The Coolest Playlist for Kids
(Note: the list is cross-posted from my daughter’s blog.)
I am a music fan. My life has a soundtrack, and if I went through my iTunes collection (or the hundreds upon hundreds of CDs I still have in bins in our garage), I could probably tell you all about my life when those albums were released. I know lyrics to pretty much every song I’ve ever heard, and I’m always singing along. I don’t have limited tastes, and I wouldn’t even say they’re refined, but like wines, I just know what I like. When I was pregnant with Story, I played all kinds of music, hoping she’d be just like me and fall wildly in love with my dream boyfriend Neil Diamond, or Death Cab for Cutie, or Nirvana, or a thousand other musicians I love. It was not to be.
Story has always been a big fan of classical (which I absolutely adore) and jazz (which I have learned to enjoy). Until recently, she’d tell me she hated my music, and I’d give up trying to convince her and put her Raffi CD back on. Now, Mason is a big rock fan and heavy bass kinda kid. Since birth, our little man has had rhythm. When he first learned to sit up, he’d bounce along to a beat, hilariously. Story has always been a mellow sort so when she recently showed an interest in pop, I jumped on the chance to create the ultimate kids’ playlist. (Especially considering all the road trips we take!)
I’ve listed each song title and artist here for you, they’re all available on iTunes. If you need more info (like album names), let me know. There are 70-something songs here, ranging from, oh, maybe the 50s through today. Many are favourites of mine, and some are favourites of the kids. We hope you’ll enjoy the list as much as we have, and hey, maybe you’ll find some old faves or new music you hadn’t listened to before! Without further blather, I present . . .
The Coolest Playlist for Kids, vol. 1
Barbie Girl (radio edit)
Aqua
Born This Way
Lady GaGa
Boyfriend
Justin Bieber
Call Me Maybe
Carly Rae Jepsen
Dynamite
Taio Cruz
Firework
Katy Perry
Love You Like a Love Song
Selena Gomez & The Scene
Pumped Up Kicks
Foster the People
What Makes You Beautiful
One Direction
Ho Hey
The Lumineers
Rumour Has It
Adele
Mahna Mahna
The Fray
Somebody That I Used to Know
Gotye feat. Kimbra
Hello
Martin Solveig & Dragonette
Rolling In the Deep
Adele
Awake My Soul
Mumford & Sons
Forget You (radio edit)
Cee Lo Green
Wavin’ Flag
K’naan
Bulletproof
La Roux
Yellow Submarine
The Beatles
Have You Ever Seen The Rain
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Hunger Strike
Temple of the Dog
Fireflies
Owl City
Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough
Michael Jackson
No Rain
Blind Melon
I Walk The Line
Johnny Cash
Rivers Of Babylon
Boney M.
Thank U
Alanis Morissette
Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
Wham!
If I Had $1000000
Barenaked Ladies
Sweet Caroline
Neil Diamond
Every Breath You Take
The Police
Even Flow
Pearl Jam
Ahead By A Century
The Tragically Hip
Heave Away
The Fables
Song 2
Blur
We Only Come Out At Night
Smashing Pumpkins
Burden In My Hand
Soundgarden
Lovefool
The Cardigans
Stand By Me
Ben E. King
When The Night Feels My Song
Bedouin Soundclash
California Dreamin’
The Mamas & The Papas
I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)
The Four Tops
Hound Dog
Elvis Presley
One two three four
Feist
Sweet Child O’Mine
Guns n’ Roses
Two of Us
Aimee Mann and Michael Penn
Ordinary Day
Great Big Sea
Sk8er Boi
Avril Lavigne
Just A Girl
No Doubt
Girls Just Want To Have Fun
Cyndi Lauper
Clumsy
Our Lady Peace
Kiss Me
Sixpence None The Richer
All Apologies (unplugged)
Nirvana
Under The Boardwalk
The Drifters
My Girl
Otis Redding
Africa (radio edit)
Karl Wolf
Redemption Song
Bob Marley
Lucky
Jason Mraz feat. Colbie Caillat
I’m Yours
Jason Mraz
Bubbly
Colbie Caillat
We’re Going to Be Friends
Jack Johnson
ABC
The Jackson 5
Glory Days
Bruce Springsteen
Go Your Own Way
Fleetwood Mac
Fortunate Son
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Lola
The Kinks
Brown Eyed Girl
Van Morrison
My Generation
The Who
Whaddya think?
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9 thoughts on “The Coolest Playlist for Kids”
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Very very similar to what my daughter listens to, I’m always trying to slip in some Zeppelin or Doors or something more rock into her music but she won’t budge…but if it’s Carly Rae or One Direction or Taio Cruz she’s okay 🙂
I was happy to squeeze in some Blind Melon and Nirvana. 😉
Love it! I heard each song in my head as I was going through the list. I love LOVE music. I need to start playing it more in the house.
For many years, I stopped playing it in the house because when times were quiet, I was just SO HAPPY for the silence. I’m even happier to be back to enjoying my music, though. 🙂
My kids already like a lot of those songs – so the extra suggestions are helpful. Thanks!
My pleasure. Anything to stop the kiddie music that was on rotation for the last 5 years.
These are great songs, may I suggest “Owl City Feat. Carly Rae Jepsen – Good Time” it seems to fit with your list. We have a similar car ride list and this is one of the latest editions. I have to keep looking for new ones so my head doesn’t explode.
Oooo, good one!