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Student Question | What Are Your Earliest Memories of Music?
MAY 9, 2016 5:02 AM May 9, 2016 5:02 am 4
What does that statement mean to you?
David Gonzalez interweaves a story about what music meant to his father as he tells about his own first memory of listening to those songs in the section of the article called “A Bolero Between Father and Son”:
My earliest memory of being alive comes with its own soundtrack. My father, Pedro, used to sit with his battered guitar by the window of our first-floor apartment in the Bronx and slowly pluck out the songs he had learned decades earlier in Puerto Rico.
They were romantic boleros, filled with melancholy and heartbreak, or traditional aguinaldos from his own rural childhood in Caguas.
God, I hated those songs.
During the 1960s, when Puerto Ricans were depicted as knife-wielding know-nothings who would be the downfall of the South Bronx, the last thing I wanted to hear was some corny music that reminded me of where my parents were from. Besides, by the end of that decade I was too enamored of Jimi Hendrix, Creedence and The Guess Who to even give a second thought to papi’s music. So while he tried once to teach me guitar, all I ever learned to play were records.
A few weeks ago, I was driving by Van Cortlandt Park on a sunny morning when one of those old songs popped up randomly. I only had to hear a few notes from the lead guitar to know it was “Noche de Ronda” by Dúo Pérez Rodríguez, one of papi’s favorite groups. With flowery, poetic lyrics, they declared loyalty to a vanished lover, vowing to wait until death.
Waiting. Maybe that was also a theme of papi’s life. He had come here as a teenager to work in factories where, in time, he would lose most of two fingers on his playing hand. No longer able to play leads, he switched to rhythm. He didn’t really talk about that. Nor did he talk much about Puerto Rico, having only gone back to visit once in the mid-1940s after he married my mother.
Music was the link to the island he left behind. Along with his brother Eusebio, and Luis Reyes, a family friend, they would break out the guitars to perform the music of their youth.
Students: Read the entire article, then tell us:
— To what degree do you identify with Mr. Gonzalez’s story of listening to his father’s favorite music from his own childhood?
— Is being a fan of a certain style of music or artists connected to how you see yourself? What about how you view other people? Explain.
— What are your first memories of music? What is the setting for those memories?
— Have your parents, grandparents, other older family members or teachers introduced you to music that they loved when they were younger?
— If so, what artists or musical styles have you “inherited” from them?
— Have you likewise brought new music to older family members? If so, what?
When Mr.Gonzalez was driving in the car, the radio started playing his father’s favorite song. This brought back a lot of memories from the stories his father told him when he was a teenager. Having no music where he lived so him and his family friends would take out the guitars and start playing. I think being a fan of certain style of music or artist can connect on how you see yourself. I say this because it’s something you like and get into to. For example, i love country music, but i don’t really see myself as a country girl. I just do the things that they would do meaning going in the woods, shooting, and mudding. As for someone that listens to heavy metal they see themselves as someone that liked dark heavy things. And for rap they see themselves as a “thug”. But to people that see someone listen to things have a different opinion. For heavy metal people will see them as someone that wears all black and has a certain hairstyle. For country people someone will see them as a “hick”. And for rap someone will see them as a “gangster”. My favorite memories of music and the settings are country songs. Everytime i listen to a country song i think about all the concerts i went to and also how i grew up. My grandfather shows me all the songs he loved as a kid, it’s not just one certain type it’s all different types. From my grandfather i listen to older music as well as country. No i don’t remember a time i brought a new song to older family members. Today this generation is very judgemental when it comes to a certain type of music one listens to. It’s very sad to see the way someone looks at another for what they listen to.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Alyssa!! People just think if someone sees a person dressed as a country girl or guy then they think oh she or he likes shooting or mudding or always wearing boots and having a truck. Also todays generation is very judgemental cause you can go to school one day and wear all black and the next you can go wearing boots and everyone judges you for everything.
DeleteWhen Mr.Gonzalez was driving in the car, the radio started playing one of his dad’s favorite song. When he started hearing this song, it brought back a lot of memories from the stories his dad told him when he was a teenage. When Mr. Gonzalez was younger where he lived there was no music, so him and his family would play the guitars they had to make their own music. I honestly think being a fan of a certain type or types of music is based on what you like and your personality, For an example i love any type of music and i like country too but i am not a huge fan of it. I think when people know what you listen they will realise why you dress the way you do or have that kinda hair style. My favorite band is Sleeping With Sirens, all my friends know i love them. Some people hate them and they ask me why do i like them and i say cause when i was younger i fell in love with their music and i still love them. When my friends say they love rap or country, i am like cool i can see you liking that type of music cause the way they dress or act or have their hair. My first memories of music is from when i was little and i would listen to music with my poppy and he would put me on his feet and we would dance all over the room to the music. The setting for that memory is peaceful and how i was so happy just dancing with my poppy. When i was younger my nanny and poppy introduced me to their favorite songs and favorite artists. Also introduced me to rock and it was okay i didn't really like it then but now i kinda like it a little more. I brought music on the radio to my nanny cause when she drives me to school in the morning i put the radio on some songs she likes and some she doesn’t at all.
ReplyDeleteI agree! There are many people that like all types of music and to judge them based of the song they are listening to in the moment is ridiculous! Just because someone does not like your music does not mean the two you cant get along, music should bring people together
DeleteI can relate to Mr. Gonzalez’s story of listening to his father's favourite music from his childhood. This is because my mother use to blast the stereo to help me fall asleep. The song I particulated remember is “I’m Blue.”. In my living room while my mom was bouncing me up and down dancing along too it. I can also related to hating her music several years later and blasting rock n roll in return. In some way I do see identity in the music someone listens too. The sounds,pitch, message and overall tone of a song can depict where someone is in life or what mood they are in or how they perceive life in general. We as humans connect to things we relate to so when we replay a song or artist so many times I believe most of the time we can relate to the music we listen too. My family has never brought any music to my life. The irony is the i showed my mother who the The Who and JIm Morrison was.
ReplyDeleteI like everything you are saying. You explained everything so well. Also answered all the questions. Everyone listens to different kinds of music so it doesn't matter to anyone.
DeleteAfter reading Mr. Gonzalez’s story I learned that he did not like his father music he thought it was corny. Yes being a fan of a certain style of music or artists connected to how you see yourself. This is true because music is a another way of how people express themselves. Yes and then no. Yes because most people may not like your type of music. So you will dislike them and the the way they see your music. No because with someone people they just don't care. My first memories of music was when I was 5. I was in the house while my grandparents had the radio on listening to reggae music. They loved that kind of music it made them feel as if they were from that culture. My mom and teachers have showed me their childhood music. Mom stills likes to play me her old school love songs and club songs she remember. My grandparents love to bother me with there old school R&B music and reggae. I find it really annoying when they do. I don't inherited the music my mom and grandparents listen to. I did bring new music to my family. They do not like it they find it lame and meaningless. The type of music I introduced to my mom is EDM and Indie lastly Alternative. My grandparents also. EDM is just basically sound loud and little words . Indie is a kind of soft rock mixed with rock. My family members I have shown was like what the heck is that. I get upset when they make fun of the music I listen to. But it's just for fun but they still annoy me when they do that. Today this generation is very judgemental when it comes to a certain type of music one listens to. It’s very sad to see the way someone looks at another for what they listen to.
ReplyDeleteYes Mr Gonzalez did not like his father music which happens a lot because we are all different. The type of music that you introduce to your family is really nice beat is way better then just words. That is great you shared it because it brings your family together a little more. Music is an amazing thing that has to be in this world there is so many different types.
DeleteMr . Gonzalez grew up listening to his father play the guitar but at such a young age one day he drove on a sunny day when one of his father's favorite song came on. It brought back memories of his childhood which occurs I have done it myself. I grew up with a hispanic music i have always loved it when i was younger it is different to me then other music. Everyone in this world has different taste in music is amazing because the different sounds and dances you can see around the world is pretty impressive. My mother has always put music in the morning to wake me up but also because she loves hearing it while she cleaning around the house. She loves the music cumbia it is a latin type of music there is so much movement put into it. I personally love my bachata my uncle showed me how to dance and love the type of music it just makes me feel good
ReplyDeleteThe rhythm of the music makes you want to get up and dance which is an amazing feeling to have while listening to it. Growing up in a hispanic family help me improve speak better in spanish since i have always listened to it being young. It has brought me to the person I am today because we all have different styles and that's what make us who we are even in the music industry. There is so much to the music you hear since it can also help express your feeling or help you out. A lot of people have their moments which music does help them out . In this article Gonzalez did not grow to like it but he has it memorized in his head because he recognize it when it came on the radio which it is ok not to like it but it's good to hear different types of music.
The degree I am with his way of music is a little different but he touches on all the right points. I feel like people get connected my the music rather than the artist. For example I listen to music that can infulance my mood . Like if I am happy I would put something light hearted on. I don't really judge people by the music they listen to some people have different taste in music . So some people would like heavy metal and some one else could like Beethoven. My parent don't really share the music that they listen to when they were younger. Sometimes I share the music I listen to because I feel like I would lose touch with them if I didn't. But like I sayed music for people are all different so you really can't judge a person on there music choice.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with Dan 100 percent. Everyone has their choice of what kind of music they listen to. Even if its Mozart, or rock and roll or jazz... it doesn't matter because we aren't the ones to judge. The only ones that can judge is yourself.
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ReplyDeleteKenny Figueroa blog 10
When mr. gonzales was driving around in his car, his car radio started playing an old song that his father loved and used to listen to when he was younger. This song brought back nostalgia to the him because he remembered all the good times that his father told him stories when he was younger about how back then, there wasn’t any music where he used to live and how he and his family and friends would play instruments. I think that listening to a certain style of music connects you to how you see yourself because the type of music you listen to changes you in many ways. For example, i love listening to all kinds of music. I don’t judge any music, but the ones that I enjoy listening the most too is hard rock and rap. My first favorite memories of music is when my brothers tried to take me to this concert back in 2012 called warped tour because they got me into that kind of music but sadly i couldn’t go because i was too young, plus my parents were afraid that i would get hurt. A lot of my family introduced me into different types of music. For example, my grandpa introduced me into classic, while my brothers introduced me to like rap and hard rock and ect. Recently, i have tried to introduce some of my family members into new music. For example, i tried to show my little cousin alex rock music but he doesn’t really like it but it doesn’t matter because everyone has their own different type of music they listen to.
I know exactly what you mean when you say that Kenny. When I was like 13 I wanted to go to Warped Tour with all of my friends but my mom said I was too young and said I could't go. But, I have tried to show family my music but no one liked it which is okay because everyone likes their own music and some people aren't into it.
DeleteThe day Mr.Gonzalez was driving in the car, the radio played one of his father’s favorite songs. When this happened to Mr. Gonzalez it ended up bringing back a lot of memories from when his father would tell him stories back when he was a teenager. As a kid growing up he had no music due to the area he lived in so him and his family friends would take out guitars and start playing them. I wouldn’t necessarily say that the type of music you listen to defines who you are. Society makes it seem that way though. For example if you are a kid that listens to metal it is automatically assumed by most people that you are emo. But, you may dress in the way that looks stereotypical to a kid that listens to rap music. I don’t view others on how people listen to music. Whatever they wanna listen to is completely up to them and I would never judge someone because of the music they listen to. My first few memories of music were interesting. As a kid, I listened to Linkin Park and Green Day and I remember when I went to go buy Green Day’s new album at the mall, I got home to come to the realization I left it there. Another memory of music I have was I was at my house with my friend, mom, friend’s mom, sister, etc.. I went and lowered the music because my mom asked me too. I left the room the radio was in and then all of the sudden the music got really loud again and no one else was in the room. As a kid my mom got me into Linkin Park but other than that they really didn’t have an influence on the music I listened too especially now. Me and my family have very different tastes when it comes to the music we listen too. No one in my family likes the music I listen to so no I haven’t really been able to bring new music to anyone in my family.
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