Declaration time. I have a complete and utter loathing for children's music.
Yes I am a bad, bad, mummy.
And as a result of my no 'nicky nacky nocky noo' or 'di dicki do dum' children's music policy that I have established, my 3 year old son Matteo is now a music snob.
A snob who much prefers to listening to the mummy's CDs and the new music that mommy downloads onto her iPod every week.
But I truly began to fear the wrath of the Kiddie Music Gods, I made a pledge to myself and my son to find decent children's music that we could both enjoy, without sending mommy into that dark, dark place.
I began my search with not much hope that I would find anything, essentially I was ready to give up my quest even before I started. But then my son Matteo declared, "Mummy you can do it, you can do anything." And as if the angels up above heard his plea a world of good, do I dare say iPod-worthy children's music appeared before me on my computer screen. OK I did a really good Google search but the whole angel story is MUCH more dramatic and effective.
Seriously who knew there was so much out there?
I plead complete ignorance to my former ways but now after weeks of going through countless of toddler~preschooler friendly tunes, I have found my ultimate playlist.
Now don't kid yourself there is A LOT of crap music out there geared towards our children, apparently for some 'artists' the concept of singing in proper key or even in tune is something that is not required when recording children's music.
But I digress; I bring you none of the foul sounding tunes but all of the good ones that will the kiddies happy and won't make mummy drive off the road.
Jazz Baby Sessions: A 3-CD set that features ultra hip and very cool music by artists like Cybill Shepherd, Jim Belushi, Rosemary Clooney and Megan Mullally.
For The Kids: LOVE this CD series from Nettwerk Music. Features an eclectic line-up of artists like Sarah McLachlan, Butterfly Boucher, Lisa Loeb, Sarah Harmer, Jason Mraz, Cake, Five For Fighting
and The Barenaked Ladies.
If you go to amazon.com you can actually preview the CD with their music sampler. And the bonus in purchasing these CDs is that all proceeds go to two different organizations geared to protecting music and art programs in schools.
They Might Be Giants: Anything by this group is purchase worthy. I came across a review by a mom who summed it up best: "If you are the kind of grown-up who can't stomach another earnest Raffi album, you will still have the satisfaction of TMBG's customary irreverence and, yes, silliness. Also, it will MAKE THE WHOLE FAMILY DANCE." Hello? How perfect is that? Notable CDs by the group: 'No!', 'Here Come The ABCs', 'Here Come The 123s' and 'Bed, Bed, Bed'.
The Bottle Let Me Down: Songs for Bumpy Wagon Rides: First off, LOVE the title of the CD [but this mummy was thinking of a different bottle entirely]. Come forth those parents desperately seeking cool music! If you're looking for music that lets you reclaim listening rights while driving around in the car, this CD is for made you.
A combo that you think would fail miserably but the fact is alternative country singers and children's songs do totally rock together. The CD features 26 songs by artists like Kelly Hogan, Rosie Flores, The Waco Brothers and Freakwater.
Barenaked Ladies: Snack Time! Come on like any children's CD collection can be even considered complete without the addition of BNL to the playlist. My son is currently obsessed with the song 'Raisins'...although we haven't mastered the required whistling yet.
The Johnny Cash Children's Album: My heart starting doing a double beat when I saw this CD. Come on Johnny Cash? Singing a children's CD? Oh yes you non-believers it's true and it is such a treasured find!
According to his son, John Carter Cash his dad, despite his persona and dark side, really was a big kid at heart: "he was a fun-loving, easygoing, laughing man." I bought this entire CD and will admit that the track 'Nasty Dan' has even made it to one of mummy's personal iPod playlists.
And even iTunes has gotten into the children's music business by putting together several iTunes Essentials collections geared towards the kiddies. The ones worth checking: 'Kids Nonsense Songs', 'Kids Rock Songs' and 'Kids Summer'.
So life with kids lesson learned...fear not the world of kids music, it really is OK, if you look carefully. There is no need to deprive the kiddlets of music geared towards them.
