Reader Ken has a request! See how you can help after the jump.
Hi, I’m looking for some help in putting together an iTunes playlist of “good” songs not specifically made for kids that my 5 and 2 year olds would enjoy. Just to establish what I’m kind of looking for – these are some of the songs I’ve come up with so far:
Boogie on Reggae Woman – Stevie Wonder
Drive – R.E.M.
Fast as You Can – Fiona Apple
It’s Oh So Quiet – Bjork
Sour Times – Portishead
Istanbul (Not Constantinople) – They Might Be Giants
Steady as She Goes – The Raconteurs
Today – Smashing Pumpkins
Carousel – Iron and Wine
Come on! Let’s Boogie to the Elf Dance – Sufjan Stevens
List your suggestions in the comments. Thanks, everyone!
Freakgirl is a
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Here are a few songs that both my nieces and I greatly enjoy:
Lollipop – Mika
Mariella – Kate Nash
She Doesn’t Get It – The Format
I’m not sure if this will qualify as “good,” but when my nephews were wee lads they LOVED it when I’d play The Traveling Wilburys’ “End of the Line” in the car.
I guess it would depend on the kids, but most kids do like the Wiggles.
That said, my son (now 6) went bonkers for:
(Bye Bye Miss) American Pie – Don M.
Any solo Eric Clapton stuff (and to be honest, I can’t stand it, so this wasn’t my influence)
Springsteen material with heavy piano parts (which seemed in conflict w/the Eric Clapton stuff)
You Sexy Thing (?) – Hot Chocolate
and that terrible Avril Lavigne song, “Girlfriend”.
Sadly, he asked me to turn AC/DC off every time I put it on.
Ahem, you might look into what KFOG got for their “Concert for Kids” for the last few years…folks like Barenaked Ladies, KT Tunstall, TMBG a while ago I’m sure, etc.
Sunday Morning – The Velvet Underground
Fools – The Dodos
The Old Days – Dr. Dog
Mr. Blue Sky – Electric Light Orchestra
Fluke – Mates of State
Mass Romantic – The New Pornographers
Why do you let me stay here? – She & Him
Anything by Ween – as long as it’s not about huffing glue and stuff
I’ve found “Spinal Meningitis” by Ween always gets the kids in a cheerful mood.
Safety Dance- Men without Hats.
Jumpin- INXS
Lucas with a Lid Off
Its oh So Quiet by Bjork
REM- Stand
REM- We Walk
REM- Bandwagon
The Cure- Love Cats
10,000 Maniacs- Like the Weather
Do Do Do, Da Da Da- The Police
Blitzkrieg Bop- The Ramones
Ready Steady Go- Generation X
If I’m putting a Ween song on here, it’s probably going to be “Don’t Shit Where You Eat”, which I think is just good solid advice for kids to get early. Also, we thought long and hard about our parentling style in a number of different areas, and long ago decided that we are pro-sniffing glue for our kids.
Wow, how did I miss Safety Dance – Jon, you’re my new hero – and trust me, I use that term a lot.
Here’s a ridiculous list of songs my kids like:
I Want Candy – Bow Wow Wow
1,2,3,4 and Mushaboom by Fiest
Shout Out Loud – Amos Lee
Steve’s Last Night in Town, Kate – Ben Folds Five
Tomboy – Bettie Serveert
Waiting for the Great Leap Forward – Billy Bragg
Walk Like Me, The Tide is High – Blondie
The Car Song – Cat Empire
Rock the Casbah, Lost in the Supermarket, I Fought the Law – The Clash
Love Cats, Why Can’t I Be You? – The Cure
Come on Eileen – Dexy’s Midnight Runners
Oliver’s Army, Accidents Will Happen – Elvis Costello
Mirror in the Bathroom, I Confess, Save it for Later – English Beat
Hey Julie, Stacy’s Mom (I know) – Fountains of Wayne
We Got the Beat, Our Lips are Sealed – Go-Go’s
That’s the Way I Like It – KC & the Sunshine Band
Allison’s Starting to Happen, Rockin Stroll – The Lemonheads
Our House, House of Fun, One Step Beyond – Madness
I Melt with You – Modern English
I Know What I Know, Me & Julio Down by the Schoolyard, Kodachrome – Paul Simon
Gigantic – Pixies
Sheena Is a Punk Rocker, Blitzkrieg Bop – Ramones
Kiss Me on the Bus – Replacements
Oh What a World, California, Across the Universe cover – Rufus Wainwright
Sheila Take a Bow – Smiths
A Message to You Rudy – Specials
I Spy for the FBI – Untouchables
Birthday (AKA “the spider song” in our home) – Sugarcubes
Sweet & Dandy, Monkey Man, Pressure Drop, So Bad – Toots & the Maytals
Once in a Lifetime, My Building – Talking Heads
Purple Toupee – TMBG
Gone Daddy Gone, Kiss Off, Blister in the Sun – Violent Femmes
No Guilt, Wasn’t Tomorrow Wonderful?, Square Pegs – Waitresses
Push th’ Little Daisies – Ween
Buddy Holly, The Sweater Song – Weezer
My Doorbell – The White Stripes
In General, my kids love:
REM
They Might be Giants
Fountains of Wayne
Ben Folds
Go-Gos
Coldplay
The Police
Talking Heads
Weird Al (thanks to a friend)
…and of course, just about every song ever by The Beatles
We listen to a lot of music at our place… My kids are 7 & 9, but they’ve been listening to most of this stuff since they were little. They listened to some kids music too, but generally, only the kind that wouldn’t make my ears bleed.
I’m sure this was more than you were looking for.
When I was at the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, a couple of little kids were TOTALLY rocking out to the videos of the Clash.
Susie, I say it all the time, I know, but your kids are THE GREATEST.
Sorry Jon, but now Susie’s my new hero, simply for the fact that she clearly risked severe carpel tunnel syndrome just to type up that list.
Check out “Vindaloo” by Fat Les. It’d be a fun one for kids, especially if they’re remotely sporty.
OMG, Kyla, great call. Lisa and I spent two weeks driving around Ireland listening to that on a cassette and shouting along.
Vindaloo! Vindaloo! We’re gonna score one more than you!
That is the silliest song ever!
(p.s. to FG: “My name’s Beeeeeelly!)
I can’t belive that other people outside the UK know Vindaloo! I love that song, and used to listen to it on my way to hockey to pump myself up.
I would recommend the TMBG kids cd’s. I even like them.
But every night, before his bath, I sing Bob Marley songs (with personalized lyrics) to my 7 1/2 month old, and he loves it. A friend’s 3 year old used to DEMAND Bob Marley in the car.
Susie, several of those were some of my favorite songs as a kid!
Mirror in the Bathroom – English Beat
We Got the Beat – Go-Go’s
Once in a Lifetime – Talking Heads
I also liked anything by Cyndi Lauper (especially Girls Just Wanna Have Fun) and, though not terribly appropriate, I Know What Boys Like by The Waitresses.
I think probably anything by They Might Be Giants would be good kid music.
My own son is too young to have favorites yet, but I find myself singing him lots of Cure and Morrissey songs since that’s what I know all the words too.
My kids love “The Sweet Escape” by Gwen Stefani & Akon. Also, most Cake songs are really catchy and kids’ love them, especially Short Skirt, Long Jacket. Feist – 1,2,3,4 is a favorite here, and also Hey There Delilah. And that song, Take Me The Way I Am – who sings it? My kids LOVE it.
My favorites as a kid were Jeremiah was a bullfrog and on the road again. I think they are still winners.
My kids’ current fav. is Bicycle Race by Queen.
Thanks, Internets – you guys are awesome. My iTunes account got quite a workout on Friday.