Music for pop princesesses

February 8, 2012 12:12 AM

I'm looking for catchy pop songs w/ female vocalists suitable for young kids. It turns out I'm raising two pop princesses (aged 3 and 5) who love listening to music that I don't know much about. Help me find music to make a new mix tape that won't drive me and mom crazy!

The big hits from the last mix tape were Heart of Glass by Blondie and Genius of Love by Tom Tom Club. Also popular were Born this Way by Lady Gaga and a couple songs by Duffy. We'll try anything from the 50s to present. Not too big on country outside of Dolly.

posted by pandabearjohnson to media & arts (36 answers total)

Regina Spektor, Nelly Furtado's first album, Yael Naim, Feist, Emiliana Torrini, The Wailin Jennys.

posted by costanza at 12:47 AM on February 8 [1 favorite]

Petula Clark - Downtown
Dusty Springfield - I Only Want To Be With You
Leslie Gore - Sunshine, Lollipops And Rainbows
Carly Simon - You're So Vain
Missing Persons - Destination Unknown
Nancy Sinatra - These Boots Are Made For Walkikng
Nena - 99 Red Balloons
posted by Ardiril at 12:47 AM on February 8 [1 favorite]

He is We -- Happily Ever After
posted by Night_owl at 12:52 AM on February 8

A big hit at my house when my daughter was 3-5 was this Do I Love You? as performed by Miss Peggy Lee and/or me, which my daughter made into a call-and-response song.

...If the sun should desert the day, what would life be?
DARK!
...Isn't heaven forever more?
I DON'T KNOW!

She also loved Hateful by the Clash, which already is a call-and-response, albeit with a male singer.
posted by pH Indicating Socks at 12:57 AM on February 8

The Go Go's (everything)
The B-52s "52 Girls," "Legal Tender"
Mary Hopkin, maybe
Joni James
Bonnie Hayes & The Wild Combo "Girls Like Me"
posted by rhizome at 1:02 AM on February 8

well, beyonce is pure class, check out irreplaceable, crazy in love, baby boy
katy perry is fun, your girls will probably like her - you might want to skip "i kissed a girl" but fireworks is great, so is california girls...

...oh, heck, i made a compilation each for a family of music starved friends for xmas 2010, this is what miah (5 years old) got, plus a couple newer singles thrown in for good measure. there's plenty of pop on here, but i tried to stick to really good pop. i think pretty much any or all of these songs should go over well:

Dancing Queen ABBA
Walk Like An Egyptian [December 1986] The Bangles
Irreplaceable Beyonce
Crazy In Love ft Jay Z Beyonce
Baby Boy Beyonce
Run The World Beyonce
Toxic Britney Spears
He's the Greatest Dancer Chic & Sister Sledge
Ain't No Other Man Christina Aguilera
Lady Marmalade (Moulin Rouge) Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya, Pink & Missy Elliot
Gimme Dat Ciara
NEVER EVER CIARA FT YOUNG JEEZY
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Cyndi Lauper
Time After Time [June 1984] Cyndi Lauper
Groove Is in the Heart Deee-Lite
Upside Down Diana Ross
Mercy Duffy
American Boy Estelle ft. Kanye West
Empire State Of Mind (Part II) Alicia Keys
Like A G6 Far East Movement Ft The Cataracs
Conga Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine
I Will Survive Gloria Gaynor
Mr Big Stuff Jean Knight
Waiting For Tonight Jennifer Lopez
Let's get loud Jennifer Lopez
I Love Rock & Roll Joan Jett
California Gurls (feat. Snoop Dogg) Katy Perry
Fireworks katy perry
Tik Tok Ke$ha
80s joint kelis
Milkshake Kelis
Lil Star Kelis ft. Cee-Lo
Since U Been Gone Kelly Clarkson
Can't Get You Out Of My Head Kylie Minogue
Just Dance Lady GaGa
Smile Version Revisited (Mark Ronson Remix) (Explicit) Lily Allen
Funky Town Lipps Inc.
Paper Planes M.I.A.
Holiday Madonna
Music Madonna
Please Mr. Postman The Marvelettes
My Guy Mary Wells
Party In The U.S.A. Miley Cyrus
99 Luftballoons (German) Nena
Don't Upset The Rhythm (Go Baby Go) Noisettes
Hit Me With Your Best Shot [December 1980] Pat Benatar
Get The Party Started Pink
Wait A Minute The Pussycat Dolls ft Timbaland
Don't Stop the Music Rihanna
Rude Boy (Album Version) Rihanna
We Found Love Rihanna
Waka Waka (This Time For Africa) Shakira featuring Freshlyground
Hips Don't Lie Shakira Ft Wyclef Jean
We Are Family Sister Sledge
Stop! In The Name Of Love The Supremes
You Can't Hurry Love Supremes
Pump Up The Jam Technotronic
That's Not My Name The Ting Tings
Mickey [December 1982] Tony Basil
We Like to Party (The Vengabus) Vengaboys
Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!! [Non-Explicit Version] Vengaboys
Barbie Girl Aqua
I Wanna Dance With Somebody Whitney Houston
The Sun is Down Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band

ok that's a lot of songs but they're all girly (i dj weddings, i know girly), kid-suitable, and fun. on the other hand most songs are also classic pop tunes that you should stand up to repeated plays as well. except for maybe the vengaboys and aqua, but i'm pretty sure your girls will love those 2 much it'd almost be mean not to include them...
posted by messiahwannabe at 1:05 AM on February 8 [8 favorites]

Also, your daughters might enjoy Sweden: Sahara Hotnights, The Cardigans, ABBA.
posted by pH Indicating Socks at 1:07 AM on February 8

oh, shit, there's an [explicit] on there! better skip that one. hope miah wasn't traumatized
posted by messiahwannabe at 1:09 AM on February 8

Middle of the Road - Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep ; a recent discovery that I still can listen to endlessly.
posted by Ardiril at 1:12 AM on February 8

Wow, messiahwannabe has contemporary hits covered.

I wonder.. do your kids listen to/watch Glee? They cover pop hits by GaGa, Britney, Katy Perry, Madonna, Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, etc. The songs they sing are mostly family-friendly. They may like it.
posted by ichomp at 1:20 AM on February 8

What a fun question. More.

Kids like music not in English, too, and they'll sing along anyhow (which is adorable): Mere Naam Chin Chin Chu, It's the Time to Disco, One-Two-Three-Go, Pon Pon Pon They may need the videos, too...
posted by pH Indicating Socks at 1:44 AM on February 8 [1 favorite]

Based on how fun these are to sing:

Miley Cyrus: Party in the USA
Taio Cruz: Dynamite
Neon Trees: Animal
posted by The ____ of Justice at 2:07 AM on February 8 [1 favorite]

Whoops, the last two aren't sung by females, but they're still pretty dang fun to sing.
posted by The ____ of Justice at 2:08 AM on February 8

She & Him (e.g. "Thieves" which might be too country for you?)
Adele, unless she's already driven you crazy
Caro Emerald, whose A Night Like This is catchy but has an oblique reference to adult touching. Back It Up may be better?
posted by knile at 2:13 AM on February 8

The Andrews Sisters - Rum and Coca Cola
The Chordettes Lollipop
Millie: My boy Lollopop
Paul Evens:Seven Little Girls (Sitting in the Back Seat)
Shirely Ellis: The Name Game
or The Clapping Song
Marsha Hunt: Not the Beast Day
posted by rongorongo at 3:53 AM on February 8

Chiming in to recommend Kidzbop, which is semi-current Top 40 songs sung by kids. This helps eliminate the "bad/explicit" stuff, as they don't go near that, and your girls may find it easier to "identify" with it.

Caveat: These albums may not satisfy your requirement of not driving you or your mother crazy, but your girls will most likely love them.
posted by kuanes at 4:31 AM on February 8 [1 favorite]

messiahwannabe definitely has a strong list, but I saw a few songs in the list that may or may not be considered kid-safe, depending on the household. You may want to give them a listen before you add them to your home playlist.

Mark Ronson (ft. Amy Winehouse): Valerie
Sleater-Kinney: Lions and Tigers
Superbus: Radio Song (verses in French, chorus in English)


And seconding the Cardigans, particularly their first two or three albums!
posted by Poppa Bear at 5:10 AM on February 8 [1 favorite]

If a lovely Mefite made a Spotify of this, I'd be forever happy.
posted by k8t at 5:21 AM on February 8 [1 favorite]

Some of Robyn's stuff could work for the kiddos (Fembot, for example). Annie, too (I Don't Like Your Band). & Goldrapp's Head First album seems pretty spot on (Rocket)...
posted by clipperton at 5:53 AM on February 8

Alizée
posted by Confess, Fletch at 6:09 AM on February 8

I'm not ashamed to admit that one of my favorite groups is Ace of Base. They definitely fit the definition of catchy pop, and the two females of the band do (did) the lead singing. For specific songs, maybe "The Sign" and "Beautiful Life."
posted by LaurenIpsum at 7:01 AM on February 8

A few of my daughter's favorites:

My Own Drum by Jules Larson

We Turn It Up by Oh Land

Lights by Ellie Goulding

The Rhythm You Started by Sophie Madeleine
posted by waterlily at 7:07 AM on February 8

The Pipettes and The Like are my current girl-group favorites.
posted by MsMacbeth at 7:54 AM on February 8

It's hard to link as I'm on my phone, sorry, but Frente would beyou perfect - Ordinary Angels and Accidentally Kelly Street in particular.
posted by goo at 8:14 AM on February 8 [1 favorite]

Sarah Shannon, best known as the singer for Velocity Girl, now leads a band aimed at children called The Not-Its. I think this fits what you're looking for.

The Not-Its

They have 3 CDs of their original songs you can preview and purchase here:

http://www.wearethenot-its.com/music/index.html
posted by caclwmr4 at 9:37 AM on February 8

Check out milkshake. They used to be a rock NAND (love riot) but reinvented themselves after the lead singer had kids. Now they do kind friendly music, but it still has some of the pop feel.
posted by nalyd at 9:46 AM on February 8

Some of the stuff on Cherry Alive by Eve's Plum might work, depending on your personal lyrics-comfort-level ("Stickt and Greasy" has "fucked" in it, so probably not that one). The singer went on to be Vitamin C and you might be able to wring some use out of Smile.

Keep going with Blondie; they are now sort of classic for this. You won't have to worry too much about lyrics; there's lots of different styles (Tide is High, I'm Gonna Love You Too, Angels on the Balcony, Heart of Glass, Follow Me); lots of silliness (giant ants from space! men from mars! singing in French!), and it's all pretty palatable (I think).

I'd throw some Siouxsie and the Banshees in there, too. You'd be surprised. Burn Up; Happy House Wheel's on Fire; Stargazer; Kiss them for Me; Christine.

Belly's good, particularly the first album,: Gepetto, Slow Dog, Feed the Tree. Or try Not Too Soon (when Tanya Donelly of Belly was in the Throwing Muses).
posted by crush-onastick at 10:05 AM on February 8

Another Sophie Madeleine: Take Your Love with Me.
Joni Mitchel: Both Sides Now
posted by rongorongo at 10:58 AM on February 8

Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy - Bette Midler (or the original Andrews Sisters version, though that was done in the 40s.)
Shake Your Love - Debbie Gibson
Only In My Dreams - Debbie Gibson
Crush On You - The Jets
More Than You Know - Martika
I'm So Excited - Pointer Sisters
Jump For My Love - Pointer Sisters
posted by SisterHavana at 1:14 PM on February 8 [2 favorites]

If you don't mind "divas", then most of Mariah Carey or Whitney Houston's early uptempo songs:

Mariah - Someday, Emotions, Dreamlover, Fantasy, Always Be My Baby (the pop song of the 90's, imo)

Whitney - I Wanna Dance With Somebody, How Will I Know

I would also suggest early Madonna - Borderline, Crazy for You, Lucky Star, etc.

I would 2nd Diana Ross & the Supremes, and also Martha & the Vandellas.
posted by nakedmolerats at 1:48 PM on February 8

A few I forgot:

Come On Over (All I Want Is You) - Christina Aguilera
Come Go With Me - Expose
Chuck E's In Love - Rickie Lee Jones
Beyonce's been mentioned, but don't forget Destiny's Child: Bug A Boo, Independent Women Part 1, Say My Name
posted by SisterHavana at 2:29 PM on February 8

I'm raiding my daughter's playlist - here are some of the songs she loves to sing:
Corinne Bailey Rae - Put Your Records On
Colbie Caillat - Brighter than the Sun
Lenka - The Show
Taylor Swift . . . a little bit country but hugely popular with young divas.
Bjork - It's Oh So Quiet
The Bjork video may give the wrong impression in the first thirty seconds but stick with it, it's really a lot of fun.
posted by kbar1 at 10:31 PM on February 8

Some of the more light, upbeat songs that come to mind:

Go-Gos - Our Lips Are Sealed, Vacation, Head Over Heels
Jane Wiedlin's solo stuff - Blue Kiss and Rush Hour
Dance Hall Crashers - Lost Again, Mr Blue
Fleetwood Mac - Say You Love Me, Everywhere
Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Want to Have Fun, obviously
Wild Flag's debut album is hard rock, maybe a little raw than Blondie.
Natalie Imbruglia? Norah Jones? Disco? Andrews Sisters got a couple mentions already.

And absolutely play Motown's classics, male or female.
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 12:16 AM on February 9

"messiahwannabe definitely has a strong list, but I saw a few songs in the list that may or may not be considered kid-safe, depending on the household. You may want to give them a listen before you add them to your home playlist."

that crossed my mind immediately after i posted, but unfortunately there's no post-posting edit feature on askmefi! i actually i went ahead and re-checked through the ones i was worried might be iffy. "Smile Version Revisited (Mark Ronson Remix) (Explicit) - Lily Allen" is absolutely perfect for young girls, except for a single f-bomb in a hard-to-catch thick british accent right at the start. but, yeah, the f-bomb - that's the [explicit] one i suggested be skipped. also "rude boy" by rihanna has absolutely zero swear words, but it might be awkward if your girls actually parse the lyrics and ask "mommy why is rihanna asking rude boy if he can 'get it up' and 'ride [her] like a cowboy'?"

hopefully i didn't miss any others, i did actually comb that list for anything inappropriate when i first made it. but obviously i missed two! but really, i think every other song should be totally suitable - they're pretty much all radio staples and therefore swearword-free. but go ahead and check first! poppabear, if you're still reading this, did you notice any other songs you think aren't appropriate? i really tried to choose stuff that was kid safe, but full disclosure, i'm not a parent; pandabear i tried my best but sure, you may want to vet these tunes.

...on the other hand, fwiw etc etc as a professional wedding dj, not only do i hopefully know what's "girly" (no offense! it's my job to read a crowd, and 9 times out of 10....) but i also get a lot of impromptu "kids sets" early on at gigs with lots of younguns running around and hopping on the dancefloor when they hear something they like. and trust me, kids luuurve some really good modern pop music. and if i get em going with that, and grandma/auntie decides to join the fun, i'll throw in some oldies for everyone's sake, and the right disco/80's stuff totally holds the kids' interest if it's funky and fun.

for the OP, and any other parents reading this: i'd imagine listening to the cream of the pop world beats hearing "tommy the choo choo train" ad nauseum 1000 times in a row by a country mile, and your kids will almost assuredly eat it up - there's a reason these songs are pop classics.

sorry for the third post and defensive backpedalling! but, yeah, poppabear has a point, so - give anything on that list a listen first if you're worried. apologies if i'm off base here, but i got the impression the OP wasn't really up on the latest pop hits; worst case scenario, i rate every single one of those songs as stone cold pop classics worth a listen, even if you don't wind up sharing them with your young children. but, if they pass muster, i'm pretty sure your girls would totally dig anything on that list. it's obviously a LONG list - feel free to throw em out 10 at a time and burn the next 10 to a cd when you're sick of hearing the last batch, and hopefully everyone will be happy. :)

ps. i put on that last yoko ono tune at the end as a backdoor to the concept of "alternative" music - i was thinking of the time i heard revolution #9 on a beatles weekend on the radio as an 11 year old, and tried to translate it to something a young girl might find fascinating - it's a catchy, not-to-weird-but-definitely-different tune that hopefully opens the door to the idea that music can be interesting yet different at the same time. feel free to give it a try, yoko's last album was actually quite good.

pps. 8 likes! yay, i'm flattered :)
posted by messiahwannabe at 2:33 AM on February 9

After logging off last night I kept thinking of other girl friendly pop tunes and realized I had overlooked the obvious: Disney soundtracks. Here are some of the songs that daughter and I equally like:
Grace Potter from Tangled
Christina Aguilera from Mulan
Belle Reprise from Beauty and the Beast
The Little Mermaid
Disney even has a collection of just Princess songs.
posted by kbar1 at 7:15 AM on February 9

Once again, MeFites impress! Thanks everyone, esp messiahwannabe for your time. I never expected so much input; this should keep us going for awhile!

FWIW, regarding Katy Perry...i'd let my kids listen to I Kissed a Girl way before I'd let them listen to Last Friday Night (or whatever its called). And finally, I can't wait until they are old enough to appreciate Shit List by L7
posted by pandabearjohnson at 1:34 PM on February 10