New baby playlist filter

March 23, 2009 10:10 AM

Imminently arriving new baby playlist: I'm looking for songs appropriate for parents dealing with their first child's birth any day now.

This is primarily for the parents' listening, not necessarily the baby's. Music has always helped me deal with my own anxiety and uncertainty, as well as inspire my own song writing. In addition to babies and children, themes might include growing older, family, uncertainty, new life, and hope. Some off-the-cuff examples are Iron & Wine's Naked As We Came, Hendrix's Little Wing. I'd like to avoid the Martina McBride level of cheese. Oh yeah, it's a boy

posted by Slarty Bartfast to media & arts (26 comments total)

Blackbird, The Beatles.
posted by Maisie Jay at 10:11 AM on March 23

I would think that baby-themed cuteness is probably not what is called for in this situation, so much as just things that make the parents feel comfortable. Listening to new music is sometimes challenging, and I personally can't imagine wanting that stress along with a new baby.
posted by TypographicalError at 10:12 AM on March 23 [1 favorite]

Naive Melody by Talking Heads is David Byrne's only real love song, and it's very domestic and sweet. This Woman's Work by Kate Bush also fits the bill. Kimya Dawson just came out with a new baby songs CD, but that's really for the baby rather than you guys. There's Born at the Right Time by Paul Simon, and, of course, Gigantic by the Pixies.
posted by zoomorphic at 10:20 AM on March 23

Well, I have two boys, but I still think Stevie Wonder's Isn't She Lovely is one of the greatest baby songs ever. Oh, and gratz!
posted by Scoo at 10:21 AM on March 23

Joni Mitchell--Circle Game
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 10:22 AM on March 23

I brought The Last Waltz by The Band into delivery with me. There was something soothing about it, and the nurses enjoyed it as well. I remember Joni Mitchell coming on and the nurse commenting on her - so I second hurdy gurdy girl as well.
posted by boulder20something at 10:27 AM on March 23

Definitely Bob Dylan's Forever Young.

Definitely not Richard Thompson's The End of the Rainbow.
posted by headnsouth at 10:36 AM on March 23

if you're going to do david byrne/talking heads, how about stay up late?
posted by msconduct at 10:44 AM on March 23

The 2008 album Red Letter Year by Ani Difranco captures just this very stage of life.
posted by wg at 10:55 AM on March 23

Barenaked Ladies, "When You Dream"
Tally Hall, "Be Born"
posted by Faint of Butt at 10:56 AM on March 23 [1 favorite]

I always recommend this song in baby/children threads.
Absolutely Little Potato by Metamora.

You're my little potato, you're my little potato,
You're my little potato, they dug you up,
You come from underground!

The world is big, so big, so very big!
To you, it's new, it's new to you!

You're my little potato, you're my little potato,
You're my little potato, they dug you up,
You come from underground!

Let's talk about root crops (they dug you up),
And lamb chops (they chew on you),
And things to eat...like apples
and cheese and 'nanas and cream,
Jellies and butter,
it's late at night, I hope this little bottle helps you go to sleep!

They must have grown you wild,
you make a grown man a child,
I’ll go and play in the mud
to be with you my spud (potato).
When you came out looking red as a beet,
You had wrinkles on the bottoms of your feet!

Oh, you are so sweet potato!
You're my sweet potato,
you're my sweet potato, dug you up!
You come from underground!

You smile, a smile, a little smile!
The world is small, so small, it's very small!

You're my little potato, you're my little potato,
you're my little potato, they dug you up,
You come from underground!
posted by kidsleepy at 11:17 AM on March 23

Here Comes The Sun, by the Beatles. If you want something for a bit of comic relief, Johnny Cash's A Boy Named Sue.
posted by jquinby at 11:19 AM on March 23

Paul Weller, Moon on Your Pyjamas (about his eldest son; sorry it's just the partial track) or Sweet Pea, My Sweet Pea (about his eldest daughter).
posted by scody at 11:48 AM on March 23 [1 favorite]

I would think that baby-themed cuteness is probably not what is called for in this situation, so much as just things that make the parents feel comfortable. Listening to new music is sometimes challenging, and I personally can't imagine wanting that stress along with a new baby.

I'm not sure I follow. It's true, baby-themed cuteness isn't at all what I'm looking for, my current emotional state is very far from that kind of sentimentality, I probably should have made that more clear. But listening to new music is stressful?
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 11:50 AM on March 23

Born at the Right Time, from Paul Simon's Rhythm of the Saints album, always made us smile and dance when our first baby was nearly due.

Some of the lyrics:

Never been lonely
Never been lied to
Never had to scuffle in fear
Nothing denied to
Born at the instant
The church bells chime
And the whole world whispering
Born at the right time
posted by misha at 11:55 AM on March 23

Kooks by David Bowie... a song to his new born son. On the Hunky Dory album.
posted by kimdog at 12:21 PM on March 23

Paul Simon--St. Judy's Comet

A lullabye from a father to a son. I love this one.

Oh, and congratulations to you and your partner, SB!
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 12:26 PM on March 23

It doesn't sound like it'd be good for the situation, but it really is: Jonathan Coulton's "You Ruined Everything (in the Nicest Way)."
posted by cerebus19 at 12:27 PM on March 23

Also:

The Beginning of a Great Adventure by Lou Reed, though I'd also love Perfect Day for the day of his birth
Didn't Leave Nobody But the Baby by Alison Kraus et al from O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Seconding Forever Young by Bob Dylan
Little Green by Joni Mitchell
Beautiful Boy by John Lennon
Teach Your Children Well by Crosby Stills Nash and Young
Eat for Two by 10,000 Maniacs
Me in Honey by REM
The Kick Inside by Kate Bush
I Think I'm a Mother by PJ Harvey
posted by zoomorphic at 12:45 PM on March 23

Nicolette Larson's "Welcome to the World" CD was my favorite
posted by JimN2TAW at 4:01 PM on March 23

But listening to new music is stressful?

Well, not stressful at the "I have a new baby level," but yes - when I listen to new music I like to take some care to understand what it's about. I can't tune out music unless I know it well enough.

Anyways, it wasn't clear to me that this is actually for you. You probably know better than I what you'd like, so good luck. And congratulations!
posted by TypographicalError at 6:17 PM on March 23

These are great (and keep em coming). My beautiful wife and I spent the day putting together the nursery and listening to these songs. I also added You Are the Sunshine of My Life, Earn Enough for Us (XTC), Baby Love Child (Pizzicato Five), When I'm Sixty Four, Two of Us (Beatles), and Greetings to the New Brunette (Billy Bragg). It was a lovely day.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 7:29 PM on March 23

Some of my favorites.

Energy -- Apples in Stereo

Sunndal Song -- Apples in Stereo

Up the Junction -- Squeeze

Stay Up Late -- Talking Heads
posted by zerobyproxy at 8:07 PM on March 23

To Zion, Lauryn Hill
posted by alice ayres at 3:10 PM on March 24

I'm not a Paul Simon fan and I had never heard it before, but Born at the Right Time FTW. Srsly.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 11:33 AM on March 26

Yay! I knew you'd like it.
posted by misha at 1:49 PM on March 26