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Songs for the Road

25 grownup tunes that your kids will like too

By Lindsay Armstrong |

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  • Songs for the Road

  • Van Morrison: Jackie Wilson Said (Im In Heaven When You Smile)

  • Jackson Five: ABC

  • Feist: 1234

  • R.E.M./Kate Pierson: Shiny Happy People

  • Jack Johnson: Banana Pancakes

  • Peter, Bjorn, and John: Nothing to Worry About

  • Billy Idol: Dancing With Myself

  • Manu Chao: Me Gustas Tu

  • Paolo Nutini: New Shoes

  • Ted Leo: Six Months in a Leaky Boat

  • Police: De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da

  • Simon and Garfunkel: Me and Julio

  • Harry Chapin: Circle

  • Dar Williams: Better Things

  • Wilco and Billy Bragg: California Stars

  • De Novo Dahl: Shout

  • Polyphonic Spree: Hold Me Now

  • David Bowie and Mick Jagger: Dancin' In the Street

  • Bob Marley: Three Little Birds

  • Beatles: Hey Jude

  • Yo La Tengo: My Little Corner of the World

  • The Pretenders: Brass in Pocket

  • Beach Boys: Wouldnt It Be Nice

  • Al Green: L-O-V-E

  • Tally Hall: The Whole World and You

  • Songs for the Road

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About the Author

bclindsayarmstrong

Lindsay Armstrong was born and raised in Wilmington, DE, home of tax-free shopping and Joe Biden. After attending the College of the Holy Cross in freezing Worcester, MA, she moved to NYC to teach English in the public schools and pursue some form of writing. Four years later, she is finally getting around to that second goal. She lives in the Bronx with her two ridiculously cute kittens, Wally and Emmens.

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15 thoughts on “Songs for the Road”

  1. boobie says:
    August 21, 2009 at 4:31 pm

    “Shiny, Happy People” features Kate Pierson of the B-52′s, not Kate Bush. That would be a WAY different song!

    Reply
  2. Joel Schwartzberg says:
    August 21, 2009 at 5:40 pm

    I was going to say the same about Kate Pierson — let’s give her some credit. On another note, I find compiling a list like this well-intentioned but kind of silly. A song does not have to count numbers, feature a positive theme, have a Sesame Street parody, or contain a kid-related backstory for it to be appropriate for kids. My kids love anything with a good strong beat, and for the most part I don’t think at all about the lyrics or the message.Parenting isn’t about making every second a positive, life-affirming, educational experience for kids; I think it’s about genuinely enjoying experiences together, whether the song is “Mmmbop or “Bust a Move.” You’ll be surprised how much of the music you love your kids will love too, without a thought to “if its good for them or not.” All that said, I think kids shoud be banned from singing contemporary music for elementary school talent shows, but that’s another story…

    Reply
  3. keep trying says:
    August 23, 2009 at 12:09 pm

    i agree with above. except these choices aren’t even necessarily “positive, life-affirming, educational experiences” I mean – Billy Idol????
    children’s music isn’t al child themes and numbers. there is a reason why certain songs have been around for a while because they teach language and movement. i recommend checking out some good classics like pete seeger. i loved him as a kid and my daughter has now. plus everyone in our family can tolerate it.

    Reply
  4. Eve Lee says:
    August 24, 2009 at 8:29 am

    11: ‘When their eloquence escapes me, their logic ties me up and rapes
    me.’ Not exactly something I want my child singing along to.

    Reply
  5. chatty daddy says:
    August 24, 2009 at 11:04 am

    I love this.

    Reply
  6. Babydragons Mom says:
    August 24, 2009 at 12:36 pm

    I’m going to have to check out these songs…. I love all of the ones I know but don’t know all of them. I would add Harry Belefonte to that list as well.
    That said, my son’s fav episode of the Muppet Show features Alice Cooper!!
    I TOTALLY agree w/ Joel about the talent shows tho & will add no singing at malls either!!!

    Reply
  7. austinine says:
    August 25, 2009 at 4:42 pm

    Just a word of caution that the manu chao song, which quite catchy, does mention (albiet only once) me gustas marijuana. Otherwise, it is a pretty darn good song.

    Reply
  8. The original Sarah says:
    August 1, 2011 at 2:08 pm

    Sigh. Not only is this in slide show form, but it doesn’t even allow me to read the titles of the songs when I hover over the pics. Lame.

    Reply
  9. tiaceleste says:
    August 2, 2011 at 1:01 am

    I have found the one kids artist that I really love and my son does as well but we listen to a lot of music that is not aimed at kids too. This list was interesting but lacked a lot of fun music that my kiddo loves and my preschool kiddos love too (the Ramones, Buddy Holly, a lot of eighties pop classics including We Can Dance If We Want To, Beach Boys…)

    Reply
  10. sarsains says:
    August 7, 2011 at 12:27 am

    I think this was meant only as a recommended summer playlist not ‘what you have to play for your kids’ – suggestions for music are always good. Im not sure why there were so many negative comments.
    Another fun summer one is The Weepies – I was made for sunny days
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0z71SWcG2o

    Reply
  11. BAH says:
    September 2, 2011 at 1:24 pm

    The slideshows SUCK. Why are you not listening to your readers on this?????

    Reply
  12. Sick of Slide shows says:
    September 5, 2011 at 6:13 am

    We don’t want to click 27 times to read your music suggestions. It’s ridiculous.

    Reply
  13. Gloria R says:
    September 12, 2011 at 6:34 am

    Ill Call You If I Need a Big Mess?(a fun rap), Im Your Little Sister, I Used to Be an Only Child are songs included in one of our upbeat CDs for kids. We raised two kids and are award-winning songwriters. I was a teacher for 20 years.
    http://music.napster.com/gennaro-music/albums/11579687
    http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gennaro/id5999799?
    http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/Gennaro

    Reply
  14. Sisterbean says:
    September 21, 2011 at 2:30 pm

    I just wanted to say thank you. I’ve been compiling a playlist for my nephew (and his parents) for this coming Christmas. A few, I already had on my list and a few were new to me. Great ideas!

    Also, to the hater on Billy Idol. Billy cleaned up his act a long time ago to become a dedicated father to his children. Seems pretty life-affirming to me. :)

    Reply
  15. Lisa says:
    October 10, 2011 at 9:05 am

    Seriously, a list of 25 songs on a slideshow. Sorry, I know you need ad revenue to make a living, but this is something you should be able to view on one page with a link to the “justification” if we want it. I just don’t have time to click each one.

    Reply

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