As a musical guy and a father, I’ve learned to appreciate the children’s music my kids listen to. Here are my thoughts on those CDs we play around the Turner household.
They Might Be Giants’s No! album is good enough, but it doesn’t stay with you. Some songs are annoying enough to shelf the whole CD. I’m a big fan of TMBG, but the overall tone of No! is a little disjointed to be a long-time favorite.
Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer can write catchy, clever songs but they’re aimed more towards the kids than the kids-and-adults music I prefer. If you’re going to have to listen to songs with your kids, you might as well enjoy them, too. There is too much children’s chorus in the songs for my liking. Still, songs like “A Pirate’s Life” are clever enough to put smiles on even the crabbiest parents. Arr arr arr arr!
The Wiggles are non-starters. Annoying times ten! I don’t like music that talks down to my kids, which is what their music seems to do. While I wish Greg Page, otherwise known as Wiggles Yellow, a speedy recovery from his disease, I wouldn’t miss the Wiggles if they never played another annoying note.
Laurie Berkner is in my view the queen of children’s music. Catchy, clever, silly songs with simple guitar accompaniment. Many of these songs were the only things we could decipher from Travis when he was first learning to talk. I can listen to Laurie Berkner all day and not want to pull my (remaining) hair out. That’s quite a feat for children’s music.
Tom Paxton, though, is a brilliant children’s music musician whom I think tops them all. Some CDs are better than others, though. I was indifferent to the first Tom Paxton CD I heard, Your Shoes, My Shoes. It’s got decent songs, but Tom’s singing usually aims for kids rather than kids-and-adults. Still, I love the deliciously morbid writing in The Worms Come Crawling Underground. Even the childrens’ chorus doesn’t take away from it.
Then there’s Tom’s 1992 release I’ve Got A Yo-Yo. I consider it the best children’s CD I have ever heard. This one doesn’t talk down to the kids. It’s good, not just good for kids. It’s silly without being goofy. Oops and The Crow’s Toes are my current favorites. Plenty of variety in musical styles are on this disc, too, so you don’t get tired of it.
So to the moms and dads out there: who am I overlooking? Got any favorites you’d like to mention?
The BEST children’s music today (IMHO) is Justin Roberts … the kids first saw the video for “Willy was a Whale” on Noggin … Angus only saw it one time and kept singing it for the following weeks … The Wife found Justin’s web site (justinroberts.org) and The Kids watched the “Willy was a Whale” video online about 15 times … we ordered his two CDs (“Meltdown” & “Yellow Bus”)and now they’re what we listen to at home and in the van … CHECK IT OUT!!!
No Dan Zanes mention??? … he’s nearly as good as Justin Roberts.
Matt
Yes, I was remiss in not mentioning Dan Zanes. We have two of his regular CDs (Parades and Panoramas, Sea Music) and a few of his childrens’ music CDs (Jump Up, Hello Hello, Catch That Train). I’ve listened to Parades so many times I took it for granted that Dan makes childrens’ music but he certainly does. I rank him right below Laurie Berkner in my list, though from an adult’s ears I think his music is better.
Thanks for the tip about Justin Roberts. We’ll check him out!
I’m a regular visitor at mightyhallie.com and an occasional visitor here, and your request for suggestions has drawn me out of lurkdom . . .
I agree with you on TMBG – we loved their music in college (and beyond) and were excited to hear No! when it came out, but no one at our house has really latched onto it. Not catchy enough to stay with you, you’re right.
Many of our favorites are included in your post and the first two comments, but I do have some others to mention as well. Our kids are 6, 6, and 3, and these all seem to keep everyone happy (including mom and dad).
– Dan Zanes – I think he’s my #1 these days. My favorite CD is “House Party,” and “Rocket Ship Beach” is a close second. Lots of catchy tunes, some fun guest artists (including Sheryl Crow and Suzanne Vega). I will admit to listening to his CDs in the car even when the kids aren’t with me.
– Laurie Berkner is a big hit with the kids, especially the 3-year-old. Our favorite CD is “Whaddya Think of That?” which includes a song with Seinfeld references.
– Justin Roberts – he has a wonderful sound and his lyrics are really entertaining, though I would say more relevant for older kids (5 and up). He must be based in our area (Seattle) – we’ve seen him live at free daytime performances. Our favorite CDs are “Yellow Bus” and “Not Naptime.”
– Ralph’s World – also great for kids and adults! Ralph was our introduction to kid music beyond Raffi (and the old folk music classics, of course) – catchy tunes, a nice sound, and lyrics that are appopriate for kids but entertaining for parents too. Our favorite CD is “Bottom of the Sea,” which features one song with couning in Roman numerals, and another song my kids love to tease me with . . . “M-O-M-M-Y needs C-O-F-F-E-E.” Their eponymous CD is also a good one.
– Trout Fishing in America. Wacky guys, wacky music. I’ve heard several of their CDs, but the one we have and love is “InFINity.” Silly lyrics, great for Hallie at this age and beyond.
– A CD called “For the Kids,” put out in 2002 by VH1 and Save the Music. It’s a compilation of covers (and maybe some original songs?), including “Mahna Mahna” by Cake (wonderful), “The Rainbow Connection” by Sarah McLachlan, and “It’s All Right to Cry” by Darius Rucker. Very listenable, and fun that we know some of these songs from our own childhood.
– A CD from Music for Little People called “A Child’s Celebration of Folk Music,” which features some folk masters (Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie) but also some newer voices (Michelle Shocked, Jerry Garcia, Sweet Honey in the Rock). A good mix of classic and new folk, and good listening.
And finally, one of my recent personal favorites (and a CD I listen to frequently without kids around as well) – the Curious George soundtrack from Jack Johnson. It’s a little homogenous, to be sure – and sounds a lot like all his other music – but nice background listening. And there are several really standout tunes, I think, that are great for kids – “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” and “With My Own Two Hands” come to mind.
And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Flaming Lips CD that my kids ALWAYS choose for our nearly-nightly dancing time. (“Do You Realize?” is their favorite. Hmm.)
You asked . . .
Leigh
Thanks, Leigh, for your very informative list! Your response and Matt’s make blogging worthwhile.
Mark