crazedparent

Do you listen to music when you cook?

Q. had a cooking project in mind yesterday morning and there was no chance to change his mind. He was insistent, adamant and downright adorable as he listed out the ingredients, the shopping we needed to do and the steps involved in his project.

We ran our errands and as soon as we walked into the house, he ran into the kitchen and pulled his "chair" over to the counter, ready to cook. I began searching for music to play on the iPod and a smile crossed his face.

"Since you're cooking, you get to pick our music. What do you want to listen to?" I asked.

"The Backyardigans. Put on 'Buffalo Girls & Boys,'" he said, the words quickly rolling out of his mouth.

He sang as he stirred. He boogied as he baked. And it was clear he's been watching his mama in the kitchen.

I always play music when I cook. My husband mentions this as one of his favorite weekend moments, when the tunes are playing and I am fast, and yet peacefully, working in the kitchen to whip up the evening's family meal.

The music selection usually reflects my mood or the type of food I am cooking.  I might listen to Alejandro Sanz and Mana when I'm making Latin food. The soundtrack from "Big Night" for Italian food. Or some sort of version of "Elemental Chill" when it's Mediterranean or California cuisine. Lately I've been on a hard 80s vibe, listening to vintage Van Halen as David Lee Roth croons about "Jamie's Cryin" or "Runnin' with the Devil." And Def Leppard (must get ready for the concert next week).

Somewhere in that mix, the boys come in and ask for a song. I almost always oblige. And I do have a soft spot for The Backyardigans.

Do you listen to music when you cook? What's playing?

What are words for...

Q. jumped on the bed, "Do you hear me?" he yelled. "Do you care."

Seven walked into the room, "What are words for," he sang," when no one listens anymore."

It made my heart melt just a little bit more than normal.

I fell in love with the hyper-synthesized intro of "Words" by Missing Persons the moment I heard it on "Solid Gold." I was 10,  and mesmerized by lead singer Dale Bozzio and the thick hot pink streak in her platinum blond hair. The way she sang into what looked like a big Tootsie Roll lollipop. And that weird, eerie voice that made the song so cool.

If my boys watched that video, they'd be mesmerized for different reasons. Like the plastic clear bra she sported and the black duct tape strategically placed over her boobs. Also the crazy eyes.

I dig my kids.

Come on...

The video for the song Come On by The Panderers shows exactly what you feel like doing the instant you hear the first few bars. Grab a drink and start shakin' it in a goofy, spirited sort of way. It also makes me want to throw a raging party.

The song is over a year old and I can't believe I heard it for the first time a week ago. I downloaded it immediately and it's been on heavy iPod rotation. And? Kids really dig it.

What kind of writing do you do?

I was on a flight down to Los Angeles last Thursday night for my segment on the KTLA-Channel 5 morning show, chatting with a guy sitting next to me. (To be accurate, he had the window seat, I had the aisle seat, and empty seat between us). After we discussed our jobs, he turned and asked me, "So what kind of writing do you like to do?"

"I write about parenting," I answered and before I could continue, he stopped me mid-sentence.

"No no. You're not answering the question. I asked you what kind of writing you like to do, not what you write about."

I smiled because he caught me. I was being safe and talking about work. He was talking about life.

"I'm an essayist. I like to write about snippets of my world."

Just like that.

What kind of writing do you do?

You must love this song...

Alejandro Sanz is one of my serious Latin crushes. (You may recall his sizzle with a steamy Shakira video for La Tortura".) I've been listening to "Try to Save Your Song" over and over because I just can't get the silky smooth blend of the horns, guitars, drums, and ahem, vocals of Alejandro, ll bubbling up to that big crescendo. Don't worry about understanding the words. Just pretend you're chilling out with a fruity libation with the tunes loud and the beat strong. Go on. You'll thank me for it.

Review: Sunny side of the street...

The folks at Razor & Tie sent me a copy of John Lithgow's new CD, The Sunny Side of the Street, about three months ago. I've always thought Lithgow is hilarious. And ever since he appeared on the television show, Third Rock from the Sun, it's even more fun to watch him as the pious Rev. Moore in the movie, Footloose. And when the offer came to take a listen to his new CD, how could I say no? It was also perfect timing -- I was getting tired of listening to Nol's millionth request for the song, "I'll make you happy," by some dude with the initials R.S.

On to the music.

Sunny Side of the Street includes 13 covers of old classics like "Inka Dinka Do" and "Ya Gotta Have Pep." The songs are upbeat and cute. And with Lithow's trademark corny 'tude, you actually have fun be-bopping around.

The first time we listened to the CD, Nol sat on the floor, took in every big band sound and all the words. He quickly decided that the tunes "Pick Yourself Up" and "Getting to Know You" were his favorites and picked up the lyrics. (Can you imagine a four year old singing, "Getting to know you, getting to know all about you." Pretty cute.) "You gotta have pep" sends him into a dancing fit and it's nearly impossible to not join him.

As with any children's CD, you have to listen to Sunny Side in doses. After a week, I was tired of it and we went back to some more modern tunes. Nol could have played it forever. It's perfect when you need some silliness, perhaps after time-out ten before noon. And I know it'll come in handy when the crazedparent household hits rainy season.

Dare I say it would even be a good stocking stuffer? No, I can't. Only because it's not even December.

Breakin' tunes...

I'm still in complete adoration of XM satellite radio, but since I can't bring my car in the house, my iPod Nano still rules my world. Leave it to the brilliant folks at iTunes to come up with what they call an iTunes Essential..."Breakdance Classics." If you were a tween in the '80s, this playlist kicks ass.

Yes, my sons dig Laurie Berkner, but dammit, they will learn how to groove to some fine tunes: "Rockit" by Herbie Hancock, "The Breaks" by Kurtis Blow, "Rapture," by Blondie, and "Don't Stop - Planet Rock" by Afrika Bambaataa. And we're just scratchin' the surface.

It's always fun to taint my boys with my love of so-called "bad music." Ten months of carrying them, labor, delivery, sleepness nights, engorged boobs...

I am owed this pleasure of bad music tainting.

Sing a rainbow...

I just came across this link to the children's song "I can sing a rainbow."  When Express was a wee two, it was one of the first songs he learned to sing. And I swear it made me cry every single time he would sing it to me...with his cute little hand motions and facial expressions. I'm even getting misty now.

It's good for a tear or two, and will also help teach your little ones about colors.