Taylspin posted a question about mothers and music. My mother is a huge music fan and introduced me to all kinds of music. She also supported anything I ever wanted to listen to, and never, ever censored my musical tastes. I remember when I was eight years old and wanted to check out the musicals "Hair" and "Jesus Christ Superstar" from the library. My mother was a strict Catholic, but she never had a single qualm about my checking out what were considered, at the time, pretty risque excursions for middle-class Americans. She never censored anything I read, either. For this I am grateful. She made me the open-minded, open-eared person I am today.
My mother grew up a fan of the Hit Parade. She loved Frank Sinatra, Frankie Valli, and the Ink Spots. Later she teeny-bopped to Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper, and cried when the music died. When Rubber Soul was released in December 1965, she was pregnant with a boy's child who had just gotten out of the Marines. In a few months she would get married in secret. As she dreamed of her new life and what I might look like, she would sing this song to me in the womb. I was one of thousands of Michelles born that next year. But I'm still moved to tears by this song, because every time Paul sings it, I can hear my mother's voice:
Posted on 05/13/2007
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My Trusted MOGs
Eloquently put. Touching. And Paul's clip is a real treat.
My Trusted MOGs
Great post Michelle, I have been trying to EMCD my mother for years and hit a heart string with Jamie Cullum a few years back. God, I have not heard this in so long, great video.
My Trusted MOGs
Wow, Michelle, that's very sweet. Thanks for the vid/song too. I am also not on best of terms w/my Mom, so it's very strained & our contact is limited. Our lives are very different & neither one of us is changing too soon. C'est la vie. Seems we have one more thing to make us even more alike, my triplet from another mother!
My Trusted MOGs
Michelle - beautiful post reflecting on how your mom accepted your musical explorations. My mom passed many years ago and at her wake we played lots of music - but the one that most reminded me of her was "Beautiful Boy" by John Lennon since she was so proud that I had given her a grandson (by baby boy Sean).
My mom was an Engelbert and Tom Jones fan - definitely NOT my taste - but whenever I hear anything by them, I get misty eyed.
My Trusted MOGs
Great, great post, Michelle.
My Trusted MOGs
So sweet. :)
My Trusted MOGs
Shit girl, you're making me tear up! Wonderful writing as usual.
And did you know that I have been singing this song to my niece (though with Michelle changed to Janelle) since she was born and spent the first few days in an incubator? I remember when I would reach my hand in and stroke her and sing, her heartbeat would go up, or even if I was just singing. :)
My Trusted MOGs
^that's so great kristiana. I have always found that babies respond so well to music. I'm sure whenever she hears that song she will feel you, even if she doesn't quite know what or why she feels the way she does.
My Trusted MOGs
Awww. I would celebrate my mother's taste too but its far too much bad Disco.
My Trusted MOGs
What a heartfelt and well written post. You'll always have that musical connection with her, even if you're not speaking at the present time. My dad died when I was young but I still feel that, even though we don't talk, and I don't see him anymore, we are connected through certain moments and certain events, and even certain songs, like several by the Beach Boys. That's one reason the world needs music.
My Trusted MOGs
People come and go, but songs are always there (at least until the gov't goes more Fahrenheit 451 on our asses) I love my mom sooo much, and we have a great relationship...but on Mother's Day, she asked me if I would get her a Nickelback CD. I, of course, refused. We almost got into a fight over it. sigh.