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by John Boyd
Are you tired of pat-a-caking? How long must we go on eensy-weensying? When will the wheels on the bus stop going ‘round and ‘round and ‘round? Do we have to go on working on this railroad? I say Nay!
The days of 20 classics sung by a chorus of 40 children on a 60-minute cassette are long gone. You don’t have to listen to it anymore. Because face it, kid’s music really stinks. I mean, it’s almost offensive. We wouldn’t feed our kids the junk we make them listen to.
But fear not. The advent of cool kid’s music has arrived. When you have folks like avant-garde jazz band Medeski, Martin and Wood and pop rockers Bare Naked Ladies putting out CDs aimed at kids, or more importantly, parents with kids, you know the winds have changed. Heck, even Beatles, Stevie Wonder, and Tool fans can find children’s versions of their favorite bands’ classic albums.
Historically, it started with School House Rock. It did rock. It still rocks. But there’s more out there than that. You don’t have to leave yourself gnawing on the steering wheel during the pig verse of “Old McDonald” anymore.
The Internet has afforded some great opportunities to explore all kinds of music, and children’s is no exception. Check out these blogs in particular, and be prepared to be singing right along.
Five Cool Kid-Music Blogs
Kids Music that Rocks
kidsmusicthatrocks.blogspot.com
The description from the website says it
all, “Music for kids that doesn’t make parents
want to rip their hair out.” It is just
that, too, a verified library of good music
you and your kids both can dig.
Sm(all) Ages
smallages.blogspot.com
A mother tired of putting up with bad
music for her kids turns her kids on to good
adult music, which her kid loves. This site
focuses more on the adult bands and songs
that kids really like when they hear them,
such as Wilco “What Light” and the Dixie
Cups “Aiko, Aiko.” It’s not updated often,
but it is a good starting point.
Cool Mom Picks
coolmompicks.com
Though much more than a blog about
music, this momma sure knows her music.
Also lots of stuff I felt weird reading, like
belly bands and sexy maternity bras.
Anyway, guys can just go to the music section,
ladies, peruse as you wish.
Spare the Rock
sparetherock.com
“Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child” is this
site’s motto. It fits nicely with the idea that
these little offspring are capable of handling
really good music. So, stop the patronizing
sing-a-longs, and break out the soulful
dinosaur songs.
Zooglobble
zooglobble.com
This guy does a great job of reviewing
kid’s albums and sifting through the mess. I
mean, just because someone you like ventures
to make a kid’s album, doesn’t mean it
will be worth listening to.
Five-and-a-Half Cool Kid- Music Albums
Not For Kids Only – Jerry
Garcia and David Grisman
Just like the title says, you’ll love it, too.
The famous Grateful Dead guitarist and
mandolin virtuoso play fully through a
number of children’s songs like “Hopalong
Peter” and traditional tunes like “Freight
Train.” The musicianship is great, the song
choice is fantastic, and you’ll figure out why
Jenny Jenkins is a nudist.
Catch that Train – Dan Zanes
In 1984, Rolling Stone magazine named
Dan Zanes’ band the Del Fuegos as Best
New Band. I can’t say anything about them,
but I will say that the father-friendly singer
is definitely on my best new band list. Zanes
plays a mixture of traditional tunes and
great originals. The energy is really positive,
and the musical production is great. Also
pick up House Party Time, although it’s a
little laborious at times.
Reggae for Kids – Various Artists
It’s good children’s songs, which you can
get into, and it’s good reggae, to which your
kids can be jammin’, mon. From classic reggae
songs to nursery rhymes, it all sounds
beautiful on the downbeat. Besides, who
doesn’t love singing “Raindrops keep falling
on my dreads”?
Here Come the ABCs and Here
Come the 123s – They Might Be
Giants
Some bands have a way of teaching us
things teachers could not. For instance, I
know that Istanbul used to be
Constantinople. I did not know that London
used to be Kaerlud. But this band taught me
that. Now, 6-year-old will walk up to you
and say, “The sun is a mass of incandescent
gas, a gigantic nuclear furnace, where
hydrogen is built into helium at a temperature
of millions of degrees.” No kidding.
Their songs continue to be catchy, clean and
hilarious.
Under a Shady Tree – Laurie
Berkner Band
In a word, she’s it. She really has the
whole kid’s-music-that-parents-can-tolerate
genre figured out. This is filled with
folksy originals, great sound effects, and the
catchiest dang melodies you’ll ever hear. You
may get some strange looks when you’re in
the Subway line humming “Song in My
Tummy,” but you won’t care. Besides,
there’s something really uplifting about
hearing your little one sing at the top of their
lungs, “I’m just like the sun.”
Miracle – Celine Dion
Oh, how I hesitate to add this to the list.
Simply for fear that people I know may
actually read it. What will they think? This
guy likes the banjo and Phish and Coltrane.
What is he doing promoting the queen of
Vegas-via-Canada? But I have to, because
this album is just beautiful. For those who
like Celine, this won’t be a surprise. For
those who hate Celine, this won’t change
their minds. But as far as a night-night CD
goes, it’s hands down the favorite at my
house. The Beatles’ “Beautiful Boy” is a
stand out, as well as “A Mother’s Prayer.”
Granted, I do promote Miracle for that time
of day when you turn the music very soft,
shut your child’s door and then flee to do
your own adult things. But your kids won’t
mind being left with the lilting vibrato of
Ms. Dion.
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