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From OutKast
to Evanescence:
Become
a Pop Music Expert in 30 minutes or Less
by
Greg Hansen
Editors'
Note: We have known Greg Hansen and admired Greg (and
his brother Barry) for many years and were delighted that he would
be willing to share his experiences and talents with Meridian's
readers. We welcome Greg to the Meridian family of writers today
with his debut column.
Have you ever
heard your teenager come home from school, headphones so loud you
can hear the thump of the beat? His face cloaked with that sullen,
dazed look of teenage angst?
Ever wished
you could relate to the ward young women more effectively?
Ever wanted
to get your kids to listen to you instead of saying, ‘Awww, Dad...”
Well, now you
can! I will give you some helpful tips from a Music Insider that
will raise your personal level of coolness in your kid’s eyes, and
get their attention at the same time. You may even be able to create
a new family hobby where you can filter out the bad stuff, share
musical tastes and expand each other’s appreciation for new kinds
of music. (And, at the least, this will make a good family night!)
OutKast and Evanescence are pop groups. Remember, knowledge is power!
It is always better to be informed than ignorant on any potentially
controversial subject.
The principle
at work here is best illustrated by a couple of life experience
examples: Paraguay is a country originally inhabited by the Guarani
Indians who were then conquered by the Spanish. As a missionary
there, speaking Spanish was the accepted norm, but knowing even
a few words of the Guarani language would get a local’s attention
much faster. It indicated that the foreigner had cared enough to
get deeper into the culture. A mere greeting in Guarani could get
you in the door, especially in the rural areas.
While serving
in a BYU bishopric with a ward of 150 freshmen, I would often ask
new students who their favorite musical groups or artists were.
First of all, bishoprics never ask those kinds of questions, and
they would be amazed that I knew anything about it. It created a
great place to start a connection, and you can tell a lot about
someone by the kind of music they relate to, or with which they
personally identify.
Showing forth
the interest and effort to understand a strong piece of a teenager’s
world results in better communication and camaraderie. It works
far better than blanket condemnations of “the music kids these days
listen to.”
So, let’s get
started! Say you’re a fairly competent e-mailer and occasional internet
surfer. You may even use the computer to type up talks or Relief
Society lessons. If you don’t qualify for any of the above descriptions,
you probably have a teenager who does, or you wouldn’t be reading
this article on Meridian magazine!
The internet
has provided a far better way to screen music than merely going
to a music store and buying a CD with only a vague idea of what’s
on it. Gone are the days of watching for the “Explicit Lyrics” warning
labels on questionable CD’s in the music bins. Anything with a label
like that should be avoided anyway.
Here are
some excellent steps to take:
1. Get
familiar with what kids are listening to by looking on the Billboard
charts. (www.billboard.com) Billboard charts are based on reported
sales figures, and you can view the main charts without charge.
Look down the top 100 album list and see what names look familiar.
The top 100 chart shows albums from all genres, and chances are
some of your favorites will be on the list as well. See if you recognize
some of the names of the groups your kids like. Better yet, do this
WITH your kids. The spread of musical styles runs the entire gamut,
from the most corrupt to the most uplifting. Be aware of this as
you navigate the minefield where wheat and tares grow together.
2. Once
you have done a little homework on the charts, take a few of the
names they mentioned, or that you might like, and go to one of the
legitimate downloadable music sites. Here are some of the top ones:
www.itunes.com
www.buymusic.com
www.napster.com
(now legal)
You may want
to set up an account with one of them at this point, or simply browse
the sample recordings as they allow. If you set up an account, it
will cost nothing, but make sure you type in the credit card number
and don’t let the kids have the password. This will make you the
gatekeeper. (Send the kids up to their rooms to get the “Strength
of Youth” pamphlet published by the Church while you do this.)
3. Choose
stuff together, finding music you like as well as them. Songs can
be individually purchased for less than a dollar each, but do it
only after you have previewed them. There is an amazing library
of material-vast amounts of music in every style you can imagine.
Just browsing the categories alone will broaden your horizons. While
you choose music, use the “Strength of Youth” guidelines as a benchmark,
but be aware that personal interpretations may vary, and be willing
to be a little open-minded.
Now is a good
time to investigate other alternatives as well. The closest thing
to a top 100 chart in LDS music is on the www.Deseretbook.com site,
under the “music” sidebar, but it only reflects their store sales.
Many of the LDS music sites have sample mp3’s also, and most CD’s
can be ordered online. Some other great sites include:
www.inspirationalldsmusic.com
www.excelentertainment.com
www.ldsmusicworld.com
www.missonaryemporium.com
www.tantararecords.com
www.deseretbook.com
4. Download
the songs you like and burn them on a CD,- WITH ALL THE SONGS TOGETHER
ON ONE CD,- (if there aren’t too many). Then when you all listen
to them, they will be hearing yours, and you will hear theirs, and
you may even start liking each other’s music! Get Pop, Classical,
Kid’s music, Show tunes, Christian, LDS, and stuff from all genres.
Explore good alternatives together. It can be lots of fun! Put them
in your car and listen when you do errands. Even if you can’t burn
CD's on your computer, going through the steps above will be beneficial.
Now you will
be able to talk in terms of artists and songs with teenagers, thus
significantly raising your level of coolness and influence in their
lives!
Greg
Hansen is a professional record producer, composer, and recording
artist residing in Utah, with his wife Beverly, four kids and five
horses. (www.greg-hansen.com)
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