Spending the night singing

[jbailey]

I assume that I was sung songs when I was little, but I don't really remember them. I do remember my mom singing "You are my sunshine" to me (but only the chorus, as she thought the first verse was too sad. I'm glad that she never heard the remaining creepy stalker verses from the O Brother soundtrack). Angie will sing lullabies that she remembers, but she's the oldest of three kids, whereas I'm the youngest of two by five years.

So all this to explain why at 4am I was singing Leif to sleep with songs from The Dances of Universal Peace. Walking in circles singing them reminded me that I haven't been to the dances in a while. They're on the second Tuesday of the month here in Montréal.

Comments

[mmmmtino.livejournal.com]

My parents sang to me a lot as a child. Dad's perennial favorite was "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer." He liked to change the animals (Rudolph the Red-Beaked Pelican was a favorite). Don't ask me why. "You Are My Sunshine" was mom's song. She didn't care that the verse was sad!

Each of my relatives had their own song, too (Aunt Vicki would sing "Honeypie, you are driving me crazy," and Grandma would sing a song about little fishies).

The lullaby I remember the best was one my mom and grandfather (who is from France) sang to me--it works in both French and English:

Il etait un petit navire
Il etait un petit navire
Il etait un petit navire
Qui n'a jamais navige

There once was a little sailboat
There once was a little sailboat
There once was a little sailboat
That never never never sailed away

Wish I could sing it to you over the web....

I'm so glad you're singing Dances of Universal Peace songs to Leif. What a gift.

in peace,
m

[wonderbadger]

I don't remember ever being sung to. (Youngest children unite!) I found that I didn't know a lot of lullabies, and have set about learning more.

Linda Ronstadt has an album of lullabies, including some surprising selections like "We Will Rock You." :)

Oh how we sang.

[(Anonymous)]

Yes yes! We all sang to you - and even better.. we all sang together A LOT! I can't think of the more specific lullabies, but the best part about our family was that it never had to be traditional. Something you loved to sing and could remember most of the words would always do. Here are alot of the ones I remember singing growing up;

Patty Cake
Baby Beluga - Raffi (http://www.raffinews.com/store/childrens_music/)
Down By the Bay - var.
(My eyes are dim, I cannot see I have not brought my specs with me) - var
The Science of Mind ending song - Let It Begin with Me
You decorated my life - Kenny Rogers
Just remember I love you - Firefall
All out of love - Air supply
Total Eclipse of the Heart - Bonnie Tyler
Sweet Dreams - Eurythmics
Electric Avenue - Eddie Grant
I Just Called to say I love you

There are more, but right now my head sounds like 5 tracks playing overtop another.

Re: Oh how we sang.

[jbailey.livejournal.com]

Well, this at least explains why I know all those songs. =)

[mad-mabh.livejournal.com]

As long as it's not "Rock A Bye Baby"...that's a terrible song.

[jbailey.livejournal.com]

Mmm, yeah. It always makes me think of that creepy prayer you hear in movies. The "Now I lay me down to sleep.." one.

[csext.livejournal.com]

apparently when i was young my mom didn't know much in the way of lullabies, so she sang all her old hippie songs until she thought i was old enough to understand. lots of drug references she says. i don't think we did much singing later one, once my younger brothers were born. thanks for reminding me that my future family to be more song-filled

[jbailey.livejournal.com]

what I've really enjoyed about the DfUP songs is that at 3am I don't have to come up with new songs at the end of one. And I *like* singing rounds for 15 or 20 minutes at a time while spinning in circles ;)

What about the tone-deaf?

[(Anonymous)]

I can't sing. I really can't. It pains my wife if she ever hears me.
Should I refrain from singing to any putative children we might have,
on the grounds of mental cruelty?

I'm totally willing to read to them.

Re: What about the tone-deaf?

[jbailey.livejournal.com]

I think it mostly depends if singing brings you joy or not.

Being tone-deaf is a state where one can't hear the difference between notes, and has nothing to do with producing them.

I generally suggest:

1) Sing if you enjoy it. If your wife can't cope, I suggest the shower and the car.

2) If you're willing to put in the effort, consider a singing teacher. The vocal cords are just a set of muscles, and on you they probably just need training. If there's a note you can hit consistantly, a competant voice instructor can work from there to go up a note or down a note and train those muscles to do what you'd like.

Singing

[(Anonymous)]

I remember my mother singing my sister songs when she had to put her to sleep.It was so interesting to watch her.Now I am using her songs to put my babiesv to sleep.
Cara Fletcher
http://easysingingvoice.com/