🎵 Monthly Song Challenge 🎵

[aussiegeekygal]

Day 6: A Song Your Family Played Around the House

This song was released during a fairly significant time in our family life. Both my parents were institutionalized within weeks of each other and I was granted custody of my siblings. My mum heard this song and used it as a way to explain what was going on in a way she couldn't otherwise articulate.

Later on we'd all agree that she was both crazy and a little unwell, but this song helped us navigate the shit show that was having mentally unstable parents and barely being teenagers ourselves.

Unwell - Matchbox Twenty

 

[MissLabelled]

Day 6: A Song Your Family Played Around the House

This song was released during a fairly significant time in our family life. Both my parents were institutionalized within weeks of each other and I was granted custody of my siblings. My mum heard this song and used it as a way to explain what was going on in a way she couldn't otherwise articulate.

Later on we'd all agree that she was both crazy and a little unwell, but this song helped us navigate the shit show that was having mentally unstable parents and barely being teenagers ourselves.

Unwell - Matchbox Twenty

The heart eyes emoji feels odd but I really want it to say "sending love" even if these events are not recent

 

[PassionatePanther]

Day 6: A Song Your Family Played Around the House

My dad had pretty good taste in music and I’m lucky to have inherited his massive record collection. This was often on repeat, especially after a few drinks. (If he ever switched to listening to bagpipes, we knew there were too many drinks consumed and we all headed for the hills …let me laugh at my trauma, dammit)

Suzie Q - CCR

 

[XShadynzX]

Day 6: A song your family played around and the house

This post is about my chosen family, those who took me in after I came out. I initially came out as gay in 1992 which made my familial relationships come to an end. In 1993 I left home and moved to the city to go to university. I was alone, confused, and just trying to get by, making money however I could to allow me to pay for school.

After frequent visits to the same gay bars (thank goodness for lax ID verification, and for gay bars existing) I started getting familiar with the staff and patrons. Some of those relationships grew to chosen family, people who adopted me into the fold and saw me as one of their own. It was still an immense struggle but I'm thankful I had them during this really difficult time in my life.

This one couple had me over for dinner every Sunday evening, which was my best meal all week. I felt so safe in their apartment and they had a lot of vinyl records. This was one of the records they had and I played it every time I went over.

This song spoke to me on so many levels but in their presence, this lyric went straight to my heart.

"And I-I, had a feeling that I belonged
I-I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone"

Tracy Chapman - Fast Car

 

[XShadynzX]

Day 6: A song your family played around and the house
Family. My father took off when I was six, married the woman he was cheating on my mom with, who had two kids. Kind of messed me up on that relationship, cross the board. A decent amount of therapy under that bridge, but I admit I sill have father issues, heh. I don't plan it this way, but I have found in my novels, fathers are rarely the good guy.

Ah, but my Mom. My mother, on the other hand, was and is an amazing person. She was an adopter -- if she loved you, she loved who you loved, even if she didn't always like them, heh. Our house was always full with our friends. Fighting with a parent and need someplace to sleep? Sure. Need an adult to talk to? Absolutly. Need a hug? Come here. We didn't have a lot of money, but no one went hungry at our house. No one got turned away. I talk about the differences between my ex an me a lot, as that is still raw in my mind. We were talking to my daughter, well before the divorce, and her mother said "as long as you are working or in college, you will always have a place to live here." And I turned and said to The Kid "as long as I am alive, you have a place to live." That was my mother in me.

Music was part of our life, as were stories. She was a singer, and pianist, and guitar player. And we had books everywhere. Sometimes they came together. The Jims: Jimmy Buffett was always playing, as was Jim Croce, both consummate storytellers. Today, it is Croce. One of Mom's favorite albums was Photographs & Memories, Jim Croce's first greatest hits album. It says something of his talent that with two albums he had a Greatest Hits, and every track is a banger. His dying at 30 cut an astonishing story so short. This is one of my favorites, though I had to grow into understanding it.

"But that's not the way it feels," hits so much harder later in life than in does as a kid. And with my dad leaving, I think this song was very personal to her. But I learned from my Mom, who still opens the house to the neighbors, that you roll with it and still keep loving. That is what family is supposed to be.

"Operator," Jim Croce

 

[XShadynzX]

Day 6: A Song Your Family Played Around the House

This song was released during a fairly significant time in our family life. Both my parents were institutionalized within weeks of each other and I was granted custody of my siblings. My mum heard this song and used it as a way to explain what was going on in a way she couldn't otherwise articulate.

Later on we'd all agree that she was both crazy and a little unwell, but this song helped us navigate the shit show that was having mentally unstable parents and barely being teenagers ourselves.

Unwell - Matchbox Twenty

 

[SalaciousMonkey22]

Day 6: A song your family played around and the house

This post is about my chosen family, those who took me in after I came out. I initially came out as gay in 1992 which made my familial relationships come to an end. In 1993 I left home and moved to the city to go to university. I was alone, confused, and just trying to get by, making money however I could to allow me to pay for school.

After frequent visits to the same gay bars (thank goodness for lax ID verification, and for gay bars existing) I started getting familiar with the staff and patrons. Some of those relationships grew to chosen family, people who adopted me into the fold and saw me as one of their own. It was still an immense struggle but I'm thankful I had them during this really difficult time in my life.

This one couple had me over for dinner every Sunday evening, which was my best meal all week. I felt so safe in their apartment and they had a lot of vinyl records. This was one of the records they had and I played it every time I went over.

This song spoke to me on so many levels but in their presence, this lyric went straight to my heart.

"And I-I, had a feeling that I belonged
I-I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone"

Tracy Chapman - Fast Car

I was just listening to this yesterday on a folk list after listening to Joni Mitchell. Such a fantastic fucking thing of beauty it is.

 

[Biggalute]

Song Your Family Played Around the House
I grew up sharing a bedroom with an older brother who was very much a child of the early seventies, so Bowie/TRex/Roxy/Steve Harley were played constantly. Gone with one with a smiley happy feel

 

[UnquietDreams]

Day 5: a song with sampling in it.

 Groove is in the Heart-Deee-Lite
Samples from Bring Down the Birds by Herbie Hancock

It still just amazes me that they only had one hit.

 

[MindYaBitness]

Day 6: A Song Your Family Played Around the House

I grew up in a very musical home. We all had music lessons, played instruments, and I had singing lessons... Les Mis and Phantom were on all the time as I grew up. I still listen to them both on a regular basis. This is one of my favorites.

That key change always gives me goose bumps!

 

[Amanda330]

That key change always gives me goose bumps!

It's my favorite part of the song! When I'm alone I belt it out with her lol...

 

[MindYaBitness]

It's my favorite part of the song! When I'm alone I belt it out with her lol...

I'm contralto, "on my own" is my cup of tea, though still a bit high

 

[Wand3rlust]

Day 6

So many to choose from. But my parents had a love of all music but they did love a sing a long.

The Spinners - Navvy Boots

Note, the US band were called 'The Detroit Spinners' in the UK so as not to cause confusion with this Liverpool folk band.

 

[Amanda330]

I'm contralto, "on my own" is my cup of tea, though still a bit high

It's really her breath control that just impresses me so much. And the emotion in her voice...

I almost posted "On My Own" but ultimately decided on this.

 

[onanismaddict]

Day 6: A Song Your Family Played Around the House

I don't want to get too deep, or personal, here in the great wide open...
However, I truly admire and appreciate everyone who shares so courageously! Thank you!
(I "overshare" unstoppably in private conversations, but sometimes I get spooked by the public arena.)
But I will say that this whole album, and others like it, filled the air constantly when I was a young child.
I'm sure my parents were banking on the fact that I was too young to pay attention, care, or understand...
And yet, it's amazing what we can absorb in our youth. I found this music fascinating then, and I still do!

Joni Mitchell - Paprika Plains

 

[MindYaBitness]

Day 6: A Song Your Family Played Around the House

I grew up on oldies, and raised my kids on an ecclectic mix as well. Here's their chiice:

Sh-Boom - The Crew Cuts

 

[onanismaddict]

Day 6: A song your family played around the house

My mom was pretty political and I grew up with a lot of hippie and/or second wave feminist music on the record player. But I’m choosing a song I think she took a little more personally. It never fails to make me cry a little. Even in stupid Napoleon Dynamite.

It makes me happy just to read the words "second wave"!
Definitely a lot of second wave feminist (hippie-adjacent) material on the bookshelves, on the record player, and in conversation in my childhood home growing up. In fact, I can remember you posting about your mother before, and I always enjoy those contributions. I think your mom and mine would have gotten along quite well... and perhaps their influence on us is the reason that there have been several times where I've had to change the song I was planning to post because you beat me to the punch (lol). In that same vein, my own mother really enjoyed Bette Midler. Great song choice!

 

[SalaciousMonkey22]

It makes me happy just to read the words "second wave"!
Definitely a lot of second wave feminist (hippie-adjacent) material on the bookshelves, on the record player, and in conversation in my childhood home growing up. In fact, I can remember you posting about your mother before, and I always enjoy those contributions. I think your mom and mine would have gotten along quite well... and perhaps their influence on us is the reason that there have been several times where I've had to change the song I was planning to post because you beat me to the punch (lol). In that same vein, my own mother really enjoyed Bette Midler. Great song choice!

Aww thanks man, you and I have vibed quite a bit. Those formative influences are huge. We should ask @morelikeasong a song to do some protest song prompts!

Also this song fucking wrecks me in ways I did not predict this morning when I posted it

 

[onanismaddict]

Aww thanks man, you and I have vibed quite a bit. Those formative influences are huge. We should ask @morelikeasong a song to do some protest song prompts!

Also this song fucking wrecks me in ways I did not predict this morning when I posted it

Thank you for the kind words!
(And for the good idea, regarding prompts.)

I agree that those formative influences are huge! I have a vast and diverse music collection... pushing into dark corners, and various genres, that my parents would have found unlistenable (lol)... and yet, at the end of the day, the majority of music that I listen to is very close to what I was exposed to in childhood. Powerful influences!

As far as the song wrecking you (which is as beautiful as it is sad)... part of the reason that I chose a moodier, jazzier, Joni song that always stimulated me intellectually (rather than the first 'Song to a Seagull' number that popped into my mind, which I will not mention out of respect to the 'one rule'), is that I was not feeling brave enough to be emotionally wrecked today. But there is something lovely in that kind of wreckage! Moving.
Thanks for the great posts!

 

[SalaciousMonkey22]

Thank you for the kind words!
(And for the good idea, regarding prompts.)

I agree that those formative influences are huge! I have a vast and diverse music collection... pushing into dark corners, and various genres, that my parents would have found unlistenable (lol)... and yet, at the end of the day, the majority of music that I listen to is very close to what I was exposed to in childhood. Powerful influences!

As far as the song wrecking you (which is as beautiful as it is sad)... part of the reason that I chose a moodier, jazzier, Joni song that always stimulated me intellectually (rather than the first 'Song to a Seagull' number that popped into my mind, which I will not mention out of respect to the 'one rule'), is that I was not feeling brave enough to be emotionally wrecked today. But there is something lovely in that kind of wreckage! Moving.
Thanks for the great posts!

The power of music to generate emotions of any sort on what this thread is about!

 

[lavendersilk]

Day 6: A Song Your Family Played Around the House

(Watch me try not to mention more than one song...)

Even though I grew up religious, my parents and grandparents always listened to "secular" music. From Little Richard to Queen and R.E.M. to ZZ Top.

MTV started shortly after I was born and my mom always had it on. I remember trying to play the melody to a certain song by A-ha on my dad's mini Casio synthesizer in the mid to late 80's while the video was playing on our television.

Every time we got on the road my dad would play the album, "So" by Peter Gabriel. I remember getting so frustrated because I wanted to play something else and he threatened to stop the car and make me walk home. Lmao, those were the days... Now I love Peter Gabriel as much as my dad.

But, there was an album that was played quite a lot, maybe even more than "So." It was "The Cars Greatest Hits." We would listen to it all the time and I loved trying to mimic Ric Ocasek's style of singing. "A-well a-you might think..."

You Might Think - The Cars

 

[UnquietDreams]

Day 6: A Song Your Family Played Around the House

(Watch me try not to mention more than one song...)

Even though I grew up religious, my parents and grandparents always listened to "secular" music. From Little Richard to Queen and R.E.M. to ZZ Top.

MTV started shortly after I was born and my mom always had it on. I remember trying to play the melody to a certain song by A-ha on my dad's mini Casio synthesizer in the mid to late 80's while the video was playing on our television.

Every time we got on the road my dad would play the album, "So" by Peter Gabriel. I remember getting so frustrated because I wanted to play something else and he threatened to stop the car and make me walk home. Lmao, those were the days... Now I love Peter Gabriel as much as my dad.

But, there was an album that was played quite a lot, maybe even more than "So." It was "The Cars Greatest Hits." We would listen to it all the time and I loved trying to mimic Rick Ocasek's style of singing. "A-well a-you might think..."

You Might Think - The Cars

Damnit, I was as ready for a spanking...

 

[morelikeasong]

Loved reading what everyone wrote today. Consider yourself hugged

Day 6: A song your family played around the house

I was exposed to a lot of music as a kid, varied kinds. The qualifier, around the house, calls to mind some specific memories for me: Santana playing on the big speakers while my mom cleaned the house.

Santana - The Sensitive Kind

 

[The_spirit_of_oz]

Day 6: A Song Your Family Played Around the House

This song was released during a fairly significant time in our family life. Both my parents were institutionalized within weeks of each other and I was granted custody of my siblings. My mum heard this song and used it as a way to explain what was going on in a way she couldn't otherwise articulate.

Later on we'd all agree that she was both crazy and a little unwell, but this song helped us navigate the shit show that was having mentally unstable parents and barely being teenagers ourselves.

Unwell - Matchbox Twenty

Big hugs Aussie

 

[onanismaddict]

So many incredible song posts today! And such moving stories... wow. I feel honoured to be able to read these posts.
It was tempting to respond to 'so many' of the individual posts and song choices... so I will settle for this catch-all: 'Thank you everyone!!!'
Additionally, morelikeasong already said what I wanted to say, far better than I ever could...
This: "Loved reading what everyone wrote today. Consider yourself hugged "
Absolutely! Thank you so much!!!