Parents often assume they know what their kids listen to. @raisingboys_2men decided to find out for sure. He handed his son Tyler control of the music, asked him to play the song he loves most in the world, and then got a surprise he did not see coming: Michael Jackson’s The Girl Is Mine.
What followed was a funny, affectionate back and forth in which a dad kept asking one question and a son kept giving the same calm answer. It is also a nice excuse to talk about a classic song, and about the simple pleasure of letting a young person choose the soundtrack.
@raisingboys_2men
Putting Tyler in Charge
The father set the stage by telling Tyler he was in charge of the music. He asked for a song, and he was specific about what he wanted. He did not mean a song that was merely popular. He asked what Tyler’s favorite song in the world is right now, the one he plays the most because he simply loves it. As he put it, he wanted to know what music Tyler loves.
It is a small gesture, but it says a lot. Handing over the controls tells a young person that his taste matters, and it opens a conversation that a quiz about homework never could.
The Song He Did Not Expect
Tyler played the song, and his dad checked that he had heard correctly. The Girl Is Mine is your favorite song? Tyler said yes, and asked why that was a question. His father hurried to say there was nothing wrong with it. He called the song amazing and said it sounded great. His only point was that he had not expected it to land at the top of Tyler’s list.
Then the real questions began. Who is the girl? Who was Tyler thinking about while the song played? What is her name? Tyler’s answer never changed. There is no name. It is a good song. He was not thinking of anyone, and he simply enjoys it.
A Dad Who Will Not Let It Go
The father admitted that his surprise came from the title. Since Tyler would not name a girl, he had not expected the song to be a favorite, and he pointed out that there are plenty of other Michael Jackson songs Tyler could have picked. Tyler kept his cool. When the questioning continued, he offered to play a different song instead, a kind of polite surrender. His dad was not done. Come on, Tyler, he said. What is her name?
It is the kind of exchange that many parents of teenagers and tweens will recognize. A question that feels playful to one person can feel like an interrogation to the other, and the funniest moments happen when both sides are smiling.
About the Song Itself
The Girl Is Mine is a 1982 duet between Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney, and it was the first single released from the album Thriller. Jackson wrote it. The song plays like a friendly rivalry, with two men who each claim the same girl and sing about it with a smile. In other words, the song really does have a girl at the center of it, which may be why Tyler’s dad kept circling back to the idea.
Thriller went on to become one of the best-selling albums of all time, and its songs have a way of reaching new generations. A young listener finding that music decades later is a reminder that great pop does not expire. It also shows how a single record can sit on a turntable, a playlist or a car speaker and still feel fresh.
Why Letting Kids Pick the Music Works
Music is one of the easiest ways to learn who someone is becoming. A favorite song can reveal a mood, a memory or a taste inherited from a parent’s record collection. When you let a young person pick, you get a peek at what they love without the pressure of an interview.
The conversation also goes both ways. Parents can share the songs that shaped them, and kids can introduce the artists their friends are playing. Both sides often find overlap in unexpected places, including classics that cross generations.
Tips for Sharing Music With Your Kids
- Hand over the playlist or the record player for an afternoon.
- Ask what they love about a song before you ask anything else.
- Accept the answer even when it surprises you.
- Share a favorite of your own and say why it matters to you.
- Give vinyl a try, since flipping a record is a hands-on way to listen together.
- Keep the teasing gentle, so the conversation stays inviting.
The Takeaway
Sometimes the sweetest family moments are the quietest ones: a dad, a speaker and a favorite song that nobody saw coming. Tyler never named a girl because, by his account, there was no girl to name. He simply enjoys a good song. That is reason enough, and it is a good reminder that the best music needs no explanation. If your own household has a playlist nobody has ever explained, ask about it this weekend, keep an open mind and be ready to be surprised.
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