Music and Family Blog

     For the music and family blog, I chose to interview my mom Amy Hardin because I swear she has been to the most concerts out of everyone that I know and she listens to a variety of genres of music. Plus, I knew she would not give me short answers like my dad would. 

Me: Hey Mom! May I interview you for a project for my Music of Diverse Cultures class? 

Mom: Of course.

Me: Where did you grow up?

Mom: I grew up in Louisville, Kentucky until I was 13. Then, moved to Landrum, South Carolina and have been there ever since. 

Me: What kind of music did you grow up with? What did it mean to the people around you? Did music have any particular function? When and where did you listen?

Mom: In Kentucky I went to a very strict Baptist church and Christian school where rock music was really frowned upon. I remember them even having bonfires where they burn records of hard rock music they thought was from the devil. But my family and I did not agree with this. When I was with my church friends, I listened to a lot of Christian contemporary but I still listened to a lot of 80's and rock music at home because of my two older sisters. Before my dad passed, he and my sister's would sing in front of the church a lot. We mostly listened to music in our cars and we also had a jam box at home and I remember playing 8 track tapes in our stereo. 

Me: Was the music you listened to growing up popular at the time?

Mom: When I moved to South Carolina, the rules around music were no longer strict at all and I enjoyed listening to all of the Rock/pop music that were popular in the 80's. 

Me: Were you involved in any music groups any school or church?

Mom: We had a youth choir at church that was fairly large and I enjoyed being part of it. I loved to sing but I would never get up and sing a solo or anything. 

Me: How did you listen to music?What kind of technology did you have?

Mom: By the time I was in middle and high school, cassette tapes were what we usually listened to and occasionally local radio stations on our home stereos in our room with large speakers. 

Me: Did you go to concerts? What were they like? What was your first concert?

Mom: Yes! My first concert was in 10th grade and my best friend and I went to see Poison/Tesla at Greenville Memorial Auditorium. It was loud, wild and unlike anything I had ever experienced. Since then, I have probably gone to over 40 something concerts with big artists like Prince, Eagles, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Chicago, Beach Boys, George Strait, Shania Twain, New Kids on the Block, Justin Bieber, and One Direction. 

Me: Have you ever met any famous musicians?

Mom: Yes. my daughters and I were able to meet Dan and Shay about a year ago. They were very nice and down to Earth guys. I have also met Night Ranger, Lady Antebellum, and Hunter Hayes. 

Me: Has any musician inspired you?

Mom: I would have to say Rick Springfield. I have loved his music since 5th grade and have seen him in concert twice. 

Me: Did you play any instruments growing up? How do you feel about that? Do you still play/sing? Do you regret anything?

Mom: I took Piano lessons as a child and sang in youth choir at church. I didn't really like all of the time it took to practice piano and I just wanted to play outside with my friends instead so I didn't stick with it but I wish I would have. 

Me: Did you want your kids to be involved in music? 

Mom: I did. I made both of my daughters take piano lessons when they were young just to see if they would like it. 

Me: If you had to describe your life in one song, what would it be?

Mom: "Live like you were dying" by Tim McGraw for sure. The lyrics just have a special meaning to me because we should live each day like it is our last. 

Me: What do you think about the popular music today? Do you like my music?

Mom: I do like most popular music that is out today. Some of it does have more bad language than I prefer so I just try to listen to the clean version when I can. 

Me: Alright, last question, what genre of music do you gravitate to?

Mom: I go through cycles of listening to country music then get tired of and listen to rock/pop most of the time. I do like Hip Hop too. 

Me: Thanks for letting me interview you Mom.

Mom: Of course! I had fun answering these questions.