Music & Family

    If there is one person that has influenced my music taste it’s my dad. When I first heard about this assignment, I immediately thought about my dad and the impact he has had on my music taste. I first started my interview by asking what his favorite type of music was. At first he said, rock and roll music, but more specifically rock and roll that leans towards pop and not heavy metal. He grew up in the 60s and 70s and he said he enjoys some of the earlier forms of rock and roll like Elvis but also variations of Southern Rock like Lynyrd Skynyrd. 

    When asked why he liked rock and roll, he said that he liked the energetic form the songs had. He tends to like songs that are upbeat and that have a faster pace. These upbeat songs bring a lot of joy to the world he says. It’s funny because as our conversation went on, he kept changing his favorite genre of music. At the end he almost gave up trying to decide on a favorite because there were so many different styles that he enjoyed that represented different times in his life. Although rock and roll music is high on his list, folk music is another one of his favorite genres with singers like Bob Dylan coming to mind. 

    He also really enjoys quartets like Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons or 50s quartets in general. Other bands he loves are Earth, Wind and Fire, the OJs, and Seals and Crofts. He also really loves musicals in general. My dad has introduced me to so many different musicals (old and new) over the years and I think that is a huge part of why I’m involved in theater and dance to this day.  

When asked about songs that held vibrant memories or special meaning, he immediately reminisced to his camp days. Each summer he would go to camp up in North Carolina, and it was here that he says music deeply impacted him. Each night they would gather around the campfire and sing songs. Songs like Country Roads by John Denver, Heart of Gold by Neil Young, and folk selections from Bob Dylan were sung on the mountain tops – “you could hear us all over the mountain” he would say. These songs shaped his childhood and helped him build community with the other campers. This tradition lasted from his young days as a junior camper  all the way to his high school days when he became a camp counselor. 

    Next, I asked him how much his music taste has changed over the years? He laughed and said that it had stayed pretty consistent throughout the years. The songs he valued as a teenager and as a young adult are the songs he still values today. He doesn't feel like he is stuck in the past but simply that he has close ties to it. 

    One thing I have always admired about my dad is his willingness to try new music. I will tell him about different songs I listened to and he’ll go listen to them or he’ll come home one day and say, “hey, I heard this new song, let's listen to it.” I asked him what he thought about the music of today, and he said that he enjoys it, but sometimes thinks it can be too crude and coarse. He feels as though some singers simply are trying to shock and get attention from audience members instead of writing meaningful lyrics. He thinks there are some incredible singers today, and thinks it is sad that they have to use the “shock factor” to do it to be heard in the industry. 

    Growing up, I attended an Anglican church with my parents. I asked my dad about church music and what his views were on it. He said that the music he hears in church has deepened his relationship with God. He said he usually doesn't pay too much to the lyrics of pop songs but in church he really focuses on the words because they are like a prayer. He feels like the mission of church music is different, its purpose is to bring people closer to God.

    I wanted to know what his least favorite type of music was to which he responded bluegrass, county, opera, and classical music. He followed this up by saying he tried to like all of these genres and he does like some of them but they are not his favorite. I admire my dad in that even if he doesn’t like a genre, he will always try to at least learn about it. One time he bought the family symphony tickets because he wanted to learn more about classical music and opera. He really enjoyed it and it helped me have a deeper appreciate for classical music at a younger age 

    Now that we had talked about some lighter questions, I wanted to dig a little deeper, so I asked how has music impacted you? It is funny because I would categorize my dad as an avid music listener. He is always playing music whether it be through apple music or the radio. He however, said that he doesn’t consider himself an avid follower. He mentioned that he never felt need to have latest music or follow a band. So, why is music important and the big question what is music for (dun dun dun!)? He said that he views music as a way to relax and have fun – it’s an escape from reality. When he wants to have fun or wants to escape he puts on music. He also said music is the foundation of every single social event. He said that concerts are a community building event where everybody has same focus – to enjoy and listen to music. Everybody is your friend at concerts he says. Music serves a major purpose at events and  underpins social gatherings. 

    I asked him about some of his favorite concerts he had been too, and he said he always enjoyed the concert atmosphere. He saw Bruce Springsteen on his Born in the U.S.A  tour, Pure Prairie League, Kris Kristofferson, and the Atlanta Rhythm Section. One of the most influential concerts he has ever been to was Bob Dylan’s in Charleston early 90s. He said it was a fairly small arena seating around 3,000 people. He and a friend have a fond memory of working their way all the way up to the front of the stadium close to the stage and seeing Dylan himself up close. One of the most memorable moments of the night was when Bob Dylan ended the night by playing Maggie's Farm.