Or getting to know me, getting to know all about me
The other day, my son Alex was telling me how his younger brother sometimes calls him Al. I told him, well that’s awesome, Call Me Al could be your new theme song. He didn’t know the song, so I pulled it up for him and it got me thinking how much I loved Simon and Garfunkel as a kid. We didn’t listen to much music at home, but I think my father had an 8-track player in his Cougar XR7 (I still love saying Cougar XR7 outloud, doesn’t that just so 1970′s badass?). When I hear these songs, I’m instantly transported back into that car, listening to my mom singing along in her Korean-accented English. I think all kids should have a memory of their mother singing and that’s why I sing to my kids, even though ____ (insert tone deaf cliche here).
My father played the flute and we were always so impressed that he could play along to this song. Also, that he could play the Sesame Street theme song. I can’t say that I was emotionally precocious enough to truly understand the lyrics of most of the Simon and Garfunkel songs we sang along to back then, but I did know that I liked the way the words brought pictures to my mind and I think it was my first appreciation of poetry.
I don’t remember if we had an 8-track of this song or if it just came on the radio a lot, but it was one of my mom’s favorite songs to sing to. Every time I hear the beginning of this song, I think of my mom.
I was an adult before I realized that James Brown wasn’t saying Papa’s got a brand new van. I think this song is why I am so funky.
Again, I was an adult before I found out this song was by Sonny and Cher. When I was a child, I remember thinking how incredibly sad it was that the singer had no parents.
One of my all time favorites. I remember me and my sister sliding around on the back seat singing along. All kids should be raised with a hefty dose of Ray Charles. This is the one parenting rule I have to put my foot down on.
What can I say? I got my excellent taste in music from mom and dad.
I really had no idea they were gay until the longest time. I just thought that’s what grown men were like. After all, my dad was in the Army and wore a uniform.
Diana Ross was awesome!
I admit it, a lot of classic songs and musicians I heard on Sesame Street or the Muppet Show first.
What songs do you remember from your childhood? Share, please!




