Music for adults that sounds like it was made for kids?
January 17, 2020 2:06 PM
What are some good pop, rock, etc. songs that are happy, whimsical, and/or very simple on their composition that I could listen to with my baby? Examples within.
My son is 5 months old and I have already grown a bit weary of “Wheels on the Bus” and its ilk. Obviously I will keep made-for-kids stuff in heavy rotation for him, but I am also trying to slide in some tunes I could enjoy too. What I’ve come up with so far:
- Bobby McFerrin “Don’t Worry Be Happy”
- Bob Marley “3 Little Birds”
- Jack Johnson “Banana Pancakes”
- Feist “1 2 3 4” and “Mushaboom”
- Grateful Dead “Touch of Grey” (I know that’s a weird one but something about that sound has always sounded sort of silly in a childlike way to me, even when I was a kid)
- Paul Simon “Call Me Al” (kind of same thing as above)
Looking for better-known material (any decade) that I would probably know but am just not thinking of (as opposed to wanting to discover more obscure stuff). Thanks in advance for helping to preserve my sanity.
My son is 5 months old and I have already grown a bit weary of “Wheels on the Bus” and its ilk. Obviously I will keep made-for-kids stuff in heavy rotation for him, but I am also trying to slide in some tunes I could enjoy too. What I’ve come up with so far:
- Bobby McFerrin “Don’t Worry Be Happy”
- Bob Marley “3 Little Birds”
- Jack Johnson “Banana Pancakes”
- Feist “1 2 3 4” and “Mushaboom”
- Grateful Dead “Touch of Grey” (I know that’s a weird one but something about that sound has always sounded sort of silly in a childlike way to me, even when I was a kid)
- Paul Simon “Call Me Al” (kind of same thing as above)
Looking for better-known material (any decade) that I would probably know but am just not thinking of (as opposed to wanting to discover more obscure stuff). Thanks in advance for helping to preserve my sanity.
Meghan Trainor - Better When I'm Dancin'
Train - Play That Song
Paul Simon - Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard
posted by straw at 2:13 PM on January 17, 2020
Train - Play That Song
Paul Simon - Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard
posted by straw at 2:13 PM on January 17, 2020
How about I'm Yours by Jason Mraz?
Jamming by Bob Marley is pretty simple.
Anything Belle and Sebastian would probably work too.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 2:13 PM on January 17, 2020
Jamming by Bob Marley is pretty simple.
Anything Belle and Sebastian would probably work too.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 2:13 PM on January 17, 2020
They Might Be Giants - Flood (album)
posted by TwilightKid at 2:16 PM on January 17, 2020
posted by TwilightKid at 2:16 PM on January 17, 2020
Is Motown on the right track? There are at least a few Supremes songs that seem like good choices here.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 2:16 PM on January 17, 2020
posted by Huffy Puffy at 2:16 PM on January 17, 2020
I enjoyed Jack Johnson and also The Phoenix Foundation’s “Buffalo” for calming music when my kids were little. They Might Be Giants kids albums & their associated dvds are also amazing. (“Here come the ABCs” and “Here come the 123s”)
posted by slightlybewildered at 2:26 PM on January 17, 2020
posted by slightlybewildered at 2:26 PM on January 17, 2020
“Cecilia and the Satellite” by Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness
posted by Seeking Direction at 2:29 PM on January 17, 2020
posted by Seeking Direction at 2:29 PM on January 17, 2020
I really like singing/ playing pretty much anything by ABBA, The Beatles and The Beach Boys to my kid. Hooky melodies but a lot of other stuff going on to keep the grown ups interested!
posted by Jon Mitchell at 2:32 PM on January 17, 2020
posted by Jon Mitchell at 2:32 PM on January 17, 2020
REM - Happy Furry Monsters (Sesame Street guest appearance)
posted by momus_window at 2:34 PM on January 17, 2020
posted by momus_window at 2:34 PM on January 17, 2020
The Jason Mraz suggestion made me wonder how about Andy Grammer? Honey I'm Good or Good To Be Alive (Hallelujah) or Fresh Eyes?
posted by straw at 2:41 PM on January 17, 2020
posted by straw at 2:41 PM on January 17, 2020
Ingrid Michaelson, in particular The Way I Am.
posted by ApathyGirl at 2:52 PM on January 17, 2020
posted by ApathyGirl at 2:52 PM on January 17, 2020
Harry Nilsson is great for this:
Gotta Get Up
I Guess the Lord Must Be in New York City
Coconut (I was first introduced to this song via the Muppets, and in fact when I heard the Harry Nilsson original, I was convinced he had been covering a Muppets song rather than the other way around)
ELO, Mr. Blue Sky
Joni Mitchell, Big Yellow Taxi
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 2:52 PM on January 17, 2020
Gotta Get Up
I Guess the Lord Must Be in New York City
Coconut (I was first introduced to this song via the Muppets, and in fact when I heard the Harry Nilsson original, I was convinced he had been covering a Muppets song rather than the other way around)
ELO, Mr. Blue Sky
Joni Mitchell, Big Yellow Taxi
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 2:52 PM on January 17, 2020
Barbara Ann! Lots of Beach Boys really but especially Barbara Ann. Always a toddler favorite to sing along with the ba-ba-ba's.
posted by potrzebie at 2:58 PM on January 17, 2020
posted by potrzebie at 2:58 PM on January 17, 2020
When the Red, Red, Robin comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along by Louis Armstrong.
posted by Winnie the Proust at 3:02 PM on January 17, 2020
posted by Winnie the Proust at 3:02 PM on January 17, 2020
early Beatles singles (greatest hits red stairwell compilation) I was raised on this stuff (please disregard how I turned out;)
posted by ovvl at 3:06 PM on January 17, 2020
posted by ovvl at 3:06 PM on January 17, 2020
Mine like the New Pornographers a lot when she was a little one.
posted by gaspode at 3:09 PM on January 17, 2020
posted by gaspode at 3:09 PM on January 17, 2020
Kinks - You Really Got Me
Don McClean - American Pie
Sam Cooke - Another Saturday Night
Beach Boys - Barbara Ann, Surfin' USA, California Girls, etc.
Doors - Hello, I Love You
Elton John - Benny and the Jets
Heart - Dog & Butterfly
Elvis Costello - Green Shirt, Oliver's Army
Buddy Holly - That'll Be the Day, Peggy Sue, Everyday, etc.
George Harrison- My Sweet Lord
Rolling Stones - Mother's Little Helper
Turtles - Happy Together
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Lookin' Out My Back Door
Steely Dan - Reelin' in the Years, Hey Nineteen
Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons - Sherry
Talking Heads - Totally Nude
Peter, Paul & Mary - Leaving on a Jet Plane
Fleetwood Mac - Never Going Back Again
Proclaimers - 500 Miles
UB40 - Red Red Wine
Johnny Cash - Ring of Fire, I Walk the Line, Tennessee Stud
Grateful Dead - Sugar Magnolia
Vampire Weekend - A-Punk
Noah and the Whale - 5 Years Time
posted by Redstart at 3:10 PM on January 17, 2020
Don McClean - American Pie
Sam Cooke - Another Saturday Night
Beach Boys - Barbara Ann, Surfin' USA, California Girls, etc.
Doors - Hello, I Love You
Elton John - Benny and the Jets
Heart - Dog & Butterfly
Elvis Costello - Green Shirt, Oliver's Army
Buddy Holly - That'll Be the Day, Peggy Sue, Everyday, etc.
George Harrison- My Sweet Lord
Rolling Stones - Mother's Little Helper
Turtles - Happy Together
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Lookin' Out My Back Door
Steely Dan - Reelin' in the Years, Hey Nineteen
Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons - Sherry
Talking Heads - Totally Nude
Peter, Paul & Mary - Leaving on a Jet Plane
Fleetwood Mac - Never Going Back Again
Proclaimers - 500 Miles
UB40 - Red Red Wine
Johnny Cash - Ring of Fire, I Walk the Line, Tennessee Stud
Grateful Dead - Sugar Magnolia
Vampire Weekend - A-Punk
Noah and the Whale - 5 Years Time
posted by Redstart at 3:10 PM on January 17, 2020
These were songs I really liked to listen to during the under one-year phase:
The English version of Baby by Os Mutantes
The Yo La Tengo version of Friday I'm in Love
Real Love Baby by Father John Misty
Pretty Pimpin by Kurt Vile
Push It by Salt N Pepa
Uh, basically, I guess I liked things that said Baby or named the days of the week.
posted by vunder at 3:10 PM on January 17, 2020
The English version of Baby by Os Mutantes
The Yo La Tengo version of Friday I'm in Love
Real Love Baby by Father John Misty
Pretty Pimpin by Kurt Vile
Push It by Salt N Pepa
Uh, basically, I guess I liked things that said Baby or named the days of the week.
posted by vunder at 3:10 PM on January 17, 2020
Anyone Else but You— the Moldy Peaches
We’re Gonna Be Friends — White Stripes
Sgt Pepper (intro) — Beatles
posted by Rumple at 3:45 PM on January 17, 2020
We’re Gonna Be Friends — White Stripes
Sgt Pepper (intro) — Beatles
posted by Rumple at 3:45 PM on January 17, 2020
White Stripes - We Are Going to be Friends.
Madness - Our House.
Lots of Beatles tunes, but especially Yellow Submarine, Octopus' Garden and All Together Now.
Folky early 70s stuff like Cat Stevens and Puff the Magic Dragon.
The Cure - Love Cats.
posted by Ursula Hitler at 3:49 PM on January 17, 2020
Madness - Our House.
Lots of Beatles tunes, but especially Yellow Submarine, Octopus' Garden and All Together Now.
Folky early 70s stuff like Cat Stevens and Puff the Magic Dragon.
The Cure - Love Cats.
posted by Ursula Hitler at 3:49 PM on January 17, 2020
Jukebox The Ghost - Good Day always reminded me of a kids song for some reason.
posted by Malleable at 4:25 PM on January 17, 2020
posted by Malleable at 4:25 PM on January 17, 2020
Soothing Sounds for Babies
And/or
Casper Babypants
posted by PistachioRoux at 4:30 PM on January 17, 2020
And/or
Casper Babypants
posted by PistachioRoux at 4:30 PM on January 17, 2020
Jonathan Richman: Ice Cream Man, New England, I’m a Little Dinosaur, I’m a Little Airplane, and on & on.
Pete Seeger’s Big Rock Candy Mountain and his kids’ albums
Reggae is pretty good for rocking to.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 4:30 PM on January 17, 2020
Pete Seeger’s Big Rock Candy Mountain and his kids’ albums
Reggae is pretty good for rocking to.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 4:30 PM on January 17, 2020
Amazing suggestions! Thanks all; you warmed my heart on this cold winter day! Off to snuggle the baby and start building a playlist :)
posted by lovableiago at 5:16 PM on January 17, 2020
posted by lovableiago at 5:16 PM on January 17, 2020
When I was in a piano class we played Yael Naim's "New Soul" which was briefly popular, I think maybe on a commercial. It's simple enough that to my ear it almost sounds like a kids' song, very sweet and upbeat. To my ear, just short of cloying. I am not a kid person but this sprang to mind immediately as maybe a good possibility.
posted by less of course at 5:20 PM on January 17, 2020
posted by less of course at 5:20 PM on January 17, 2020
My Kids favorites, from 15 years ago:
#1, as mentioned above: TMBG Flood, but also
TMBG - Cowtown
Queen - Somebody to Love and almost any other Queen song
Peter Schilling - Major Tom (Coming Home)
Lyle Lovett - If I Had a Boat
The Ting Tings - That's Not My Name
Roger Miller - King of the Road
Rascal Flatts - Life is a Highway
Lil Mama - Lip Gloss
The Proclaimers - 500 Miles
Michael Franti - Say Hey (I Love You)
Johnny Cash - Five Feet High and Rising
Hank Williams - Long Gone Lonesome Blues
Cake - Rock and Roll Lifestyle
Sublime - Santeria
posted by ElGuapo at 5:21 PM on January 17, 2020
#1, as mentioned above: TMBG Flood, but also
TMBG - Cowtown
Queen - Somebody to Love and almost any other Queen song
Peter Schilling - Major Tom (Coming Home)
Lyle Lovett - If I Had a Boat
The Ting Tings - That's Not My Name
Roger Miller - King of the Road
Rascal Flatts - Life is a Highway
Lil Mama - Lip Gloss
The Proclaimers - 500 Miles
Michael Franti - Say Hey (I Love You)
Johnny Cash - Five Feet High and Rising
Hank Williams - Long Gone Lonesome Blues
Cake - Rock and Roll Lifestyle
Sublime - Santeria
posted by ElGuapo at 5:21 PM on January 17, 2020
Anything bossa nova eg Girl from Ipanema
Harry Belafonte
Parliament/Funkadelic
Too Many Zooz
Really, 99% of pop music that you like is great for kids under 1, and 90% is good for kids 1-5.
We listen to very little “made for kids” music at my house bc 95% is utter garbage, probably worse for kids than guzzling soda. One notable exception is Caspar Babypants (the former frontman of Presidents of the United States of America), whose music is genuinely enjoyable to many adults I know.
posted by SaltySalticid at 6:01 PM on January 17, 2020
Harry Belafonte
Parliament/Funkadelic
Too Many Zooz
Really, 99% of pop music that you like is great for kids under 1, and 90% is good for kids 1-5.
We listen to very little “made for kids” music at my house bc 95% is utter garbage, probably worse for kids than guzzling soda. One notable exception is Caspar Babypants (the former frontman of Presidents of the United States of America), whose music is genuinely enjoyable to many adults I know.
posted by SaltySalticid at 6:01 PM on January 17, 2020
Perhaps a bit flipped: Caspar Babypants is kids music we can stand listening over and over.
Otherwise, anything with bounce or pop. The Beatles, The Clash, Cyndi Lauper, Dolly Parton are all favorites here.
posted by filthy light thief at 6:02 PM on January 17, 2020
Otherwise, anything with bounce or pop. The Beatles, The Clash, Cyndi Lauper, Dolly Parton are all favorites here.
posted by filthy light thief at 6:02 PM on January 17, 2020
Soul Coughing had a certain playfulness: Uh, Zoom Zip + Down To This
posted by scruss at 6:04 PM on January 17, 2020
posted by scruss at 6:04 PM on January 17, 2020
In the made-for-adults, remade for kids vein, there's the Rockabye Baby! collection, so that you can gently introduce your child to Pixies or Metallica or Bjork or whatever your thing is. Instrumental, so not really for sing-along so much.
posted by mumkin at 6:09 PM on January 17, 2020
posted by mumkin at 6:09 PM on January 17, 2020
Pherrell Williams - Happy
Katy Perry - Roar
Katrina and the Waves - Walking on Sunshine
Indigo Girls - Shame on You
George Michael - Freedom 90
Barenaked Ladies - One Week
Barenaked Ladies - If I Had a Million Dollars
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 6:42 PM on January 17, 2020
Katy Perry - Roar
Katrina and the Waves - Walking on Sunshine
Indigo Girls - Shame on You
George Michael - Freedom 90
Barenaked Ladies - One Week
Barenaked Ladies - If I Had a Million Dollars
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 6:42 PM on January 17, 2020
Flaming Lips: Yoshmi Battles the Giant Robots,
Do You realize?
Lots of stuff from their catalog.
Dandy Warhols: I Like You
posted by effluvia at 7:30 PM on January 17, 2020
Do You realize?
Lots of stuff from their catalog.
Dandy Warhols: I Like You
posted by effluvia at 7:30 PM on January 17, 2020
Rheostatics - Harmelodia
posted by unstrungharp at 8:04 PM on January 17, 2020
posted by unstrungharp at 8:04 PM on January 17, 2020
The Bangles: Walk Like an Egyptian
The Beatles: 8 Days a Week and most of their early stuff really
The Beach Boys: Barbara Ann, etc
Walking on Sunshine
If I Had a Million Dollars
Neil Sadaka: Calendar Girl
Some Elvis might work, like Rockin' Robin, Don't Be Cruel, Blue Suede Shoes, Teddy Bear
Lone Star: Walking in Memphsis (also by Elvis)
What about some New Kids on the Block? The Right Stuff, Hanging Tough, Step by Step, Cover Girl
And the 80s possibilities...
(I thought I had asked a question like this when I taught ESL, but I couldn't find it. There are other similar questions.
)
posted by kathrynm at 8:18 PM on January 17, 2020
The Beatles: 8 Days a Week and most of their early stuff really
The Beach Boys: Barbara Ann, etc
Walking on Sunshine
If I Had a Million Dollars
Neil Sadaka: Calendar Girl
Some Elvis might work, like Rockin' Robin, Don't Be Cruel, Blue Suede Shoes, Teddy Bear
Lone Star: Walking in Memphsis (also by Elvis)
What about some New Kids on the Block? The Right Stuff, Hanging Tough, Step by Step, Cover Girl
And the 80s possibilities...
(I thought I had asked a question like this when I taught ESL, but I couldn't find it. There are other similar questions.
)
posted by kathrynm at 8:18 PM on January 17, 2020
I'm Glad I Hitched My Apple Wagon to Your Star - The Boy Least Likely To
Moon Shadow - Cat Stevens
maybe also Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros?
posted by gursky at 8:21 PM on January 17, 2020
Moon Shadow - Cat Stevens
maybe also Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros?
posted by gursky at 8:21 PM on January 17, 2020
More Beatles: "Blackbird," "Ob-la-di Ob-la-da"
More Beach Boys: "Sloop John B"
The Foundations: "Build Me Up Buttercup"
Pete Seeger: "Little Boxes"
From Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: "Joseph's Coat of Many Colors"
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 10:46 PM on January 17, 2020
More Beach Boys: "Sloop John B"
The Foundations: "Build Me Up Buttercup"
Pete Seeger: "Little Boxes"
From Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: "Joseph's Coat of Many Colors"
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 10:46 PM on January 17, 2020
When my kid was that age I remember trying lots of different musical styles on him to see what seemed to capture his interest. Of all things, close harmony seemed to grab him, so I played quite a bit of barbershop music around that time. It’s bouncy and tuneful and not too intense.
By the time he was walking he also liked Queen, which I’d picked as something that was the intersection between the close harmony and music I was willing to listen to all day long. As he got older we all liked all They Might Be Giants; their kid albums and their adult albums have a lot of overlap.
My husband played him a lot of “person and a guitar” style folk music when he was tiny, which is a similar structure to a lot of kid’s albums minus the gratingness.
posted by tchemgrrl at 5:28 AM on January 18, 2020
By the time he was walking he also liked Queen, which I’d picked as something that was the intersection between the close harmony and music I was willing to listen to all day long. As he got older we all liked all They Might Be Giants; their kid albums and their adult albums have a lot of overlap.
My husband played him a lot of “person and a guitar” style folk music when he was tiny, which is a similar structure to a lot of kid’s albums minus the gratingness.
posted by tchemgrrl at 5:28 AM on January 18, 2020
As suggested, Cyndi Lauper, like Girls Just Want To Have Fun.
Wham! - Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
For the Go-Go's also - We Got The Beat
Modern English - I Melt With You
Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World
As alluded to above, check out the "folk revival" artists like The Weavers (Goodnight, Irene) and Peter Paul & Mary.
posted by gudrun at 8:16 AM on January 18, 2020
Wham! - Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
For the Go-Go's also - We Got The Beat
Modern English - I Melt With You
Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World
As alluded to above, check out the "folk revival" artists like The Weavers (Goodnight, Irene) and Peter Paul & Mary.
posted by gudrun at 8:16 AM on January 18, 2020
Craig Ferguson et al perform Istanbul Speaking of They Might Be Giants: I play this YouTube clip for my college age art students and they love it, but it might be too suggestive for a small child. The song is still great, though.
posted by effluvia at 8:21 AM on January 18, 2020
posted by effluvia at 8:21 AM on January 18, 2020
Billy Bragg & Wilco- w. Natalie Merchant "I Was Born"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaYhI-GvxUw
Billy Bragg & Wilco-"Hoodoo Voodoo" from "Mermaid Avenue"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ElM0KiJrw8&list=PLVhI316mzo4xT8Z2WssvC4YmC_rr4bDts&index=5
posted by i_mean_come_on_now at 8:32 AM on January 18, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaYhI-GvxUw
Billy Bragg & Wilco-"Hoodoo Voodoo" from "Mermaid Avenue"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ElM0KiJrw8&list=PLVhI316mzo4xT8Z2WssvC4YmC_rr4bDts&index=5
posted by i_mean_come_on_now at 8:32 AM on January 18, 2020
I loved rocking out with my baby to "And She Was" by the Talking Heads, which you can't convince me wasn't written for kids.
posted by Mchelly at 4:53 PM on January 18, 2020
posted by Mchelly at 4:53 PM on January 18, 2020
Violent Femmes and Oingo Boingo.
posted by zengargoyle at 5:47 PM on January 18, 2020
posted by zengargoyle at 5:47 PM on January 18, 2020
Pop Muzik by M
Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep by Mac and Katie Kissoon
Little Willy by Sweet
posted by Oriole Adams at 11:43 AM on January 19, 2020
Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep by Mac and Katie Kissoon
Little Willy by Sweet
posted by Oriole Adams at 11:43 AM on January 19, 2020
Again, all marvelous suggestions—just marked as best the ones that I thought really encompasses the childlike element that I struggled to describe in my question. Thanks again.
posted by lovableiago at 12:13 PM on January 19, 2020
posted by lovableiago at 12:13 PM on January 19, 2020
Almost anything by Carly Rae Jepsen, but specifically Bucket, off Tug of War.
posted by cCranium at 1:16 PM on January 20, 2020
posted by cCranium at 1:16 PM on January 20, 2020
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