A Kids’ Playlist That Won’t Make You Want To Crash Your Car
My children are 7 and 4 and I have spent the last few years listening to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Disney classics and Crayola Kids in my car. There have been times when I’d wake up in a sweat mumbling the words, “Can you feel the love tonight?”
I’ve had my husband quite worried.
But no more. I have spent the last year perfecting a playlist of adult music that kids love. It allows for about an hour of pleasant driving time. It could save your life, but you can thank me later.
- We Will Rock You - Queen (tempting to do the double clap and hand raise movement but not advisable if driving!)
- Eye of the Tiger – Survivor
- Today Is Gonna Be A Great Day – Bowling For Soup (admittedly this is from Phineas and Ferb, which IS on the Disney channel. But the music from the show is awesome! Album only)
- You’ve Got A Friend In Me – Randy Newman
- Real Gone – Sheryl Crow
- Who Let the Dogs Out – Baha Men (our personal favorite, don’t let your kids listen too closely to the words).
- The Boys of Summer – Don Henley
- Tunnel Of Love – Dire Straits (an interesting choice, you may think. But no child of mine will survive until 18 without having some appreciation of Mark Knopfler).
- We Are the Champions – Queen (motivational after a soccer match).
- Affirmation – Savage Garden (this was my favorite song when I was pregnant with my first. I think it reminds my kids of the womb).
- Ghost Town – The Specials (kids dig the eeriness).
- It Must Be Love – Madness
- Don’t Worry, Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin
- One Way or Another – Blondie
- Ghostbusters – Ray Parker, Jr.
- Jump – Van Halen
- Stray Cat Strut - Stray Cats
- Another One Bites the Dust – Queen
Want to freshen up your music collection with an eye toward family harmony in the car? Add your favorite adult song that kids dig in the comments below by midnight, April 6th, 2010 for a chance to win a $25 iTunes gift card (U.S. only please).
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March 16th, 2010 | by Jane Rytina 185 comments
Abba is always a favourite with mine too (2 & 5), particularly ‘Mamma Mia’! Another thing we do is compile our own cd together on Itunes before going on a big journey – that way everyone gets a song they like – makes for a bizarre song list but it works for us!
Brilliant post!! This song collection is my favorite and one of my favorite songs is Tunnel of Love. However, I don’t like to hear music during traveling, especially when I drive car. Thanks for sharing.
Best Regards,
My kids love Jump Around – House of Pain
1985 – Bowling for Soup
My kids always loved “500 Miles” by The Proclaimers!
My 19 month old loves “Boom Boom” by Black-Eyed Peas. She also asks for “gaga” Lady Gaga that is.
Lately, we’ve been listening to Linkin Park’s “What I’ve Done” (from the Transformers soundtrack), N*SYNC’s “Bye, Bye, Bye,” (from Scrubs – Turk *did* bring it back!) and the entire “Flushed Away” soundtrack (Billy Idol, Tom Jones and the Dandy Warhols, yay!). It makes life in the car so much easier. Now if we could just stop the whole repeat phenomenon…
Oh, and I can’t forget kiddie favorites Black Eyed Peas (any of it) and Lady Gaga (who doesn’t love a 5-year-old boy singing, “Beautiful, dirty, dirty, beautiful, dirty, rich…”).
Um, Kayt. You know you can’t win the gift card, right?
Some of the oldies, like Twist and Shout.
Agree on The Specials – kids love ska! Also recommend:
Mighty, Mighty Bosstones – Simmer Down
Ozomatli – Chango, Como Ves
Jack Penate – Spit at Stars (reminds me of The Housemartins)
Pretty much anything by the Beatles. My son is partial to ‘She Loves You’.
My kids like Surfin’ USA
thanks so much, great list!
Agree with Boom Boom Pow and I’d also add my kids love Walking on the Moon by Sting. Every time they hear it they start giggling.
sunshine on my shoulder
With you all the way on Mark K and Dire Straits; have to add “Money for Nothing (and the chicks for free).
My daughters love “Take A Bow” by Rihanna.
Anything by Banarama!
My favorite is the Beatles’ Love Me Do!
My kids love Aha’s “Take on Me”. They also love “Axel F.”, the theme from “Beverly Hills Cop”. It’s all about the 80s synthesizer.
all the small things-blink 182(kidz bop version)
“Achy Breaky Heart” -Billy Ray Cyrus
YMCA and Friend’s theme song
Jump Around and YMCA
the cocamo song – beach boys
and
the twist
Livin’ on a prayer by bon jovi
My Girl is one of our favorite!
I feel that many of Michael Jackson songs are fun and appropriate for kids. I’ve been listening to him all of my life, and I think he really played a big role in my appreciation for music. Just to name a few: Thriller, Speed Demon, Beat It, Jam, and Another Part of Me.
My longer siblings really latched onto “Come Home Billy Bird” by The Divine COmedy for some reason. It IS a great song.
My friend’s daughter likes “You Spin Me Round” by Dead or Alive
I’ll try not to repeat any from above, but a look through my iTunes shows me..
Oldies are Goodies so-Yakey Yak, At the Hop, Tutti Fruitti, La Bamba, The Twist, Wooly Bully, Sweet Georgia Brown, Ring of Fire, Jumpin Jack Flash, Elvis.
Later we’ve got You Got to Me, Bad Moon Rising, Rock Lobster, Centerfield, Dancing With Myself, Walking on Sunshine, Footloose, Our House, Jump for My Love, Thank God I’m a County Boy, ROCK in the USA, Faith, Bankshot, Dancing on the Ceiling, Rock this Town, U Can’t Touch This, All Star, Rattled, Mary’s Place, The Impression That I Get, Vogue, All My Best Friends Are Metalheads, You’re the One That I Want, Greased Lightnin’, Graceland, and Get On Your Feet.
Anything you can find that the Muppets did. I Never Harmed an Onion, Movin’ Right Along, To Morrow, You Can’t Roller-skate in a Buffalo Herd, The Rhyming Song, Happiness Hotel, and add to them any Novelty songs you can stand-I’ve Got A Lovely Bunch of Coconuts, Beans in My Ears, Guitarzan, The Purple People Eater, and Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor.
Um, I spent more time on that than I meant to. Oh well.
John Lennon’s Imagine.
ABC Jackson 5
Yes, I know I can’t win – I just feel passionately about kiddie playlists. =)
My kids love ‘King Tut’ by Steve Martin and for some reason I never get tired of it either
My kids love “Don’t Stop Believin’” from Journey
My kids love Don’t Stop Believin by Journey.
We like Surfin USA
We like the Eagles song “Take It Easy”. Easy to sing to!
How about “My Sharona” by The Knack, or maybe “You Make My Dreams Come True” by Hall & Oates. They’ve both got really catchy beats. :-)
My girls currently adore Mika, Michael JAckson and the soundtrack from Princess & The Frog!
Another One Bites The Dust by Queen.
Istanbul!!!!!
“We are the world”
1st version Various artists.
i like the barbie song!!!
A fave of mine has always been Love Potion #9…oldie, but goodie!
bebemiqui82(at)yahoo(dot)com
“You’re My Best Friend” by Queen. The kids love Queen in general!
Anything by Alabama; my kids especially like “Cheap Seats.”
I have to admit I’m not bothered listening to Miley Cyrus, but her music definitely wouldn’t be considered adult. My kids are happy listening to the Go-Go’s and especially love the song, “Vacation”. Not a bad title for a TSM theme song!
I agree with Kayt- My three year old daughter loves Black Eyed Peas and Lady Gaga. And throw in some Taylor Swift for good measure. My three year old son is strictly rock n roll. God love that kid.
My children all like what we listen to, heavy metal.
Crazier – Taylor Swift (my niece loves this as a bedtime song!!)
Imagine- Glee
Take A Bow – Rihanna
Thirty Dirty Birds – Red Hot Chili Peppers,
Walkie Talkie Man – Steriogram,
It’s My Life – No Doubt,
Lollipop – Mika,
Wonderful Night – Fatboy Slim,
Riot Radio – The Dead 60s
I love a classic – anything by Queen and REO
don’t stop believing – the glee cast cover of the Journey song
Motown is always good: Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, I Feel Good, Hot Pants (ok maybe not that one)
Both of my boys love Lordi, Adam Ant, Peter Gabriel, Ok go, and now The Heavy thanks to the Kia ad.
Practically anything by They Might Be Giants seems like it would be great fun, & a personal favorite from my own childhood was the “Really Rosie” soundtrack – sung by the always-amazing Carole King.
You have no U2!!
My husband introduced my kids to FatBoy Slim behind my back. I still haven’t forgiven him. I countered with the Beatles. He didn’t speak to me for days.
I have to endure days of All Star by SmashMouth every time they watch Shrek. It makes me want Raffi back…
Switching to Glide by the King, In the House of Stone and Light, and Eagles Fly by Sammy Hagar.
Yellow Submarine by the Beatles.
Boom boom pow
anything Britney!
sign me up, please
Any Weezer song. 7-YO has known the band handsign since age 3!
I don’t know if it counts as an “adult” song but Girls Just Wanna Have Fun is always a hit.
I’ve gotten my kids into Def Leppard :) Photograph is a favorite! Thank you for the giveaway.
Bad To The Bones
Were very into Lady Lumps by Black Eyed Peas. Thanks for the chance.
mogrill@comcast.net
How about YMCA?
I want to hold your hand by the Beatles
My kids love Elton John, the Beatles, and Simon and Garfunkel. They also like ‘Our House’ by Madness – my little trip back to my own childhood LOL
Here Comes the Sun – Beatles.
My son loves the Black Eyed Peas – Boom Boom Pow
autumn398 @ yahoo.com
The Distance, by Cake!
LOL I’m not allowed to sing along in the car but my kids dig Yesterday by the Beatles.
Maggie at tethered mommy dot com
http://www.tetheredmommy.com
“The Monkey Song” by Los Lobos rocks!
Thriller – Michael Jackson
I was a child of the 80′s, so my kids listened to lots of 80′s music. Some of the one’s I think are good for kids and fun for adults are: Funkytown, We Got the Beat, Vacation (by the Go-Go’s), and Walk Like an Egyptian.
Great list – some are on our family favorites, too. I also agree w/many of the additional ideas in the comments section. I, too, am a child of the 80′s so we have a lot of disco and “new wave” songs (which my husband hates). I tackled this same subject on my blog: http://savvymomsafekids.wordpress.com/2009/11/20/will-disco-harm-my-children/
We all love Warren Zevon’s Excitable Boy album, too, although there are several spots where we must strategically drop the volume so the kids can’t hear the lyrics. Thank goodness there’s so much great music out there to share w/our kids!
“Get Down and Get With It” by Slade.
Get your boots on! Get down! Get with it!
*clap your hands* *stomp your feet* *let your hair down*
Gets the blood moving, and moods grooving.
Savvy C, W. Zevon is wonderful. “Mr Bad Example” doesn’t have any explicit words in it, I don’t think … ;)
My kids (8, 6, and 4) go CRAZY for “Ballroom Blitz” and “Smoke on the Water” — awesome!!
Since you asked…here are a few of our favorites…
Who Let the Dogs Out–Baha Men
Monster-The Automatic Automatic
U Can’t Touch This- MC Hammer
Superman- R.E.M.
Mony Mony- Billy Idol
Drift Away- Dobie Gray
Word Up-Cameo
Kryptonite-3 Doors Down
One Week- Bare Naked Ladies
I Want Candy- Bow Wow Wow
American Pie-Don McLean
Candy-Iggy Pop
Tom’s Diner-Suzanne Vega
Viva la Vida- Coldplay
Cheeseburger in Paradise-Jimmy Buffett
Unwritten-Natasha Beddingfield
She Drives Me Crazy- Fine Yound Cannibals
Secret Agent Man-Johhny Rivers
Thought of another standout …
“A Tisket, A Tasket” sung by Ella Fitzgerald is so swinging. Makes me not really mind the request for “Again, again!”
With so many great choices, if I start downloading now, I might have a fabulous playlist for the spring break ride to and from Orlando! Thanks for the great suggestions
My niece loves Single Ladies by Beyonce!
Limelight – Rush
Go for the oldies, it’s safer! Rock Around the Clock is a good one.
Livin’ On A Prayer Bon Jovi
My entire family just loves “Come Sail Away” by STYX!
“Yellow Submarine” by the Beatles
Our favorite is Surfin USA or anything by the Beachboys!
Beach Boys hot, born in Calif by the beach love it their
Queen “We Will Rock You.”
Theme song from Rocky.
My kids…and most kids I know…love Boom Boom Pow by the Black Eyed Peas. Just have to have the radio version though.
My kids always love Dancing Queen!~
Surfing USA
Born Free
I’m having a hard time narrowing it down to one song… let’s see …. MowtownPhilly by Boyz2men
My kids love singing along with Pink’s “So What” and Gwen Stefani’s “Sweet Escape”. Oh and any of the songs that Glee has redone. They love singing along with the Glee cd.
Bleeding Love!
who let the dogs out
pink – so what
My daughter loves this 50s song called “Sweet Pea.”
Abba-Dancing Queen!
“School’s Out” by Alice Cooper
steppenwolf born to be wild
Anything ‘enya’!
Jump, Van Halen, thanks!
Grease soundtrack especially “You’re The One That I Want”.
Birdhouse in your Soul by They Might Be Giants
RICH LICATA AND HIS KIDS LIKE EVERYTHING
“GARTH BROOKS”
ladies can e-mail me at
fishingkaraokemusic@yahoo.com
Anything by the early Beatles. Thanks for the giveaway.
My kids like YMCA.
love black eyed peas
My 12 year old daughter likes Walkin’ On Sunshine and I Love Rock & Roll (Joan Jett).
Her and her Daddy like to play the “who’s singing now?” game – and she’s getting pretty darn good with classic rock!
Roll On and Song of the South- both are by Alabama
Country Roads- John Denver
My kids love All Star since it’s the “Shrek song”
this is one of the best posts/comments i’ve seen in a LONG TIME!!
my best addition to the list is “buddy holly” by weezer. my little lady LOVES this song, and so do i!!
Jailhouse Rock-Elvis Presley
Everyone in our house is a fan of “If I Had a Million Dollars” by BareNaked Ladies
“Will You Be There” by Michael Jackson… perhaps cause it’s the Free Willy theme song!
My son loves Mr. Rock and Roll by Amy MacDonald and My Sharona, although we may have to take that second one out of rotation once he starts paying attention to the words! :-)
We will rock you by Queen
Lady GaGa-my daughter loves her music
Ozzy’s “I Don’t Wanna Stop” has always been a favorite of ours!
Cyndi Lauper- Iko Iko
Beatles- Yellow Submarine
Paul Simon- Call Me Al
I think YMCA is fun for the kids.
Our favorite song to sing together is Life is Highway by Rascal Flatts.
I love the playlist! One kid favorite is actually any Erasure song!
My kids love Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey!
Cassie
cjm92995@yahoo.com
Love the playlist and so will my kids
Goodbye earl by the Dixie Chicks
Thriller by Michael Jackson.
John Denver songs
I’m lucky that my kids like rock music. We sing “Dirty Little Secret” by the All American Rejects in the car. Thanks!
Crocodile Rock by Elton John
My niece loves ‘I Want Candy’ by BowWowWow.
Twist and Shout by the Beatles
My daughter loves “Hot and Cold” from Katy Perry
indyfree07@hotmail.com
Thanks for the contest!
My daughter loves Single Ladies, by Beyonce
All of my kids like Fly Me to the Moon (Frank Sinatra and George Strait duet).
My favorite adult song that the kids love would have to be “One Week” by Barenaked Ladies — they seem to really get into the fast beat and even faster rhymes, and it’s a kick to see them dance and (try to) sing along!
my nieces used to just howl to Brooks and Dunn’s “My Maria”
“At the Hop” by Bill Haley and the Comets!
Good list! It can be tough to come up with songs everyone likes (or at least can tolerate.) One of ours is I Can’t Drive 55 by Sammy Hagar.
The Black Eyed Peas’ “I Gotta Feeling” is a fun one for kids and adults. Don’t allow them to learn grammar from the lyrics, though!
Thanks for the great list and fun giveaway!!! :)
“I Love” by Tom T. Hall and “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” by Charlie Daniels Band.
Chantilly Lace is one of our faves.
I really love Taylor Swift’s Fearless and it’s a good message for kids
my daughter loves the last dollar tim mcgraw
My daughter loves Steven Curtis Chapman!
my kids love rock n roll high school by the ramones!
My son loves all Black Eyed Peas songs!
My granddaughters love Bob Marley’s “One Love.” They’ve both loved the beat of reggae music since they were babies!
Oh-bla-di by the beatles
My favorite adult song that kids dig: The Lion Sleeps Tonight.
My older kids like RUDE BOY by Rihanna
digicat{AT}sbcglobal{DOT}net
ACDC is always good – Girls Got Rythm.
50 cents in da club :)
My daughter Loves Lady gaga telephone and loves Rhianna
sibabe64 at ptd dot net
Cheeseburger in Paradise by Jimmy Buffet
Ever since we got “The Beatles” for Rock Band, they are a hit with the whole family.
You make me smile! -Uncle Kracker!
My kids always loved American Pie
My 8 month old loves Led Zepplin! Especially Stairway to Heaven, lol.
Margaritaville!
My girls love the radio version of Blacked Eyed Peas I’m a Be. Thank you!!
They love Madonna’s Material Girl
Thanks for the giveaway!
Shout by the Isley Brothers
the beatles or donovan. rocky racoon is a favorite.
The kids love Bon Jovi’s It’s My Life.
Aw, I was gonna say Don’t Worry, Be Happy but that ones already on there. Thats our favorite.
I agree with House of pain Jump around
The More We Get Together by Raffi
My kids (and dogs) love Jump Around by house of pain. they jump and make the windows rattle when they hear it!
Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feeling!
I’m a be by the blackeyed peas
Would love to win !!
Holiday by Madonna.
Me and You and a Dog Named Boo
any man of mine
Crazy by Gnarls Barkley
I can’t Drive 55
Miley really got her singing talent from Billy Ray Cyrus, no doubt about it.;~.
I NEVER comment on blogs. But this was EXACTLY what I needed!!! Thank you so much! I can’t ever think of songs when I sit down to download stuff! Thank you thank you thank you. Al I had so far was walk the dinosaur by queen latifah :D




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