What you lose on the swings, you will make up on the merry-go-round
These were the words of my beloved father.
I have to ask myself why, on earth, I would be thinking of these words when I am supposed to write a post about music and be funny. Well, let's see how far I get.
My life with music did not start with my father but with my mother. As far as I can remember, she was the one who sang to us after she had put us to bed. The lullaby I will never forget is Siembamba. It is an Afrikaans song dating way back. It must have put me to sleep when I was smaller, but as I got older, I could never understand why mom sang it to us not to mention the fact that she was one of thousands of Afrikaans (my home language) mothers who would sing it to the children.
The whole song consists of 25 words!
It is not difficult to forget, but heaven knows why mothers will sing this song to their children. It was only later in the year that I discovered the true meaning of the song. In the context of the song, it refers to a "danger" that is crashed and then thrown into a ditch.
Mothers only wanted protection for their children. I had to continue with the tradition, so I also sang it to my children. I wanted to protect them, and I wanted a better life for them.
Then there was grandpa who entertained us with a song Hasie hoekom is you stert so kort? Dear rabbit, tell us why your tail is so short.
Tsk tsk! Grandparents!
Now back to my dad.
Dad loved music, and that is where we got our love for music from. He used to buy old Ford cars and fix them up as a hobby. The first thing he would always do was put a radio in the car if there was no one. It was not the car that was first started, but the radio that was switched on. Oh yes, it was a radio cassette player combination, as he had cassettes that would have taken us all the way from Cape Town to Timbuktu and back.
Saturday nights were our music nights. Dad would take out the Springbok Hit Parade LPs and play songs for us. We had to put in our request for 5 songs each. As there were 5 of us in the family, we knew all too well that when it came to song number 25, the show would be over. Man, what fun those nights were!
I cannot sing, but one thing I can tell you is that I know how to dance. Mom always said that I danced before I walked. I danced through all those songs.
The first song that came to mind when I was thinking about these nights was Neil Diamond’s “I’m a Believer.” Awh!!! Another song I just have to mention is “Tie a yellow ribbon round the ole oak tree”
Then, all of a sudden, we were not young anymore. Those Saturday nights were replaced with other things. With that, my taste in music was also no longer my dad’s. He could never understand how I could listen to Queen, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Guns N' Roses, Pink Floyd, and Kiss.
Okay, you should be able to guess by now who my next pick of song was “performed” by.
It can only be a Queen song and a song that I think is far underrated… Bicycle Race!
Soon, my bicycle was replaced with a motorcycle and then a car. I was now the one who made sure that there was a radio in the car.
I was earning my own money by working three jobs while studying part-time and making a life for myself.
I also discovered going to clubs. As a country girl now in the big city, it was a whole new experience for me. One night in one of these clubs, my friends signed me up for a DJ competition later that evening. I was totally unaware of it and dumbstruck when I heard my name being announced loud and clear. Of the five songs I played, I can remember two. Cyndi Lauper, Girls Just Want To Have Fun and the song that I still listen to. 99 Red Balloons by Nena!
You and I in a little toy shop
Buy a bag of balloons
With the money we've got
Set them free at the break of dawn
'Til one by one, they were gone
Back at base, bugs in the software
Flash the message
"Something's out there"
Floating in the summer sky
99 red balloons go by
We can all have that better life as long as we just go for it and forget about what others do, think, and say.
Did I mention the time that I was a Boy George fan? Oh, my word! I even dressed like him. "Karma Chameleon" is my favorite Culture Club song.
My life did not end there. My biggest shock in life was still to come.
I fell pregnant after being the one who said I didn’t ever want children. I had no choice but to get used to the fact that soon I would be a mommy.
I was now sitting for hours at a time with headphones on my tummy, playing a song for my soon-to-be baby. My hubby could not understand how I could play the same song over and over. “You just wait and see.”
My son was born a colic baby on Friday, the 13th. Through all the cries, the only thing that would get both of us calm was playing this song. The one we’ve been listening to for months is Man on the Moon by a South African band, Ballyhoo. I fell in love with the song and, of course, the lead singer while still in my clubbing days.
Why I chose this song to play for a baby, I still don’t know. I wonder if my son still listens to it. I will have to ask him. As for me? Of course, the man on the moon can hear me.
My daughter was born unexpectedly on Christmas Day. I was in labor while choirs were walking in the corridors of the hospital singing Christmas songs. Mary's Boy Child, that well-known song by Boney M, will be a favorite of mine for years to come although at the time of giving birth it was he last song I wanted to hear.
Life goes on, and we grow older. How glad am I that my love for music is also part of the lives of not only my children but also my grandchildren.
The kids and I have special songs, and we vowed that no matter where we are when we hear these songs, we will call each other. And we do. Even if it cost more than a good meal in England.
My son, Lemon Tree by Fools Garden
My daughter, Angel by Shaggy
What you lose on the swings, you will make up on the merry-go-round.
Dad was wrong. If you don’t get to ride on the swings, you can make it up with music and a good laugh when you take a walk down memory lane.
Note: Main image created with Canva
My dear friend @el-nailul, I'm always up for a challenge! (•ิ‿•ิ)
I invite @esthersanchez to take part in this contest
Oh, you are very right, everything can be recovered with music, hearing a magical melody can transport us to different states of mind, and almost always to memories.
I remember that I also listened to a song over and over again when I was pregnant, Mozart's Russian March, that one stuck to me, although I also listened to many other genres of music. And what happened was that when my son was a baby, listening to a melody calmed him down.
Once I left him in the care of an aunt for a few hours, I told her, if he cries, sing to him... When I returned, the aunt told me, it's incredible, but this child cried, and I sang to him and he was enthralled listening to Lol.😅
The power of music is incredible, I of course love it.
Thanks for sharing🤗
Wow! Two of us can relate to this.
I once read that a baby can relate up until four months to the music that he hears in the womb. That was also, more or less, the time my son grew out of his colic stage.
But I kept on playing the same song. Just because I loved it so much.
I must, however, give you a compliment, as I think Mozart is a far better option than Ballyhoo for a baby. (•ิ‿•ิ)
Do you seriously believe it? My son now tells me that music is music in general, we are the ones who give them categories, I liked Mozart because I heard a lot that he developed intelligence and concentration... But all music is good, I think the important thing is what what transmits to you😉
Edit:
These days I was listening to a play list by The Piano Guys, it is music inspired by classical music, and it is incredible how this music is like food for the spirit, very beautiful... I think that is why it is "classical", it is impossible for me to stop to be heard for its beauty.
Do I believe? Well, the experts tell us that. (•ิ‿•ิ)
I'm actually very "free-spirited." Anything goes.
That is so true.
As for that classical music, I can hear my stepson saying to me, "I told you so."
In my younger days, I believed that everything around me should be dead quiet. I wanted to hear my own voice, write, read, and listen. That is how I studied.
My stepson plays classical music.
Music... has no limits for me. #ilovemusic
Like father like daughter…😊😊
Your dad will lose interest in joining you for a ride since you now listen to Queen and The Rolling Stones!
You really had fun during your teenage years. I was reading through the message, hoping I would see one song I have heard before. Unfortunately, I hadn’t been born yet.
As I’m making this comment, I’m with my dad and I’m playing the music for him. See the way the music is making him tell me his adventures, when he was a young man with smiles all over his face..
Oh wow!! This is so nice to read!
It is beautiful that the two of you had a moment listening to some of my favorite songs.
Thank you for telling me.
I'm sure your dad told you that there is no better music than that of the 1980s.
«El único modo de hacer un gran trabajo es amar lo que haces» Steve Jobs.
Why I chose this song to play for a baby, I still don’t know. I wonder if my son still listens to it. I will have to ask him. As for me? Of course, the man on the moon can hear me.
Well I am so sure the baby will definitely want to listen to it
Haha!
The baby of 39 years old told me two days ago that he still listens to the song. (•ิ‿•ิ)
Thanks for the visit! ☕
This has been a lovely story full of nostalgia and beautiful memories accompanied by excellent music. I am a music lover and the era of which I have the best memories is the 80's. I'll be here, as long as I have the time! A hug and my thanks for the invitation, dear @patjewell !
Hello dear friend
Umh... So I was not wrong. I picked you as I was sure I read a post of yours lloonnggg ago in which you mentioned the fact that you are a music lover. It was either you or @solperez. Who knows, it might have been posts from both of you. (•ิ‿•ิ)
Music, speaks back to the soul unlike a child the speaks back at you just to make you cross.
These days when my stepson speaks back to me I tell him to go listen to music. It works!
Thank you for the visit! 🎕
PS: The 80's... the best!
ʕ•́ᴥ•̀ʔっ
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Thank you!
@event-horizon
Thank you! It is appreciated.🎕
Hello my beloved mother, We haven't seen each other for quite a long time, I miss the sayings from you, I hope you are fine there, and I hope you are always happy☺️💕
Hello, my child. (•ิ‿•ิ)
I am good, thank you.
I first had my mother and sister visit me, and then I was in bed with flu for a couple of days, and then I had the financial yearend and audit.
I am, however, catching up where I can.
You don't have to worry; I am not going anywhere.
Thank you! Happiness to you also. (づ๑•ᴗ•๑)づꕤ
I'm happy if you're always happy☺️, you have to be strong to face everything, I'm sure. Hopefully mother is always fine and happy 😊💕
Thank you for your kind words. 🎕
🤗💕