(no subject)

[mommydama]

I have protected my children from the mainstream media to some degree. They watch PBS kids and Noggin. They watch parent selected movies from Netflix. But for the most part they've been protected from a lot that their peers know about. We listen to an eclectic mix of music around here, everything from classical and jazz to the college angst music of Brad's and my younger days, quite a bit of Orthodox liturgical music and, of course, the requisite Raffi and Laurie Berkner Band.

However, I think I've made a grave mistake in this department. Flipping channels one day several months ago, I paused on the Disney channel just in time to see and hear the Hannah Montana song "Nobody's Perfect". I thought it was a fun, upbeat song, with a good message. One Maria needed to hear. So I looked it up on Youtube and played it for her the next day. I should have realized what I was unleashing...but I didn't at the time. I thought it was innocent fun.

Maria and Luci have both become obsessed. I ended up downloading the Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus album. Maria listens to it whenever I will allow it. The emotional intensity of her rockin' with Miley is something to behold. This is bubblegum pop at its worst, wholesome and somewhat mindless, sucking you in and forcing you to tap toes and wiggle your head. But I can't laugh. Maria is very serious about this music.

Luci is the funny one. Nearly everyday she asks to watch Hannah Montana videos and, if I allow it, she then gives me the speech: "When I am big like her, I'm going to dance and sing on a stage like that too. Can I mom?" Which leads to an hour of Luci in her finest fairy regalia, leaping around the room with a hairbrush microphone, singing at the top of her lungs. My four year old wants to be a rock star.

What have I done?

Comments

[kizmet-42.livejournal.com]

Can you dissipate the intensity by bringing other music that might be equally interesting to them? Not that I have any ideas - I'm far out of sync with all this music stuff.

[aelf.livejournal.com]

My daughter also likes Hannah Montana (she was introduced to the music via the neighborgirls) and Hilary Duff (via preschool). She also loves The Archies "Sugar Sugar" and the modern bubblegum pop is probably less ... suggestive. *grin*

It is so funny to see the kids dancing around using just about anything as a pretend microphone.

[ariellejuliana.livejournal.com]

My nanny girls are just as obsessed. They sing and dance around the house, even the barely three year old can do a great impersonation.

I don't mind it, but I don't really like how they exactly copy her mannerisms and "show-offiness". They shake their hips and do her kind of snotty-cool faces. Not so attractive on a little three year old. But the six and seven year olds can do pretty amazing song and dance routines :) They can do just about everything from "High School Musical."

I feel so behind. I've not seen Hannah Montana OR High School Musical.

[mommydama.livejournal.com]

We've never, ever watched the show. Just listened to the music. I'm behind too. We don't watch the Disney channel commonly. Sometimes they'll have movies on that channel I'll DVR for the girls, but we don't just watch it. I found her by accident actually.

I actually really like High school musical. I've played some of the music for the girls, but they did not get as into it as good ole Hannah.

[ariellejuliana.livejournal.com]

Mary Grace's 8th birthday was today. Her mom wanted to surprise her and so she brought home plates, napkins, balloons, etc...all with Hannah Montana on them. She gave me a sheepish look when she unwrapped them and said, "you're going to think I'm such a secular mom." Mary Grace was very excited, though :)

[pikefish.livejournal.com]

can't help ya here-- I will say that Miley is cute but a little odd-- after all, her dad is Billy Ray!!! Emily watches the tv whenever it is on (she'll probably have ADHD when she grows up from all the tv she watches)-- including the music choice channel, which is music with pictures of the singer on the screen.

[dan111174.livejournal.com]

Big Head Todd and the Monsters?

:D

Have a good weekend!

[mommydama.livejournal.com]

They've heard plenty of that in their young lives. Nothing has ever hit a chord with them quite like Hannah Montana. I guess I shouldn't say that...Laurie Berkner of Nickelodeon fame was quite an obsession around here about a year ago. I like that better. Whimsical, silly, folksy children's music sung by a voice I could actually listen to and enjoy.

Death by bubblegum pop. Is that possible?

I hope you have a good weekend too!

[ariellejuliana.livejournal.com]

My FAVORITE kids CD is the one that They Might Be Giants did. Coolest. Thing. Ever. I mean seriously - TMBG kids music!?!?

Someone once asked them how their kids music was any different than their regular stuff. They said, "we talk about death a lot less." Otherwise, pretty much the same :)

[emchelle.livejournal.com]

Welcome to the dark side *mwahahahaha*

[erikaerin.livejournal.com]

My kids don't watch mainstream TV either simply because we don't have mainstream TV. We actually only hooked up a satellite dish about 4 years ago (after having gone without any TV for 12 years) and have access to SkyAngel only (which is Christian programming). My kids watch selected movies, as well.

I was shocked the my daughter was interested in the Barbie scene a couple yeas ago because she didn't own any and hadn't watched any of the Barbie stuff. She decided that when she grew up, she wanted to be a Barbie rock-star. *pukes* She was seeing all the Barbie crap at school.

I told her that I'd rather her be a punk rock star with a lip ring, a pink mohawk and black leather clothes with metal studs on them than to be an anorexic, stuck up and materialistic Barbie pop-star type. I'd rather have her be more of an individual with a statement than to be the horrid norm that most of our teenagers are becoming.

The next year, she learned a quick bit about Susan B. Anthony at school and told me she wanted to be a feminist. SCORE! That's my girl.

This year, she told me that wants to be a wife, mom and artist. I'm okay with that, too, as long as she's not someone's doormat.