Sappy Slideshow Music

March 2, 2005 8:59 AM

I need some good song suggestions for music to accompany a slideshow of a child growing up.

I have a large collection of photographs documenting a friend's child's first year of life. I've put the photos together into a slideshow on iPhoto, and now I need to find a great song to play during the slideshow. I'd like to find something sappy enough to make them cry, but not too obnoxious. I've experimented with Cat Stevens' "Here Comes My Baby," and James Taylor's "Sweet Baby James," but it's not quite right. Suggestions?

posted by bonheur to technology (35 answers total)

"Growin' Up," by Bruce Springsteen?
posted by jonmc at 9:02 AM on March 2, 2005

The one about sunrise and sunset from Fiddler on the Roof comes to mind. I feel like weeping just thinking of it.
posted by willpie at 9:02 AM on March 2, 2005

Louis Armstrong - We Have All The Time in the World
posted by nthdegx at 9:07 AM on March 2, 2005

We're Going To Be Friends - White Stripes

Why?
1.) Excellent song about childhood and first love.
2.) Inoffensive both musically and lyrically.
3.) Pleasant background music that isn't too distracting
posted by cyphill at 9:08 AM on March 2, 2005

Slayer - Raining Blood
posted by skwm at 9:15 AM on March 2, 2005

"With a little help from my friends" Joe Cocker. Why? The Wonder Years!
posted by fire&wings at 9:16 AM on March 2, 2005

Cliche, but you can't go wrong with "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong.
posted by robbie01 at 9:23 AM on March 2, 2005

Song: "Want to See Me Grow"

Album: "Daddy-O Daddy! Rare Family Songs of Woodie Guthrie"

Like the Mermaid Avenue series, the songs on "Daddy-O Daddy!" are composed of Woodie Guthrie words with lost melodies put to music by modern musicians.

"Want to See Me Grow" is a really catchy song that will have your audience humming the tune of the song by the time your video is over. I know this from having used this song in a video of my son's first year.

It's on the iTunes Music Store for $0.99.
posted by u2604ab at 9:31 AM on March 2, 2005

What about "I Will Remember You" by Sarah McLachlan? It's sentimental, and has a couple lines that could be used to good effect with baby photos ("How clearly I first saw you smilin' in the sun", "I'm so tired, but I can't sleep", etc.).
posted by donnagirl at 9:37 AM on March 2, 2005

Is it a boy or a girl?

Girl: "Little Miss Magic" Jimmy Buffett

Either: "Imagine" John Lennon, "True Love" Cole Porter, "Have I Told You Lately" Van Morrison, "So In Love" k.d. lang version
posted by ?! at 10:06 AM on March 2, 2005

"Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" by Green Day.

"American Girl" by Tom Petty if the kid's a she.

"Wander Slowly Through the Fields" by Lenny Kravitz

"Boys of Summer" by Don Henley
posted by spicynuts at 10:11 AM on March 2, 2005

OH, and i really hate myself for suggesting this but "Cats In the Cradle" by Jim Croce. (it is croce, right?)
posted by spicynuts at 10:12 AM on March 2, 2005

Elizabeth Mitchell - 1 days, 2 days, 3 days old, from the record You Are My Flower. You can listen to it here . It's a bit more upbeat than the other songs listed here, but it is very catchy, and it's about a little baby. It would be a nice first song if the slideshow was long enough.
posted by AgentRocket at 10:13 AM on March 2, 2005

"In My Life" by Lennon/McCartney.
posted by bac at 10:14 AM on March 2, 2005

One more suggestion: on the Elizabeth Mitchell page, listen to "Little Sack of Sugar" and "You are My Sunshine," too. They both might be nice.
posted by AgentRocket at 10:18 AM on March 2, 2005

Here's a couple more:

Boy:

"Sun[/son] In My Eyes," by Ralph's World
"St. Judy's Comet," by Paul Simon

Girl:

"Bedtime Girl," by Ralph's World
"Father and Daughter," by Paul Simon

I love this thread.
posted by AgentRocket at 10:28 AM on March 2, 2005

spicynuts: it's Harry Chapin.

Beautiful in My Eyes by Joshua Kadison might go well here, but Sunrise, Sunset was the first thing that leapt to my mind.
posted by initapplette at 10:34 AM on March 2, 2005

My wife and I did a slideshow for our wedding reception. We each had a theme song for the montage of baby and kid pics. She used Somewhere Over The Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo Ole'. This version is sort of a medley that includes 'What a Wonderful World' and 'Wish Upon a Star.' It floats in the background with strummy guitar and the more familiar parts jump out a bit to give a warm nostalgic feeling of childhood. I used Rusted Root's Send My On My Way. Most of the lyrics are difficult to understand, so people can concentrate on the pictures. And, although it mostly sits pleasantlly in the background, the man line -- Send me on my way -- fits pretty well with the sense that the first year is the start of a journey for your friend's kid.
posted by cholstro at 10:41 AM on March 2, 2005

Joni Mitchell doing "Circle Game." Great song about life's passing.
posted by RikiTikiTavi at 10:51 AM on March 2, 2005

I came in here specifically to prevent the suggestion of "Cat's in the Cradle". I see I am too late.

Oh well. "In My Life" by the Beatles?
posted by petebest at 10:54 AM on March 2, 2005

"Home Nucleonics" by Strapping Young Lad.
posted by baphomet at 10:56 AM on March 2, 2005

"Watching Scotty Grow" if you're into turgidly sentimental 70s fare. Hmm, on second thought I wouldn't wish that song on anyone.
posted by rolypolyman at 11:01 AM on March 2, 2005

Although it implies that the baby has big ears, if you want guaranteed SOBBING, I must fall back on the saddest song ever:

"Baby Mine" from Dumbo
posted by stefnet at 11:04 AM on March 2, 2005

"I Don't Want to Grow Up" by Tom Waits (or the Ramones cover)

"Oh Daddy" by Adrian Belew (and his daughter!)
posted by scody at 11:04 AM on March 2, 2005

"Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)" by the Dixie Chicks. It's a beautiful lullaby.
posted by deborah at 11:16 AM on March 2, 2005

Beautiful Boy - John Lennon
posted by grateful at 11:21 AM on March 2, 2005

Oh, also: "Moon on Your Pyjamas" and "Sweetpea, My Sweetpea" by Paul Weller are sweet little odes to his kids.
posted by scody at 11:33 AM on March 2, 2005

"As I Lay Me Down" by Sophie B. Hawkins just came across my radio. I wouldn't have thought of it on my own, but it strikes me as nice choice. Get the lyrics and a sample from her site.
posted by donnagirl at 11:47 AM on March 2, 2005

Baby Love Child, by Pizzicato Five
posted by annathea at 12:30 PM on March 2, 2005

"Turn Around" from that old Kodak commercial. ("Turn around and you're tiny, turn around and you're grown, turn around and you're a young wife with babes of your own.") Harry Belafonte sang for the ad, but you can find covers by several other artists. Some of the covers change the lyrics to fit boys.

I did a movie about a friend's 2 YO using Iz' version of Rainbow (suggested by Cholstro). Good reaction from parents, grandparents, etc.

If you want an instrumental, try "Stranger on the Shore" by Acker Bilk.

Unless the parents are allergic, you have a lot of choices in Enya songs -- ethereal sound, lyrics that don't get in the way, tunes catchy enough to be annoying.

For something a little darker, try "Calling all Angels" by Jane Siberry and k.d. lang.

I think Judy Collins' cover of "In My Life" is more laid back than the Beatles version (I understand your bias, petebest), but either would be good.
posted by joaquim at 1:08 PM on March 2, 2005

"Teach Your Children", Crosby Stills Nash.
posted by ObscureReferenceMan at 1:33 PM on March 2, 2005

"These Are The Days" by Ten Thousand Maniacs?
posted by Clay201 at 2:00 PM on March 2, 2005

I just did this same thing, and after spending weeks evaluating songs, here's what I picked: Allison Kraus, singing "Baby Mine" for the beginning, then transitioning to Israel Kamakaikiwole (sp?) singing "Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World." Ta da.
posted by Alt F4 at 4:09 PM on March 2, 2005

My mom used to sing "You are so beautiful" by Joe Cocker and You've Got a Friend by James Tayloer to me when I was really little, so that would make me cry.
posted by duck at 8:21 PM on March 2, 2005

Yeah, that Israel Kamakawiwo'ole song is great.
posted by beth at 1:27 AM on March 7, 2005