I remember asking my mother this question after hearing Madonna's song Like a Virgin on the radio. I was 8 or 9, so I guess it's not all that surprising that I didn't know yet. She told me honestly, which I really think is the only way to go when your kid poses a question like that. You don't really want your daughter going around thinking it's a bird, now do you?
Maybe it's just that I'm getting older, but some of the music and the videos today, well, they make me uncomfortable. Now I'm no prude, and I'm not for abstinence-only sex education. You're just fighting too many hormones and primal instincts for that tactic. I also believe in the freedom of the press and free speech, but then I see Jesse McCartney's new video for Leavin' and my skin starts to crawl, because what is he? like twelve? Yeah, I know, he's twenty-one. Way past legal and old enough to drink even . . . . He still looks twelve to me. And to see him and this equally newbile actress/model is such an overtly sexual video, it just seems wrong. This is what I'm thinking watching MTV on the cross trainer the other day.
Trouble has his own pop music pet-peeve lately, the song I Kissed A Girl by Katy Perry. Every time it comes on the radio, which is about every twenty minutes on PRO FM, he says, "Mom, you put it on again," in a sincerely annoyed voice. I've explained to him that it's the radio playing the song, not actually me. The song really seems to bother him. I suppose this would be a good opportunity for me to explain gays and lesbians to him. Thus far, I haven't. He really seems to take offense to the idea of a girl kissing another girl. I guess that only makes sense since he still thinks boys and girls kissing is yucky. He may not be ready to hear about lesbians or sexual experimentation.
And while I'm on the subject of the music scene, what do you think about NKOTB reuniting? It's not so much the reuniting that bothers me as the video for Summertime which features the group members dancing with a myriad of scantily clad young girls, one the same newbile actress/model as Jesse McCartney's new video. At least she's his age, fellas.
I'm just chuckling. We went to the surprise birthday party this weekend for a co-worker of the hubby. It was thrown by his boyfriend.
Doesn't phase me, my best friend is a gay man (I made a great fag hag in my pre-kids days ;)) but my kids were a tad perplexed by J having a boyfriend.
That said...did you hear that NKOTB recorded a single with 4 of the original members of New Edition? (all but bobby brown)
Posted by: J | July 02, 2008 at 12:29 PM
My mother has ten brothers and sisters- her youngest sister is a lesbian, and four other siblings have gay children. (I personally believe being gay HAS to be genetic.) My children are to young to question anything yet but it will interesting to explain. They have been surrounded by same sex couples all of their lifes so I wonder how the conversation will start..
...as for NKOTB block I agree that it is weird..they are like 40 with 18 year olds in bikinis in their video! kinda creepy
I watched 15 minutes of the show with Lindsay Lohans mom and her 14 year old sister and was shocked! She did not look or behave like a 14 year old and her "mom" was not behaving like a "mom"....I am getting old!
Posted by: Curls | July 02, 2008 at 02:09 PM
I love it that he thinks your playing the song. Maybe he's uncomfortable with the thought of YOU kissing a girl....heheh
Posted by: Liz | July 03, 2008 at 12:20 AM
I really want my kids to be accepting of the gay community. I guess I could have a PG version of the conversation now. I'll try to prepare myself for that if it comes up again.
You know I'm okay with these older boy bands re-uniting, but not with them trying to act like the same boy band they were two decades ago.
J - I can see where your kids would be perplexed.
Curls - I saw some of that show too. It was disturbing.
Liz - I sincerely hope that's not Trouble's problem, and I'm SOOO NOT going there in any conversation with him.
Posted by: Diosa | July 03, 2008 at 10:47 AM