Kimbra "Settle Down"

By the time my daughter was one year old, she was walking, and she could say about a dozen words.

By the time she was 18 months, she could say 50-plus words.  Which was hilarious, because she was so small our pediatricians were concerned that she wasn't even ON the growth chart---she was in the "zero" percentile.  She was the size of a 10 month old, but she was completely conversational.

This being the only child I've ever had, that level of development was the standard-bearer.

So when my son was 18 months and he really wasn't saying any words, we decided to get him tested (plug for Early Intervention here!  They do free testing, and they were super!).  We knew his comprehension was great---he understood what you said.  And his communication skills were solid---he could point and grunt his way to whatever he wanted.  But she showed absolutely no interest in even trying to say a word.

Long story short, the testing suggested that he really didn't have anything wrong, or need any special help.  He'd talk when he felt like it.

Flash-forward to his 2nd birthday, this month.  As predicted, he got the notion that trying to say words yielded some positive results.  Let it be known that among his first two-dozen words were "Treat," "Pop" (as in, Lollipop), "Cheese" and "Done!"

More important than just knowing how to ask for delicious foodstuffs and how to communicate "Enough with the food, already!", he is trying to say words.

"Feet" might still come out "Beat" and "Gramma" is still only "Gaa," but he's excited when he makes a new sound.

I think that's why there are certain songs he responds to.  If the tune has a vocal hook that he can latch onto, he's sold.

After my wife went nuts for the Gotye song, she went searching for some solo Kimbra songs.  "Settle Down" became one of her favorites.  And it quickly became one of his.

He doesn't quite have the proper rhythm of the "boom, ba-boom, ba, boom, ba-boom, ba," but he tries.

"Boom, boom, ah!  Boom, boom-ah!"

Funny enough, I wonder if, years from now, he'll put the Kimbra song in the same place in his mind, as another song with a catchy vocal hook.

You'll see him trying to do it.

"Mlllmm, Mllmm.  Mlllmm, Mllmm."

And I know that it's time to bring The Muppets up on Youtube, because nothing says "I understand exactly what you are trying to say, loud and clear," like a round of "Mahna, Mahna" and "Boom, Ba-boom, Ba"!


Hear the song on Youtube.


Hear the song on Youtube.