Alicia
Keys would have been proud last weekend - or either demanded payment for
remixing her song without permission! Early last week, I noticed my 3
year old son singing Ms. Keys' popular song, This Girl is on Fire so
intensely that I laughed my butt off. I know that Landen has heard this
song before - briefly on that infamous credit card commercial, on other shows,
and on the radio. The difference last week was that he had the melody
down to a science. So I asked: Landen, where did you hear this
song? I had a feeling that he actually heard it in its entirety on the
kid jams CD that the older kids often listen to at school - and yes he had
indeed heard the kid version of the song...how cute! Fast forward to last
Saturday and, as he played "cowboys,” I heard the same song in its remixed
form - This Cowboy is on FIRE…hilarious and very creative.
But, now I am thinking - he is just not repeating - he is comprehending!
Great but now I REALLY have to pay attention to all of the music and media that
we consume.
Chicago
Tribune’s Heidi Stevens discusses music and other media influences on youth in
her most recent Parent ‘Hood column (published
in The State 3/19/13). She asks how parents would handle a
situation where their preteen’s friends listen to, in her words, “raunchy” music.
Now I definitely think that Alicia’s song is not the worst pop song for my
child to hear as it is really is about a women’s effort to balance, work,
family, and other life stresses. However, inevitably Landen will not be
sheltered by a kid’s version of every pop song on earth. So it’s never
too early to consider the most effective ways to allow Landen to be
independent, creative, and hip while using teachable moments to share our
values and encourage him to thinking critically about media and pop culture.
The columnist also asks if parents would consider themselves a “prude” if they
wanted their child to not listen to any of the so-called raunchy music.
The parent responses in her office ranged from Yes. But sometimes that's
your role… to No, you are not a prude. You have taste. Joking
aside, the full parent responses did place emphasis on using teachable moments
and on actually talking with your child and not just screaming at them about
how horrible their music is!
I
know that as a pre-teen and a teen, I listened to many songs that were totally
inappropriate, but my parents and older siblings used opportunities – like
preparation for dances, skating rink parties, proms, and senior week – to talk
to me about the real life influences and pressures that I would face – NOT to
judge. My father would often say that my friends and I needed to take a
break from the hip hop music and watch the 60’s soul group special on public
television with him– But he never told
us to NOT listen to hip hop and popular music – just to pay attention and
respect ourselves. My mom also added that if I always keep what she
taught me in the back of my mind, eventually my conscience would be
guide. Keeping the lessons in mind to this day – I am sure that we can
stay somewhat sane on this journey with Landen and help him grow into the young
man that he needs to be regardless of the popular culture that surrounds him.
Now
that I am paying attention…he has released his newest remix of the song…This
MAMA is on FIRE! – seriously, I can’t make this stuff up!!
by Kimberley Wicker, Outreach Specialist, SC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
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