Gym Class Heroes pays tribute to Supertramp with Cupid’s Chokehold (playing now). Click the  button to hear Urbanette’s other favorite, Fall Out Boy, singing Dance, Dance. |
While that is true enough, it’s not much of a Father’s Day sentiment. A little later in the ride, we were saved by the unlikeliest of heroes, Supertramp.
When Breakfast in America began playing, Urbanette exclaimed that she'd heard the song before, but in a different form. It turns out that alternative band, Gym Class Heroes, quite cleverly samples it in their hit, Cupid’s Chokehold.
As we discussed it, Urbanette divulged just what is so compelling about the song. It features lead vocals by Patrick Stump of her favorite heartthrob band, Fall Out Boy. Now, we had something to talk about.
I've always been very proud of Urbanette. She makes great grades, is sincere and has a huge heart. However, for a 14-year-old girl to prefer a punk/alternative powerhouse like Fall Out Boy over boy bands, well.she might as we have been admitted to Harvard.
Supertramp and Gym Class Heroes turned out to be the nexus of our respective musical exposure that led to discussions of Beck, The Kooks, Arctic Monkeys and Lily Allen. We traded iPods, musical thoughts and had a great afternoon - all because one of her groups sampled one of mine.
It makes me wonder why there is so little intergenerational music appreciation. My instinct is that both young and old fear the unknown. The older generation fears the message of current popular music. The young fear how the old will react.
My advice: Get over it.
Our children will hear songs with references that we don't want them to hear yet, if ever. But I believe kids listen for the music, not the message. Their behavior is driven much more by what they see at home and with whom they socialize, and less by The Decemberists' latest lyric. If that lyric is somehow offensive, then because we listen together, we can discuss it together - with no fear of the awkward silence.
My daughter and I already have something in common that my parents and I never had. It’s the best Father’s Day gift a guy could receive, DJ or not. I hope our common interest in music will always lead us to more of the things that bring us together.
