Continuing with The Mixtape Of My Life…
The Mixtape Of My Life: Sounds Like My Childhood
>>> What Albums Or Songs Did Your Parents Play Around The House?
Fleetwood Mac is the music I most associate with my mother, and my childhood. That said, there are others – Rod Stewart, The Oak Ridge Boys, Seals and Croft, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Anne Murray, Crystal Gayle. Later, when I was a teenager, it was Wham! and George Michael (my mom had a huge crush on George), Anita Baker, Gloria Estefan. My mother loved Barbra Streisand – especially music from her movies Funny Girl, The Way We Were, and A Star Is Born. She also loved her Holiday music. I also have vivid memories of the soundtracks to The Jazz Singer (the Neil Diamond one) and Saturday Night Fever playing in our house.
My mother loved, and still loves, The Beatles, but after my very young life (baby to toddler), I don’t remember her listening to them. Same goes for The Doors. My mother was a huge fan (and for a time, friend) of The Doors, but she never played their music in our house when I was growing up, at least not when I was around. She hardly spoke about them either until I was much older (in my twenties, I think was the first time she talked about them to me).
>>> Do You Know Your Mother’s Favorite Song and Why?
When I’ve asked her in the past she has said “Yesterday” by The Beatles, mainly because Paul McCartney is her absolute favorite. Again, I really don’t remember hearing her play/listen to The Beatles, or “Yesterday”, when I was growing up. It is always Fleetwood Mac, the Rumours album specifically, that I connect back to my mother and my childhood.
>>> Same Question For Your Father, Brother, Sister, and Grandparents
I have no idea about my birth father. My mother told me he liked Elton John and The Moody Blues, but that’s as far as my knowledge of his music taste/favorite songs goes. My Grandmother liked Country Music and Big Band, and loved pretty much all Christmas songs/carols/albums. My Grandfather also loved Big Band music, and was an avid fan/watcher of The Lawrence Welk Show. He also loved Mariachi music, especially live – and especially live at this one restaurant in Olvera Street, in Downtown Los Angeles.
My brother was a huge fan of MC Hammer when he was a kid. Then it was 90’s alternative/KROQ music he loved. The first concert I ever took him to was to see The Cranberries. Lately he seems to be more into pop and hip-hop.
Sounds Like My Childhood
A Playlist
“Go Your Own Way” – Fleetwood Mac
“You’re In My Heart (The Final Acclaim)” – Rod Stewart
“Lucille” – Waylon Jennings
“Baby Blue” – Seals and Croft
“Give a Little Bit” – Supertramp
“Lady Marmalade” – Patti LaBelle
“Upside Down” – Diana Ross
“Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain” – Willie Nelson
“You Needed Me” – Anne Murray
“I Say a Little Prayer” – Aretha Franklin
“Silly Love Songs” – Paul McCartney and Wings
“Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” – Elton John
“Delta Dawn” – Helen Reddy
“So Far Away” – Carole King
“Sunshine On My Shoulders” – John Denver
“Tie a Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Old Oak Tree” – Tony Orlando and Dawn
“Do That To Me One More Time” – Captain and Tennille
“(They Long To Be) Close To You” – Carpenters
“Love On the Rocks” – Neil Diamond
“More Than a Woman” – Bee Gees
“You’re So Vain” – Carly Simon
“Just the Way You Are” – Billy Joel
“When I Need You” – Leo Sayer
“Baby I’m-a Want You” – Bread
“Mandy” – Barry Manilow
“It’s So Easy” – Linda Ronstadt
“Evergreen” – Barbra Streisand
“Just When I Needed You Most” – Randy VanWarmer
“Escape (The Pina Colada Song)” – Rupert Holmes
“Dance With Me” – Orleans
An interesting mix of music. “Yesterday” not a bad choice of your mother’s as favorite song.
When I see her next week I’m going to ask if it is still her favorite