Radio music, at least these days, is not for the young. And my best evidence comes from my now-13-year-old sister. A precocious youth who read chapter books and talked about boys before her age even hit double digits, she must have been about 9 when we were driving in the car together, idly scrolling the FM radio dial.
Suddenly, her eyes lit upon the sound of some thumping rap ditty and she flung the volume knob hard right. With little hesitation and much enthusiasm, she began singing the lyric "Tryin' to catch me ridin' dirty." So in an effort to prompt a moment of introspection, I asked her if she knew what those lyrics meant, fully expecting the answer was no.
I was wrong.
Deadpan, and a little annoyed, she replied: "Yes, Tanner. It means you have drugs in the car."
Ummm. Wow.
So, for any parents who have reservations about their elementary-age snowflakes learning the latest in over-the-road drug running from the latest top-40 hit, here is a novel new idea:
Preschool Radio.
The 30-minute podcasts available on the site are more practical than streaming audio and there's plenty of archived material. The site was started by a former morning show announcer and now-at-home mom who had the same radio reservations as myself. The songs are performed by actual musicians and sound pleasantly musical - without much of the schmaltziness found in many children's tunes.
The drawback, clearly, is being caught at a stoplight doing the Steering Wheel Macarena to preschool radio jams. But, hey, it's better than getting caught ridin' dirty.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
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Thank goodness your sister wasn't around during the Elvis rage..can you imagine all that girating and devilish movements?
ReplyDeleteUnfortunatley, our Top 40 Stations have been allowed to go unplugged to a point. Yup we can now swear on air and if it has a beat, (sometimes the same beat from song to song to song); they can play it.
Protecting our children, your sister; becomes more and more difficult; it's You Tube, Faceplant, MyFace (yeah I know)etc..that kids can get "it all" from..legally.
Pre-School Radio-Bravo on the idea, but let's not stop there. Everyone is going Green these days..how about this..Go Clean for Teens!
It's all you ma boy..run with it.