Your Mission, Should You Choose To Accept It...

Many of us have been there, man: Kid music.

You know, those shows you watch or CD's you listen to that are written for kids? Those catchy little songs become a brain virus that, at best, you can only temporarily quarantine? In our world, it was that "I love you, you love me..." bit from Barney, the "Honker-Duckie-Dinger Jamboree" by the Sesame Street gang, and "A Whole New World" from Aladdin. In my experience, every parent has their own poison.

And, my higher-order life-liver sister Jilly expressed this reality yesterday and was asking for some suggestions that were "kid friendly but not kid-oriented" like maybe some Beatles and Rolling Stones. Stuff like that.

In effect, that'd be pretty easy when it comes right down to it. But I got to thinking about the setting they'd be used in. You know...because the "when" and "where" matter. Like you don't want late-evening winding down to be caffeinated by The Ramones. You don't want the sunny day stroll to the park ruined by Ice-T singing "Cop Killer." Good stuff, but music's gotta have a setting, so I've come up with some kid-friendly music for stuff in the background at various times.

The first mix I've titled the Late-Morning Groove. This is for those times when you've just finished breakfast and while you're getting ready for the day, maybe while the kid is in the walker and you're doing dishes and maybe half-paying attention to the kid and half-picking up around the place. It also works during & after bath time. You can sing along and keep an upbeat mood going the whole time.

"Love Shack" by the B-52's
"Let's Dance" by David Bowie
"And She Was" by Talking Heads
"I Will Dare" by The Replacements
"The Lovecats" by The Cure
"Workin' in a Coal Mine" by Devo
"Waiting for the Bus" by The Violent Femmes
"Lust for Life" by Iggy Pop & The Stooges
"We Got The Beat" by The Go-Go's
"Middle of the Road" by The Pretenders
"If Money Talks (I Wish It'd Speak To Me) by Jason & The Nashville Scorchers
"Should I Stay or Should I Go?" by The Clash
"It's The End of the World As We Know It (and I Feel Fine)" by R.E.M.

Then there's the Decent Folks Over Playlist. This one is the one that you wouldn't mind others seeing the CD's on your bookshelf...and the kind of music that you could have on while the kids are having their playdate and the parents are sitting and chatting. It has some requisite recognizable standards, but also enough off-the-beaten-path stuff that you'll get cool points from the listeners. It might even be a small conversation replacement when you hit a lull...and it winds down slowly by the end so everybody leaves calm. Important when you're loading up toddler gear and loading the car.

"Every Day I Write The Book" by Elvis Costello & The Attractions
"Day Tripper" by the Beatles
"I'm A Believer" by The Monkees
"Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" by The Police
"I Want You to Want Me" by Cheap Trick
"When Love Comes To Town" by U2
"Proud Mary" by Creedence Clearwater Revival
"Mrs. Robinson" by The Lemonheads
"Bron-Y-Aur Stomp" by Led Zeppelin
"Perfect Skin" by Lloyd Cole & The Commotions
"Praise You" by Fatboy Slim
"We Are All Made of Stars" by Moby
"Penguins" by Lyle Lovett
"Swingin'" by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
"The Late Greats" by Wilco
"Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In a Small Town" by Pearl Jam
"Shady Lane" by Pavement

Finally, and this is where I'll need your help. There's some music that every kid just needs to be listening to, man. It's part of our role as parents to let them have the Standard Americana Soundtrack...

"Beginning to See the Light" by The Velvet Underground. (I'm asking for some leeway here, patrons. You have to have some VU in the mix. It's just how it is. Granted, very few people listened to the Velvets, but what's the old saying? Everybody who did formed a great band?)
"Twist and Shout" by The Beatles.
"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" by The Rolling Stones. (Yes, I know they're British, but this particular song is a must)
"Bad to the Bone" by George Thorogood and the Destroyers.
"Born to Run" by Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band.
"Subterranean Homesick Blues" by Bob Dylan.
"I Got You (I Feel Good)" by James Brown.
"Old Time Rock and Roll" by Bob Seeger.
"Brick House" by the Commodores.
...

And this is where I leave it to you guys to finish it up. What else goes on our Standard Americana Soundtrack? You get one song...and one song only. The only criteria is that it has to be a song every kid in America needs to have heard. Have at it!