"Songs are what I listen to, almost to the exclusion of everything else. I don't listen to classical music or jazz very often, and when people ask me what music I like, I find it very difficult to reply, because they usually want names of people, and I can only give them song titles. And mostly all I have to say about these songs is that I love them and want to sing along to them."
-Nick Hornby (Songbook)
"You can't really learn much about a person based on what kind of music they happen to like. As a personality test it doesn't work even half the time."
-Chuck Klosterman (Sex, Drugs & Cocoa Puffs)
I fucking hated taking piano lessons when I was a little kid.
Between the ages of five and eleven, instead of playing baseball with my friends, I was sent to an after-school music academy twice a week for two hours of piano lessons. It was pure torture and I hated every minute of it.
Through forced repetition, I eventually became pretty good. I once performed in a recital at Carnegie Hall. I was the dinner entertainment during my uncle's wedding. And I was accepted into the local neighborhood's All-Star Orchestra.
But my heart was never really in it so eventually my parents allowed me to quit playing piano so I could try other instruments. Since then, I've played trombone, saxophone, acoustic guitar, and harmonica. Want to know what I learned?
I suck at playing instruments.
So now I stick to karaoke. Unfortunately for me, I suck at that also. Unfortunately for anyone around me, I have no shame about singing badly. I'm not only a microphone hog but I've actually got a repertoire of favorite songs that I am not ashamed about singing (everything from The Cure to Bruce Springsteen to Coldplay.) Hell, I've even stood up in front of 50 women bloggers and sang Britney Spears' "Baby, One More Time" with my friend Kristen. I really do have no shame.
Despite my lack of talent, I love music. Heck, let's face it. Who doesn't love music? Even Nietzsche once said, "Without music, life would be a mistake." And that dude was a nihilistic atheist!
To understand the extent that music is organically ingrained in the human spirit, you only have to spend some time with a bunch of little kids. I love watching kids react to music. It's hilarious to see what makes them get up and start shaking their butts.
Ever since she was born, I've played all kinds of different music to the Peanut to see what really moves her. I love putting on a song for her and getting her opinion. Some of her favorites are Smashing Pumpkins, Depeche Mode, and Oasis. When we really want to go crazy and dance around in the living room, we put on some Duran Duran or old-school De La Soul.
I try not to push my musical influences on her. For me, it's really more about exposing her to everything and letting her decide for herself what she likes. For example, these days, the Peanut is strangely into country music. When American Idol recently featured Carrie Underwood and Randy Travis, my little 4-year-old New York City girl couldn't get enough of it. She was completely mesmerized. Naturally, she now wants an acoustic guitar for Christmas.
I told her to just stay cool and I'd talk to Santa about it.
Anyway, this whole post is really just an excuse to introduce some amazing videos of some awesome kids playing music. Check these kids out. I can't stop watching them over and over.
This first video is Korean sensation Sungha Jung. In the video, he's eleven years old. His dad is a classically trained guitarist and started working with Sungha when he was only nine years old. Here he is performing Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower."
Lucchy, short for Lucciano Pizzichini, came straight from Buenos Aires to Miami at 11 months, and now, at the tender age of seven, jams at music festivals around the world. The kid is even sponsored by Gibson Guitars. Here he is perfoming a Santana song. If you look closely, you can see a SpongeBob SquarePants sticker on his guitar.
This last one is my absolute favorite. Joe is a young Canadian drummer who began playing in May of 2008. He was 3.5 years old. He has had no lessons and has learned to play entirely by watching drummers on YouTube. He plays at least an hour a day. The kid rocks the sticks like a young Neil Peart. Here he is rocking The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again." Unfortunately, there's no way to embed the video but here's the link.
How amazing is that? I discovered it via BossLady today and I think I've watched it 50 times already.
Anyway, summer's around the corner and, as always, I'm looking for some new music. In the past, you guys have turned me onto some great new stuff that I never would have found on my own. So let's hear what's rocking YOUR ipod these days.
Give me some good stuff!
I am floored! That little Joe is amazing! Thanks for sharing.
Lately, I've been listening to a lot of shoegazer-inspired music:
Glasvegas (Scottish!!!)
Silversun Pickups (their new album took me a couple listens, but I now like it)
Darker My Love
Minipop
This Will Destroy You (all instrumental, soaring rock anthems)
And according to iTunes, I've also been listening to:
Andrew Bird
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Posted by: Julie Kang | April 20, 2009 at 10:43 PM
Thanks for your shares.
Lately on the playlist:
- M.I.A.
- Ting Tings
- Phoenix
- Feist
aaand the song "Engine Heart" by Mirah
Posted by: sfoofie | April 20, 2009 at 10:56 PM
Joe IS a rock star. Man, that kid is even better than Neil Peart!
Posted by: Katie | April 20, 2009 at 11:01 PM
It says 'obscure music lover' right on my twitter bio, so you know I'm legit.
I can't say enough about Passion Pit. Download the Chunk of Change EP and begin eagerly awaiting their first album, which drops on May 19. (they will be huge - you maybe heard it here first)
& Dan Black, but his good stuff can be hard to find. I'd particularly recommend 'U + Me', 'HYPNTZ', and 'Yours'.
& Timid Tiger if you dig pop-tastic anthems you love to get sick of.
& A.C. Newman's 'Take On Me' if you can't think of anything better than an acoustic cover of everyone's second favorite eighties theme.
Posted by: A. Yellis | April 20, 2009 at 11:13 PM
Whoa. That little drummer is insanely talented.
I am not in the know anymore and I mostly listen to old stuff. Today on a long MetroNorth ride I listened to Portishead's "Roseland NYC Live". It was beautiful.
Posted by: beyond | April 21, 2009 at 12:12 AM
P.S. I have been enjoying Nouvelle Vague as well. Nobody is quite like them.
Posted by: beyond | April 21, 2009 at 12:20 AM
OMG. The drummer is amazing. can't believe he is only 3.5 i've seen the Korean kid before. he's amazing too...
my little one LOVES to drum... maybe i should let him watch more youtube videos.
a short clip of him drumming can be seen here:
http://jinchoi.blogspot.com/2009/03/christian-is-getting-better-at-drums.html
he's 2.5 years old.. so i guess 1 year to get as good as the other boy. heh.
Posted by: Mary | April 21, 2009 at 12:36 AM
oh, lately, inspired by Susan Boyle, i've listened to the Les Miserables soundtrack. always good.
Posted by: Mary | April 21, 2009 at 12:37 AM
Ah, my iPod is my life!
I have a pretty broad range of musical tastes. This past weekend, we did a road trip with the whole Collective Soul catalog on shuffle, enjoyed the new Keith Urban album, wigged out to some old (Sammy Hagar-era) Van Halen and even older Loverboy. Just to keep my wife guessing, I threw in some new Ne-Yo, Kelly Clarkson, and Natasia Bedingfield. She only tolerated those for a short while.
When I'm alone, I like to listen to Jesse Cook's Flamenco-World stuff and lots of smooth Jazz sax from Paul Taylor, David Sanborn, Mindi Abair, and Richard Elliot. Sometimes I even play a dab of classical Baroque music. My wife doesn't go for jazz at all and really has a hard time understanding why anyone would want to intentionally listen to instrumental music.
Also been listening to the new Chris Cornell / Timbaland collaboration. Jury's still out on this. It's very odd for the former Soundgarden frontman to be doing such light, urban fare.
Posted by: Rob O. | April 21, 2009 at 01:30 AM
That kid drumming video was insane. I too have not a shred of musical talent. It saddens me. At least there's Rock Band.
I second the Silver Sun Pickups and the Ting Tings.
A band that I totally love is The Fratellis. Their first album, Costello Music, was instantly one of my favorites.
Posted by: Daddy Geek Boy | April 21, 2009 at 01:55 AM
I just have to say on a serious note that your attitude about exposing your child to music is so refreshing. As a music therapist, it's ingrained in my psyche that each person responds to different music and that all types of music have value. It warms the cockles of my cold, dead heart when I hear someone who clearly has his or her own musical tastes but still believes that kids deserve to listen to high quality music and that they get to choose whether or not they like it.
Posted by: NG | April 21, 2009 at 06:44 AM
You said something important - something I didn't realize I'd been doing. I'm influencing my boys' musical tastes. I don't want to do that. They're 11, 9 and 3 - they all love music (they all adore me - really!), and I haven't allowed them to determine what they like. Wow. Thanks.
Great videos - amazing kids.
Posted by: Chris | April 21, 2009 at 09:22 AM
Want to know why I think I love you, MD? Those are two of my all-time favorite quotes about music and you posted them on your blog. I LOVE YOU!
Now, run out and download the Jason Mraz album. I can't stop listening to it.
Posted by: Janie | April 21, 2009 at 09:40 AM
I just want to say I have the blackmail karaoke photos in my possession if anyone is interested. A dollar a peek.
Posted by: Mom101 | April 21, 2009 at 10:19 AM
I've been listening to Adam Lambert. His Mad World blows me away.
Posted by: carosgram | April 21, 2009 at 10:21 AM
I have so many favorites, so...
-Ben Harper (Any of his albums are fantastic, although my favorite is Burn to Shine)
-Guster
-The Hush Sound
-KT Tunstall
-Regina Spektor
-Lily Allen
-The Von Bondies
-The Format
-Tally Hall (This one just makes me giggle. And with an album name like Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum, how can you NOT have fun listening to it?
Others that I enjoy but aren't on my playlists enough:
-The Cliks
-Death From Above 1979
-Fleming & John (Ugly Girl gets giggles out of me too)
-The Mars Volta
-Supersuckers
Posted by: Erin | April 21, 2009 at 11:04 AM
Just found out about K'naan and his music. His second album, Troubadour is what's playing constantly on my Ipod. Not how you perceive a hip-hop record is but should be.
Posted by: Big D | April 21, 2009 at 11:12 AM
There's a really great band out of Seattle that you should check out. They're The Copper Kings.
http://www.myspace.com/copperkings
OK, it's my band but let's support reader bands. :-)
Posted by: V~ | April 21, 2009 at 11:30 AM
I listen to a lot of Hindi Bollywood music. To be more specific A R Rahman compositions- therefore versatile. Namely "Delhi 6" and "Jaane tu Ya Jaane Na" they range from classical to folk to pop and everything Jaane tu has some Jazz influence too.
They r all Bollywood musicals.
My English Favs are Corriene Bailey Rae and Sondre Lerche.
Posted by: Spontaneous Mini | April 21, 2009 at 12:33 PM
You need a Toronto indie band on your playlist. Try Metric.
Posted by: metro mama | April 21, 2009 at 12:41 PM
Watching these kids play gives me mixed feelings. There's fascination, yes, but I'm also wondering to what degree they have been pushed to get there...
As for suggestions, what about the recent album by Robert Plant & Alison Krauss?
And not very recent but for some weird reason The Shins have quite an addictive effect on me.
And there's always the Beta Band...
Posted by: pensive legal alien | April 21, 2009 at 01:06 PM
Great DJ (Ting Tings)
Electric Feel (MGMT)
O Superman (Booka Shade)
Posted by: Dana K | April 21, 2009 at 01:20 PM
Young Joe is nearly as good as Jackson Hockey Jesus!
Posted by: muskrat | April 21, 2009 at 02:28 PM
You dropped a Rush reference -- awesome! You're now an honourary Canuck...and yes, that's how we spell honourary.
Posted by: Ed | April 21, 2009 at 02:39 PM
I am really into Vampire Weekend right now. I love the song "The kids don't stand a chance".
I am also loving Kings of Leon and Reel Big Fish. I know Reel Big Fish is not a new band, but the song, "Your guts, I hate them" has been playing over and over in my head.
sorry about my grammar
Posted by: Jaime | April 21, 2009 at 03:09 PM
If your daughter likes country music, play her "Already Gone" by Sugarland or "I Run To You" by Lady Antebellum. Both great songs and my country kids love 'em.
Posted by: Donna | April 21, 2009 at 03:18 PM
I love these videos, MD. Been passing along your post to all my friends, family and co-workers. Young Joe is a huge hit!
Posted by: Helena | April 21, 2009 at 06:35 PM
I've been listening to Blind Pilot A LOT for the last couple of months, and dragged myself out of the house for a 10:00 (p.m., that is) show in March.
Posted by: Bobbie | April 21, 2009 at 06:37 PM
If I tell you, you'll mock me.
Okay, FINE.
I am currently listening to Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen and to make me less suicidal afterward: Britney Spears.
Don't judge.
Posted by: Becky | April 21, 2009 at 06:54 PM
"I know Reel Big Fish is not a new band, but the song, "Your guts, I hate them" has been playing over and over in my head. "
Ooo! I LOVE that song!
Posted by: Erin | April 21, 2009 at 07:05 PM
I used to take piano lessons, too! They weren't that bad, but my sister and I covered for each other and we would tell our mom that we practiced when we really didn't. In fourth grade, however, I joined band and played percussion for 9 years. I don't think too many people were expecting a girl, let alone an Asian girl, in the percussion section.
Music I'm digging:
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Jack's Mannequin
Lykke Li
Bon Iver
The Kills
Arckid
Kings of Leon
If you haven't already done so, check out last.fm. It's like Pandora, but with more indie options.
Posted by: anna | April 21, 2009 at 10:12 PM
Right now, I'm also loving AC Newman, The Fratellis and Kings of Leon. I mix it up with a little Tragically Hip, Serena Ryder, The Trews, and Matt Mays (as well as Matt Mays and El Torpedo). Bliss has been found in an iPod playlist.
Posted by: Tawnya | April 21, 2009 at 10:43 PM
Little Joe was awesome! Why is not the current top internet sensation (or is he?).
In order to really fully appreciate Joe, you must have (or had) a 3.5 year old child. For him to have that coordination and patience (to drum for 8.5 minutes!) is very impressive.
The only thing my kids can do for 8.5 minutes is watch a Disney movie or whine in my ear.
Posted by: Amanda | April 21, 2009 at 11:05 PM
I mostly find music only after others have long since forgotten about it or stopped caring. So it will come as no surprise if you've already gotten sick of everything I'm about to list. If not, you should start now ...
Down to Earth from WALL-E by Peter Gabriel.
Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want covered by Clayhill
Daughter by Loudon Wainwright III
Flume (and other songs) by Bon Iver
Raise by Son Lux
happy rocking.
Posted by: badassdad05 | April 22, 2009 at 03:13 PM
When people are looking for new music, I always suggest Susan Tedeschi. Her voice floors me everytime.
Also, for some summer fun music, try The Format. Their album "Interventions and Lullabyes" is a car-jam staple for me.
Posted by: Maternal Mirth | April 22, 2009 at 03:50 PM
Alas, I have no iPod, so no recommendations on music. Unless you haven't heard Daughtry or the new Kelly Clarkson or Alison Kraus and Robert Plant.
First time visitor. Love your blog. Really loved the prodigies. Awesome.
Thanks!
Posted by: Fragrant Liar | April 22, 2009 at 06:30 PM
These kids are amazing! The drummer is awesome and I sent it to a buddy of mine that is an awesome drummer as well. Not sure if he was one at 3.5 yrs old.
Currently listening to:
Damien Dempsey (saw him at Mecury Lounge earlier this year)
Once Soundtrack
Miles Davis - Green Haze Album
The Cult - Electric, mostly, but some Love album too
Then I listen to a couple of comedians:
Dane Cook - Harmful If Swallowed
Dave Atell - Drunk with Power
Russell Peters -
Enjoy! I'll be picking through all the suggestions here too.
Posted by: Jrock | April 22, 2009 at 08:49 PM
Just found your blog through MOM 101 and was checking it out. I have a very good suggestion. Dustin Kensrue. He is absolutely amazing. He also has a band called Thrice, which you should also check out because it too is amazing.
Posted by: Emily B | April 23, 2009 at 01:22 PM
Found your blog through Angry Asian Man. Considering I used to live in your neck of the woods, I'm surprised I didn't pick up your blog earlier. Anyway, I stumbled upon Portishead's "Machine Gun", released last year. Link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKm-OkHj-VM
Posted by: Rteugenio | April 23, 2009 at 02:59 PM
it's so cute that peanut is into country music!
and those kids are AMAZING.
Posted by: dk | April 24, 2009 at 01:02 AM
Love the videos. Thank you for sharing.
As for music, I am still listening to the same things I listened to in high school and college, and I was hardly on the cutting edge then. So I'm looking forward to getting some inspiration from your readers, too.
Posted by: snickollet | April 24, 2009 at 10:36 AM
Did you say trombone?? And I thought I was the only schmuck who picked trombone in school. :-) We gotta duet one of these days.
I know, I totally have that Korean mama mentality when it comes to starting LN out on some Suzuki method.
Posted by: Mama Nabi | April 24, 2009 at 11:34 AM
If you haven't already, you must check out a very talented singer/songwriter...Todd Snider.
Also:
TV on the Radio
Warren Zevon 'My Rides Here' and go ahead and bust out 'Excitable Boy' while your at it.
Flogging Molly -'whiskey on a sunday'
And just to "keep it reelz" the new Ghostface Killer is good. As is my local hip-hop group The Cunniglinguists.
Posted by: cIII | April 24, 2009 at 01:07 PM
As I read this entry, AC/DC was playing "For Those About to Rock, We Salute You" as the last song of their set being broadcast on TV. Go figure.
Posted by: Paul Lee | April 24, 2009 at 10:59 PM
Iron & Wine - Flightless Bird, American Mouth
Stars - Elevator Love Letter
Matt Wertz - 5:19
N.E.R.D. - Sooner or Later
DJ Dangermouse - The Grey Album (very obscure, torn from shelves because he sampled both The Beatles' White Album and Jay-Z's Black Album)
Ron Pope - The Reason I Come Home
Chairlift - Bruises
Rilo Kiley - I Never
Posted by: Phil Kwon | April 25, 2009 at 03:18 AM
Lately my attention has been divided between two recent pickups:
Glasvegas, a disc that reminds me of mid 90s alt rock, and the Hold Steady, who sound like the coolest bar band you've ever heard. Check 'em out.
Posted by: ShotgunDaddy | April 25, 2009 at 01:10 PM
You must totally check out Metric!
In my playlist:
Succexy- Metric
I'm good I'm gone- Lykke Li
Bruises- Chairlift
Around the bend- The Asteroids Galaxy Tour
Islands in the Stream- Feist and the Constantines
Mr Wonderful- Shiina Ringo(electric mole concert)
And check out theredneckmommy.com! She's an incredible and insanely funny mommy. lol.
Posted by: Michelle | April 26, 2009 at 03:44 AM
I usually listen to a lot of Japanese rock; band such as X-Japan and Luna Sea. Going along in the same vein of this post, here's a kid who's pretty amazing on the drums.
http://www.youtube.com/user/dorumriku
Posted by: Trevor | April 26, 2009 at 04:24 PM
MD. When will you start twittering? Would love to follow!!
Posted by: Helen | April 26, 2009 at 05:46 PM
I hated piano lessons as well. At some point my Mom let me quit and she told me that I'd regret it some day. Dammit if the woman wasn't right.
Posted by: A Free Man | April 26, 2009 at 06:59 PM