Preparing my niece for our trip to Paris and London, I had her complete her first week’s quiz on what she wanted to do and see.  Week 2 was my attempt to influence her musical tastes leaning toward the music of the U.K.  Full confession, I wanted to expel New Direction from her vocabulary and replace it with The Smiths, The Cure or New Order. But who am I kidding, we were all young girls screaming for some boy band weren’t we?  I just didn’t have life sized posters of band members on my bedroom wall (if I’m honest, I was a Teen/Tiger Beat fan and shudder at the pictures I use to staple to the wall especially if we did a “Where are they now” check to see the many reality shows and rehabs of the teen idols of my youth).

Luckily, I discovered what was then considered “Alternative Music”, alternative to the hair bands and Metal of the 80’s.  My favorite MTV show was 120 minutes.  My high school and college music veered in the direction of Morrissey, definitely The Cure, Joy Division (New Order).  I have memories of watching LiveAid on tv with my family and seeing Queen perform (incredible performance that is on a DVR tape somewhere in my boxes).  Recently, I was pleasantly surprised by Coldplay – their concert was fantastic fun from beginning to end.

And then there was New Direction…….I’m convinced my niece added “Can we also go to London” to her Paris wishlist visit because of Harry…..Styles that is not the Prince.  I think she thinks Harry Styles will be walking along Oxford Street or in the queue for the London Eye.  Either way, the band has sparked her interest in London so for that, I’m thankful.

So the quiz this week was about UK Music.

Aunt Sue:

The Week 2 quiz which netted my niece an ITunes $15 gift card to load her Ipod with music for our journey (note there are a ton of bands/singers I could have picked I know but kept it simple):

We have a lot of travel time on planes and trains and listening to music is a great way to entertain us and keep busy but it’s also really important to the history of England (the UK).  So many bands and great music have come from the UK before your favorite One Direction boy band – from the Beatles, Rolling Stones to the Punk era before the Spice Girls bubble gum pop and then ColdPlay to name just a few.

Tell me a bit about what you know about UK music and a favorite/popular song from one band/singer from each listed below (or pick your own or ask Mom).

60’s – The Beatles or Rolling Stones

70″s – Queen or The Clash

80’s – New Order, The Cure, The Smiths, Culture Club or Siouxsie and the Banshees

90’s – George Michael, Spice Girls or Robbie Williams

2000’s – Coldplay, Snow Patrol or Keane

My Niece’s Answers (remember she is 11):

What I know about UK music – I know that UK music is where all of the singers I like get their inspiration and ideas.  It is where alot of music comes from

Beatles: I like it because it sounds similiar to what I listen to (Aunt Sue: I need to find out what else she listens to because if she is comparing 1D to the Beatles well, that has to stop)

Queen: A lot of kids were singing “We Will Rock You” in 1st – 3rd grade so I like it

The Smiths: Mom always listens to the Smiths, so I like it.

Spice Girls – one of their songs were in “Just Dance” (the game) and it was very popular, so I like the energy of the Spice Girls

Coldplay & Snow Patrol – I really like both bands, my favorite songs by them are Clocks (Coldplay) and Chasing Cars (Snow Patrol) they sound similiar to music I listen to also (Aunt Sue: again I need to find out what else she listens to)

So I’m not sure my Week 2 quiz did anything to eradicate the One Direction fan but hey, she’s just 11 so I need to cut her some slack.  I have faith that my sister (her Mom) will continue to introduce the good music of the UK and of the world.  Hopefully, she uses the ITunes giftcard to download some new music from the quiz – wishful thinking on my part but we’ll see.

What UK music defines your youth or special memories?