Dude, the first record I bought myself was in first grade - Shaun Cassidy - De Doo Run Run. Don't be ashamed! Max will tease you mercilessly enough when he is older.
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