During his 6 years of life my son has been exposed to pretty much every kind of music; children’s songs, rap, classical, hip-hop, folk music, alternative rock, show tunes, you name it he’s heard it. For whatever reason he seems to be particularly fond of disco and 80’s tunes.
So when we went to the karaoke room in Zeum (San Francisco’s children’s arts and technology museum) I knew we’d find at least one tune that he would be familiar with. Before I even opened the book of song choices he requested Eye Of The Tiger (we had been listening to an All 80’s Weekend on one of the local radio stations). I told him that I had my doubts that they had it and started reading off several of the songs they did have. He listened for a while and then said, “Tell them that I want to sing to We Are Family, I Will Survive and YMCA.”
No, I’m not kidding.
I hesitated and then asked if he was sure those were the songs he wanted to perform.
“Yes, and tell them to start with YMCA, you know, the young man song.”
I nodded and went back to the room where the employees take the visitor’s musical requests. I smiled at the three teenagers poised over the audio equipment and cleared my throat. “My son would like to do karaoke to YMCA, We Are Family and I Will Survive in that order and before you say anything I’ll have you know that he’s only six and thus way to young for you to make assumptions about his sexual orientation.”
The teenagers looked at me, visibly bit their lips and put on YMCA and my son proceeded to dazzle a room full of highly amused people.
I honestly don’t think his current musical preferences can really predict how he’s going to feel about rainbow flags as an adult but if he asks to be Cher for Halloween I’m going to begin to wonder…
Kyra Davis
www.kyradavis.com
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5 comments:
I see your YMCA and raise:
My six year old son loves going to the Metropolitan Museum wearing mardi-gras beads because "they are as beautiful as the art."
Alina Adams
http://www.AlinaAdams.com
Hey, that's so cute. Children are innocent; they don't learn about sexual orientation until they are taught.
Scott: My nephew wears necklaces, too. He likes to wear the ones with thick beads.
LOL, well I may have to bow to Alina's experience and yes children are innocent. That said it is hard not to learn about sexual orientation if you live in the San Francisco Bay Area. My son once told me that when he grows up he would like to get married, then paused, thought about it and then said "to a girl." Because he knows that where we live there seems to be options.
That is sooo cute! Kids will be kids! I think this story is classic, I'm sure one he'll be soooo fond of when you are telling his wife and kids about some day!
Hillarious! Can't say there haven't been incidences and mannerisms that have made me wonder as well Kyra. Like yours, my son just seems to be uniquely himself and marches to his own drum, so to speak.
By the way, our whole family just digs disco and kareoke. My kind of kid! Love Abba. Hey, at least he didn't choose Dancing Queen!! We have to get together and make fools of ourselves! We busted our first kareoke machine and are currently looking for a new one. This Zeum place sounds awesome!! Had never heard of it. ~Cassie
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