Strollerderby

My daughter loves musicals. So we mostly hear Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, Singin in the Rain or The Music Man. But I've also got her to enjoy some selected Elvis, particularly some of his groovy movie tunes like Viva Las Vegas, of course, but her very favorite is a number from the movie Roustabout called Poison Ivy League. Long live the King!

My older son (5 1/2) is generally pure classic rock--Led Zepplin, Black Sabbath, Aerosmith--basically anything guitar-driven, written before I was born.  He's also really into the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Ween.  Talk about lyrics you don't want repeated at school..."Gimme that z-o-l-o-f-t," "Spinal menengitis has got me down," and those are some of the more tame ones.

My younger son (3 1/2), loves punk.  The Ramones, the Clash, the Sex Pistols.  Again, not always age-appropriate lyrics ("The KKK took my baby away," or "Sittin' here in Queens, eatin' refried beans, mama's on thorazine and daddy likes men."), but damn, it's funny when he sings them.

I've tried to introduce them to more appropriate (but not kid) music.  I played some Steely Dan for my older son when he was about 3.  His response:  "They wish they were the Beatles, but with more jazz."  Recently my younger son heard Phish.  After he ran screaming from the room with his ears covered all he could say was, "What is that weird music?  Never again."

My 4-year-old looooooves Kelly Clarkson. She's also a fan of Alanis Morrisette, Bob Marley, ABBA, Styx, Counting Crows, Gwen Stefani, and the Foo Fighters, as well as the soundtracks to Moulin Rouge, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Dreamgirls. She's quite eclectic.

Presidents of the United States of America, "Monkey River" and Death Cab for Cutie. But even non kid music gets tiresome after the hundredth playing. If only digital files could wear out.

"Sweet Baby James" has been my son's lullaby since he was about 3 months old. Only I sing "Sweet Baby Cade" to him.

I could not tolerate Abba or Peter, Paul & Mary, so we'll never know if that's his bag. Right now he seems to enjoy bluegrass and Stevie Wonder. Not bad for a toddler.

My son was born while Abba was playing, so we love it here!

My kids like Weezer, The Police, CCR, The Beatles, Led Zep and more...

We also throw in a bit of Laurie Berkner, Trout Fishing in America and Raffi for good measure:)

Their absolute favorite song, however, is Kim Wilde's Kids in America -- I could kill myself for every downloading that from itues!

Great post!  I am not a music person and this is a great list!  Thanks!

We love Jack Johnson - especially the Curious George soundtrack and the yellow labeled one (?) - probably because it was all I listened to while pg.  His stuff is very laid back but perfect for keeping them relaxed in the car on long rides.  I supposed JT would do that too...

My 20 month old loves 80's music.  Probably due to me watching a lot of VH-1 Classic while breastfeeding him in the early days!  His favorite song is "Cars" by Gary Numan -as soon as it starts up, he stops whatever he's doing, runs up to the speakers and starts dancing. He's also a big fan of Echo & the Bunnymen.

My 2 year old loves KISS.  She sings along with Got Nothin to Lose and God Gave Rock and Roll to You.  It's pretty funny.  She knows the names of all the band members and can tell them apart.  She LOVES Gene Simmons.  She likes to watch old concerts on DVD and will say "Wow, Gene!" and "MY GENE!".  I found her a plush Gene Simmons doll on ebay and it's her big present for her birthday this weekend...

hfalola--they make kiss toothbrushes, too.  It plays "Rock and Roll All Night" but you can only hear it when the brush is in contact with the teeth.  When my son was going through his "I don't want to brush" stage, Santa put one in his stocking, and he spent the next 3 weeks walking around brushing his teeth.  (My older son got Queen's "We Will Rock You" which was also a big hit.)

My husband's parents died before our last two were born.  They both loved Patsy Cline.  So we listen to Patsy Cline on a regular basis.  Our oldest loves Patsy too (he won't admit it anymore cuz that would make him uncool).  Everyone loves "Walking After Midnight" and "Crazy".  

ours is really into 80s new wave and miami bass. when she gets old enough to understand lyrics most of the miami bass will have to go. her dad is very happy that she likes freestyle alot to, but then again who doesn't like debbie deb.and interestingly enough she has always shared her parents distaste for depeche mode songs sung by martin gore. they make her mad and fussy and always have.

Oooh, I need to download some Patsy Cline! That's a great idea.

Around here we listen to a lot of White Stripes, Beck, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings (especially "Revelator," a favorite for evenings), The Gipsy Kings. Los Lobos, Whiskeytown and Ryan Adams, and...wow, the list is actually pretty long. I was opposed to kids' music because that was one area of my adult life I wasn't willing to let kids disrupt.

Funny enough, Baby A does own the "Baby Beluga" CD. Santa brought it for Christmas when she was two because she'd fallen in love with the title story at preschool and wanted it over and over and over.

- Lea at Quick Serve Kids