The Elder Brother's Influence

I was the oldest in my family, and for most of the time I was growing up, I had 3 younger brothers who followed me around and copied everything I did. This past week, I had a most interesting experience that manifested to me how much that influence continues to this day. 

A few weeks back, my younger brother "RJ" (I want to protect his identity) came out to Sacramento for an exam he needed to take for his job. He stayed with us for a couple of days, and I decided to copy all of the stuff from his Ipod. Yesterday, I decided to play "25 most played songs" on my Ipod, which included the songs RJ most often played on his. Here is the list of songs as they played, and how he got interested in them. 

1. "A Little Respect"-Erasure. I got into Erasure in the early 90's when I was on a Euro-pop/"they might be gay but their music is good" kick.  RJ definitely never heard of Erasure before he stole one of my CDs.

2.  "Por Ti Volare"-Andrea Bocelli. This didn't come from me. My guess it RJ got it from a woman, most likely his wife.

3. "Crash"-D.M.B.  I can't take credit for this one, as it was on the radio quite a bit when RJ was in that high school graduation phase of his life. 

4. "Freak on a Leash"-Korn. I never liked Korn. I think the name of the band is stupid, and they aren't that great of a band. Just because they had a video with a bullet going through crap doesn't make them a good band. RJ probably likes them because a bunch of his friends like them. 

5.  "The Scientist"-Coldplay. This is one of my favorite Coldplay songs, and its from my favorite Coldplay album "A Rush of Blood to the Head." I distinctly remember telling RJ about this great song I had stuck in my head, and then playing this song for him in my car. Your welcome, bro.

6. "Bridge Over Troubled Water"-Simon & Garfunkel. Simon & Garfunkel were always playing downstairs in my bedroom (next to RJ's) growing up, and he quickly fell in love with their musical genius. This song is actually way played out, but hearing it on my Ipod after so many years brought back some good ol memories. 

7. "If At First You Don't Succeed"-Aalyah. Definitely not from me. However, RJ and me have always been connected to R&B and Hip-Hop, ever since we was educated on the streets of Bloomington, eye-el, and started a freestyle rapping partnership that continues to this day. We cannot ride in a car together without busting out a couple of rhymes. This song here is a  good choice, bro. Some nice funky beats and cool, catchy hooks. 

8. "Wounded Knee"-Primus. I never got into Primus. Blame it on this weird "why should I have to shave my armpits if guys don't" girls I worked with back at Dairy Queen who spent lots of money on flannel shirts and long johns in order to look poor on purpose, and to fit in with the grungy crowds she was hanging with. She always was yapping about Primus and "Sailing the Seas of Cheese" and for that reason alone, I never wanted to listen to them. 

9. "Starry Eyed Surprise"-Paul Oakenfold. You know this song, the one with "Dance all night, dance all night to this D.J." in the chorus. Its alright, but it didn't make it into RJ's collection through my influence. 

10. "Wishin' and Hopin"-Ani DiFranko. Um, someone just flunked the litmus test for heterosexuality. Seriously, thats a song you listen to when and only when your with your wife, just after finishing a chick flick in order to keep things on the up and up. 

11. "Somebody"-Depeche Mode. Ok, seriously, I am getting a little disturbed. Sure, I like a lot of Depeche Mode, as any LDS guy who was alive during the late 80's early 90's and didn't have long hair and watch "Headbanger's Ball" can admit to. However, "Somebody" is one of those songs I just love to hate. Its for girls to like. A few weeks back, a couple of my guy friends sang every line of the song, in tune and with proper dynamics. A little awkward and disturbing. RJ, please tell me your wife listens to your Ipod a lot and thats why this song made the top 25 list. 

12. "Defying Gravity"-Wicked. I own the CD. Yeah, I know its ironic I make fun of "Somebody" but own Broadway Musical CDs. I'm not sure if I influenced this, since I'm sure my other brother RF is going to claim he knew this music way before I did and got RJ turned onto it. 

13. "The Prayer"-Celine Dion. NOT INFLUENCED BY TREVOR. 

14. "Como Dueles En Los Lablos"-Mana. This is a song RJ likes because its a Mexian group, and guess where RJ served his mission? Yep, Mexico. All RMs bring back a CD or two of the pop bands from their country. Kinda stinks if you serve stateside. "I got this cool CD from Wal-Mart on my last P-day. Some band called Snow Patrol. They have a cool sound." 

15. "Forever Live and Die"-O.M.D. This is totally Trevor influenced. I remember listening to this song in my 1975 Volvo 244 D.L. tank on wheels, with my portable CD player that hooked into the cassette player with the wired tape. I thought I was so cool because the CD player had a little remote I velcro'd onto the steering column. See, it was so difficult to reach another 6 inches down to where the actual CD player was to change the buttons. It was much easier to take the remote off the steering column, feel the buttons with my fingers, then hit "forward skip" or "reverse skip." Besides, I know I looked so cool doing that, making sure everyone could see I was holding a CD player remote in my hand as a drove with my value meal in my lap, a few fries dangling from my lips. 

16. "Mrs. Robinson"-Simon & Garfunkel. See above.

17. "Cecilia." Simon & Garfunkel. So RJ apparently still likes S&G. Makes me feel guilty for playing their music over and over again during RJ's young formative years. 

18-25. A bunch of songs by the rock band "Rush." RJ is a drummer, and there is some unwritten rule that, if you're a drummer, you need to like Rush, because Rush has the best rock drummer on the planet, Neil Peart. RJ likes them because they have intricate beats and rythms that only people with a higher musical IQ care about. I never liked RUSH that much, so I didn't influence this songs.

Final Analysis: My bro has a strong Simon & Garfunkel fetish and a few synthesizer pop songs that he definitely picked up from me. The sad part is, we all have a love of Air Supply, Neil Diamond, and Elton John from our parents. It is kind of sad when people laugh at Air Supply songs, cause deep inside, we just love 'em.