Oldies But Goodies

My daughter, Atalie, who is 9 years old and in the 4th grade, has been walking around everywhere singing songs like “Blue Suede Shoes”, “I Want to Hold Your Hand”, “Rockin’ Roll is Here to Stay”, “Tutti Fruiti”, and “Surfin’ USA”. I’ve been loving it. She says that she really likes the “oldies but goodies”. When I was her age I remember my mom introducing me to songs such as “Tiptoe Through The Tulips”, and “Buttons and Bows” from when she was a child.
Anyway, Atalie (and Keegan, but he could care less) is singing these songs at their school music program for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade’s parents. I can’t wait. I seem to get a sense of pride when I see my kids singing on stage like I did. Especially when they love it. Atalie loves it. Colleen still loves it as well and is very active in the high school choir program. However, I have started to wonder exaclty what my grandchildren will be singing when I go to see them in their elementary’s music performance. What their “oldies but goodies” will be. Perhaps a little Journey or the Eagles? Kenny Rogers, Johnny Cash or George Strait? Throw in a few bands like New Kids on the Block, Backstreet Boys, and the Spice Girls? Someday a teenager is going to want to imitate Pink’s aerial performance of “Sober”. I am sure they will go so far as to sing well loved songs from Michael Jackson the way Atalie sings Elvis.
Sometimes it boggles my mind when I think about the changes in the future. Even now I find myself telling my 13 year old son, ‘Cameron, turn down that noise’ and, ‘how can you listen to that stuff? they aren’t even singing, they’re just yelling!’ Yup, things my parents told me.
When I was in 9th grade our choir put on a performance called Swanee. We looked forward to the show all year long. We even got to try out to sing solos and duets. I sang “Bye-Bye Love”. What a great experience, my mom was truly proud of me. I wonder how I will feel when/if my granddaughter has her spotlight solo singing, “Papa Don’t Preach”.
Hmmm . . .