Music's Best Dads
Will Smith
We’re a bit ambivalent about the Fresh Prince. His somewhat baffling and convoluted association with Scientology gives us pause and the fact that his 14-year-old son Jaden went shopping as Iron Man last month was a tad odd. But every time we try to quit him, he says something really smart and grounded about fatherhood, particularly the way that black fatherhood is portrayed in the media and it makes us think that maybe, sometimes, parents just do understand.
Everyone’s favourite earnest blue collar balladeer seems to have done a pretty great job of raising his three children. And you could argue that he’s also at least partially responsible for raising a couple of generations of rockers with daddy issues through his music at this point. Plus, he and offspring Jessica were responsible for one of the coolest and least creepy father/daughter dances ever in Paris last year.
Quincy Jones
Don’t you just love Rashida Jones? Isn’t she amazingly smart and talented and stunningly grounded for someone whose childhood involved getting attacked by Michael Jackson’s chimp Bubbles and checking under her bed for BOB from her mom’s show, "Twin Peaks?" We’re thinking at least some of the credit for raising such a lovely person should go to her legendary producer dad, Quincy Jones.
Alice Cooper
On stage, he’s the father (or godfather, depending on who you ask) of shock rock. Off, Alice Cooper is your average golf-loving dad who has taught his kids to value their good fortune in life and respect the fans who have made it possible. “He told us, ‘Those people are the reason you go to college, drive a car, have nice clothes, because they like my music and buy my records,’” his daughter (and occasional backup dancer) Calico Cooper told AZCentral in 2011.
Neil Young
As the dad of two sons with Cerebral Palsy and a daughter with epilepsy, the grunge rock forefather has worked tirelessly to raise awareness about these conditions. He and his wife Pegi also founded The Bridge School for children with physical challenges. His 1982 album, "Trans," was inspired by his efforts to communicate with his non-verbal son Ben. Young has also put a lot of work into making his model train hobby more accessible to Ben.
Music's Bad Dads
No comments:
Post a Comment