I'll be right up front: This is something I need help on for my job in the summer.
I run a music summer camp for children ages 3-8, and I although I play classical music a lot as well as upbeat latin-ish or caribbean (steel drums, we heard that CD so many times!) music, I would like to make a CD of more modern (last 60 years) music. I have very limited experience with the last 60 years of music, especially after 60s, so I'm at a loss. I wondered if Jatraqueros could help me out. All I need is the names and performers of songs that your children/you liked as children, with totally clean and non-insinuitive lyrics (so I do't get sued when their little darlings come home).
Songs from movies or over the credits of movies are fine!
So far I have:
Octopus's Garden - The Beatles Yellow Submarine - The Beatles Three Little Fishes - Swinging Blue Jeans (I think- I heard it on the radio) Feelin' Groovy - Simon and Garfunkel
So yeah, I need help! If you can think of just one, that would be great . Thank you!
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
You can't go wrong with Puff the Magic Dragon by Peter Paul and Mary.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
You gotta have Raffi's "Baby Beluga" in there somewhere.
"Puff the Magic Dragon," by Peter Paul and Mary(no matter what they tell you it is really about)
Rosenshontz: "I Drive My Mommy Crazy"
Posted by IrishAphrodite19 (Member # 1880) on :
Lol. Just so you know, my summer camp can't sing Puff the Magic Dragon at camp any more because one year our CITs started doing hand motions to the song that lead the campers to think the song had another meaning. So yeah. Darn CITs.
~Irish
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
"The Hokey pokey" (Dan Zanes reminded me)
"Hush Little Baby"
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
I don't need so much children's songs, but otherwise 'adult' songs that have been adopted by children.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Hmm. The more I think about it, the more I think that what we think of as classic children's songs are actually folk songs.
"Big Rock Candy Mountain," "She'll Be Coming Around the Mountain," "Jimmy Crack Corn."
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
OH, in that case, Teshi, how about the soundtrack to "Shrek?" Seriously.
"I like big butts, I cannot lie..."
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
So basically, pop/rock etc. songs about clean and fun topics, as opposed to the traditional "kids songs"
Yes! Good suggestion! I don't know the soundtrack but I'm sure that's more of what I'm looking for.
[ May 01, 2005, 04:50 PM: Message edited by: Teshi ]
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
It does have the big butt song, but there are a lot of older person songs that kids decided were cool after that movie.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Hmmm.
I have to say, I'd do a lot better without that "last 60 years" restriction. But I do have a few:
Tijuana Jail, the Kingston Trio MTA, the Kingston Trio Help Me Rhonda, the Beach Boys Surfin' USA, the Beach Boys I Want to Hold Your Hand, the Beatles Wild Thing, um, the Rolling Stones? I'm not sure That Was Your Mother, Paul Simon I Know What I Know, Paul Simon Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard, Paul Simon Kodachrome, Paul Simon (although the lines "When I think back on all the crap I learned in high school/ It's a wonder I can think at all" might make this one inappropriate) Stranded in a Limousine, Paul Simon Arkansas Traveller (many great versions of this old classic, I love Michelle Shocked's on Arkansas Traveller)
I hope some of that was what you needed; those all got me dancing as a kid, but none are real "kid" songs, I guess. I'll try to think of more. So many that I loved (and love) might be "inappropriate"... Some observations on what gets kids dancing, though: the Beatles, zydeco (try Alligator Stomp), South American or African music with a good beat, or some hot Celtic fiddle almost never fail (at least until kids get old enough to decide what music they "don't like" ; I was raised with many, many kinds of music, and was teased on a regular basis because I didn't buy into bubblegum pop or pop hip-hop).
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Oh, and Barbara Ann, the Beach Boys.
Posted by Verily the Younger (Member # 6705) on :
"Thank God I'm a Country Boy" by John Denver is a lot of fun. And pretty much anything you hear on a light oldies station. (Oldies = post-crooner, pre-classic rock era.)
quote:Wild Thing, um, the Rolling Stones? I'm not sure
Nope, that was the Troggs.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Texas Bluebonnets, Laurie Lewis Diamond Joe, Laurie Lewis When the Cactus is in Bloom, Laurie Lewis (Hey Baby) Que Paso, Texas Tornados (gotta love Flaco Jimenez! I saw him at the State Fair two years ago, absolutely awesome.)
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Also, kids love murder ballads, anything silly, anything with clapping, and most of all, anything that's supremely danceable. So if it makes you tap your feet (or want to jump up and twirl) and gets stuck in your head, it's a good bet kids will feel the same way about it.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Thanks, Verily. Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
I'm going through a list of songs we played in orchestra, because I once thought about it as being perfect for kids, I'm mostly going through the ones written in the last 60 years but can do the rest if you like. (for anyone who knows me, it's NIght of Dance)
I will follow him Rock around the Clock Unchained Melody Pennsylvania 65000 (that might be just a bit more than 60 years) Moon River Twist and Shout I do it for you Locomotion Under the Boardwalk Memory
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
Well, I say the last 60 years because I wanted them to be something the kids could relate to and I thought '45 was about the bottom of that, but if you have a really great song, by all means!
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Rockin' Robin. Gotta love Rockin' Robin.
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
They Might Be Giants, "Istanbul"
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Well, the 60 years thing, for me, is more of a "genre" issue; it's not as "pop" if you go back, say, 210 years.
I could point you to some really awesome versions of "Oh, Susanna", though. And I think I did list "Arkansas Traveller", which is a minstrel-show tune.
[ May 01, 2005, 05:32 PM: Message edited by: ketchupqueen ]
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Oh, yes, Dan_raven, my daughter loves that! And it certainly meets the "silly" criterion. Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
Sister Act soundtracks
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Chatanooga Choo-choo Blue Moon (the 50's version... I'm at a loss...) Barnacle Bill the Sailor, Louis Jordan (listen to it before you use it, but I think it's okay) Beans and Cornbread, Louis Jordan
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
Well, it doesn't HAVE to be silly... But I think by virtue of appealing to children 'silly' is involved...
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Actually, just get Louis Jordan's greatest hits. Kids really love Big Band, although you wouldn't guess it to look at them, and he does some really great, funny, kid-friendly songs.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Teshi, see my above statement on what kids seem to like...
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
Cake does a really cool version of "Mahna Mahna."
Also, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."
Posted by MrSquicky (Member # 1802) on :
Sandra Boyton's got two really great CDs of songs for kids, Philadelphia Chickens and Rhinocerous Tap. They're just really fun, silly songs that pretty much anyone can enjoy.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Also, get Sam Cooke's greatest hits, while you're at it. Chain Gang, Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha, Cupid, Twistin' the Night Away...
And check out the Everley Brothers. Lots of great songs there.
Then there's Elvis: All Shook Up, Hound Dog, Jailhouse Rock, Blue Suede Shoes...
Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
My kids favorite Beatle's song is "Bungalow Bill"
Oh, and of course "Hey Jude".
My kids tend to like really old, traditional ballads, like "Bedlam Boys", "Twa Corbies", "The Devil and the Farmer's Wife" etc, which might not work. And of course war songs. (Not even touching on "John Barleycorn" and the like)
[ May 01, 2005, 06:25 PM: Message edited by: romanylass ]
Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
Kids love Wierd Al, too.
Posted by Mrs.M (Member # 2943) on :
Peter, Paul, and Mary: Leaving on a Jet Plane Goodnight Irene Kisses Sweeter Than Wine Stewball Blowin' in the Wind If I Had A Hammer This Land Is Your Land It's Raining River of Jordan Light One Candle Michael, Row the Boat Ashore We Shall Overcome
Judy Collins: Farewell to Tarwathie Both Sides Now
Joni Mitchell: Big Yellow Taxi Chelsea Morning The Circle Game Morning Morgantown
The Mamas and the Papas Dancing Bear No Salt on Her Tial Dream a Little Dream of Me
Suzanne Vega Queen and the Soldier Tom's Diner
Kate and Anna McGarrigle Hard Times Come Again No More Goin' Back to Harlan
Simon and Garfunkel: Red Rubber Ball Scarborough Fair/Canticle Bye, Bye Love
Beatles: Blackbird Let It Be
Dolly Parton: Islands in the Stream Joshua Coat of Many Colors Eagle When She Flies Light of a Clear Blue Morning
Emmylou Harris Boulder to Brimingham Wayfaring Stranger
Others: The Rainbow Connection Water is Wide All Through the Night Oh Susannah Almost anything from the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack and O Sister 2 Barbara Allen Delta Dawn Angels Watching Over Me
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
I also like the The Unicorn, that one always went over big....hand signs and all...
[ May 03, 2005, 02:48 AM: Message edited by: Kwea ]
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
it was a Shel Silverstein poem first.
Posted by Altáriël of Dorthonion (Member # 6473) on :
I only know the spanish ones. I doubt you'd be able to sing those, sorry.
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
Oh, Mrs. M brought up "Big Yellow Taxi," and that's the other one I was trying to remember. My little siblings LOVE it. (something to do with the Shooo-bop-bop-bops)
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
And "Dragostea Din Tei," if you're that adventurous. Posted by MyrddinFyre (Member # 2576) on :
I loved "Return to Sender" by Elvis when I was little.
Posted by Portabello (Member # 7710) on :
@ Annie
Posted by The Pixiest (Member # 1863) on :
::must resist urge to suggest "Closer" and "Wrong Way":: ::bites tongue::
(edit: Someone had already suggested weird al)
[ May 03, 2005, 12:34 PM: Message edited by: The Pixiest ]
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
. Thank you!
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
; I was raised with many, many kinds of music, and was teased on a regular basis because I didn't buy into bubblegum pop or pop hip-hop).
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Laugh]](graemlins/laugh.gif)
@ Annie