My wife works with little kids and they are going to be having a family dance party in a couple of weeks. She has asked me to put together some music. I’ve got two basic ideas for mix CDs: one is an oldies sock-hop kind of thing (of which there are plenty of cheap CDs I can buy for that kind of music), and the other is more modern rock and roll songs that little kids would like. These should be songs that would get the 2 to 4 year-old crowd up and dancing (and not offend their parents). I’m having some trouble coming up with a good list since my personal taste is decidedly more into the potentially offensive category.
Some examples that I have come up with:
REM - Shiny Happy People
Bjork - Oh So Quiet
They Might Be Giants - A Little Birdhouse in your Soul
Any suggestions of any kind (Oldies, new songs, etc.) would be greatly appreciated. And you can take comfort in knowing you are helping the next generation learn to rock.
MC Frontalot has one song that would probably be appropriate - go to his downloads page and scroll down to the Commissions section and download “Start Over.” It’s his “nerdcore rap” telling of the story of Little Red Riding Hood, and has a bouncy beat and no bad language (barring one use of “heck”).
I made a mix CD for my daughter’s birthday party last fall which included the Cha Cha Slide (basically some guy calling out dance moves) as well as the infamous Hampsterdance. If you feel the parents can take it, throw in “Crazy Frog,” which is a speeded up version of “Axel F” with added gibberish. Look up Radio Disney CDs for further suggestions - Raven recently recorded a cover of “Double-Dutch Bus” which I find slightly more bearable that the original. I also like Aly and AJ’s “Potential Break-up Song,” though they do say “my stupid birthday” near the beginning of the song. (Some children consider “stupid” a Bad Word.)
OK, the previous suggestions lean more toward dance music than rock, but at least they’re clean. A more rock-oriented favorite of my daughter’s is TMBG’s “No!” album. Also try the soundtrack to the Spongebob Squarepants movie, which includes “Spongebob & Patrick Confront the Psychic Wall of Energy” by the Flaming Lips and “Ocean Man” by Ween.
If they prove resistant to the idea of dancing, you could move things along with “Let’s Do the Time Warp (Again)” from the Rocky Horror soundtrack, although somebody will have to actually wade in and teach them the Time Warp – which could be incriminatingly funny, so beware sneaky camera phones and such, unless your life’s ambition is to end up on YouTube or America’s Funniest Home Videos. But at least it’ll get the kiddies moving!
A few vintage novelty songs, like “The Red Baron,” “The Purple People Eater,” “Witch Doctor,” “King Tut” (walk like an Egyptian!), even “Monster Mash,” (although that’s a Halloween classic).
“Rockin’ Robin” – Bobby Day (the 1958 doo-wop classic)
“Three Little Birds” – Bob Marley (a relaxed, calming number)
“ABC” – The Jackson 5 (just like the songs on Sesame Street, it’s A-B-C… and 1-2-3!)
“Love Rollercoaster” – The Ohio Players. (A dirty song, but no pre-K kid will get it. I guarantee for them it’ll just be about the roller coasters.)
“Surfin’ USA” and other Beach Boys hits.
“Yellow Submarine,” “Octopus’ Garden,” and “Blackbird” – The Beatles (“Blackbird” would be a good “cool-down” song to help smooth over hyperactive or upset kids, or when you need a breather.)
“Fly Like an Eagle” – Steve Miller Band (You can also teach them the alternative, “Snoopy”-themed lyrics: I want to fly like a beagle/Over the sea/Fly like a beagle where your ears will carry me…"
“Shake Your Booty” – K.C. & the Sunshine Band ('cause you can get the kids to, well, shake their booties. Get a camcorder ready and step out of the frame.)
“Tenderness” – General Public
I hear ya on the lyrics. I’ve been putting together some of the songs for the sock-hop play list, and if you look at some of the lyrics of those 1950’s and 1960’s songs with an adult frame of mind… downright dirty, I tell ya.
For what it’s worth my 2 year old son loves Shimmy Shimmy Coco Bop and Lollipop…
Man, and Barenaked Ladies, how could I have forgotten about them. They have some perfect songs for this… If I Had a Million Dollars, for instance.
Jackson 5 is great stuff
same with the old classics like: Rock around the Clock, Little old lady from Pasadena, and other Beach Boys songs (Barbra Anne)
Itunes actually has a mix called “grownup music for little kids” or something. I just got some workout music off of it.
My contribution to this thread-
Can’t Touch This-MC Hammer
Barbie Girl: Aqua
Girls Just Want to Have Fun: Cyndi Lauper
1234: Feist
Angelina: Harry Belafonte
Jump in the Line: Harry Belafonte
Pop! Goes my Heart: Hugh Grant
Wake Me Up: Wham!
Starry Eye Surprise: Paul Oakenfold
What I Like About You: The Romantics
Anything TMBG is good
When my older daughter was that age her favorite song was “Celebration” by KC & the Sunshine Band. Play it this way: line the kids up & lead them in funky disco moves. Let them all “woohoo” as loud as they can. At that age, they’ll have a ball!(and they’ll get rid of lots of excess energy!)
There are a couple great kid’s musicians in town. If you’ve got any hip-hop fans, check out Agent 23 Skidoo. I teach second grade, and it’s the only hip-hop I’ve found that’s age-appropriate (although if folks have other suggestions, I’m all ears); my kids loved it when I put the CD on.
Darn The Scrivener mentioned the Beatles first, so I’ll hafta suggest Ma Nah Ma Nah, of Sesame Street fame.
Also, Windy, by The Association, and My Balloon by The Fifth Dimension. Kids will sing along, go totally ape, and sleep very well that night.
