I've been having terrible problems singing to my 3 month baby.
Traditional Scottish lullabies are tolerated (esp Skye Boat Song) but you can tell the wee guy isn't really that keen. Nursery rhymes are OK, he likes the bit in three little pigs when the last one goes 'wee wee wee' but I think thats a tactile approval rather than musical appreciation, similarly the marching up and down is the best bit of 'Grand ole Duke of York'.
And my infamous Carpenters medely is somewhat soiled by that horrid Heinekin advert at the moment.
The first piece of recorded music I actually spotted him paying attention to was a Bessie Smith song when a recording of her turned up on a TV show.
He seems to like deep 'n' growly female voices. Strange Fruit seems a particular favorite. Dad's sacreligious Billie Holliday impersonation doesnt go down nearly as well as recordings of Holliday herself.
However Diamanda Galas' 'Litanies of Satan' just resulted in a need for a nappy change... and the baby didn't like it either.
Deep male voices haven't caused much interest. Clock DVA's 4 Hours and Liabach get no reaction at all. Ian Curtis results in an Outbreak of Curtis style dancing, but a filled nappy results in curtis style dancing too.
He's not keen on Raymond Scott's Soothing Sounds for Baby which was quite disappointing. Indeed electronics aren't catching his interest at all.
He seemed to enjoy the theme to Man with the Golden arm when we heard it on Radio Three recently so Dad's been singing that (well kinda making parping noises) with pretty good results. I do need more suggestions though
― Alexander Blair, Tuesday, 14 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)
Sounds like your son is partial the ladies of blues. I'd crank the
Ma Rainey and pass the [milk] bottle between you two.
― Jason, Tuesday, 14 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)
I just did a Bryan Ferry impression for me daughter singing along to
Stranded. She smiled :) But I have a feeling I could sing along to
Burzum and she would still smile. So anything goes.
― Omar, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)
I sing to my son Spike who's one "Iron Man" but I change the words
to "Ice Cream" Man. My screetching voice makes him chuckle.
― tom, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)
When my babies were still babies, they seemed to go for stuff with
heavy bass, and listened to a lot of dub. As for singing to them, I
just made up songs constantly, and sang them on endless repeat. Usually
the songs involved a very simple melody like amazing grace, their
names, and the word _sleep_. So I'd rock a baby (or two, a skill you
develop when you have twins), and drone quietly "Sleepy sleep, edith,
sleep, sleep, Edith." etc.
Since my musical "career" was sort of on hold then for a few months
(babies will do that to a "career"), I often wondered what sort of
damage I was doing to my melodic sense by immersing myself so
completely in these simplistic tunes day and night. I needn't have
worried, really; I've never really had a particularly complicated sense
of melody anwyay.
Now, 7 years later, my kids are not too interested in hearing me sing
at home, or listen to our records. They do thrill to see my wife or I
perform, but it's rare when a gig takes place at a kid appropriate time
and place.
― Mr. Mark Lerner, Friday, 17 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)