Disliking Their Music

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I think Taylor Swift speaks to what teens and people in her peer group go thru ... I have all of her albums and when I listen it takes me back to high school and early 20's reminding me of what that felt like, maybe it's just because I have actually been thru many of what she sings about personally. However, you do not have to like or listen to the same music ... my rule is my car, my music.

I CAN'T STAND Taylor Swift. She writes catchy songs but can't sing. And yeah, I hate how pithy and passive and submissive she is. Always pining after someone else's man, the little homewrecker LOL! Every time I hear that stupid "I appreciate you more than your girlfriend" song I have to fight the urge to scream "find your own boyfriend you pathetic whiner" at the radio.

OK rant over...I let the kids listen to a few songs and then put on "my" music.

My kids grew up listening to everything from Vivaldi to Van Morrison to Al Stewart. (Year of the Cat is one of my very favorites. The piano, the strings, the saxophone). When my son was little, he fell in love with Radar Love by Golden Earring that came on the radio during a road trip. He used to sing "Breakdown" by Tom Petty in the shower.
My son loves country music, much to my dismay. No offense to anyone.
I do like some of it, but some of the twangy "My wife left me and my dog died" stuff just feels like nails on a chalkboard to me.
My kids loved the O'Jay's and Cat Stevens, Jefferson Starship...
I'm not crazy about hip hop. Fortunately, my kids never got into it either.
There is lots of good music your kids can be exposed to.
Surprisingly, my kids like the older stuff like Earth, Wind and Fire.
David Bowie. Queen (You're my best friend). James Taylor.

I echo what others have said. In the car, I have my music on.
My kids aren't depraved or unduly influenced by listening to what I listen to.
If your daughter likes Taylor Swift, I'd rather that than her be a Bieber fanatic. Nothing against Justin Bieber, but super little girls are swooning over him and I think it's kind of crazy.
Let your daughter listen to Taylor in her room if that's what she likes, but you can also expose her to other things.

Best wishes.

I, too, am negotiating the music. My kids are 6 and 10. Since my kids don't have their own players, here's how we do it. We came up with "the rules" together, using a fair bit of humor to season the negotiation.

Music Rules

1. Adults can't tolerate listening to the same music over and over and over, so nobody gets to listen to the same CD over and over and over and over. Once a day is fine. Twice can be negotiated. Three times is not an option.

2. Mommy does not have to listen to irritating music when she's driving because it's just too darn hard to drive a car with your hands over your ears. Mommy does agree to try to keep the "irritating list" very short.

3. Mommy agrees to keep an open mind about the kids' music. I'll try your Taylor Swift (who I've discovered I can tolerate and might even like) if you'll try my vintage Boston (who they've discovered ROCK).

4. On long road trips, the kids will put up with Mommy needing a twice a day 10 minute NPR news fix. In return, I'll put up with the fact that they want to listen to the same story CD - again.

5. On long road trips, we take turns picking the music, and we put up with each other's choices (as long as they don't fall into the forbidden "irritating" category).

6. Mommy's car CD player doesn't work for Lady Gaga. Neither does the CD player in the house. If you want to listen to her, best to get it out of your system at a friend's house. Some lines just can't be crossed.

7. Mommy agrees not to inflict John Coltrane on the kids. ("Ugh. Mom, what IS this?!") At least not until they're older and capable of appreciating him... :-)

I don't listen to Taylor Swift but I totally think it rules that she knows how to play the guitar. So many pop artists seem to not know anything beyond tying their shoes...

And YES, the driver of the car chooses. Heck, the adult in charge chooses... but I wouldn't ALWAYS say "No" to music I didn't like that isn't offensive. I'd give her a half of a song or something... jk. lol:)

OH MY... just imagine if she liked "whip my hair" by Will Smith's little girl. That song sounds like a bad idea that came with a panic-inducing alarm-like beat that makes you confused as to why it exists. It is quite awful and painful.

Our rule is the driver controls the radio/music in the car!

If I feel tolerant, I'll play the BTR CD. haha

Okay your daughter is 5.
They have no idea about what the songs are about... they just parrot the words. At this stage of life, they like the tempo/rhythm etc., of the music.
They don't even know what a boyfriend or a break-up is or what angst is.

That being said, just play different kinds of music.
You are the parent.
You put on what you want.
Show her movie musicals too. ALL kinds of music is out there.
She's not a Teenager yet. She's only 5 years old. Teach her about all the different kinds of music out there. And show her, different musician icons and styles of music.
My Daughter, LOVED Gene Kelly's "Singin' in the Rain" movie.

And if some song is nasty or inappropriate, then tell her that and tell her no. TEACH her, about what is inappropriate and what is.
And what your rules on music is.
You are the parent.
No, you don't *have to* play her music. She is 5.

We have radios in our kids bedrooms. That is where they get to listen to their music. My radio in my house and the radio in the car are mine and they have to listen to what I have on. They are our kids, they don't get to choose.

I agree; I don't like Taylor Swift, either. I just haven't liked any of her songs. She seems a little whiny to me for some reason. But to each his (or her) own.

Since she is five, this is a great time to get her to listen to a lot of different music--specifically, whatever songs that you like. :-) If you listen to music that you like every day, it could be that she starts liking it, too. For example, there are a few Billy Joel songs that I love, and now my kids have memorized them and we sing along with them together. When I was growing up, I listened to Neil Diamond because my mom loved him (and now my kids love one of his songs "Sweet Caroline" because it is my favorite). We don't really have any songs that we disagree on, because mostly the kids like whatever I like. I'm sure that will change when they are teenagers, but for now (they are 8 and 6) we all like the same stuff. And I will enjoy it for as long as it lasts. :-)

Not to come off to mean, but jeez louise some of you moms are pretty mean with your posts on how much you cant stand Taylor Swift. I don't have a strong opinion on her either way, but sounds very "high school" to me. Remember this is out there for all to read and if you are trying to teach your children to not bully...I'm not seeing any good examples. As for the post, I think if the music drives you crazy, try splitting the time you have to actually listen to it. Maybe rides to school or daycare she can listen to her stuff and headed back is your music....or if its a long drive, put a limit, say 1 of your songs and 1 of mine, then 1 of dads??? Good luck, yes they get older and I am in that battle with an 11 year old now :)

The music in the car has ALWAYS been my music.
That is, until they got old enough to sit in the front seat, they now have access to the controls!!!
So we compromise (much to my dismay.) They love listening to those obnoxious pop stations that loop the same top ten songs over and over, ugh. But if we listen to their music on the way there, then I get to listen to mine on the way back. They grumble, but they know it's fair.
p.s. I can't stand Taylor Swift either, ick :(

my kids generally picked the car music, but i always had veto power! they got to play 'their' music but not unless i liked it too.
i think you and your mom had the right idea.
:) khairete
S.

I don't have any advice since my kids are way too young to deal with this issue. That being said, I want to offer my condolences. I really don't like Taylor Swift either. That is all. :)

My 3 yr old listens to alot of differnent music and we do not discourage her from that. She listens to alot of our music. We like 80's hair bands and stuff from, black sabbath, judas priest etc. She is in love with that type on music. The heavier the better for her. BUT... she does listen to Hannah Montana, Jonas Brothers, anything from the disney channel. Somethings we don't like but we listen to it anyway. Some of the music is just background noise to us. We don't even pay attention to it. Her Ipod is full of all kinds of differnent stuff. Her most favorite is Queen.

She wil definatly be listening to stuff you dont like in the future. Set up some rules, have her only listen to it when you aren't around, its okay to do that. you are the parent and you need your sanity. that said it is aso important to let her debvelop her own interests.....also i didnt even know taylor swift was a girl....lol