Night After Night

Bath Time Lessoning: Let's Eat Grandma.

The Girl's continuing journey through music, with The Dad taking notes.

Let’s Eat Grandma
I, Gemini
(Transgressive; 2016)

[before I’ve said a word]

“I really like this part of the music, Daddy. I really like the voices. What is this called?”

[“You aren’t going to believe it, but this is a group of two young women who are called Let’s Eat Grandma.”]

“Let’s Eat Grandma?! That’s crazy.”

[“What do you like about it?”]

“I like the little voices at the beginning of it. How old are they?”

[“They met when they were just four years old, like you. They started their band when they were 13, and they made this album when they were only 17.”]

“Well, they sure do have a lot of instruments. What language are they singing?”

[“It’s in English.”]

“Oh, I couldn’t tell, because they said ‘syntha,’ and I couldn’t tell it was English.”

[Note: They do not say “syntha,” though they do say “shiitake” and “syncopated.” And they do have a lot of vintage keyboards, drum machines, bells, and other gadgets and doodads. It’s daffy and charming and rather a lot of fun.]

Transcribed June 18, 2018.

Bath Time Lessoning: Stevie Wonder.

The Girl's continuing journey through music, with The Dad taking notes.

Stevie Wonder
Songs in the Key of Life
(Motown; 1976)

[“Tonight I’m playing you one of mama’s very favorite albums, and it’s one of mine, too.”]

“Who is it?”

[“This is Stevie Wonder, and he’s one of the greatest singers and songwriters of all time.”]

“Well, I would say that he’s an awesome singer.”

[“Something that’s very special about Stevie Wonder is that for almost all of his life he has been blind, which means that he can’t see anything at all, and yet he taught himself to do all of these things and make all this great music.”]

“You mean he was born blind?”

[“Pretty much. So when anyone tells you that you can’t do something, you think about all the great things that Stevie Wonder has done and what he was up against, and then you’ll know that you can do absolutely anything you want to. You might not remember this, but when you were just nine months old, you and me and mama all went to a big concert in Boston and we listened to Stevie Wonder play all of this music right there in person.”]

“Well, I do remember.”

[“You do?”]

“Yeah, I remember all the music I heard in mama’s belly. I was rocking out onstage in there.”

[“………well, that would explain a lot.”]

Transcribed Dec. 16, 2017.

The Girl and The Mom, ready to see Stevie Wonder at TD Garden in Boston, Nov. 11, 2014

 

Bath Time Lessoning: Some Feedback.

The Girl's continuing journey through music, with The Dad taking notes.

“You always pick the best music for bath time, Dad.”

 

[“Well, that’s very nice of you to say. I try hard to pick things that you’ll find interesting. But if I played something that you didn’t like, it would be okay for you to say so. Not everybody likes every kind of music.”]

 

“Well, I sure do like your music you pick. Actually, I’m rather quite impressed with your music, sometimes.”

 

Transcribed Dec. 8, 2017.

Bath Time Lessoning: Paul Simon.

The Girl's continuing journey through music, with The Dad taking notes.

Photograph: Peggy Harper

 

Paul Simon
Over the Bridge of Time: A Paul Simon Retrospective (1961-2011)
(Sony Legacy; 2013)

 

["So, what kind of music do you feel like hearing tonight?"]

 

"Well, Paul Simon," The Girl says.

 

["OK, whatever you say." "The Sound of Silence" begins.]

 

"Hey!" The Girl exclaims. "This is the Trolls song."

 

["That's true, but it was Paul Simon's song first. He wrote it. Did you know that?"]

 

"Well, yes. Mama told me."

 

[Little subsequent commentary, though reckless dancing ensues during "Cecilia." Then, in a quiet moment during "Bridge Over Troubled Water"]

 

"That's a good song, Papa. Can we watch it again?"

 

[She listens to it again. After the second time, "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" follows.]

 

"Hey!" The Girl exclaims once more. "THIS is the song I wanted."

 

Transcribed August 24, 2017

Bath Time Lessoning: King Crimson.

The Girl's continuing journey through music, with The Dad taking notes.

Photograph: Tony Levin

 

King Crimson
Radical Action to Unseat the Hold of Monkey Mind
(DGM, 2016)

[during percussion-only intro to "Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Part 1"]

"This is cool music, Papa!"

[during choppy guitar transition]

"I really like the music, Papa! I like the way the guitars sound."

And with the arrival of the song's ponderous, crushing main riff, The Girl – who is listening for the first time ever to her papa's foremost musical obsession – leaps up from the suds, puts on her metalhead grimace, and bangs her head.

That's my Girl, all right.

Bath Time Lessoning: Hans Abrahamsen.

The Girl's continuing journey through music, with The Dad taking notes.

Barbara Hannigan singing with the Berlin Philharmonic (Photograph: YouTube)

Hans Abrahamsen
let me tell you
Barbara Hannigan, Boston Symphony Orchestra/Andris Nelsons
(WCRB broadcast; 2016)

"Pretty," says The Girl, who is far more intent on jumping, splashing, and soaking papa.

Transcribed Feb. 6, 2016.

Bath Time Lessoning: Kacey Musgraves.

The Girl's continuing journey through music, with The Dad taking notes.

Kacey Musgraves
Pageant Material
(Mercury Nashville; 2015)

If visceral responses at times convey as much as verbal cues, and sometimes more, then tonight's soak, by turns rowdy and mellow, provides further confirmation that Kacey Musgraves is the real thing.

Transcribed Observed Nov. 27, 2015.

Bath Time Lessoning: Yes.

The Girl's continuing journey through music, with The Dad taking notes.

Yes
Relayer
(Atlantic; 1974)

The Girl has basked to Berg, cavorted to Cecil Taylor, and washed to Willie Nelson. So tonight, we went deep.

One-word verdict on Relayer by Yes: "Happy."

Transcribed Nov. 25, 2015.

==========

The above text was the first post in a series I've been sharing on Facebook for the last year and a half: an ongoing observation of my daughter's responses to music played for her at bath time. At the time, the designated listener was one year and nine months old. (I'm explaining this on August 7, 2017, but I'm also back-dating this post to its proper place in the timeline. Confusing!)

As The Girl's reactions have grown more detailed, sophisticated, and entertaining since this first notice, numerous friends have urged me to compile, preserve, and share these posts. So, here's where it began.