Kid-friendly (but not specifically for kids) music for slideshows

July 8, 2009 7:16 PM

Good music for video slideshows of kids?

Lately I've really been into creating cheesy videos of our weekend adventures with the stepkids to post on our (private) blog to share with friends and family. I seem to be running out of good soundtrack music (but not pictures!), and need suggestions.

I really like lighthearted, whimsical, and upbeat music. Some indie rock is also nice.

Favorites I've used (in parts or whole) in the past:
"I Want You Back" - Jackson 5
"Fresh Feeling" - Eels
"Love You Madly" - Cake
"Five Years Time" - Noah and the Whale
"A Punk" - Vampire Weekend
"Apeman" - The Kinks
"All Cause of You" - The 88s
"1234" and "Mushaboom" - Feist
"Underneath It All" - No Doubt
"Never Let You Go" - Third Eye Blind
"Walk of Life" - Dire Straits
"Island in the Sun" - Weezer

Bonus points for songs about animals, sunshine, and the outdoors.

posted by moojoose to media & arts (18 comments total)

alright by the Lost Patrol!!! one of the most upbeat songs i've ever heard. i love it.

i'll be back with more, but that came to mind first.
posted by gursky at 7:24 PM on July 8

"Kids" - MGMT

Besides the title of the song just matching, the music itself just conjures up images of kids on summer days for me.
posted by NeonBlueDecember at 7:27 PM on July 8

"we can all get along with dinosaurs" by the Terrible Twos would be perfect! (if you have trouble finding it, just MeMail me)

"just a ride" - Jem

"all i want is you" - Barry Louis Polisar (from Juno, a cute song)

"the authority song" - Jimmy Eat World

"daft punk is playing at my house" - LCD Soundsystem (i use this in a lot of photo slideshows..it's so catchy)

"beautiful beat" - Nada Surf

"everyday people" - Sly & the Family Stone

"my eyes" - Travis

"flowers in the window" - Travis

and you might want to check out The Boy Least Likely To - definitely lighthearted and whimsical! i think "i'm glad i hitched my apple-wagon to your star" is the perfect tone, but there's a line in the song about drugs. "be gentle with me" might be a better fit.
posted by gursky at 7:43 PM on July 8

"When I See You Smile" by Bad English
posted by NoraCharles at 7:56 PM on July 8

Walking in the sun - Travis
LDN - Lily Allen (the chorus, mostly)
Alright - Supergrass
Mr. Blue Sky - ELO
posted by necessitas at 8:17 PM on July 8

"The Sloop John B." might be good for a boating adventure, particularly if it went a little askew (there is the lyric "this is the worst trip I've ever been on").

"Woo Hoo Hoo" is flat-out goofy (You know it -- it's the song that Vonage used in commercials and Tarantino used in KILL BILL, where the only lyrics are people singing "woo hoo, woo hoo hoo..." forever.)

"If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out" by Cat Stevens. He also once did a song called "I Love My Dog," which is just like it says on the tin.

The "Malcom In The Middle" theme by They Might Be Giants is fun.

One of the many covers of "Iko Iko".

"Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard" by Paul Simon.

B-52's are bound to have something. Maybe "Rock Lobster."

"Bang The Drum All Day" by Todd Rundgren.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:18 PM on July 8

"Walking on Sunshine" by Katrina and the Waves
posted by SuperSquirrel at 8:25 PM on July 8

I believe the "woo hoo" song empresscallipygos is talking about is blur's song 2.
posted by necessitas at 8:36 PM on July 8

I'm Free - Soup Dragons
Somewhere over the Rainbow - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (overdone but nearly impossible to get sick of)
Pure - Lightening Seeds
Birdhouse in Your Soul - They Might be Giants
Sesame's Treet - The Smart E's (could be fun or could be annoying)
posted by necessitas at 8:45 PM on July 8

"Kids" - MGMT

Besides the title of the song just matching, the music itself just conjures up images of kids on summer days for me.

As long as the video doesn't end up looking like this one.

Quite brilliant by the way, just not exactly little kid appropriate.
posted by philip-random at 8:52 PM on July 8

I believe the "woo hoo" song empresscallipygos is talking about is blur's song 2.

or maybe bohemian like you by the Dandy Warhols?
posted by gursky at 9:03 PM on July 8

(oops -- that reads like it might be snarky -- but i didn't intend for it to be snarky..!)
posted by gursky at 9:04 PM on July 8

I didn't read it in a snarky way, don't worry. After a bit of research, turns out that we're both wrong and it's by a group called the 5,6,7,8's.
posted by necessitas at 9:53 PM on July 8

Yes, the 5 6 7 8's song is what I meant.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:22 AM on July 9

They Might Be Giants: "Robot Parade" (there's the album version and an "adult" [harder-rockin'] version, both of which are kick-ass.)
posted by Neofelis at 7:19 AM on July 9

Early Of Montreal, like "Happy Yellow Bumblebee".
posted by Gortuk at 7:27 AM on July 9

Check out these songs from the "Lets go everywhere" album, by Medeski, Martin and Wood.

- Where's the music
- Let's Go Everywhere
- Pat A Cake
- On An Airplane

I would recommend the entire album to you, but I though I should point out few track that might work for you. The album is available for you to hear in full from last.fm:
http://www.last.fm/music/Medeski%2C+Martin+and+Wood/_/Where%27s+the+Music?autostart


I would also recommend the album "No" by They Might be Giants, since the album is really fun, and almost all of the songs are silly, and funny, and really good musically.
Here are some that might work for you:
- Where Do They Make Balloons?
- Clap Your Hands
- Violin
- The House at the Top of the Tree
- Bed Bed Bed

http://www.last.fm/music/They+Might+Be+Giants/No!

Also, what about old school kid-friendly music? Raymond Scott anyone?
http://www.last.fm/music/Raymond+Scott/_/Powerhouse?autostart
posted by GrooveStix at 9:05 AM on July 9

Random bits of Celtic instrumental music might be fun. It's not all woodwinds and atmospheric Druidic reverb.
My advice would be to play around on Pandora or LastFM, and look for Dougie MacLean, Old Blind Dogs, Natalie MacMaster, etc.

Also, best kid-centered music you've never heard of:
Kenny and the Eggplants.
Not necessarily for slide shows, as the whimsical lyrics are too specific, but neat nonetheless.
posted by SaharaRose at 6:39 AM on July 11