Children’s Music Rocks
[Free Jelly Kids Debut CD Download Giveaway! Win a copy of their self-titled album (see band description below or click the link). Just leave a comment below, share or RT this page on Twitter, or share on Facebook by Friday, October 19, 2012. You will be entered into a drawing, and one winner will receive a promo code for a free copy. You and your kids will love it!]
Children’s music might have sucked to the untrained ear of this parent at one point, long, long ago. Over time, however, I realized the sheer abundance of good music out there for kids (and adults) that not only doesn’t suck, but actually rocks. It’s music that you find yourself singing along to in the car, and not skipping when it comes up on your music player’s “shuffle” feature. They are bands that you want to take your kids to see when they are on tour.
John’s picks:
Not necessarily for kids or even kid appropriate language…but it’s one of my son’s favorite songs. Uses the word A$$ and references to alcohol. ~John
Elizabeth Mitchell & You Are My Flower
Stumbled upon this one… made me chuckle… ~John
Oh! That’s the where “The Duck Song” comes from! That had my kids rolling on the floor laughing! Hey, that should be an acronym or something. _Phil
Phil’s Picks:
Video Bonus: Todd Parr!
Iconic, essential, timeless and classic. The Laurie Berkner Band is on top of the Kid’s Music Food Chain in this house, and should be in yours. _Phil
…and it doesn’t have to be “kid’s” music, anyway, although we first heard this on a Disney video. Fanned. _Phil
More Picks:
Wiggleworms Love You – Keep in mind that some of the best kids albums are compilations and can also be comprised of various artists. Suggested by one of our loyal readers, Beth, this is now on my “find, or else” list.
Jelly Kids – From the website: “Like Jelly you would eat, our music is put together quite simply. However, we have added thought, love, and care mixed with the general idea that we would not sacrifice good music or musicianship, just because the lyrics may be ‘simple’ or ‘educational’ nor because our listeners are younger than we. Music is more about the people who hear it than those who create it. Without the listeners would there be a need to create it in the first place?”
Perfectly said. I’m looking forward to posting a review of their upcoming self-titled album.
Daddy a Go Go – Dads. Rock.
Putumayo Kids – “…can be cool, too, although sometimes I like them more just in theory.” ~Katie
Good point on that last one is that you never really know unless you give it a try. Music is awesome because there is always someone new out there to give a listen to, and new ways of discovering it. I hope that some of our readers are able to find an artist or two here that they might not have known about otherwise.
There are many more… too many to list here. They are all bands that you feel happy to have shaping your children’s musical tastes. And at the end of the day, it’s really your children’s opinion that matters the most. Besides, if your kid likes something that you don’t, then you don’t have to listen to it anyway. Don’t mess with the music that makes them happy!
Dad Vs. Spawn would like to personally thank all of the above artists, and the countless more that weren’t included here, for: enriching our children’s lives; making us laugh and dance; letting us know that it’s okay to be sad; embracing diversity; creating music; blessing us with joy; and most of all, for giving us a reason to have dreams alongside our families. Thank you.
9 Comments
These artists are all great fun! I’ll have to go through them again when my kids are up!
We agree! I need to set my children’s computer back up so I can let them watch all of the videos. And I need to watch/hear more Aquabats. Nice find, John!
_Phil
Oh, I’m going to have to go through all of these when my oldest is done with homework! Great post!
Thanks! And we left so many good ones off the list, but I could have gone on forever… plus I wanted to add more grown-up music that the kids love too!
_Phil
my kids were into Laurie Berkner growing up. we have a few of her cds still.
can’t get wrong with They Might be Giants!
Yeah, the TMBG stuff really blew my mind, with the quirky sesame-street-esque videos. It was like the quality of the stuff in my memories of the stuff I used to like. I was super glad my kids liked it and I think I have both the ABC and the 123 albums memorized.
_Phil
I love it when rock stars become parents as it begets awesome music for kids, i.e. Barenaked Ladies. This also counts in the case of actors, i.e. Johnny Depp and the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie.
And is it wrong that I love Sharky and Bones from Jake and the Never Land Pirates show? I just can stop singing “Pirate Rock!” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hyt-D8aTf90
Not wrong at all! It’s just part of the deal. If I didn’t believe so, I probably wouldn’t have memorized the entire Tangled soundtrack. Mother knows best…
And yes to BNL and artists who bring a “grown-up” sensibility to kid’s music. They’re allowed to.
Thanks for the comment! We have amassed quite a few entries for the contest between Twitter and here!
_Phil
Jelly Kids – Album Review | Dad Vs. Spawn