I finally remembered to google the lyrics that my five-year-old daughter has been singing lately: “Hey Jessie, Hey Jessie, it feels like a party every day!” In this song, “Jessie” is pronounced with attitude: “Jess-say!”
We don’t have cable. My daughter doesn’t watch the Disney Channel; she barely understands what a television Channel is. She learned the song from another nursery schooler. WHY ARE LITTLE GIRLS SINGING THINGS LIKE “IT FEELS LIKE A PARTY EVERY DAY”? Okay, any day probably does feel like a party when you’re five, when you can wear your pajamas to school and draw on your skin and be silly. I don’t think this song is about that kind of party.
And I’m not convinced that’s a human singing. It’s probably a machine. Part of the big shiny plastic machine that chews up the natural self-esteem of children, and spits it out in shapes that are no longer recognizable.
(p.s. to followers of my blog: I’ve not been blogging lately because I’m renovating an old house and preparing to move. Lots to share, when there’s time. Stay tuned!)
Rebecca Kuder 