My Siblings' Music

Growing up as the youngest kid of four has its ups and downs. The downs are that you're constantly thought of as the baby, you're expected to remember your siblings' friends whom you haven't seen since you were four years old, and you always have to sit in the middle on long road trips. The ups are that you get to hang out with, and ask advice from, a lot of people. You also get the trickle down benefits: clothes, toys, etc. One of the greatest gifts my siblings have given me is my taste in music.

I had to share a room with my brother for many years, was babysat by my oldest sister for just as many, and drove to/from school with my other sister nearly my whole young adult life. Having these people above me meant one thing above all else; I had to acquiesce to their taste in music. Whenever I was in their car, room, cheerleading practice, birthday party, or whatever, I had to listen to whatever music they wanted to listen to. This resulted in me growing to like a pretty eclectic selection.

I could tell you about the pool party where Sarah's friends taught me the hand signs for 2 Legit 2 Quit. Or I could tell you about the time that I asked my brother, totally ignorantly, what his ONYX tape "BACDAFUCUP" meant (he wouldn't tell me, and I was angry.) I could tell you of the many times I pleaded with Stephanie to put on something, anything, other than another Steven Malkmus or Pavement album. The fact of the matter is though that these weird moments helped shape my tastes as an adult. I remember a friend of mine I was driving with once was amazed at how I seemed to know the words to every song that came on the radio, and I explained to her that this is what happens when you are forced to listen to everything that is on the radio; you grow to like most of it.

While I can't say I've gone out and bought any of the albums my siblings loved, I will say that there are certain things I've made my own. Since Stephanie was around, I was able to steal her copy of The Bends by Radiohead and never get it back, and it still is an album I listen to fairly often. If Doug wasn't around, I never would have become interested in Hip Hop, and would have never been turned on to some of my favorite acts, like The Roots. Arguably the greatest contribution though came from Sarah; because of her girlish love for George Michael, I was introduced to Faith, which I absolutely kill with at Karaoke Night. Thanks guys.