Mixing Memory

My Son’s Favorite Song

Posted by Chris on May 26, 2007
(4)
More »

Last night, I took my son to his favorite diner to celebrate the end of 3rd grade. Just before our dinner arrived, a song came on the radio and he stopped talking, listened for a second, and said, “Hey, it’s my favorite song!” This is what was playing:

His revelation was timely, since today is Mile’s Davis’ birthday. Now, I don’t think anyone’s done a study on the relationship between music and personality in childhood, but I figure picking one of the best songs on one of the greatest albums of the 20th century as your favorite at 9 years old is a good sign.

(4)
More »

Comments

  1. #1 Max
    May 28, 2007

    For us musical philistines out there — what is this called?

  2. #2 Chris
    May 28, 2007

    The song is called “So What,” and it’s the opening track of Davis’ 1959 album Kind of Blue. If I’m not mistaken, in addition to Davis (trumpet) and Coltrane (tenor sax), the main players are Wynton Kelly (piano; not the pianist on the album version, though), Paul Chambers (double bass), and Jimmy Cobb (drums). I don’t know who the trombonists are.

  3. #3 Martin Bentley
    May 28, 2007

    As much as I like the song….

    “one of the best songs on one of the greatest albums of the 20th century”

    Subjective. Very subjective.

    What is more impressive is that the 9 year old chose a song that was not force fed by marketeers, peer pressure and over playing on commercial radio.

    The greatest Albums of the 20th Century…
    Violator: Depeche Mode
    Pretty Hate Machine: Nine Inch Nails
    Passion: Peter Gabriel
    Figure of 8: Elliott Smith
    Architecture and Morality: Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark
    Revolver: The Beatles

    See it’s all subjective…

  4. #4 xangoir
    June 1, 2007

    I didn’t really gain any appreciation for Jazz until I was 17 or 18 years old. I would check my son for a pulse… But that’s just one old rock&roller’s opinion! :P