I think "Like Him" changed my dad.

I know the title sounds a bit stupid and dramatic, but it's the only way I could think of wording it.

About two weeks ago, I called my dad after a meeting. I am an on and off radio DJ for my college and he also used to be a DJ. We bond over music and concerts every now and then. He occasionally asks me what I'm listening to or if there are any good concerts in my area. This time around I mentioned Chromakopia, describing it in detail. My dad is an older guy, he's a Mexican man in his 60s. Very machismo. His music taste consists of The Doobie Brothers, Willie Nelson, Gipsy Kings, that kind of stuff. He's also one of those "I can't stand that rap crap" guys, so I warned him a lot of the tracks we're rap/had rapping. He said to send it anyway.

I decided to just pick a few he'd pallette easier than others, my choices ended up being:

-Judge Judy -Tomorrow -Like Him -I Hope You Find Your Way Home

After sending them his way, I got a thumbs up emoji as a reply and didn't hear from him about it. It wasn't until today that he mentioned it at all.

I was going back to my place after classes when he called me. The conversation started really casual, him mentioning a SpaceX launch he watched, etc. After small talk, he kinda went quiet. Our connection is usually shoddy so I asked if he was still there and after a bit he said he was. Then he went quiet again and I asked if everything was alright. He spoke up and just kept going on. He started with talking about Tyler's voice and range and stuff, complaining that there weren't enough 'real instruments' and all that. Basic stuff coming from him. Then he moved onto the lyrics, talking about how he didn't really realize that rap could be about the stuff Tyler mentioned. He mentioned how he liked the third song I sent him, Like Him. I asked what he thought of the lyrics. I'll try to transcribe what he said from memory.

"It was good. It sounds like he's been though hell with his dad. Should've played a bigger part. It's men like that that change lives, you know?"

For context, my grandfather (dad's dad) passed away when he was around 16 or so. They had a messy relationship and his death was sudden. My dad hardly ever talks about his father, as if it's a sore subject. After hearing him say that, I asked him if he felt like the lyrics resonated with him personally.

"I don't know. My dad was gone early. I can't blame him for leaving. He couldn't control it."

I started to notice him talking a bit slower, and his voice getting a bit choppy. I asked if he was okay, and he stayed silent for probably about fifteen seconds. It was worrying, honestly. I hadn't heard him like this in years. Even at his own mother's funeral, he was stone cold. After the silence, he spoke up again.

"Did that song mean a lot to you?"

I didn't really know how to respond, so I just told him that it did. I told him how I thought it was a gorgeous song, but that it hurt a lot. He asked me why it hurt.

My dad and I'm relationship is sorta strained. Him and my mom are divorced and he's a slight scumbag a lot of the time. I love him as my father, but don't really like him as a man.

When he asked me why it hurt, I went quiet. He doesn't know that I don't really like him as a person, and he seemed too vulnerable to drop that on him now. I told him it hurt because I didn't know how long he was gonna be in my life. And that I don't think I could ever live up to him. Which, is mostly true. I heard him sniffle a bit before he pet out a breath.

"I'm gonna be here for you, [my name]. For a long time. And you don't have to be me, you know? I didn't have you because I wanted another me. You're doing something I could never do. You're different. I love that a lot. You're the best thing that's happened to your mom and I. And I'm proud of what you're doing."

I promise I understand how corny this all sounds, and in the moment it felt surreal. I rarely heard anything like that from my dad. The most I'd get is a shoulder pat and a "good job." It was such a drastic change. All I could really do is thank him. He composed himself really quickly, asking about classes and grades. We talked about it for a bit before we eventually ended the call.

After I hung up, I sobbed like a complete bitch lol. It was so visceral hearing his tone of voice and hearing those words from him. Honestly, I'm still in disbelief about it all. It was closure and shock wrapped into one. Even now, typing this I'm tearing up at the memory. This might be a stupid question, but has anyone else had an experience remotely close to this? This album has been very close to my heart since it came out, and I doubt that'll change after today. He's texted me since, saying he's excited to see me this Thanksgiving. Hoping to find a vinyl copy I can give him as an early Christmas present lol.

TL;DR: My dad listened to "Like Him" and it made him reflect on who he is as my father.