Monday, September 14, 2009

Conversations from the Carpool

I mentioned last week that Calypso is now attending a charter school which doesn't provide transportation, thus necessitating carpools with several other students. We seem to have found a schedule that works reasonably well, ungodly hours notwithstanding. It is interesting to note the differences between the morning and afternoon runs as well as the personalities involved.

In our little group we have* Calypso, 3 other girls, and a boy. There is Barbie, who is chatty, cute, and generally upbeat. There is Eva, who has a pierced lip and has had 3 different hair colors just since the start of school, but who is also generally easy going. There is Pris, who seems to find little in life meets her exacting standard. Finally we have Davey, who is the youngest of the group, the only boy, and who cracks me up every single day with his comments.

The first time Davey cracked me up was when Pris complained loudly about breaking her nail on the uncooperative seat belt buckle. After she disembarked to meet her mother, Davey sniffed, "Well, she expects to be a professional dancer, but dancers aren't supposed to have long nails, and CERTAINLY not acrylics like THOSE!" Davey and I have also had a rather extensive discussion about our opinions of local pizza places. The kid has earned my respect in this regard. He's the only other person I've ever found who agrees with me about the relative inedibility of the pizza from a particularly revered local establishment (Seriously, how can anyone with any taste at all rave over soggy crust and a scant amount of thin, flavorless sauce?).

It's a long drive, particularly in the afternoon when traffic begins to get heavy and aggressive. I plug my iPod into the car's stereo to make the drive more endurable. Calypso often rides shotgun but one day Eva jumped in the front seat. I beamed, "Congratulations! You win control of the iPod!" She was quite delighted and Gracie the Bondo Queen Minivan throbbed to Evanescence for the 40 minute drive. Pris complained. Next time I reminded the kids that shotgun controls the iPod and told her she could have her chance. She looked at me with thinly veiled disgust. Surely no middle aged carpool driving mother could possibly have anything she enjoyed (Yeah, ok I only have in excess of 1600 tunes on my iPod covering virtually every major musical genre there is as well as spanning the last half of the 20th century and into the current one, even further back if you want to add the classical composers.). Davey, however, was chomping at the bit for his turn and eagerly took the passenger side.

Eva took us through Evanescence, MercyMe, and Pink.

Calypso had us listen to Elvis, Christina Aguilera, Bryan Adams, Charlotte Sometimes, Coldplay, Fleetwood Mac, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, Kansas, and Nickelback. When she complained about how many Prince tunes I have Barbie chimed in and defended such selections stating her love of Prince.

Davey cued up Howie Day, Jack Johnson, Jason Mraz, Mika, Natasha Bedingfield, The Ting Tings, and Vitamin C. He also managed to get the entire carpool, except Pris, chair dancing to (ok, this is where I wait for the rest of you to pelt me with rotten fruit) the Monkees. Eva, in particular seemed to enjoy that. Pris was more and more annoyed by the iPod antics of her fellow passengers and driver until....Davey stopped on Lisa Loeb. Pris' indifference and ennui melted away when she sighed, "Oh! I love this song!"

I just smiled.

Ok, so obviously their choices are highlighting my selections of more recent music but I do have a bunch of other stuff. Whaddya have?

Adie Gray
Alanis Morissette
Alfredo Coca
Alien Fashion Show
Allen Sherman
AMOCO Renegades
Amos Lee
Andy Toomey
Anna Nalick
Annie Lennox
Antonio Perez
The APM Orchestra
The Arrogant Worms
B-52s
Baha Men
Barenaked Ladies
Ben Harper
Beth Orton
Betsey in the Gene Pool
Bill Morrissey
Billy Joel
Black Eyed Peas
Blood, Sweat, and Tears
Blue Man Group
The Brian Setzer Orchestra
Bryan Adams
Caedmon's Call
Cake
Carlos Montoya
Charlie Daniels
Charlotte Sometimes
Chill Pill Dancers
Christina Aguilera
Clannad
The Click five
Code of Ethics
Coldplay
Dan Fogelberg
David Gray
David Rudder
dc Talk
Dire Straits
Dork Side of the Tune
Dr. Demento
Duffy
The Eagles
Echobelly
Elvis Presley
Eric Clapton
Evanescence
Fernando Torrico
A Fine Frenzy
The Firm
The Five Satins
Fleetwood Mac
Frank Zappa
The Frantics
Geggy Tah
Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
Gloria Estefan
Grammatrain
Gretchen Wilson
Griffin House
Hank, Stu, Dave & Hank
Harry Connick, Jr.
Howie Day
Huey Lewis
Indigo Swing
Ingrid Michaelson
Interference
Jack Johnson
James
Jason Mraz
John Mayer
Jorge Laura
Josh Turner
Kansas
Keith Urban
Kingston Trio
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Larry Norman
Lee Presson and the Nails
Leona Lewis
Lisa Loeb
Liz Phair
Lou Nathanson
Louis Prima
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Madverb
the Mamas & the Papas
Marc Anthony
Maroon 5
Michael Buble
Michale Card
Mighty Blue Kings
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Mika
The Monkees
Monte Montgomery
Monty Python
Moonpetals and Caterpillars
Napoleon XIV
Natasha Bedingfield
New Order
Nick Drake
Norah Jones
Ogden Edsl
Ottmar Liebert
OutKast
Pink
Paul Simon
Pearl Jam
Peter, Paul & Mary
Phase Two Pan Groove
The Police
Porno for Pyros
Prince
Queen
Randy Stonehill
Ray Charles
Red Meat
The Rentals
Rich Mullins
Royal Crown Revue
Sade
Santana
Seal
Serene & Pearl
The Shady Grove Band
Shel silverstein
Sheryl Crow
Simon & Garfunkel
Simply Weasels
Sixpence None the Richer
Solo Harmonites
Sondre Lerche
Speak Easy SPies
Steppenwolf
Steven Curtis Chapman
The Stranglers
Success Allstars
The Sundays
The Surfaris
The Swing Tips
TCL SKifflebunch
Third Day
Tim McGraw
The Ting Tings
Tom Lehrer
Tori Amos
Trace Adkins
Tracy Chapman
Van Halen
The Vestibules
Vitamin C
Warren Zevon
Weatherheads
Weezer
Weird Al Yankovic
Will Smith
Wire
ZZ Top


There's more on CD that I haven't gotten around to putting on the iPod and there's a TON more I want to buy, both old and new, but it seems to me you ought to find something there to catch your fancy. Feel free to make some suggestions to me as well.

*Names changed to protect the adolescents.

34 comments:

Bijoux said...

I feel as though I'm in your van. Great descriptions of the kids!

I love me some Cake and Weezer!

Jazz said...

I knew you'd have ZZTop at the end of the list.

S said...

Um, you dont have any Rufus on there!
Shame!

I am happy that you are finding fun in that hellacious drive!

Desmond Jones said...

I couldn't help noticing a very conspicuous absence in the 'B's. . .

;)

Michelle H. said...

Whew! you sure have A LOT! I only have about 75 songs, and not early as much variety.

I call shotgun for The Police!

Cheesy said...

HA! SF burns the Bob and Tom show onto CD's for me... I have HOURS of the show!

lime said...

cocotte, so do you wear a short skirt and a long jacket while you eat pork and beans?

jazz, but of course!

s, no but i have tori thanks to you

desmond, whatever could you mean?

michelle, de do do do de da da da

cheesy, not familiar with bob and tom

~Dragonfly~* said...

How about...
Josh Grobin
Leslie Mills
Vince Gill
Styx....

Seems like there aren't a whole lot of Country names on there.... :(

Sounds like a fun and interesting bunch!!!

g-man said...

Ted Nugent...!!!!
I see NO Grand Funk...
Smokey Robinson
Marvin Gaye
Four Tops
Temptations..
No Motown? No Michigan Groups..Not even Iggy Popp!!!
tsk tsk tsk tsk.....

Cooper said...

what....no Archies??????

lime said...

dragonfly, i did have some josh groban on there at one time come to think of it, wonder what happened to it.

gman, good point. i actually do like motown music. marvin gaye...ah....

cooper, aw, sugar sugar...

TorAa said...

Impressive list.
But, I must admit: I do not find time to listen to my favoutites.

EmBee said...

NO Fall Out Boy???

Seriously though, maybe you should institute your own brand of 'Kick Ass I-Pod Tune of the Day'... And why would I pelt you with ANYTHING for listening to The Monkees? While I was mowing today both 'Last Train to Clarksville' AND 'Mary Mary' came on rotation.

Good stuff there Lime!
:-)

Dontcha just love peeking into other folks I-pods?

EmBee said...

And to Desmond Jones... And I-pod just isn't an I-pod without The Beatles... Ob-la-di-ob-la-da my friend.

Craver Vii said...

I like that mix. I think I'd be happy driving along and enjoying it all! And while the Monkees play, the monkeys WILL play!

Desmond Jones said...

Well, missing the Beatles wouldn't be so glaring, except that you've got the 'fake Beatles' (ie, Monkees) on there. . .

(and FWIW, as much as I deride the idea of The Monkees, some of their stuff was pretty good. . .)

But hey. . . it's your iPod. . .

lime said...

tor, i play a lot in the car and a lot when i am in the kitchen

embee, no fall out boy, sorry. i could see you and me jamming to the monkees much to the embarrassment of our respective kids.

craver, 5 little monkeys bouncing in the car...

desmond, well, the monkees music i have because mr. lime and i met at a monkees concert and i got him the cd as a joke for our anniversary one year. sshh, for xmas he is getting the white album on CD. so after december i'll have some beatles.

Anonymous said...

Wire...??? really Lime...??? one of my all time favourite bands...!!!??? which tracks for heavens sake...??? and New Order too...but i'm less surprised by that i suppose...

i suggest some Robert Crumb and his Cheap Suit Serenaders...but NOT their tune that glories under the title of 'My Girl's Pussy'...heheheheheh... ;)
not for young and tender ears...just a bit rude and suggestive...ahem...

(M)ary said...

I want to be in your carpool!! Awesome playlist. I am particurlarly intrigued by The Arrogant Worms.

Right now I am liking and would recommend:

Nellie McKay

Michael Franti & Spearhead "Say Hey" (I love you)

Craver Vii said...

I forgot about how you and your hubby met.

I thought that was only true in fairy tales. You know-- meant for someone else, but not for me.

~Tim said...

What? You trying to prove that your the coolest Mom ever? [We already knew that....]

I love Lisa Loeb and I love the Monkees!

I have a 4-CD set of Disney tunes that my high school students reminisce to.

misticblu said...

ok WHAT do you have by Monty Python??
and O Brother soundtrack is as close as I get to country.

lime said...

guinness, wire's kidney bingos and new order's love vigilantes

mary, arrogant worms i have as part of a car talk compilation CD or irreverent car tunes. hehehe

craver, love was out to get me

tim, aww shucks, now i'm blushing. since calypso got glasses she gets told she looks like lisa loeb all the time.

misticblu, i very much want to get a copy of the o brother soundtrack.

Malicious Intent said...

Psssssst, I have the Monkee's too...and we are certainly showing our age! lol

Is this when we get pelted with the rotten fruit?

NYD said...

I'm sorry, I will remain faithful to Barry Manilow. He is the only artiste that my delicate ears will listen too.


Girl, you seriously need to put some Zappa on that list!
Oh, and soggy crust on a pizza?!?
Take that shop owner out back and horse whip the scoundrel!

lime said...

misticblu, i have bright side of life and spamalot, forgot to tell you

mi, yes i think this is it, but i'll share my poncho with you

nyd, i used the iPod's version of alphabetization, i do have zappa, scroll up to the F's. yes, the first name alphabetization bothers me as a librarian wannabe. as for the pizza maker, you hold him down, i'll beat him.

Kat said...

Wow. That is quite a list! I definitely don't have that much on my Shuffle. Mostly upbeat music that I can run to. And then some sappy crap too of course. But there is a wide variety of artists. Maybe not as wide a variety as yours though. ;)

crazy4coens said...

i don't even have an iPod....

Jocelyn said...

I love this post and the idea of the kids controlling the Ipod and having to acknowledge you as a real person with valid tastes (this acknowledgment happening only because you have something THEY LIKE).

Try Ida Maria. She kicks. I also may have to send you a CD of Martin Zellar. Gotta go dredge up your home address now...of course, it'll take me eons, but the idea's in the hopper.

Commander Zaius said...

What no Jimmy Buffett?!?!?! My feelings are hurt.

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Hilary said...

You have the Arrogant Worms? Really? That's so.. Canadian of you! :) They're fun. :)

And you have Dan Fogelberg... I want to ride shotgun!

Anonymous said...

lime...i can send you a burn of the 'O Brother' soundtrack if u wanna...!!! ;) xx

Lolly said...

Not bad at all! I'd be scheming for that front seat.