Reason #7,184 I love being a father:

A caboose in my lunch bag.

A tiny red wooden reminder of a little boy who just lights up my days. It was probably just the random dispersal of toys that makes our house a fairly constant mine field for those brave enough to venture barefoot but I’m choosing to think that it was intentional gift to brighten my day. And what a perfect day for it.*

Dr.O’C may have a differing opinion, but for me this pregnancy is slipping by much more quickly than the first did. It seems like just a few days ago that the good doctor peed on a stick and now we’ve already reached my favorite stage of pregnancy – the musical stage.

(I’m not sure what Dr. O’C’s favorite part of pregnancy would be, probably sometime post-pregnancy. Actually, probably some time pre-pregnancy.

During her first pregnancy, in an infrequent foray into reading pregnancy and child rearing books, I learned that at around 25 weeks “…the foetus may be startled by loud music and start kicking you when it hears a certain tune. Or maybe its dancing. This is a good time to play it music and see if you get a reaction.”

And with that came my first mission as a father (and second post as a blogger) – the musical education of my progeny.

Dr. O’C suffered a few minutes every evening with an iPod stereo nestled against her abdomen as I bombarded Foetus Z with musical selections ranging from Van Morrison’s ‘Sweet Thing‘ to Johnny Cash’s ‘I Walk the Line‘ with visits from some of the greatest musicians of all time along the way. I based the success of a particular song on whether or not we felt the baby moving during the song. For example, it felt as if Foetus Z had a future as a Rockette when we played him Billy Bragg and Wilco’s cover of “California Stars” but Stevie Wonder’s near irresistible ‘Superstition’ got no response.

Well, it has come around again – antenatal music time. And here is where you, gentle readers, have a chance to put your own stamp on the newest addition to A Free Family.

I need some song ideas. It’s not for a lack of material, quite the contrary. I have 26,060 songs in my iTunes library. If I sat down and listed to the entire library at a sitting, I would still be at it in July. I’m not bragging, rather I think this an indication of a probably unhealthy obsession. Despite having over two months of music, on any given day I can come up with another album that is notable in its absence.

Rush’s “Moving Pictures”, for example. Why don’t I have that record? I haven’t heard ‘Red Barchetta’ in years.

Anyway, back to the task at hand. I’m looking for antenatal music recommendations. There are all manner of theories as to the best type of music to play the soon to be born – classical, not-classical, soft and soothing, bright and bouncy. But in my opinion, as long as it is a great piece of music it will do the job.

So, put yourself in the position of my developing son or daughter – cuddled, warm, dark, wet, semi-sentient. Pretend you’ve never heard music before, only muffled snippets of the soap opera theme songs of which your Mother is inexplicably fond. What piece of music would make you yearn for more? What song would make you want to reach out into the unknown?

What would make you want to dance?

Me, I’m going for Van Morrison tonight. ‘Astral Weeks’ – that sublime melding of rock, jazz and Celtic folk. Unique and exquisite. ‘Sweet Thing’, from this record, was the first song that Boy Z heard. He’s turned out pretty OK.

After that, I’m open to suggestions.

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*Oh, and by the way, I quit job number 2 today…

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Image credits:

Lillabo

Seriously?

Since the discovery of that little Ikea train in my lunch bag this morning, this song’s been running through my head. The wandering Agnes turned me on to Western Australian trio The Waifs. This live version of ‘Crazy Train’, featured on ‘A Brief History’ has convinced me that Aussies can do roots rock with the best of them. Check out the rollicking jam about four minutes in. More from The Waifs is available at The Waifs.

 
icon for podpress  The Waifs "Crazy Train" [8:03m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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