I don't mind at all that my eight-year-old son has a bit of an obsession with Blake Lewis. We watched American Idol together this past season, and we agreed together that Blake, in addition to being utterly cool, seems like a genuinely good and honorable guy.
I didn't mind at all that, on the last day of school, Stephen spiked up his hair like Blake's, and he put together a grungy, t-shirt look. I actually thought he looked pretty cute.
I haven't minded Stephen's new Blake-inspired fascination with beat-boxing. We've had a good time looking up examples together on YouTube, and listening to Stephen teach himself this ever-so-useful (!) life skill has been fun. Noisy, but fun.
No, I haven't minded any of it. I've been the super-cool mom about this whole thing. Until I heard him beat-boxing "Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing" in church last week.
Really, a mom's got to draw the line somewhere.
I would have loved to hear that, actually! Hilarious!
Posted by: Llama Momma | Monday, July 02, 2007 at 06:11 AM
I sense an offertory special coming soon!
Posted by: Josh Bozarth | Monday, July 02, 2007 at 06:19 AM
I'm pretty impressed. But then my husband sings hymns in Klingon language.
Posted by: Jeana | Monday, July 02, 2007 at 06:21 AM
I love that hymn. Beat boxing it? Hum, might be okay, but not in church!
Posted by: slawebb | Monday, July 02, 2007 at 06:29 AM
Music is always something I try to promote . . . maybe even the beat boxing kind :)
Posted by: Karen@FamilyBriefs.com | Monday, July 02, 2007 at 06:49 AM
I actually see a big hole in the Christian music market right now...albums with beatboxed hymns. Maybe he has a bright future in the industry
Posted by: Jill | Monday, July 02, 2007 at 06:50 AM
That's rich. Good luck with your sanity!
Posted by: Diatribal | Monday, July 02, 2007 at 06:53 AM
My favorite hymn. Desecrated with beat boxing! AAAGH!! Be careful, it could be the next big evangelical fad. ;-) And we'll owe it all to you! ;-) ;-)
Posted by: dcrmom | Monday, July 02, 2007 at 06:56 AM
ROFL First, I want to hear your son! And, then I want to hear Jeana husband do Klingon hymns! LOL
Posted by: Beth/Mom2TwoVikings | Monday, July 02, 2007 at 07:18 AM
I am a Blaker Girl......so this is funny...ROTFL
Posted by: Shannon in Arizona | Monday, July 02, 2007 at 08:30 AM
OK I love it. Can you get it on video?
Posted by: Leslie | Monday, July 02, 2007 at 09:03 AM
Personally, I would be proud that my young son had the creativity to do this. For one thing, it shows his appreciation for and knowledge of hymns (which is rare in children in these days of 'contemporary worship'), but also, he's doing nothing less than what Martin Luther did in his day with "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." That tune is (or at least was) shared with a German drinking song.
Keep encouraging him to worship God in a way that speaks to him (which is "Blake-y" right now). Chances are, he'll grow out of the beatboxing...but he will have learned the lesson that true worship isn't a _music_ style, it's a _life_ style that is focused on bringing glory to God.
Posted by: Princess Leia | Monday, July 02, 2007 at 09:34 AM
LOL -- yeah...I may have drawn the line there too.
Posted by: Angie @ Many Little Blessings | Monday, July 02, 2007 at 09:36 AM
Hey, it's better than any number of songs he could have been beat-boxing! Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks--look what came out of his!! Who cares the style?! :)
Posted by: oh amanda | Monday, July 02, 2007 at 09:50 AM
I'm 30 an I heart Blake... in fact, I entered and won American Idol live tickets so that I could go and see him in the flesh...
you're supposed to make a joyful noise unto the Lord... joyful is relative... :)
Posted by: Heather @ Desperately Seeking Sanity | Monday, July 02, 2007 at 09:53 AM
HAHAHA. That makes me laugh!
Posted by: Kilikina | Monday, July 02, 2007 at 10:09 AM
I was a Blake fan from the very beginning! That is such a cute story.
Posted by: summershine | Monday, July 02, 2007 at 10:39 AM
Good for him! At least he was participating at church, unlike many of my relatives that will pull out guitars and sing around the campfire but are strangely mute at church.
Posted by: T with Honey | Monday, July 02, 2007 at 10:49 AM
I think that's awesome! :) My 10 yr old daughter is a big Blake fan too. She hasn't tried to spike her hair up or go grunge on me, but she does go around the house beat-boxing. LOL!
I don't know what others in your church would think of Stephen beat-boxing a hymn if they heard him, but I bet God loved every minute of it! JMO (just my opinion) of course! ; )
Posted by: Arlene | Monday, July 02, 2007 at 11:18 AM
Naw, let him go for it! You'd hate to repress him now, just to have him go all-out-tent-revival-beat-boxing-preacher-man who sets up his beat up van, ever-screeching PA, and his "honk if you love Jesus" signs in front of the Walmart, now wouldn't you??!! :-)
Posted by: bee | Monday, July 02, 2007 at 12:28 PM
Oh, I'd let him run with it. The notes aren't in the Bible, so it's just tradition your fighting here, not your boy. And it's the words you want him to cherish more than the notes...
But that's just me. :)
Posted by: Shalee | Monday, July 02, 2007 at 12:30 PM
Well, kids always seem to display their new achievements when you least like it. Then when you want them to perform... they get stage fright! haha Sounds like the classic kids bringing the unexpected at the wrong time.
I have to ask - was he in rhythm with the song? haha
Posted by: MorningSong | Monday, July 02, 2007 at 12:46 PM
That is too funny! We are Blake fans at our house too. My 2 year old and six year old sons go around all the time beat boxing but not in church!
Posted by: monkeyseemonkeydo | Monday, July 02, 2007 at 01:11 PM
My seven yr old is exactly the same way. Only he hasn't made it to the hymns yet...he's still working on the newer praise and worship stuff. Curves has a soundtrack that has praise and worship on it. It's kinda' cool until you feel like you're excercising to the dance mix version of "I love you, Lord".
Posted by: jen | Monday, July 02, 2007 at 01:27 PM
How I wish I could have seen that!!
Posted by: Susan G. | Monday, July 02, 2007 at 01:41 PM
That's my favorite hymn, and I bet he did a great job. :)
Posted by: kelli in the mirror | Monday, July 02, 2007 at 01:50 PM
Hmmmm ... I'm not so sure I agree ... because you see ... the Word is still getting into his little heart and brain, and if beatboxing will cause him to remember better, then ... GO BEATBOXING!!!
After all, God made music, he made our hands, moth, vocal chords, and he made them to glorify him -- and if we can squeeze out room for Christian rap, rock, gospel, country, etc... then, I know for one, I can squeeze a bit of room in for beatboxing!
Go, Steph-a-boom-badda-chica-chica-bing-ba-dadada-boom-ba-phen!
Posted by: GiBee | Monday, July 02, 2007 at 02:26 PM
Ummmm ... in Jesus name, of course!
Posted by: GiBee | Monday, July 02, 2007 at 02:26 PM
I love it! You really are racking up "cool mom" points this summer. And, it's great that he figured out how to engage such a beautiful hymn in a way that sticks in his brain!
Posted by: MamaToo | Monday, July 02, 2007 at 03:53 PM
K-LOVE would be proud.
Posted by: Mike | Monday, July 02, 2007 at 04:03 PM
What's wrong with beat-boxing hymns? :) I had to laugh.
Posted by: Faerylandmom | Monday, July 02, 2007 at 04:36 PM
He's got good taste, that's one of my favorites hymns too :)
Posted by: Michelle | Monday, July 02, 2007 at 06:28 PM
I agree with Beth, I want to hear him beat boxing it, and then want to hear hymns in Klingon! Oh my goodness that would be funny!!!
Posted by: qtpies7 | Monday, July 02, 2007 at 06:51 PM
How many people did he inadvertantly spit on in church beat boxing! Great story- love it!
Posted by: My Minivan Is Faster Than Yours | Monday, July 02, 2007 at 10:17 PM
Now that is something I would love to hear. My husband and daughter sing in our church's contemporary choir. I wonder if it's time to approach them about adding beatboxing??
Posted by: Nancy the Romancechick | Monday, July 02, 2007 at 10:45 PM
Way too funny!!
Posted by: Tammy | Tuesday, July 03, 2007 at 08:00 AM
Okay, I wanna YouTube video, and I want it now...one from you, and one from Jeana
Posted by: Deena @ Junk in the Trunk. | Tuesday, July 03, 2007 at 01:12 PM
That is the funniest thing I've read/heard ALL day.
Posted by: Misty | Thursday, July 05, 2007 at 04:07 PM
Come thou fount is such a wonderful song (one of my favs) and I don't even think beat boxing could mess it up. How did he sound? Upbeat, if not a little irreverent?
Funny!
Posted by: Paige | Saturday, July 07, 2007 at 08:22 PM
People weren't sure of Blake beat-boxing Bon Jovi either...& look! It is/was a TOTAL HIT!
I wouldn't mind a little listen of that 'hymn'! LOL
Posted by: Robin | Monday, July 09, 2007 at 03:48 AM
USA Today has an article today about the Idol finalists' first concert. It sounded like great fun. I actually liked Blake and thought his Bon Jovi cover was great!
Posted by: Cindy Swanson | Monday, July 09, 2007 at 11:44 AM