Our favorite kids songs, vol. 2

WHAT NOW!!!

As promised, here is the second volume of our favorite kids songs as heard on Sirius/XM Kids Place Live and recently downloaded by me for my girls. I hope you like them as much as we do.

6. Catboy - Pencilhead and the Playground Punks

This songs cracks my kids up every time they here it. Picture a lilliputian riding the family cat rodeo style. Like Fast Monkey the lyrics in this song are easy to understand for kids who like to sing along. It also has a nice country music style to it if you are into that kind of thing.

7. Crazy ABC's - Barenaked Ladies

It seems like a lot of former mainstream music acts have tried their hand at kids tunes and this is certainly the case for the Barenaked Ladies. While I have to try to explain their band name to my kids every time this song comes on they love this song. It's the thinking kids alphabet song and will introduce them to words they don't hear everyday, unless you have one of those "word of the day" calendars at home.

8. What Kind Of Dog Are You? - Billy Jonas

This is not the 4th Jonas brother in case you are wondering (that's Frank Jonas, and his purity ring is BROKEN). Very funny song with word plays galore. My girls love to shout the answers before I can, and they have gotten very good at it after hearing the song about 500 times!

9. Barking At The Moon - Jenny Lewis from the movie "Bolt"

I have not seen this movie, but my kids have and they love it. This is more of a traditional country song that could be heard on your local radio station. It's a sweet song and Miss Lewis shows she has a great voice. I'm just glad it was not sung by Milly Cyrus, one of the voice stars of the movie. That girl just bugs me!

10. It Only Take One Night To Make A Balloon Your Friend - Lunch Money

This is one of my all time favorite kids songs (the other did not make the list only because I could not download it, but maybe it can make a "just missed list). Very simple song about the life if a helium balloon and it's new owner. You can see the song writer actually writing down everything her child did with his balloon and then make a creative song about it. I also think this song could have been written while the song writer was high, but that is just wrong.

OK, only one more volume to go, and maybe that list of "almost misses". Please let me know if you have opinions about any of these songs if you have heard them millions of time like me or if they are brand new to you and your kids.

PEACE OUT DADS!

Our favorite kids songs, vol. 1

WHAT NOW!!!

Living in a small town has it's share of plus items and negative items. One of the things we lack around here that bigger places enjoy is variety in radio stations. For too many years I was stuck with about 4 reliable radio options in my car. Their formats changed every so often and sometimes they would change to something I could stomach listening too. When my wife and I had kids we were pretty much stuck with CD's from the likes of the Wiggles, Backyardigans, Dora the Explorer and such. While the kids loved these infant rockers my wife and I would feel a little like captured enemies of the state forced into some mid-evil torture. Thank goodness for satellite radio! When I subscribed to Sirius Satellite Radio not only did I get several radio formats that I liked, we also got the Kids Stuff channel, now called Kids Place live on Sirius/XM. While we still get a few songs that make me long for the Carpenters, there is a good number of songs that both the kids and the adults like. When you find this rare combo you want to hold onto them like gold. For about a month the kids and I would keep a list of our favorite songs from Kids Place Live and I told them at the end of that month I would download them and put them on a CD...kind of a like a "best of" for our family. I thought why not share our little music collection for the masses that read this blog and add a little parent commentary for each track. So, without further adieu...here we go with volume 1:

1. That's How You Know - Amy Adams from the movie "Enchanted"

This is one of our families all-time favorite songs from one of our favorite movies. If you have little girls in your house I would strongly recommend renting this movie ASAP. You'll be singing this song together in no time. And don't take my word for it, it was nominated for an academy award back in 2007.

2. Hamster Dance - Hampton the Hamster

If your kids love to dance like mine do, then this song is for them. Based off the pop culture phenomenon website Hampsterdance.com this funky number has very few lyrics but a catchy beat that both kids and adults can't help to bop their heads too. One word of warning, it can get stuck in your head and cause some sleepless nights.

3. Crazy Frog (Axel F) - Crazy Frog

This is a remake of the classic Beverly Hills instrumental hit Axel F. Like the Hamster Dance this song is for those kids that like to get up and shake it. There are a couple other songs from the same Crazy Frog that are takes on old instrumental classics. See also the version of Popcorn...good stuff!

4. Fast Monkey - Stevesongs

This song falls into the category of senseless fun. It seems the artist was smoking a little bud and then decided to write a kids song, or just scribbled down some of the things he saw during his "trip". The words are easy to understand and my kids were singing along after their 3rd time hearing it. For parents it's kind of cute that you will get a chuckle out of. And don't be surprised if you aren't singing along as well.

5. The Song Of Life - Scribblemonster

This song pays tribute to the classic board game Life. I loved playing this game as a kid and just recently introduced it to my kids. After a couple of months playing the game we hear this song on the radio and it was an instant hit with us. Just think about the game and you understand the lyrics immediately. For those of you poor fools who have never played Life, I suggest playing the game and then listening to the song. You'll love both.

In my next blog I'll go into Volume II of our music hit list, stay tuned.

PEACE OUT DADS!!!