The Music I Grew Up With

This is the music my parents listened to- therefore, the music I grew up with.

Country & Folk:
John Denver
Statler Brothers
Roger Whitaker
Slim Whitman

Hymns:
Amazing Grace, Blessed Assurance, The Old Rugged Cross, How Great Thou Art, There is a Name I Love To Hear, Just As I Am, Tell Me The Old Old Story, A Mighty Fortress is Our God, Alas and Did My Savior Bleed, Take My Life, Teach Me Thy Way

Musicals:
Sound of Music (Beth & I had this on a record, and we played it over & over & over)
State Fair
An American in Paris
Kiss Me, Kate

Classical:
Mozart
Bach
Beethoven
Pachelbel

I will never forget the first rock song I heard... I lived in Riverside CA and was in 6th grade. Beth and I played with the girl down the street from us. She was in 7th and never went anywhere without her radio. She played some pop music, I'm sure, but the only song that stuck with me- the only song that got to me enough to make me want to hear more was 'The Eye of the Tiger' by Survivor... It was released in '82 as the theme song of the movie Rocky III, so I must have heard it right before we moved to Kotzebue, AK.

I LOVED the song. It was the first pop rock song I really heard. After that I wanted to listen to more and more. I started making my own tapes off the radio so I could hear the songs I really liked over and over. I've still got those old, old mix tapes I made in the mid 80's somewhere...

I listened to 80's music in my teens, but I pretty much missed all the 70's music 'cuz my parents dwelled in the classical/folk/hymn realm. The only way I could have heard pop music was from friends... I've picked up some 70's music on my own as I listened to the radio and searched out stuff, but mostly I missed out.

I am glad for the solid grounding in quality music my parents gave me... I probably wouldn't have survived my 2 1/2 years as a music major without my parents' love of music. I wish they'd put me through the piano lessons so many of my friends complained about... Although, as soon as I mentioned interest in an instrument I got my clarinet, which I loved.

Anyway, I am still fond of 'The Eye of the Tiger', so in that spirit, I offer a recording for your listening pleasure.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mu9xx5Ri278

Survivor - Eye Of The Tiger Lyrics
Risin' up, back on the street
Did my time, took my chances
Went the distance, now I'm back on my feet
Just a man and his will to survive
So many times, it happens too fast
You trade your passion for glory
Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past
You must fight just to keep them alive

[Chorus:] It's the eye of the tiger, it's the thrill of the fight
Rising up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night
And he's watching us all with the eye of the tiger

Face to face, out in the heat
Hangin' tough, stayin' hungry
They stack the odds, 'till we take to the street
For we kill with the skill to survive

[Chorus]

Risin' up, straight to the top
Had the guts, got the glory
Went the distance, now I'm not gonna stop
Just a man and his will to survive

[Chorus]
The eye of the tiger
[Repeats to fade out]