Age appropriate music and dancing videos on Youtube?

September 24, 2020 11:43 AM

My mom is a public school teacher who works with young adults (18-21) that are intellectually disabled in different ways. She does a section of instruction that involves movement and dance, and she's looking for videos that have music and dancing in them. She asked one of her students what they would like to listen to, and they said they liked Post Malone, but my mom figured that wouldn't fly in a public school setting (see "Ayy, I've been fuckin' hoes and poppin' pillies / Man, I feel just like a rockstar"). Is there something that would work for this kind of context? Something that's not childish but also not raunchy?

Here's what my mom texted me:

Could you help me? I teach movement/music and am looking for utube videos with music and dance. No filthy language. Or movements! Need some more age appropriate. Some of my students suggested some. Cold play, post Malone,... and then one had the word fuck in it. Don’t remember which one.

posted by vocativecase to Media & Arts (31 answers total)

We always had a dance room for indoor recess and I'd put on Just Dance videos. I made a playlist of ones that were appropriate and let kids pick from that list. (Most of them are fine, honestly. IIRC it's radio edits anyway.)
posted by goodbyewaffles at 11:53 AM on September 24, 2020 [6 favorites]

I am loathe to suggest it out of principle but the 'kidz bop' stuff take modern songs/videos and make the lyrics kid friendly while keeping the music pretty much the same.
posted by Captain_Science at 12:08 PM on September 24, 2020 [1 favorite]

GoNoodle on YouTube skews younger but they do have a few "Just Move" dance videos that aren't cutesy and seem teen friendly, usually sticking to pop or hip-hop classics like MC Hammer, N'Sync, etc.

U Can't Touch This
Fresh Prince Theme Song
Jump!
Bye Bye Bye
posted by castlebravo at 12:09 PM on September 24, 2020 [2 favorites]

How about Missy Elliot? All her songs slap. Her videos are full of amazing dancers doing amazing things. Here is a search for clean versions.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 12:10 PM on September 24, 2020 [2 favorites]

My daughters have dance parties every day and they're currently obsessed with Sunday Best by Surfaces and Lost in Yesterday by Tame Impala. Both are danceable and but not at all inappropriate for school.
posted by saladin at 12:10 PM on September 24, 2020 [2 favorites]

I'm old, but thought of: Happy by Pharrell
posted by hydra77 at 12:27 PM on September 24, 2020 [1 favorite]

How about Janelle Monaes older stuff like QUEEN and Tightrope?
posted by azalea_chant at 12:28 PM on September 24, 2020 [5 favorites]

videos that have music and dancing in them

Beyonce's "Single Ladies" popped into my head immediately.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:49 PM on September 24, 2020 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: My mom loves these! Keep them coming!
posted by vocativecase at 12:53 PM on September 24, 2020 [1 favorite]

Carly Rae Jepsen? I Really Like You
posted by btfreek at 1:04 PM on September 24, 2020

I would never forgive myself if I didn't suggest Mad World by Tears for Fears, specifically because Roland Orzabal's dancing is so achievable. I never thought I could dance until I watched this music video.
posted by phunniemee at 1:35 PM on September 24, 2020 [1 favorite]

If she just wants music, she can look for the clean/radio edits. But those aren't always videos.

I'd suggest your mom go back to her students. Tell them, "Hey, those were great suggestions. Now I want suggestions of songs without curse words! What are the songs and videos you'd be okay watching with your grandmother?"

The suggestion of kid's stuff for young adults seem really infantilizing. If she really wants music that they'll connect with, I think she should go back to the source and ask them.

Also, there might be some older stuff that will work, but in this case, maybe the thing to do is find really old stuff, like 80s and early 90s, so it's more fun and retro rather than just outdated. (Retro to 20 year olds won't seem "old" to adults, but there you go.)

Along these lines:
You Spin Me Right Round
Head Over Heels
Rhythm Nation (or really probably anything from Janet Jackson?)
All Night Long and Dancing on the Ceiling
posted by bluedaisy at 1:36 PM on September 24, 2020 [9 favorites]

I can't link currently, but I found Silento's Watch Me Whip, Watch Me Nae Nae music video charming because it was so inclusive, even though it's been overplayed. I'm sure you can easily find it on YouTube.
posted by effluvia at 1:47 PM on September 24, 2020

Sufjan Stevens' Video Game features dancer Jalaiah Harmon who created the Renegade dance.
posted by jabes at 2:00 PM on September 24, 2020

Tio Choko and Pikotaro are worth a look. Not every video is entirely appropriate, but most of them are pretty clean. There's also a large international Pen Pineapple Apple Pen cover fan community in the latter case.
posted by eotvos at 2:38 PM on September 24, 2020

Lots of dance videos to Jerusalem, linked here recently
posted by clew at 3:06 PM on September 24, 2020 [1 favorite]

Underrated 2000s era jam for teens; totally clean--"Lip Gloss" by Lil' Mama.
posted by zeusianfog at 3:39 PM on September 24, 2020 [1 favorite]

Kaytranada's 99.9% album would be a great choice here - the production is going to be vaguely contemporary, and he's a producer, so the lyrics are only concerning with certain collaborations. I'd recommend:

Lite Spots
Breakdance Lesson
Together (with Aluna George)
Vivid Dreams
Track Uno
Bus Ride

Jungle - UK R&B group
Smile

Jamie XX -
Gosh

Childish Gambino's Redbone release has a little bit of a throwback sound, but is great for dancing. Try Riot. Summertime Magic is seasonal but could fit here too.
posted by SoundInhabitant at 3:48 PM on September 24, 2020

Would she be interested in body percussion at all? My middle school kids are pretty into it sometimes, but they’re kind of dorky. There are a lot of general music teachers doing this sort of thing with tame music right now and it’s a pretty deep YouTube rabbit hole- here’s Another One Bites the Dust, and Happy, Can’t Stop the Feeling and High Hopes.
posted by charmedimsure at 4:06 PM on September 24, 2020

MisterWives- Our Own House (has a dance battle)
The 1975- TOOTIMETOOTIMETOOTIME and Sincerity Is Scary
Matt and Kim- Hey Now
Taylor Swift- Shake It Off (several different dance styles)
Capital Cities- Safe And Sound
OK Go- Here It Goes Again (dancing on treadmills) and A Million Ways
Marianas Trench- Stutter
Born Ruffians- Oh Cecilia (couple swear words)
Feist- 1234 (the director's version)
Fat Boy Slim- Weapon Of Choice (Christopher Walken!)
Ylvis- What Does the Fox Say
Mr C. The Slide Man- Cha Cha Slide Part 2
Janelle Monae- Tightrope
Florence + The Machine- Dog Days Are Over
Macarena
The Ketchup Song

For well choreographed, popular song, dance studio vids check out 1Million Dance Studio. (Some songs might not be appropriate)

Definitely check out Just Dance videos on YouTube, you can dance along without a Wii or anything. Wedding dances? Flash mobs? Songs from Glee? Pitch Perfect performances?
posted by Lay Off The Books at 5:44 PM on September 24, 2020

As kind of cheesy as it can be, the young adults might get a kick out of some country music videos with line dancing. Think 'Macarena'... Weirdly, my 16-20 year old (neurotypical) kids who I had to do some activity programming for seemed to get a kick from these. Maybe because they are just SOooooo cheesy?
posted by Northbysomewhatcrazy at 6:20 PM on September 24, 2020

Call Your Girlfriend
posted by orangemacky at 6:35 PM on September 24, 2020 [2 favorites]

How about Lizzo's Good As Hell?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:17 PM on September 24, 2020

I like The Fitness Marshall—he’s fun, positive, and features dancers with a variety of body shapes. He has a playlist of videos on YouTube with no overly sweary or sexual lyrics or dance moves. Because he uses adult oriented pop songs, it won’t feel childish to your mom’s students, but she can be reassured the songs and the dance moves on this list will be school appropriate.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 7:39 PM on September 24, 2020 [1 favorite]

Cupid Shuffle
posted by Pretty Good Talker at 8:55 PM on September 24, 2020 [1 favorite]

Also Beyonce Move Your Body
posted by Pretty Good Talker at 9:10 PM on September 24, 2020

Stamp on the Ground jumpstyle dance is ten years old but still fun. And here's a jumpstyle tutorial.
posted by evilmomlady at 3:54 AM on September 25, 2020

Sara Bareilles video for Brave could be a lower tempo stretch break.

The Jerusalema line dance could be fun without plated food
posted by childofTethys at 4:35 AM on September 25, 2020

How about The Fish Police? They are a punk-influenced but still pretty boppy learning disabled band with some very cool music, not childish at all.
posted by Acheman at 11:31 AM on September 25, 2020

One thing everyone can agree on: Hey Ya! is catchy!
(some beeping on the dramatic intro. Lyrics are kinda hard to follow in general. Luv those back-up Andres' hand gestures!)
posted by ovvl at 11:59 AM on September 25, 2020

Hey Mickey! and Street Beat by Toni Basil.
posted by vespabelle at 8:04 PM on September 25, 2020 [1 favorite]