Rick Steves’ Best of euRap

Photo courtesy of Justin Glow

I’ve found that the most effective way to annoy our two kids (ages 17 and 20) is to act like someone from their generation. Slang, greetings, gestures…you name it, if I try something from their generation and not mine…look out. It’s tight.

So, when Jackie’s high school radio station asked me to fund the purchase of some of their gear with a donation, in return for an ad on their station, I said, “Sweeeet…on the condition that they help me produce a rap.”

They recorded their voices over the first 30 seconds and left the last 15 seconds for me to finish. I happened to be at my audio-recording studio in Seattle (finishing up a TV show soundtrack) with a cool young engineer who jumped at the chance to coach me and produce my bit on the rap to finish the audio ad. I emailed Jackie’s classmates this track (which I like to think far exceeded their expectations). And now, Jackie’s dad is throwin’ down some sick rhymes several times a day all year long on her high school radio station.

Enjoy the Rick Steves’ Europe rap. Yeeeah, boy.

Comments

78 Replies to “Rick Steves’ Best of euRap”

  1. Rick As the saying goes – “Keep your day job”…)))). Thanks for keeping a great blog going all year now, not just when you are traveling and for keeping us laughing.

  2. That was definitely funny. Rick, I admire your work and love you as a travel writer and tour guide through Europe. But a hip old dad you are not. That was a great effort, a lot laughs, and hope it helps out Jackie’s school!

  3. Rick, I wanted to make one more comment in regards to this. While you may not be a hip dad, I am sure your kids appreciate you very much. You have invested your life into them, given them the gift of love for traveling and the world, and will even make silly rap songs and donate so much of yourself to be a part of their lives. I am in my early 30s and have spent the last few years traveling Europe. I just found out I am going to be a dad for the first time. And I already told my wife that I am going to be a Rick Steves to my kids. I can’t help but travel and give them a love for people, culture, and places that you have done for your kids and so many others. Thanks for sharing your passion and passing it on to so many of us. For all of us that have been blessed by what you do, I am sure your kids are blessed many times more.

  4. I think I speak for all of us in my comments and appreciate all that you do for your family and others evidenced by a silly rap song for your daugher’s high school.

  5. I think that was great..What a cool father you are. Your travels have given me the chance to see the world right from my own home. Thank you so much for being such a terrific tour guide. Keep up the good work…

  6. Rick, :) As a classroom teacher, I think that’s a GREAT idea to get kids motivated! I would agree tho with others who posted….you have found your calling in travel…but maybe not so much with the “rapping”! LOL! Happy 2008!

  7. Rick, those kids most likely have never heard any real music, they just hear the sewer sounds of the garbage generation.This was your chance to let them hear some beautiful sounds. What would Fred Waring have done in the same situation?And if you say, “Who is Fred Waring?” you have more problems than you realize.

  8. Dear Mr. Humberd; I was born in Texas in 1950. I had no idea who Mr. Waring was and after I read about him; I really don’t have a problem as you implied. There is no reason for me to be familiar with a musician in the 1920-1930s in the Northeast. I do not like rap music for many reasons but I refuse to judge those that do. It’s just another genre of music. If we all liked the same things it would be a very dull world. I do enjoy reading about your travel memories, I just know that you and your Sweetie had a wonderful life and I know you must miss her so much. Blessings to you for a wonderful New Year.

  9. Dear Mr. Dobson, You said Fred Waring was a musician in the 1920-1930s in the Northeast. Well that is true, but he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 1983, and Sweetie and I attended his concerts in the 1980s. Is that really so long ago?

  10. Let’s get back to the subject of the rap! I had to laugh and now I’m laughing more with that crooked hat on Rick. You would look great walking in our shopping mall with all the other young people with their crazy outfits and baggy jeans. Please don’t go that far! Keep on keeping us readers amused . Others please keep to the facts and subject matter on the blogs.

  11. Rick, you are an inspiration to all of us who aspire to embarrass our kids. Your photo and rap rated an eye roll from my daughter, which we all know is the highest accolade!

  12. Wow. Rick Steves…you be throwin it dowwwn. That’s probably a lot better than I can do and I’m supposed to be a part of this generation… My condolences to your children. Maybe you can give Karl “MC” Rove some tips.

  13. That’s fantastic, Rick. I enjoyed it. Thanks for keepin’ it real! (And oh yeah, if my parents tried that, I wouldn’t enjoy it nearly as much.) :)

  14. To Ellen (above) On a Mac, you’ll need to have Windows Media Player 9 for Mac installed. (I know, I know, I hate having Micro$oft “crapware” installed on my Mac, too.) Hope this helps! Matt

  15. Hahaha Rick that’s AWESOME.. If I had known you had mad skills, I would have insisted you join us in a couple of songs for the SMC concerts ;-)!!!

  16. This rapping totally just made me subscribe to your feed. (now I have to check to make sure you HAVE a feed)

  17. Mad props to Mr. RS Cool-Tray for inspiring today’s generation of website-totin’ travelling rap-alogues! Nobody in the Eurotravorapping industry has my boy’s street cred, dig? Thanks to him, my whole family can afford to bling on a budget while gettin’ down with my Romeys at a fraction of the cost. Word Steves.

  18. Never miss your show, and I thought this was the coolest thing i’ve ever seen you do. Keep up embarrassing those kids. Someday, they will cherish this little recording when you are long gone, traveling on the other side of the great divide…and still writing guide books I’m sure.

  19. My husband looks just like you and often gets comments asking if he is related to you. They say everyone has a double. I would like to send you a picture of him-we have used your books to travel with and stayed at Walter’s in Gimmewald.

  20. My family loves your show, we are saving our pennies are hoping to travel to some of the amazing places you have shared. Keep up the great work. And, oh yeah, love the rap….too funny!

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