My First Sony Boombox Takes Us Back

Awhile back I scored an old My First Sony boombox for Kai at a garage sale. I swear that little box is blessed with good music karma. Anytime I turn it on, there is some dope music program on. It gets amazing reception and picks up all the indie radio stations.

At 8:30 this morning, Paid In Full by Erik B and Rakim started playing on KALX and Kai was bobbin’ his head. Could I have imagined this moment back in the day….probably not.

Bless your weekend with good beats!

Michael Jackson...a part of my childhood dies

You know I never really get emotional when celebrities die. When Aaliyah died, I certainly was very sad but I didn't cry. The news of MJ's death certainly shocked me, but the emotions didn't quite hit me until I heard his songs. First the radio was playing Man In the Mirror, and I thought about how great the lyrics were. Then I switched the station ,and Rock with You came on. This is probably my favorite MJ song, and I just started crying.

I remember when I was seven and my best friend had a birthday party. Her parents rented Thriller from the video store, and we watched it at least fifteen times that night. Or all those good times in my life when the DJ would play an MJ song, and I would dance with pure happiness.

He will be missed. Watch the Rock with You video.

Gen X...Are we producing Generation Youtube?

Well, I'm learning that even though many parents don't believe in letting their children watch shows on an actual TV screen--they do indulge their children in YouTube. Secretly some of us Gen X parents are fascinated with YouTube so our children seem to be growing up around it. It's not all bad. YouTube allows any of us to upload videos of our kids eating macaroni, learning sign language, or speaking in their native tongue. How cute! Btw, when did Sesame Street become so hip with all these musical guests? Over dinner with friends, I learned that these are the must-see videos for toddlers either from the original source or on YouTube:

ABC's with India Arie


baby sign



Number 4 with Feist

Sweet Lullabies

The other day I realized Radiohead is great for babies. I think it's the combination of Thom Yorke's distorted lyrics, dreamy melodies, and the white noise that accompanies the music often. Kai fell asleep instantly to "Hail to the Thief"

But props to J for getting his hands on these two great finds that will help your baby fall asleep:

1) Lullabies for a Small World (compilation by Ellipses Arts):

Great for the baby and you. My favorite track is number 3- Flor E Estrela - Teresa Ines. This song is so magical and puts the whole family in a deep slumber.






2)While roaming around at the Ecology Center in Berkeley, he stumbled upon this children's book: Talking Walls Written by Margy Burns Knight and Illustrated by Anne Sibley O'Brien.

It's the perfect multi-cultural book that illustrates how walls around the world may unite or divide communities around the world. I guarantee that you'll learn some history as well.