Side note: for those of you who don’t know, ipods are
mini-computers designed to store, sort and play music (as well as videos and
podcasts). Most phones play music, and there are other types of portable music
players, but ipods are the most common. Most of us older than 40 recognize
ipods as a more advanced and evolved version of the Walkman of the 80s and 90s.
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| Listening to music really adds to a ride. |
One of my favorite features of the ipod is the ability to
sort your music into various kinds of playlists. I built my first riding
playlist with a mix of classic rock and 80s pop. Over time I added some 70s and
80s R&B and some modern music. I
start my riding lists with good songs with strong beats to set the right tone
for a ride. I also enjoy hiding a few gems toward the end, a kind of easter egg
that you get to hear only on much longer rides. Some of those include Tom Petty’s
“American Girl,” and Jackson Browne’s “Running On Empty,” as well songs by
Boston (still my all-time favorite band). 70s songs by the Spinners, Boz Scaggs
and Earth, Wind and Fire are usually front-loaded because they really get you
going. You need to watch your volume so you can hear other riders. That’s an
important safety consideration, but music really adds to the experience of a
ride.
My son is my modern pop music Google or Wikepedia. He knows
all about the songs and likes to listen to pop stations in the car. Anyone who
drives with a teenager knows that they invariably break down your resistance at
times and get you to listen to those stations. One of the first songs I recall
hearing on one of his stations was “Treasure,” by Bruno Mars, followed by “Get
Lucky,” by Daft Punk. I asked him about those songs and was rewarded with a
full description of the music, as well as bios and habits of the artists. I
asked him about other songs by artists including Taylor Swift, Macklemore and
Taio Cruz and got the same result. I then downloaded the songs on my ipod, added
them to my lists and thought no more about it. Then a funny thing
happened. One day he came to me with his
phone – yes I was one of those parents who said no phone until he was 16 or
18…yeah, that was going to happen – and said he wanted to play a song for me. I
had an errand to run or something and started to say so, but his earnest manner
convinced me otherwise. Okay, I said, and he did. It was a Justin Bieber song,
but not the bubble gum pop version of Bieber who burst on the scene 5-6
years ago, but a more mature-sounding song with an interesting beat. He thought
I would like it, and he was right. We talked for awhile about how Bieber had
evolved and developed a different sound. He played me another Bieber song, and that one
was good too. I ended up adding both to my ipod. A few days later he brought me
another song. Same result. Before I knew it, it was happening on a regular
basis. I liked most of the songs, a few weren’t my cup of tea. But they would
always spark some really interesting conversations. One song referenced using a
bottle of liquor to “loosen up.” The resulting conversation gave me the
opportunity to hear his thoughts on drinking and to impart a little parental
wisdom in the context of an “acceptable” discussion. Some of the rap songs have
“interesting” takes on women, which led to more good discussions.
I’ve always told Jackson that he could bring up any topic
with me and that we could talk about it without any trouble. I’ve calmly given
my opinion about such weighty matters as whether he should attend a certain
birthday party or what color to paint his Pinewood Derby car. We’ve also talked
about more important topics such as how he should respond when a teacher calls
him down. But as he entered the teen years, he became a little more reticent. I
think this is understandable and normal. But we’ve uncovered a cool new way to
spark some conversations and keep the lines of communication open (which any
parent of a teen will tell you is a constant concern). It also reminds me of a communications
dynamic that I’ve encountered at work: a good way to encourage two-way
communication with a specific person is to take a genuine interest in what’s
important to a person. That encourages them to take an interest in what’s
important to you.
Then there’s that other benefit: I’ve added a steady stream
of good modern music to my ipod and my riding playlists. In addition to my
classic rock and R&B, artists like Justin Bieber and Calvin Harris now lead
off my playlists or are inserted as the gems near the end. When I hear them I
smile, and not just because they’re really good songs.
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