Whoomp, There It Is
Ever since I downloaded Taylor Swift's most recent album 1989, Charlie has been obsessed with the song "Shake It Off." Every time we get in the car, he says, "Momma, play 'Shake It,' please." So, we've been singing and dancing and shaking all over town to one of T. Swift's sickest beats.
Until this week...
While out for a run with my two babies in the double jogger, I was in desperate need of musical motivation, so I tuned my Pandora app to the "Jock Jams" station. Songs like "Good Vibrations" by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, "Get Ready for This" by 2 Unlimited, and popular hip hop songs from the early 90s are in heavy rotation and make me feel as if I'm part of a one-woman pep rally. Usually, the kids are oblivious to my music and are waving at cars passing by. Then, "Whoomp, There It Is" by Tag Team begins to play, and Charlie's little ears perk up. He starts to bob his head to the music, and by listening to the song only once, he sings along with Tag Team those four pointed words: "Whoomp, There It Is."
I didn't think anything of it at the time. I honestly couldn't imagine any song dethroning "Shake It Off" so quickly, but the seemingly impossible occurred today. On the way to Bible study this morning (don't judge), I made a quick trip to Starbucks and had to yell my order at the barista to make sure it was heard over Charlie and Taylor Swift singing loudly about "playas playing and haters hating." Then, out of the blue as we're driving down Airport Boulevard, I hear a request from my favorite back seat driver: "Mama, play 'Whoomp, There It Is." I wasn't sure if I heard him correctly, but after verifying that he did indeed want to hear that particular song, I downloaded it from iTunes at the next red light. After all, he was demanding that Tag Team be played immediately.
Y'all, I paid $1.29 (full price) for a song from the year 1994 by a group that was essentially a one-hit wonder. I was also surprised to see that this song has hundreds of versions and adaptations (really?). I don't like being overwhelmed with choices, so I just downloaded the first one that showed itself. I figured it would be the Jock Jams version. Wrong. This songs begins with an elderly man's voice saying, "Excuuuuuusssse me, sonny, do you know where I can find some BOOTY?" (I am dead serious). Charlie bursts out laughing and then starts his little white boy, head bobbing dance in his car seat. My son also really gets the participatory vibe of the song. Tag Teams says "Whoomp," and with much enthusiasm Charlie replies, "Dere It Is!" I cannot make this up.
The song is 5 minutes long. As if it takes any human that long to learn the phrase "Whoomp, There It Is". I mean most of us figured it out after the first run through of the chorus, and most of us have probably felt equally awkward saying the word "whoomp." What does it even mean?
In any case, one play of the song just wasn't enough for Charlie. "Whoomp" would go off, and he would yell, "Again, again!" So, I will be conservative in my estimate of how many times I've had the pleasure of listening to this hip hop gem and say 5 thousand-ish? I had to pull up to McDonald's and order "hot fries" and "black coke" - as Charlie calls french fries and regular coke that isn't gross Sprite or "green coke" - with bass thumping and windows vibrating and Charlie "raising the roof" in the backseat (Positive note: his dance moves are getting progressively better throughout the day). I, however, am trying desperately not to make eye contact with anyone.
At this point, both of us are pretty confident in our mastery of the lyrics. Charlie loves to say, "excuse me sonny" in his old man voice, which is pretty funny. I just yell over the "booty" part and substitute it with any age appropriate word I can think of. "Pancakes" happened to be the word I chose today. He has also started replying "Whoomp, There It Is" when I ask him where something is.
Me: "Charlie, where is your sippy cup?"
Charlie (pointing to said sippy cup): "Whoomp, Dere It Is."
Again, I cannot make this up.
As we drive down the road, speakers blaring, Charlie sings along and asks, "Can you dig it?" And you know what? I can. I can dig it.
Even if my son turns out to be the next Vanilla Ice, it's better than listening to the dreaded "Hot Dog Song" all day long. Can I get an amen? Or at least a "Boom! Shaka Laka, Shaka Laka, Shaka Laka, Shaka, Boom!"
Until this week...
While out for a run with my two babies in the double jogger, I was in desperate need of musical motivation, so I tuned my Pandora app to the "Jock Jams" station. Songs like "Good Vibrations" by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, "Get Ready for This" by 2 Unlimited, and popular hip hop songs from the early 90s are in heavy rotation and make me feel as if I'm part of a one-woman pep rally. Usually, the kids are oblivious to my music and are waving at cars passing by. Then, "Whoomp, There It Is" by Tag Team begins to play, and Charlie's little ears perk up. He starts to bob his head to the music, and by listening to the song only once, he sings along with Tag Team those four pointed words: "Whoomp, There It Is."
I didn't think anything of it at the time. I honestly couldn't imagine any song dethroning "Shake It Off" so quickly, but the seemingly impossible occurred today. On the way to Bible study this morning (don't judge), I made a quick trip to Starbucks and had to yell my order at the barista to make sure it was heard over Charlie and Taylor Swift singing loudly about "playas playing and haters hating." Then, out of the blue as we're driving down Airport Boulevard, I hear a request from my favorite back seat driver: "Mama, play 'Whoomp, There It Is." I wasn't sure if I heard him correctly, but after verifying that he did indeed want to hear that particular song, I downloaded it from iTunes at the next red light. After all, he was demanding that Tag Team be played immediately.
Y'all, I paid $1.29 (full price) for a song from the year 1994 by a group that was essentially a one-hit wonder. I was also surprised to see that this song has hundreds of versions and adaptations (really?). I don't like being overwhelmed with choices, so I just downloaded the first one that showed itself. I figured it would be the Jock Jams version. Wrong. This songs begins with an elderly man's voice saying, "Excuuuuuusssse me, sonny, do you know where I can find some BOOTY?" (I am dead serious). Charlie bursts out laughing and then starts his little white boy, head bobbing dance in his car seat. My son also really gets the participatory vibe of the song. Tag Teams says "Whoomp," and with much enthusiasm Charlie replies, "Dere It Is!" I cannot make this up.
The song is 5 minutes long. As if it takes any human that long to learn the phrase "Whoomp, There It Is". I mean most of us figured it out after the first run through of the chorus, and most of us have probably felt equally awkward saying the word "whoomp." What does it even mean?
In any case, one play of the song just wasn't enough for Charlie. "Whoomp" would go off, and he would yell, "Again, again!" So, I will be conservative in my estimate of how many times I've had the pleasure of listening to this hip hop gem and say 5 thousand-ish? I had to pull up to McDonald's and order "hot fries" and "black coke" - as Charlie calls french fries and regular coke that isn't gross Sprite or "green coke" - with bass thumping and windows vibrating and Charlie "raising the roof" in the backseat (Positive note: his dance moves are getting progressively better throughout the day). I, however, am trying desperately not to make eye contact with anyone.
At this point, both of us are pretty confident in our mastery of the lyrics. Charlie loves to say, "excuse me sonny" in his old man voice, which is pretty funny. I just yell over the "booty" part and substitute it with any age appropriate word I can think of. "Pancakes" happened to be the word I chose today. He has also started replying "Whoomp, There It Is" when I ask him where something is.
Me: "Charlie, where is your sippy cup?"
Charlie (pointing to said sippy cup): "Whoomp, Dere It Is."
Again, I cannot make this up.
As we drive down the road, speakers blaring, Charlie sings along and asks, "Can you dig it?" And you know what? I can. I can dig it.
Even if my son turns out to be the next Vanilla Ice, it's better than listening to the dreaded "Hot Dog Song" all day long. Can I get an amen? Or at least a "Boom! Shaka Laka, Shaka Laka, Shaka Laka, Shaka, Boom!"
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