How do I introduce my tween nieces to world of pop music?
January 21, 2015 5:32 PM Subscribe
So far they're not really into popular music, but I'd like to share a little with them and see if I can entertain and/or pique their interest.
So far my nieces haven't really expressed any interest in the normal tween pop icons/idols for better or worse. They're pretty agnostic about most popular music except for various musicals, which they love (Sound of Music, West Side Story, Frozen etc.). That said, there is a whole wild world of music to explore! Pop, Jazz, R&B, ska, classical. I'd like to give them a little taste of everything over the next few years to see if anything makes an impression. At the very least I hope they have some fun listening to my choices and have something to talk about with their mom and friends. At best they discover some artists they really like.
I'd like to keep the choices positive, fun, eclectic, smart, and include both instrumental tracks and tracks with vocals. Again, I'm not wedded to any particular genre or time period. A choice like "El Condor Pasa (below)" which has a mysterious/deep edge is encouraged. I'm interested in artists/songs that are not overly sexualized, not misogynistic/bigoted, and explore a wide variety of human experience... No drug or drinking references please. There is so much cool interesting music that never gets on the radio/TV and the pop world is already saturated with the same dumb tropes about relationships, boys, and being sexual which is just so unnecessary. I'm planning on burning a CD, buying a cheap secondhand CD boombox, and mailing the CD in the boombox to them. Then more mix CDs every so often.
My first stab at a mix:
The Ruffled Feathers – The Bird Is the Word
Dave Brubeck – Take Five
Deee-Lite – Who Was That
Respect - The Staples Singers
The B-52's – Rock Lobster
Joni Mitchell – Big Yellow Taxi
The Decemberists – Red Right Ankle
The Police – Walking On The Moon
Elton John – Bennie And The Jets
Simon & Garfunkel – El Condor Pasa (If I Could)
Anybody have any additional suggestions or lines of inquiry I can explore?
So far my nieces haven't really expressed any interest in the normal tween pop icons/idols for better or worse. They're pretty agnostic about most popular music except for various musicals, which they love (Sound of Music, West Side Story, Frozen etc.). That said, there is a whole wild world of music to explore! Pop, Jazz, R&B, ska, classical. I'd like to give them a little taste of everything over the next few years to see if anything makes an impression. At the very least I hope they have some fun listening to my choices and have something to talk about with their mom and friends. At best they discover some artists they really like.
I'd like to keep the choices positive, fun, eclectic, smart, and include both instrumental tracks and tracks with vocals. Again, I'm not wedded to any particular genre or time period. A choice like "El Condor Pasa (below)" which has a mysterious/deep edge is encouraged. I'm interested in artists/songs that are not overly sexualized, not misogynistic/bigoted, and explore a wide variety of human experience... No drug or drinking references please. There is so much cool interesting music that never gets on the radio/TV and the pop world is already saturated with the same dumb tropes about relationships, boys, and being sexual which is just so unnecessary. I'm planning on burning a CD, buying a cheap secondhand CD boombox, and mailing the CD in the boombox to them. Then more mix CDs every so often.
My first stab at a mix:
The Ruffled Feathers – The Bird Is the Word
Dave Brubeck – Take Five
Deee-Lite – Who Was That
Respect - The Staples Singers
The B-52's – Rock Lobster
Joni Mitchell – Big Yellow Taxi
The Decemberists – Red Right Ankle
The Police – Walking On The Moon
Elton John – Bennie And The Jets
Simon & Garfunkel – El Condor Pasa (If I Could)
Anybody have any additional suggestions or lines of inquiry I can explore?
I've found Bjork's "It's Oh So Quiet" to be quite popular with the kids especially when I dance like a maniac.
posted by Poldo at 6:25 PM on January 21, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by Poldo at 6:25 PM on January 21, 2015 [6 favorites]
Best answer: Something from the Beatles? Maybe 'When I'm 64' or 'Obla-di-Obla-da'?
posted by hydra77 at 6:40 PM on January 21, 2015
posted by hydra77 at 6:40 PM on January 21, 2015
I'd start by pointing them at some musicals with a little more grit. The movie of Little Shop of Horrors is so great I don't think anybody can resist it, and the songs range from Broadway belters to sassy Motown. In a few years they may be ready for Hedwig and Rocky Horror, dark musicals that actually rock. Both may be more raunchy than you're looking for, but both can be real mind-blowers for little musical theater geeks and both feature some truly amazing glam rock.
The original Fantasia is a great way to get kids interested in classical musical. The Beatles are as good as music gets, I says, and they are really approachable and about 95% of their stuff is kid-appropriate. Maybe they'd enjoy Yellow Submarine?
Also: Labyrinth, of course. If that doesn't hook them on Bowie for life, there's something wrong with 'em.
posted by Ursula Hitler at 6:50 PM on January 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
The original Fantasia is a great way to get kids interested in classical musical. The Beatles are as good as music gets, I says, and they are really approachable and about 95% of their stuff is kid-appropriate. Maybe they'd enjoy Yellow Submarine?
Also: Labyrinth, of course. If that doesn't hook them on Bowie for life, there's something wrong with 'em.
posted by Ursula Hitler at 6:50 PM on January 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm not sure how old your nieces are but now even the 90s have become "retro" and interesting to teens. What about making a 90s mix with songs of various genres?
If you want a current punk-inspired indie band with politically-aware lyrics, I recommend Priests.
posted by smorgasbord at 6:53 PM on January 21, 2015
If you want a current punk-inspired indie band with politically-aware lyrics, I recommend Priests.
posted by smorgasbord at 6:53 PM on January 21, 2015
Best answer: 2nding pretty much all of the B-52's
posted by sexyrobot at 7:33 PM on January 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by sexyrobot at 7:33 PM on January 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
ABBA! My parents played their ABBA Gold LP constantly when I was a a baby, and I'm convinced that album was the fundamental basis of my musical inclinations as an adult.
posted by gox3r at 7:58 PM on January 21, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by gox3r at 7:58 PM on January 21, 2015 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Seconding The Ditty Bops. Also maybe Joanna Newsom?
posted by HumuloneRanger at 9:22 PM on January 21, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by HumuloneRanger at 9:22 PM on January 21, 2015 [2 favorites]
Best answer: You are the coolest! I wish I were your niece! My suggestions include songs from U2 (old like Mysterious Ways or newer like All that you can't leave behind). Don't forget Motown- stuff by Jackson 5, Can't Hurry Love, RESPECT, etc. Elton John Crocodile Rock? What a fun project!
posted by leslievictoria at 9:26 PM on January 21, 2015
posted by leslievictoria at 9:26 PM on January 21, 2015
I think the best thing you can do for young girls is support their interest in whatever kind of music they're drawn to, even if it isn't what you would choose for yourself. Some of the best childhood memories I have are of my music-snob dad uncomplainingly taking me to the Spice Girls' movie and Christina Aguilera concerts and NOT trying to slip me Joni Mitchell CDs when I was 11.
Don't worry, I was listening to riot grrl and borrowing Dad's blues CDs in a few short years and I turned into a feminist adult who listens to "good" music. I just wanted to give a gentle reminder that young people can be pretty sensitive to adults' attempts to "change" them. Giving the message that you accept your nieces for who THEY are and what THEY like is empowering!
(And since I kind of dodged your question, I'll recommend Bikini Kill for middle schoolers, if you want to, you know, play it on the drive over to the One Direction concert they picked out.)
posted by horizons at 10:34 PM on January 21, 2015 [4 favorites]
Don't worry, I was listening to riot grrl and borrowing Dad's blues CDs in a few short years and I turned into a feminist adult who listens to "good" music. I just wanted to give a gentle reminder that young people can be pretty sensitive to adults' attempts to "change" them. Giving the message that you accept your nieces for who THEY are and what THEY like is empowering!
(And since I kind of dodged your question, I'll recommend Bikini Kill for middle schoolers, if you want to, you know, play it on the drive over to the One Direction concert they picked out.)
posted by horizons at 10:34 PM on January 21, 2015 [4 favorites]
I tend to think you should let kids' music taste develop organically without particularly pushing anything on them, because there's no predicting which way they'll swing in reaction. For every kid that gets enthusiastically into whatever their main musical influence exposes them to, there's another that who picks the opposite genre to be contrary. That said, I recommend They Might Be Giants! I've liked them since I was a kid. And maybe give Janelle Monae a try? Start with Tightrope.
posted by yasaman at 10:54 PM on January 21, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by yasaman at 10:54 PM on January 21, 2015 [2 favorites]
Definitely Janelle Monae!!
posted by town of cats at 10:59 PM on January 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by town of cats at 10:59 PM on January 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
You might want to mix in some non-English-language pop. Some songs I think are fun are:
* Yelle - A Cause Des Garçons (Tepr Remix) (French)
* Stereo Total - Vilaines Filles, Mauvais Garçons (French, Serge Gainsbourg cover)
* Gers Pardoel - Ik Need Je Mee (Dutch)
* Kero Kero Bonito - Sick Beat (mixed Japanese and English)
posted by neushoorn at 7:41 AM on January 22, 2015
* Yelle - A Cause Des Garçons (Tepr Remix) (French)
* Stereo Total - Vilaines Filles, Mauvais Garçons (French, Serge Gainsbourg cover)
* Gers Pardoel - Ik Need Je Mee (Dutch)
* Kero Kero Bonito - Sick Beat (mixed Japanese and English)
posted by neushoorn at 7:41 AM on January 22, 2015
Are they precocious readers? You or they may find inspiration in a history of music book.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18377990-yeah-yeah-yeah
http://www.amazon.ca/History-Rock-Roll-David-Shirley/dp/0531158462
The Heart of Rock and Soul by Dave Marsh
posted by Gor-ella at 8:27 AM on January 22, 2015
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18377990-yeah-yeah-yeah
http://www.amazon.ca/History-Rock-Roll-David-Shirley/dp/0531158462
The Heart of Rock and Soul by Dave Marsh
posted by Gor-ella at 8:27 AM on January 22, 2015
Best answer: I absolutely loved Queen when I was about 7 or 8!
posted by Dorothea_in_Rome at 9:07 AM on January 22, 2015
posted by Dorothea_in_Rome at 9:07 AM on January 22, 2015
Best answer: Carole King's soundtrack to Really Rosie!
posted by WeekendJen at 1:16 PM on January 22, 2015
posted by WeekendJen at 1:16 PM on January 22, 2015
Response by poster: Thanks everyone! I am considering everybody's suggestions. At least the first CD:
The Ruffled Feathers – The Bird Is the Word
The Ditty Bops – Walk Or Ride
Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody
Dave Brubeck – Take Five
Deee-Lite – Who Was That
The B-52's – Rock Lobster
Joni Mitchell – Big Yellow Taxi
The Decemberists – Red Right Ankle
The Police – Walking On The Moon
Elton John – Bennie And The Jets
Simon & Garfunkel – El Condor Pasa (If I Could)
posted by Captain Chesapeake at 5:21 PM on January 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
The Ruffled Feathers – The Bird Is the Word
The Ditty Bops – Walk Or Ride
Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody
Dave Brubeck – Take Five
Deee-Lite – Who Was That
The B-52's – Rock Lobster
Joni Mitchell – Big Yellow Taxi
The Decemberists – Red Right Ankle
The Police – Walking On The Moon
Elton John – Bennie And The Jets
Simon & Garfunkel – El Condor Pasa (If I Could)
posted by Captain Chesapeake at 5:21 PM on January 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
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posted by Mistress at 6:11 PM on January 21, 2015 [5 favorites]