These five songs shaped me during the formative years of my childhood. Why, you ask? How, you wonder? Why: because I listened to the radio a lot. How: essentially, they shaped me into a weirdo (you’ll see). Here are the songs of my childhood that have stuck with me all these years.
Videos by American Songwriter
The Five Formative Songs of My Childhood
“Father and Daughter” — Paul Simon
This song was featured in The Wild Thornberrys Movie, which I was obsessed with as a kid because I used to watch the TV show religiously at my dad’s house. Two years ago on my 30th birthday, which I share with my father, he called our local radio station and requested they play this song dedicated to me. It was so special and I’ll never forget it, and that’s how I started my 30th birthday crying. To this day, I can’t even think about this song without tearing up because of the bond between father and daughter that it illustrates.
“Run-Around” — Blues Traveler
I have a distinct memory from my childhood of coming across the album Four by Blues Traveler on my parents’ CD shelf and thinking “hey, this has a cool cat on it, I like cats, I should listen to this.” For some reason, my mom didn’t want me to listen to it, but I think I did anyway, and “Run-Around” will always be a standout song for me. I still don’t know why I wasn’t initially allowed to listen to Blues Traveler as a kid, but maybe that’s one of those life mysteries that remain a mystery.
“Cotton Eye Joe” — Rednex
I know, but this was a defining song of my childhood, along with “The Hamster Dance.” This became the song that my dad and I dance to at family weddings, and if I wanted to make a lot of people mad at my own hypothetical wedding, it would be our father-daughter dance song. It’s an iconic tune, no one can deny it, made more iconic by the fact that the group is actually Swedish. “Where did he come from? / Where did he go?” Where did he come from, Cotton Eye Joe, indeed.
“Oops! I Did It Again” — Britney Spears
Owning Oops! I Did It Again in my childhood was formative for me, bolstering my flair for being a dramatic, theatrical child. How did Britney Spears do that, you ask? It all comes down to the bridge on the title track. “But I thought the old lady dropped it into the ocean in the end / ‘Well baby, I went down and got it for you’ / Aw, you shouldn’t have” lives in my head rent free.
“What Dreams Are Made Of” — Hilary Duff
I was starting to age out of the Disney Channel by the time High School Musical came out, but what I did have was The Lizzie McGuire Movie. This is my Roman Empire (convenient because they go to Rome, get it?). Lizzie McGuire was the inspiration for my love of fashion, and Miranda essentially inspired my attitude problem. “What Dreams Are Made Of” never fails to conjure up an overwhelming sense of nostalgia, as well as the memory of being in awe of my friend Erin because she had the movie poster on the back of her bedroom door. It’s the little things for me.
Featured Image by Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.