Help me pick songs!!

October 31, 2008 7:09 PM

I am making a photo montage DVD for a friend. It is going to be pictures of their kids set to music...I need some help with songs! Nothing to overly mushy. Ideas?

I am coming up blank. Preferably I'll need a bunch of songs because I have hundreds of pics. I kinda want to stay away from cliches, and use some songs that maybe aren't overplayed. One song I am considering is Beautiful Child by Rufus Wainwright. I'd like to mix some slower songs with some faster songs too. Arrg, didn't think this would be so difficult! Thanks everyone!!

posted by muxnaw to media & arts (15 comments total)

Mr. Baseman by who else, but The Electric Mayhem

Makes me think of my childhood, anyhow.
posted by captainsohler at 7:20 PM on October 31, 2008

I think "My Wish" by Rascal Flatts is the perfect song for a DVD about someone's kids.

I hope that the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
And each road leads you where you want to go,
And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window,
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile,

But more than anything, more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,
All the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
And you help somebody every chance you get,
Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,
And you always give more than you take.

But more than anything, yeah, and more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

This is my wish
I hope you know somebody loves you
May all your dreams stay big
posted by Ostara at 7:22 PM on October 31, 2008

Check out The Innocence Mission.

Particularly:
Keeping Awake
Bright as Yellow
Where Does the Time Go
I Was in the Air
When Mac was Swimming
Beautiful Change
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 7:22 PM on October 31, 2008

God Only Knows - The Beach Boys

All Star - Smash Mouth

You Are My Sunshine - Elizabeth Mitchell
posted by Fairchild at 7:28 PM on October 31, 2008

I am doing something similar right now and for most of the slide shows I am leaning towards instrumental music, mainly jazz and classical (haven't gotten to the point of picking specfic pieces yet; am still sorting pictures). For the birthday pics I am leaning towards Birthday by the Beatles and may make a few other exceptions, such as using the dance recital music for those pics.
posted by TedW at 7:44 PM on October 31, 2008

Do you know what music the kids like? I have 2 boys, ages 2 and 5, who are just hilariously attached to songs like "Who Let the Dogs Out", "Jump" by Van Halen, "Crocodile Rock" by Elton John. It might be funny to throw some guilty pleasure type songs in there.
posted by selfmedicating at 8:44 PM on October 31, 2008

Kooks by David Bowie (from Hunky Dory)
It's a song he wrote for his son.
posted by philip-random at 9:10 PM on October 31, 2008

Oh Very Young by Cat Stevens is a sweet little one. So is Beautiful Boy by John Lennon.

The lyrics are somewhat poignant, but Tom Waits' "I Don't Wanna Grow Up" is another possibility -- but read the words, though, first. (And if you don't like that, the "I Don't Wanna Grow Up" from the PETER PAN musical is a bit more cheerful).
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:42 PM on October 31, 2008

If there's a girl, Loudon Wainwright's "Daughter" might fit the bill.
posted by backwards guitar at 11:29 PM on October 31, 2008

Stevie Wonder songs would be fun, nice and bouncy too. "For Once In My Life," "My Cherie Amour," "You are the Sunshine of My Life."
posted by Miastar at 1:23 AM on November 1, 2008

Ooh child - Nine Simone
Little Monsters - Charlotte Gainsbourg
Shiny Happy People - REM
My Darling - Wilco
Little Green - Joni Mitchell
posted by mandal at 3:38 AM on November 1, 2008

Peter Gabriel's version of "summertime" by Gershwin is great; very poignant. Another choice is the ukele driving tone of Israel "Iz" Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole Youtube Link though some folks may think it is commercial; I still like it a lot.

Also, Schoolhouse Rock. Yeah, that has some great tunes that would be good for narrative purposes. Let us not forget Rundgren's, "bang the drum all day" which has a high energy beat.

So many songs, so little time.
posted by jadepearl at 6:38 AM on November 1, 2008

Built to Spill: Conventional Wisdom
Smashing Pumpkins: Untitled
Wilco: NothingsEverGonnaGetInOurWayAgain, What Light
(My memory isn't perfect, so I'll assume you'll screen for appropriateness)
posted by erikgrande at 8:10 AM on November 1, 2008

The White Stripes - We're Going To Be Friends
Crosby Stills & Nash - Teach Your Children
Bob Marley - Three Little Birds
Anything off of Daddy-O Daddy! Rare Family Songs of Woody Guthrie. With artists like Taj Mahal, Billy Bragg & the Blokes', Cissy Houston and Ramblin' Jack Elliott you are bound to find a few songs you can use.
posted by Sailormom at 8:45 AM on November 1, 2008

Cat Stevens in general has some good ones: "Oh Very Young," "Wild World," "I've Got A Thing About Seeing My Grandson Grow Old"

"Hey Jude" was written for John Lennon's son Julian, so that's a pretty good one too.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 9:25 AM on November 1, 2008