The times are a-changing and as technology swallows us up, many novel ideas and items of the past are being swept away into the bowels of the term "old-fashioned." I'm not just talking about record players, toaster ovens, and wind-up watches. I'm referring to toys, one of the only common factors in every kid's childhood that is still part of modern times. Whether it was Malibu Barbie or matchbox cars or a yo-yo, we all had something pass through our hands at one time or another that gave us endless joy, but drove our parents off their rocker.
Now, people are packing away their old dolls and running out and buying Sally "Wet Me" Sweetheart or "Real Live Baby." Not from Toys'R'us but straight off the internet. A few years back, parents were raising hell on the black market bidding on furbies for their young rodents. And that was a few years ago, now with the Pokemon craze slowly dying down, another new vaccuum for kids' imaginations will hit the market soon. Well, I'm saying, throw all that diddly into the waste basket and listen up...
I've been on a rampage this past year, discovering old school noisemaking beasts that would look perfect in the hands of an eight year old. But, some bored child or strung out mom tossed it into a pile of donation boxes and a few weeks later its in my living room causing constant pandemonium. The latest musical knick-knack I unearthed is a melodic farmhouse that comes fully equipped with yapping dogs and whining cats and a pig that sounds like an oaf of a man grunting. You can actually kick out some "phat beats" with these farm animals making it ideal for mixing down quirky sounds and rhythms.
Next on the list, the musical alarm clocks... I came across this one at the flea mart. I was admiring the fine craftsmanship when some man yelled gruffly, "You can have that!" I asked him what he wanted for it, and he yelled "Take it!" I presume he was either uncommonly generous or had just ganked it from some kindergardner and had been scratching off the kid's name as I came walking by. So he passed it off to me as quickly as he could so I could take the bad rap and suffer the wrath of some mob of gradeschool kids. Well, if my shins are beaten to a pulp by some 3 ft tall kid's gameboy, I'd say it was still well worth it. I'm sure you've seen the more modern versions of these types of toys that came out with sesame street character's heads that opened up and sang as you played the keyboard part. Well, it's like that but with alarm clocks, and you can play actual chords with the notes too.
Ok, and then there's "My Guitar" a plastic mock electric guitar for every 2nd grader's rock anthem dreams. Though it plays like a keyboard practically and has the annoying tendency to break into its demo song of "It's a Small World," it looks great slung across your chest. The ultimate "cheeseball factor."
Anyway enough elementary musical madness for one issue. But try breaking out those old forgotten friends, that dusty x-lophone, tambourine or even that damn jack'n'the'box and make some noise. Heck, I used to bang pots and pans as a kid. You never know what it may propel into. You could find yourself making musical history in your own living room.