# Recommend some appropriate songs for a 4 year old... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 4, 2007, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-appropriate-songs-for-a-4-year-old/394572 "2007-03-04T20:12:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2007, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-appropriate-songs-for-a-4-year-old/394572/21 "2007-03-05T01:39:52Z")
I may have been a year or two older when I first heard _Peter and the Wolf_ but I bet the age difference wouldn’t be all that great these days. In any case, it or other works that introduce instruments might be worthwhile. Couldn’t hurt. ---
**Author:** ![Rue\_DeDay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/41988e/32.png) [@Rue\_DeDay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rue_DeDay)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2007, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-appropriate-songs-for-a-4-year-old/394572/22 "2007-03-05T01:58:19Z")
Just about any Trout Fishing in America. It’s very “folk” but kid-friendly and quite listenable to grown-ups. There’s a CD called “Saturday Morning: Cartoons’ Greatest Hits”. Cartoon theme songs by real bands. Some better than others, but none too bad. ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2007, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-appropriate-songs-for-a-4-year-old/394572/23 "2007-03-05T02:02:39Z")
Black Wind, Fire, and Steel by Manowar. [dorky youtube clip](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_2zSgYm7hw) Kids love this kind of thing. ---
**Author:** ![MrFantsyPants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@MrFantsyPants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrFantsyPants)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2007, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-appropriate-songs-for-a-4-year-old/394572/24 "2007-03-05T12:51:27Z")
[QUOTE=Equipoise] Ooooh, want a podcast of suggestions? I’ve never made a mix tape for a child before, I’m curious to try. [/QUOTE] Cool! yeah, I’ll take you up on that. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2007, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-appropriate-songs-for-a-4-year-old/394572/25 "2007-03-05T13:17:50Z")
I recently met friends of friends who were here in Australia with their kids. They were carrying lots of kids CDs and most apparently came from [CDBaby](http://cdbaby.com/style/kids) who have a huge range of interesting things and very generous samples for checking them out. ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2007, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-appropriate-songs-for-a-4-year-old/394572/26 "2007-03-05T13:28:19Z")
My 3-yr-olds fell in love with the movie _Fantasia_ last summer, and demand “Mickey Mouse” (we have the soundtrack) when we’re in the car. They often get into trouble for playing with water in the house, so I think they can relate to the little rodent. Downside is, I’m absolutely **SICK TO DEATH** of _The Rites of Spring_. The rest of the time I just play my music for them (so glad to hear I’m not the only one who absolutely despises children’s music) – the Commodores’ _Brick House_ is a big hit, along with Earth, Wind and Fire and some Stevie Wonder. ---
**Author:** ![percussion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@percussion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/percussion)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2007, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-appropriate-songs-for-a-4-year-old/394572/27 "2007-03-05T15:06:12Z")
[QUOTE=WordMan] My kids love: - Almost all Beach Boys - Almost all Ramones (hey, if they can handle “pissing the night away” in Tubthumping, as you list, they can handle stuff like Blitzkreig Bop - right? Mine love it) - Dancing With Myself by Billy Idol - Tons of 50’s stuff, like Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Eddie Cochran - My Sharona - What I Like About You by The Romantics You get the picture. I _never_ allow kiddie music in the house - eww; and besides, the kids love this stuff and so do we… [/QUOTE] Id go with this poster, I used to die for the beach boys when I was under 5! ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2007, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-appropriate-songs-for-a-4-year-old/394572/28 "2007-03-05T15:31:59Z")
[QUOTE=badkittypriestess] My kids like “Country Songs for Children” by Tom T. Hall Their Grandpa would play it for them all the time. They are 8 & almost 11 (on the 18th) and they still love it! [http://www.amazon.com/Country-Songs-Children-Tom-Hall/dp/B000001DQK/ref=sr\_1\_4/104-0388088-2375155?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1173044345&sr=1-4](http://www.amazon.com/Country-Songs-Children-Tom-Hall/dp/B000001DQK/ref=sr_1_4/104-0388088-2375155?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1173044345&sr=1-4) 😃😛 [/QUOTE] This is an amazing album. Right now my kids really like the Laurie Berkner band, and her stuff isn’t too grating for adults. Just for fun, check out the new music by Steve Burns - but be warned, some of it isn’t for four year olds, and all of it is way different from the stuff he used to sing to an animated blue dog. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2007, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-appropriate-songs-for-a-4-year-old/394572/29 "2007-03-05T15:39:22Z")
Check out [_Stay Awake_](http://product.half.ebay.com/Stay-Awake-Various-Interpretations-Of-Music_W0QQprZ3149392QQtgZdetails), a “various artists” album of people doing songs from Disney films. I love this album, and I neither am a kid nor own one. ---
**Author:** ![AHoosierMama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/258eb7/32.png) [@AHoosierMama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHoosierMama)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2007, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-appropriate-songs-for-a-4-year-old/394572/30 "2007-03-05T15:43:01Z")
Loosely related to the Autumn songs theme - They Might Be Giants has a song called “C is for Conifer”. An earlier poster mentioned their “No” cd for kids. They also have “They Might Be Giants Here Come the ABC’s” that I confess I listen to even without the kids on occasion. Justin Roberts has great kids music, and so does Dan Zane. ---
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2007, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-appropriate-songs-for-a-4-year-old/394572/31 "2007-03-05T15:45:43Z")
My folks had me listening to Roy Orbison, The Allman Brothers, Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Tom Petty and that kind of stuff. The Traveling Wilburys had Orbison, Petty, George Harrison, Bob Dylan and Jeff Lynne. Good stuff and won’t scar the kids. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2007, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-appropriate-songs-for-a-4-year-old/394572/32 "2007-03-05T15:58:29Z")
The cast recordings of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and CATS. ---
**Author:** ![Ceejaytee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ceejaytee/32/2956_2.png) [@Ceejaytee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ceejaytee)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2007, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-appropriate-songs-for-a-4-year-old/394572/33 "2007-03-05T16:14:35Z")
My kids (5 and 2 1/2) (and my husband and I) love: Sandra Boynton’s _Philadelphia Chickens_, which you find in the book section, since it comes with a book of music and lyrics. She has some other stuff out too. The songs are awesome, good for adults, and are sung by people like Eric Stoltz, Scott Bakula, the Bacon Brothers, Patti LuPone, and Kevin Kline. Ralph’s World, _Ralph’s World_, which includes a very funny kid’s version of “Shake Your Booty” and _Under the Sea_, which includes the Banana Split TV theme song, and a great song called “Malcom McGillikitty, The Psychic Cat.” Laurie Berkner: _Buzz Buzz Buzz_, and _Whadda Ya Think of That?_ Richard Perlmutter: _Beethoven’s Wig 1 and 2_. The first half of each album are classical pieces with funny words (“Beethoven’s Wig. Is Very Big. Beethoven’s wig is very curly and it’s white . . .” sung to the 1st movement of the 5th Symphony) and the second half are the same pieces as instrumentals. My kids really love these. The older one is currently very into The Hall of the Mountain King. Dan Zanes: If you like blues and folk, you can’t beat Dan Zanes. We have _Night Time_ and _Catch That Train_. I thought at first listen the kids would hate them, but they really love it. I second Tom Chapin’s _Family Tree_. That’s a great album. My kids also like “Monster Mash” and the Alvin and the Chipmunk’s version of “The Witch Doctor.” They’re also into The Rutles (they sing "Hold My Hand a lot) and all the kiddie Beatles: Hello Goodbye, Yellow Submarine, Octopuses Garden, etc. ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2007, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-appropriate-songs-for-a-4-year-old/394572/34 "2007-03-05T16:20:58Z")
Much of the stuff on my nephews’ (ages 4 and 6) MP3 players aren’t much different than what I hear on the radio (more pop than hard stuff). There is a set of children’s CDs out that is filled with clean modern rock music by bands like Coldplay. I can’t remember the name of the collection, but I could probably find out if you’re interested (and if you don’t want to hear bands like Coldplay, I can understand that, too. \) ---
**Author:** ![Boggette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@Boggette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boggette)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2007, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-appropriate-songs-for-a-4-year-old/394572/35 "2007-03-05T17:30:30Z")
My girls (3 & 4 this January) love Devo ever since I played them “Peekaboo”. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2007, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-appropriate-songs-for-a-4-year-old/394572/36 "2007-03-05T17:43:35Z")
I liked a lot of the stuff already said as a kid (still do). Children’s entertainers that are good: Paul Hann, Sharon Lois and Bram, Eric Nagler, Raffi and Fred Penner (I still listen to them on my own sometimes without my son around just because it’s fun). She might like Teddy Bear’s Picnic. I also loved Johnny Horton (Sink the Bismark, Battle of New Orlean’s) lots of Irish Rovers (The Unicorn Song was a big favourite of mine). Hit The Road Jack that I forget who its by, Little Honda by The Hondells. Lots of those teenage sad songs (Tell Laura I Love Her, Leader of the Pack, Last Kiss). I’d have to dig up my mixed tapes my Dad made and have a listen to remind myself what’s on them (I have the songs, I just can’t think of them right now!) Oh! Limbo Rock was another favourite. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2007, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-appropriate-songs-for-a-4-year-old/394572/37 "2007-03-05T18:05:35Z")
I’d like to throw out an oddball choice or two that my two and four rental kids just _love_: \*\*The best of Ethel Merman \*\* (they can’t get enough of this cd.) I’ve been meaning to make a copy of this for all the kids for their birthdays. Put on Effel Merman, Ms. Shirley. Effel Merman. and **the Best of Opera’s Tenors** (or something like that. Top 100 songs of Tenors) That is another popular one in the car. Especially with one of the neighbors kids whom I strongly suspect as having some borderline Autism/Aspergers thingie going on. This kid digs opera like nobody’s bidness. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2007, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-appropriate-songs-for-a-4-year-old/394572/38 "2007-03-05T18:42:18Z")
My daughter likes: [ul] [li] Moxy Fruvous’ “King of Spain”[/li][li]Boney M “Rasputin”[/li][li]Queen “We Will Rock You”[/li][li]Ray Charles “Hit the Road Jack”[/li][li]Billy Joel “IN The Middle Of The NIght (River of Dreams)”[/li][/ul] She also likes the Disney Classics Disks. ---
**Author:** ![fuffle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fuffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fuffle)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2007, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-appropriate-songs-for-a-4-year-old/394572/39 "2007-03-05T19:45:04Z")
“Effervescing Elephant” by Syd Barrett. Cutey cute cute. I have a friend who uses it in his elementary classes, and the little boogers can’t get enough of it. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2007, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-appropriate-songs-for-a-4-year-old/394572/40 "2007-03-05T20:03:05Z")
The Spongebob Squarepants Movie soundtrack is pretty great: > [@](#): > > 1. Spongebob Squarepants Theme - Avril Lavigne > 2. Spongebob & Patrick Confront The Psychic Wall Of Energy - The Flaming Lips > 3. Just A Kid - Wilco > 4. The Goofy Goober Song - Mike Simpson > 5. Prince Paul’s Bubble Party - Wordsworth > 6. Bikini Bottom - Electrocute > 7. The Best Day Ever - SpongeBob > 8. They’ll Soon Discover - The Shins > 9. Ocean Man - Ween > 10. Under My Rock - Bill Fagerbakke > 11. Now That We’re Men - Patrick > 12. Goofy Goober Rock - Tom Rothrock > 13. You Better Swim - Motorhead > 14. The Jellyfish Song By The Jellyfish Band - Plus-Tech Squeezebox > 15. Spongebob Squarepants Theme (Movie Version) - The Pirates I haven’t heard the wole thing, but what I have heard is really good. “Just a Kid” by Wilco is a classic, happy and fun with a good message for kids (everyody has to do something they don’t want to do). We put it on the playlist for our wedding reception. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-appropriate-songs-for-a-4-year-old/394572.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-appropriate-songs-for-a-4-year-old/394572.md?page=3)