"I Hear America Singing..."

One of the advantages that I gain from working everyday with young people is the opportunity to discuss music of nearly every kind. I am sure some of my students have rolled their eyes when someone brought up a particular song or someone has written a line from his favorite song on the board. However, I truly feel these discussions are worthwhile and valuable. Nearly every genre, from rap to classic rock, from country to hardcore ("It's not screamo!"), offers its own unique imagery and message. Letting kids discuss the imagery in a Jay-Z verse, make a connection between a speech from Romeo and Juliet and songs by Ludo or The Band Perry, and recognize the irony in the tone and message of a piece from FUN has revealed volumes to me about how those young people view what we are reading, what they see and listen to, and the world around them.

I think that is one of the things I usually miss in the summer. I do not get to have those conversations with a wide variety of kids on a daily basis. However, I am lucky enough to have two kids in my house who are willing to take the time to think about what they listen to and discuss it with me. It is one of the many ways my own kids bless me. The other day my son, a sixth-grader, asked me what a martyr is; he had heard the word in the song "Some Nights" while riding in my truck. An hour later, he came into the kitchen and explained to me what he thought the line meant in the context of the song. He had found it online and listened to it again, trying to figure out what "I found a martyr in my bed tonight" could possibly mean. He looked at it in a completely different way than I had. It made sense, and it was insightful. Likewise, my daughter Emily posted on twitter after we had seen The Great Gatsby that she was frustrated by those who immediately criticized the film for its use of modern music. She felt the musical selections deserved a closer examination before simply disregarding them as "Hollywooding-up" the classic. Many of the songs convey themes about appearances often hiding darker truth, and how morals and what society accepts change. Everyone wants to be in the "club", whether that meant attending Gatsby's parties or appearing at a fundraiser for President Obama at Jay-Z's 40/40 Club, but no one wants to be associated with someone as despicable as a bootlegger or drug dealer. Not until they have purchased a huge house and a flashy car anyway. There is so much to look at there, so much to think about, but it takes some closer examination.

So I am fortunate enough this summer to have my own kids provide me that link to what is fresh, and I am apparently not so much of an old man that it would be too uncool to talk about music with me. Not to them anyway. Thank the Lord for that. Add to that that Emily has recently discovered that she has a strong appreciation for Kurt Cobain and Nirvana, and this summer holds great promise for me, musically. I better close now; the radio's on, and they are playing my jam.