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K Records announced this week that Moldy Peach Kimya Dawson has a new children's record coming out, the wonderfully titled Alphabutt. Like They Might Be Giants, the idea of Dawson singing kids' songs seems natural. And it's good to have more entries into this growing field of "Children's Music That Parent's Will Try to Make Their Kids Like." The truth is, sometime's the best intentions—like Tom Waits singing "Bend Down the Branches"—don't strike the same chord with the little one's that mom or dad might have hoped. Here's a list of 10 songs, my three children and I can agree on. Let me know what's been popular in your own mini-van.
10 Songs My Kids and I Agree On
10. "House Party Time" - Dan Zanes & Friends (House Party)
Like Ralph's World and Farmer Jason, Zanes is a veteran of the grown-up rock world, but has been aiming for a younger audience for years. I couldn't convince my own children this was kids' music until Disney Playhouse picked him, but that hasn't affected his laid-back joyfulness.
9. "The Amazing Adventures of Kid Astro" - Ralph's World (The Amazing Adventures of Kid Astro)
I was shocked that my oldest daughter, Jordan, actually dug prog rock, but this epic space story always got asked for repeat.
8. "The Spider's Web" - Zak Morgan (Bloom)
This naturalistic tale of the realities of the food chain is a perfect example of a kids' singer not singing down to the kids (Morgan even includes a glossary of big words in the packaging: "Mr. Grasshopper Green made a valient jump off the ground. His date was impressed, but extremely perplexed when her boyfriend never came down.
7. "Secion 12 (Hold Me Now)" - The Polyphonic Spree (Together We're Heavy)
My offspring didn't take to this quite as strongly as some of my friends' children, but there's no doubt that Tim DeLaughter's oversized band has a kid appeal.
6. "Snow Day" - Bleu (For the Kids)
The best starting place for kids music you won't hate are the three For the Kids volumes from Nettwerk Records. They've had everyone from Wilco, Aimee Mann, and Over the Rhine (hearing Caren Bergquist sing "poop goes in the potty" is a little surreal) to Blitzen Trapper, Mates of State and Of Montreal provide a bit of "Dad Rock" for the kids.
5. "No!" - They Might Be Giants (No!)
When my daughter Emma first heard this song as a two-year-old, she quite accurately proclaimed, "This is my song!"
4. "Guitarzan" - Ray Stevens
Stevens has a lot of hilarious songs (see "Mississippi Squirrel Revival"), but this one's a gem for the little ones.
3. "Fibber Island" - They Might Be Giants (No!)
"Here on fibber island, we strum rubber guitars, our friends live on Mars, and we sow buttons on our cars." This is why They Might Be Giants might be the best kids' band of all time. The song starts three minutes in to the video below:
2. "The Hoppity Song" - John Ondrasik (For the Kids)
This song definitely wins the award for song to which I've danced with my kids most times. Probably my favorite Five For Fighting song, too.
1. "Dance Around" - Ralph's World (Green Gorilla, Monster & Me)
I've gone on record as calling this one of the most infectious songs of any genre the year it came out.
I was shocked that my oldest daughter, Jordan, actually dug prog rock, but this epic space story always got asked for repeat.
8. "The Spider's Web" - Zak Morgan (Bloom)
This naturalistic tale of the realities of the food chain is a perfect example of a kids' singer not singing down to the kids (Morgan even includes a glossary of big words in the packaging: "Mr. Grasshopper Green made a valient jump off the ground. His date was impressed, but extremely perplexed when her boyfriend never came down.
7. "Secion 12 (Hold Me Now)" - The Polyphonic Spree (Together We're Heavy)
My offspring didn't take to this quite as strongly as some of my friends' children, but there's no doubt that Tim DeLaughter's oversized band has a kid appeal.
6. "Snow Day" - Bleu (For the Kids)
The best starting place for kids music you won't hate are the three For the Kids volumes from Nettwerk Records. They've had everyone from Wilco, Aimee Mann, and Over the Rhine (hearing Caren Bergquist sing "poop goes in the potty" is a little surreal) to Blitzen Trapper, Mates of State and Of Montreal provide a bit of "Dad Rock" for the kids.
5. "No!" - They Might Be Giants (No!)
When my daughter Emma first heard this song as a two-year-old, she quite accurately proclaimed, "This is my song!"
4. "Guitarzan" - Ray Stevens
Stevens has a lot of hilarious songs (see "Mississippi Squirrel Revival"), but this one's a gem for the little ones.
3. "Fibber Island" - They Might Be Giants (No!)
"Here on fibber island, we strum rubber guitars, our friends live on Mars, and we sow buttons on our cars." This is why They Might Be Giants might be the best kids' band of all time. The song starts three minutes in to the video below:
2. "The Hoppity Song" - John Ondrasik (For the Kids)
This song definitely wins the award for song to which I've danced with my kids most times. Probably my favorite Five For Fighting song, too.
1. "Dance Around" - Ralph's World (Green Gorilla, Monster & Me)
I've gone on record as calling this one of the most infectious songs of any genre the year it came out.
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3 songs off the top of my head that our family love.
Three of Us by Bzots
Six Little Ducks by Rockosaurus Rex
Octopus on My Head by Candy Band
What about The Jimmies??
They are far and away the best kids band out there.Before I discovered them I wouldn't even let my kids listen to anything that was considered "kids music". Can't listen to their album enough.
Tish Hinojosa -- El Baile Vegetal/The vegetable dance
Rory Block -- The Football Toad [yes, Rory Block really does have a kids' album -- made it when her sons were small]
Greg Brown -- Down By the Sea Hotel
Cathie Ryan -- Grandma's Song
Pop Fly Justin Roberts
All Together Now the Beeatels
Alphabet of Nations They Might Be Giants