I’m assuming that most of you know of John Popper as the lead singer of Blues Traveler. One of my all-time favorite groups, and he is one of my all-time favorite performers.
Nobody rocks a harmonica like John Popper.
Musical talent aside, John Popper holds a very special place in my heart.
When Monkey Girl was a baby, we had to take a long car trip. She was always a good baby in the car, but this trip was, apparently, a little longer than usual.
She started to cry.
And cry.
And cry.
And cry.
And…well, you get the picture.
We tried everything, but we were stuck in traffic and there was no getting out of it.
We talked to her quietly and calmly.
We sang lullabies.
We sang James Taylor.
We sang Bon Jovi.
We sang Metallica.
We sang anything we could think of.
And then…
We started to sing Blues Traveler songs.
More specifically, we started to sing “Hook.”
Now, “Hook” is a song that says that the meaning of a song is essentially meaningless, because people want to listen again and again based on the “hook” or the catchy part of the tune.
Basically, it calls mainstream musical listeners idiots.
Good song.
So, we start to sing, and at this point, we’re trying to get her to stop crying, but also, admittedly, trying to drown her out.
So, we’re singing loud.
“It doesn’t matter what I say…as long as I sing with inflection…if it makes you feel I’ll convey…some inner truth of vast reflection…”
She is still crying.
But, it’s a little quieter.
“But I’ve said nothing so far…and I can keep it up, as long as it takes…and it don’t matter who you are…if I’m doing my job, it’s your resolve that breaks…”
She’s taking little breaks.
Like, she’s listening.
And so it continues until we get to the best part of the song.
You know the part.
Where he starts singing fast and when the song is new, everyone tries to memorize THIS part so you can seem cool when there are people around and you sing it and you know it all?
Yeah, that part.
And it makes no sense.
And she’s quiet.
And we finish.
And she’s asleep.
Next time she cried and we couldn’t get her to stop, we sang the crazy part, and she stopped.
Ten years and four kids later, we still sing Blues Traveler to our crying babies.
And it still works.
So, if you have a baby who won’t stop crying, click here.
It’ll change your life.
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