Childhood favorites: Music

With a young one around the house, getting closer and closer each day to crawling, I can't help but think about my childhood.

Last week, I had movies on the brain.

This week, it's music.

I grew up in a home with contrasting musical styles.

In other words, when I was at home with my mom, it was one style of music. But when I was at home with dad, it was another.

For that matter, when I was being watched by my grandparents, it was something completely different.

For example, if I was at the house with mom, usually, The Beatles were on the record player. Sometimes, it was the Beach Boys, Chicago or the Bee Gees, but more than likely, it was The Beatles.

If dad was at home with me, however, sometimes I might hear Grand Funk Railroad or Iron Butterfly.

But if I was being watched by my grandparents, it was Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, Buck Owens or practically anything country.

Like many children, as I grew up, I started listening to a variety of different music, most of which I would hear on the radio.

I grew up when MTV still played videos and we had just got cable. So, a lot of my childhood memories of music are associated with videos.

Coincidentally, I remember a lot of one-hit wonders.

Like Dexys Midnight Runners. Who could forget "Come On Eileen?" Or Breathe with "How Can I Fall," or A-Ha with "Take on Me." What about The Human League with "Don't You Want Me?" Or After the Fire with "Der Kommissar?"

But there were others. Others like George Michael or Wham!, Michael Jackson, Tears For Fears, INXS and, of course, Duran Duran.

Like many children or wild-eyed teenagers, I discovered pop radio. And it was, at least to me, much cooler than what my parents listened to.

At least I thought it was.

I loved pop music. It was about the only thing you heard on the radio.

I still love a good pop song, but tastes change over the years.

But some of those songs still bring back great memories.

One of my personal favorites is "Something About You," by Level 42.

They weren't necessarily a one-hit wonder. They did have the single "Lessons In Love," but few remember this one.

"Something About You" went to No. 7 on the charts and generally is included in all of those classic reboot CDs from 1980s pop.

I still listen to a lot of these artists and it always takes me back.

Back to when the living was easy.

My only hope is that James David will find his own style. I'm certain we'll help him along, but like all children, they will eventually start listening to their own favorites.

Being a musician, however, I can't stress how much I hope he listens to "cool music."