Fish heads, fish heads...

As parents, my husband and I can agree on one thing without argument: music is crucial.  It is the most powerful common ground for people to come together and unite as one and, given the right lyrics and setting, music could change the world--in fact, it already has.  

At least once a month, Isla and I plop ourselves down in front of the computer, and I give her my version of a music lesson--via YouTube.  For anyone born in the late 60's, like myself; the late 70's and early 80's offered up some pretty unique selections.  One of my all-time favorites was "Fish Heads," by Barnes and Barnes; which came packaged in a bizarre video directed by Bill Paxton (oh yeah... pay attention--he's IN it, too!).  The video first aired on The Doctor Dimento Show back in 1978 and resurfaced again with the birth of MTV.  

As with everything, I like to make sure my daughter knows a little bit about who her mommy is... the good, the bad AND the weird.  There we sat, eyes glued, watching as two poorly disguised twin freaks (for lack of better words), stood staring back at us in their matching silver suits, "Fish Heads, Fish Heads, Roly Poly Fish Heads... Fish Heads, Fish Heads, Eat Them Up YUM!"  At the time, I wasn't sure how she'd take it... really could've gone either way, but she flipped her head back to catch my reaction and we both burst out laughing.  

I dunno... maybe I'm a bad parent, but I never loaded one single "kid" CD onto any of our iPods.  Instead, on the day she was born, I plugged my fully loaded, mixed up mesh of eclectic funk into a set of speakers that softly belted out random lyrics 24/7 in her room.  I'll admit, there were a few late nights spent in the rocker where I questioned my ability to parent at all, but I later made up for it by wiping out a couple songs by Ludacris (sniff, sniff) as well as a few others.  I suppose Nelly wasn't planning on serenading a three-day-old baby girl with the phrase, "Drop Down and Get Your Eagle on, Gurl," but, for a brief time, he did just that.

One of Isla's favorite videos is Faite Pour Dormir, by Brigette Bardot.  Can't say as though I blame her... even IF I have to hide the razor blades from myself every time I watch.  It's not fair that one person was given that much beauty and if I didn't love her so much, I'd hate that bitch!  No matter--Isla loves to listen, to observe and to dream of having long blonde hair that is perfectly coiffed, and I love watching my little sweetheart's brain twirl and pirouette. It's doubtful that "Fish Heads" is ever going to mold anyone into a being a presidential candidate, but it makes for a good five minutes of warped entertainment, with just a splash of music history and I would highly recommend that parents' jump on-board the YouTube wagon and throw your kids a nostalgic bone every once in a while--even if you don't agree.