When I read my dad’s article there were a number of points I disagreed with, the first being that the idea that “teenagers must disagree with their parents”. It is true to some extent, but it was never intentional for me to disagree with my dad about music. I don’t do it on purpose… unless it is to stir him up when he is clearly irritable. For example, I have recently taken to watching Big Brother, not because I like it, but because there is nothing else on. And if Dad didn’t complain about how awful the show is I doubt I would watch it at all.

When I was younger I saw how similar my dad and sister’s taste in music was. And I don’t know if it was because I didn’t want to be like them, or if I just wanted be “part of the crowd”, there was just no way that I could have the same taste in music as they did. However, a small part of their taste in music has crept into mine. This has resulted in me being a fan of all sorts of music (not just rap) – The Beatles, Kanye West, The B-52s, Ben Folds Five, The Spice Girls, Bette Midler, Death Cab for Cutie, Kate Ceberano, and Eminem (just to name a few).

The other correction that I have to make is Dad quoting me calling the music he listens to “Dad’s music”. The term my sister and I actually use is “depressing man music”, and it usually consists of some guy, not singing, but whining, to a really awful downbeat tune. The music isn’t played quietly either, it blares and echoes from his room. I can’t provide an example of this type of music, as Dad doesn’t seem to have used any of them in his list of songs.

When Dad asked me to participate in his project I was more than happy. And when he asked me to provide him with a list of favourite rap songs I will admit I did choose ones that I knew he would find a challenge to listen to objectively. I don’t know why but for some reason I couldn’t help it.

Anyway, here are my comments on some of Dad’s favourite tunes:

1) Pixies – Gigantic

I don’t mind this song. It starts off well anyway with a mix of guitar and the tapping of drumsticks. I like the singer’s voice as well – it’s quite unusual and for some reason appeals to me. Although this could be because it sounds very similar to the music played on The O.C. The song becomes dull towards the end as the chorus is repeated way too many times, and I have a very short attention span.

2) Bjork – Human Behaviour

I have nothing against Bjork. I love her voice. It is so unique. The clicking mixed with the drums as well as the vocals makes a very interesting combination.

3) Massive Attack – Unfinished Sympathy

For some reason this song reminds me of my childhood. I don’t know if it is because of this, or if it is the combination of different sounds, but I like this song. I enjoy the sound of the voice and its echoes. I also love the rhythm. The lyrics are easy to follow and as I listen to the song I find that I am bopping my head…. that’s got to be a good sign.

4) The Cure – Love Song

I can’t like this song. It starts off well with the drums and the guitar but I find the voice so frustrating. A lot of the words are lost in the singer’s exhalation. It just doesn’t appeal to me.

5) The Smiths – Panic

This song is a definite reminder of my childhood. My sister and I used to spend alternate weekends with our mother, and when she dropped us back home, this song, and others like it, would be blaring from the house while Dad did the weekly ironing. I quite like this song. I really like the lead singer’s voice and the overall rhythm of the song.

6) Belle and Sebastian – The State I Am In

The fact that the song starts with the vocals is quite intriguing. The lyrics don’t really appeal to me, but I’m not sure why. I don’t mind this song, but it is definitely not something that would voluntarily listen to.

7) Radiohead – Fake Plastic Trees

I don’t really know what to say about this song. It is slow paced and doesn’t appeal to me straight away, although I do like the sound of the voice. There is something I just don’t like about it… I just can’t say what it is.

8) Kraftwerk – The Model

I am sure that I have heard this song before. No doubt it would be due to the paper-thin walls that separate my room from Dad’s. The electronic sounds are different, although I don’t think I like it. The song reminds me too much of the music that my dad and his friends used to write and record. I know this is probably the sound that the artist wanted to achieve, but it is definitely not something that appeals to me.

9) New Order – Temptation

For some reason I am a fan of this song. It seems my Dad has picked a lot of the songs that he used to listen to during the nineties. I like the song, but I’m not sure why, as the singer’s voice really doesn’t appeal to me.

10) The Stone Roses – She Bangs The Drum

I really do like how this song begins. But when the vocals start I just switch off.

And that’s that! I loved Bjork, but I’ve always enjoyed her music. I liked revisiting some odd childhood memories. However, I am still quite disappointed that Dad didn’t include one of the ‘depressing man music’ songs in his list. It would be nice if people knew what my sister and I were talking about, rather than think we were just being disagreeable teenagers.

To read The Generation Rap, Part One click on this link.