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TimothyBFan
07-28-2009, 01:20 PM
One of my great nieces (age 1) and one of my great nephews (age 2) are becoming big music lovers. My nephew Dane has learned how to use a real cd player and his parents have made him his own copies of their cds that he literally carries with him everywhere he goes, even to bed. Unfortunately, they are all country western cds-YUCK. My niece Lydia, whom I sit for, is always bopping around to music which is constantly playing in my house. I have started a project for both of them where I am going to make them their own Rock n Roll cds of "kid friendly" rock songs for Christmas this year.

I would love any suggestions anyone has. Here's what I have so far....

Yellow Submarine-Beatles
Octopus's Garden-Beatles
Boris The Spider-Who
Jeremiah Was A Bullfrog-3 Dog Night
They're Coming To Take Me Away-Dr Demento
C-Moon-Paul & Linda McCartney
Crockodile Rock-Elton John

Thanks in advance for your input!

sodascouts
07-28-2009, 03:23 PM
Well, I have to say that some of the songs you listed I was not allowed to listen to as a kid! Admittedly, as you know, my parents are VERY old school. Their problems with the following:

"Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog" encourages positive associations with drinking by having the cute frog drink a lot ("I helped him drink his wine - he always had some mighty fine wine").
"C Moon" talks about 17-year-olds having sex and hiding it from their parents ("Bobby Lived With Patty But They Never Told Her Daddy").

Also my parents mistakenly believed "Yellow Submarine" was about drugs and didn't want me listening to it because of that. Turns out it's perfect for the kids after all because that rumor was false!

Now, here's some of my ideas about what would be good songs for such small children, accompanied by videos so you can hear them and judge for yourself:

Don't Stop (great positive message and bright melody)- Fleetwood Mac
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8arvEzHsA8

Big Girls Don't Cry (good message - "shame on you, you told a lie" etc. - all little girls want to be big girls) - Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2s54WNBwiI

Saturday Night (teaches spelling and also has bright melody) - Bay City Rollers (not the Eagles one lol)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBn2ux5vRHk

Holiday Road (fun and it even has a dog barking at the end, lol) - Lindsey Buckingham
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nLiQBV6A7c

Sea Cruise (cute and fun, kids might especially like those ooh-wee, ooh-we lines)- Glenn Frey
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_TI2-fAPf4

You might look at soundtracks for kid's movies to find more.

EagleLady
07-28-2009, 03:35 PM
Well, Those are all good and all, But, I don't see what was bad about Joy To The World, Maybe it was an Anti drinking message, who knows.

sodascouts
07-28-2009, 03:43 PM
Well, I think the "drinking makes you happy" message in those two lines is rather obvious once you think about it, EL, although admittedly it is not obvious if one just thinks about the chorus rather the verses. Of course, you can believe what you wish.

EagleLady
07-28-2009, 03:45 PM
How about Bennie and The Jets? or Tommy's Holiday Camp by The Who

luvthelighthouse
07-28-2009, 04:00 PM
Saturday Night (teaches spelling and also has bright melody) -

This had me cracking up!!! Teaches spelling!:hilarious:
I pretty much was brought up on all the top 40's of the 70's. Chicago, Eagles, Bee Gee's, etc. Thinking bac, my grandmother used to play My Ding A Ling for me all the time!

I'm not of the school of omitting too many songs, unless it's something along the lines of eminem. However, hints to sex or drinking are no biggie to me. I know I don't share much of my personal life on this board... but I'll say I'm around small children... and currently they are being brought up on anything I like. Mainly Eagles. (go figure)

I'm of no help... sorry...I will be thinking about it though. I

sodascouts
07-28-2009, 04:16 PM
I'm not saying the songs are evil or something. I'm just saying I wouldn't call them "kid-friendly."

Here's how I define "kid-friendly":

1. Is about something kids would care about or find fun
2. Doesn't overtly refer to drugs, alcohol, or sex (kids don't care about sex anyway at the ages of 1 and 3, so this also falls under the above criteria)
3. Has a bright melody (this is also about fun factor)
4. Doesn't have any profanity, insults, or hateful language (kids repeat what they hear, especially at 1 and 3. Do you really want your kids running around cussing?)
4. Has a positive or at least harmless message; no encouragement of destructive behavior

Does every song you have to play when kids are in the room have to meet all the above criteria or else you're a bad parent? Certainly not! But if I were gonna give a kid a CD to play over and over and over again at such a young age, to sing along to, I'd think - do I really want this child singing about sex and drinking as they play with their toys and finger paint?

TimothyBFan
07-28-2009, 04:24 PM
Soda--I actually just put Big Girls Don't Cry on my list.

ltlh--I'm the same. Shoot, when my son was 3, he often ran around singing Cat Scratch Fever by Terrible Ted or Big Balls by AC/DC.:hilarious: Bad parenting? Probably-but music was just one of those things we always had (and still do) going in our house at all times. Now my son listens to everything, from hip hop (Yuck) to Zappa, to thrasher rock, to Zeppelin to Sinatra. My daughter loves classic rock but also loves classical music and even her ringback tone is a Bach piece.

But that being said, this is for my niece and nephew and I have to behave because their parents may not like their 2 year old running around singing a little diddy by AC/DC called Big Balls. :hilarious:

MikeA
07-28-2009, 04:32 PM
I think I told y'all about this once before. My Daughter and Son-In-Law along with Miles (three now but two when this happened)...were on their way home from somewhere in Iowa and decided to stay in Kansas City for the night and both knew that AmeriStar is a first rate hotel with good dining. Oh, it also is a Casino! But they weren't there for the gambling.

Coming from the parking lot to the hotel lobby, you walk down this long hallway. Phil said something to Amanda about it being a long CORRIDOR.

Oops! That triggered Miles! At the top of his lungs, he sang EVERY WORD of Hotel California <LOL> There was a group of Bikers leaving the Casino and when Miles started singing, they all stopped and listened with their jaws dropped open! When he finished, they gave him appropriate applause!

If they only knew that Miles knows most of the early Eagles stuff they would truly be amazed. I am. Doesn't seem to have hurt him much but then, the Eagles are a relatively "pure" group that have never depended on the "shock factor" that some artists resorted to in order to sell records. Still, hearing Miles sing "Life In The Fast Lane" word for word along with the recording is a bit unsettling <LOL>

The point is, I think Nancy is unquestionably right: Kids do repeat what they hear and some of them have minds like steel traps!

Oh, when Miles was just a little baby, not even crawling yet, the only way they could pacify him in his car seat was to put on Dilana and in particular her singing "Ring of Fire" and "The Cat's in the Cradle". He has literally grown up with Rock and Roll...my Daughter is no better an influence than am I and my wife.

Prettymaid
07-28-2009, 04:48 PM
This is quite a discussion you've started Willie!

I always like the ever-useful phrase, "I listened to these songs as a kid and I turned out okay!" :hilarious:

Of course, I wasn't one year old or even three, but much older. I am never around small children so I have no idea what rock songs they would like. I would imagine any of the songs that promote peace and love would be good. Hey Willie, I know - how about Peace Train? It's a good message and it's about a train! :hilarious:

Molly
07-28-2009, 04:51 PM
I agree with you on a lot of your points, Nancy. I have to say it's almost impossible to not find a problem with "hidden meanings" or at least perceived hidden meanings in so much popular music. I guess I've taken the attitude not to get to bent out of shape about stuff. Our radio was always on -so my kids probably heard things they shouldn't at times. I always thought it was better to just handle "situations" as they came up and try not to make a major case out of it. I answered their questions or corrected them situation by situation.

Peter used to hear lyrics in his own special Peter way. We used to crack up when we'd hear him singing "Do it like a lady" (Dude looks like a lady), "I got mud on my face-I dig this place" or my favorite "Felice la di da!"

But in my case, if I never wanted them to hear a cuss word ever ever -I would have had to ban them from their father who could and still does occasionally let one fly. I, of course, never do. :angel::thumbsup:

I just bought by godson (who is 6) an MP3 player this past Christmas. I managed to put about 100 songs on it. 1 year old is a lot different than 6-but here are some that might work:


Henry the VIII -Herman's Hermits
International Harvester -Craig Morgan (my godson's fav it turns out-I think he likes the tractor sounds)
The Unicorn (the Irish Rovers) -now, this one has religion written all over it -so take that into consideration
Who Let the Dogs Out -Baha Men
Splish Splash -Bobby Darin
Centerfield-John Fogerty
Sing-The Carpenters
Lookin' Out My Back Door-Creedence (yeah, I know-but a 1 year old won't have a clue)
ABC -Jackson 5
R.O.C.K. in the USA -John Mellencamp
I'm A Believer-Monkees
Crazy Little Thing Called Love-Queen
Blitzkrieg Pop-Ramones
Wooly Bully and Little Red Riding Hood-Sam the Sham

luvthelighthouse
07-28-2009, 04:53 PM
ltlh--I'm the same. Shoot, when my son was 3, he often ran around singing Cat Scratch Fever by Terrible Ted or Big Balls by AC/DC.:hilarious: Bad parenting? Probably-

Well, I don't think it's bad parenting. To me bad parenting is ignoring or abusing your kid. I don't consider music exposure bad! When my daughter was an infant... often, to calm her in the car I'd have to turn up the Chilli Pepper's, All Around the World, really loud. :)

I totally understand about someone else's kids though. I'm boring, I'd buy a Disney CD! LOL

sodascouts
07-28-2009, 05:20 PM
I'm worried I'm coming off as judgmental. I know you folks are all good people and good parents who love your children, and that's what's important. Heck, I've met Willie's kids and I can tell you they are sweet as can be! I don't even have kids, after all, so what do I know?

I know you guys aren't like the parents I saw when I worked at the government program Head Start back in Texas for a few months. I saw parents come in and call their kids "stupid," "retarded," "fat," and "ugly" before my very eyes. So much for their self-esteem. I saw a four-year-old boy scream "F-CK YOU, BITCH" at a girl he was arguing with and slap her across the face before we could separate them. Where did he learn to scream profanities and hit women? That same boy tried to hit me when I took him to "time out" and I finally had to take him out of the classroom altogether. I remember one mom coming to pick up her son and she absolutely reeked of alcohol at 2:00 pm - slurred speech, you name it. We had to stop her from driving him home and threaten to call the police... it got ugly. It upsets me to this day to think about it... and I didn't even see the worst of it, I'm sure. I can only imagine having a job where you deal with that every day. That takes a strong person.

THOSE are bad parents. Letting a kid listen to "Big Balls" and occasionally cursing in front of them doesn't even compare.

I still wouldn't call the song kid-friendly though. ;)

Molly
07-28-2009, 05:29 PM
You're not being judgemental, Nancy. And, you certainly have a right to your opinion -kids or not.

I suppose a lot of parents have these wonderful ideas on how they're going to do everything right and raise these wonderful little perfect kids. Then, the real world steps in and no matter how hard you try -negative stuff touches them. These days-you'd have to keep them in a bubble the bad stuff is everywhere. I commend your parents for their efforts. It's hard and it's time-consuming to parent like that. Besides, look how wonderful you turned out!

When Tom was a toddler, I announced that he was not going to have toy guns. No how. No way. Steve sort of nodded and let that be my call (not sure he really agreed with me, though).

Then, one day when he was about 3 -I looked out the kitchen window and saw him running thru the backyard with 2 neighbor boys (who did have toy guns). Tom was using the dog's rubber porkchop as his gun. :eyebrow:

Ah, the best laid plans!

Freypower
07-28-2009, 08:52 PM
A couple of other suggestions for kid friendly songs from a book called The Rough Guide Book of Playlists:

Hello Goodbye - Beatles - 'gentle introduction to the concept of opposites by a group which lays out the fundamental building blocks of rock'n'roll' (sentiments shared entirely by me). Yellow Submarine is also there, of course. Octopus's Garden isn't but should be.

Magic Bus - The Who - 'the exchange 'I want it/You can't have it' gets kids where they live'.

The book agrees with Molly about Lookin' Out My Back Door and about
I'm A Believer (although the Smash Mouth version of this from Shrek is also very kid-friendly)

Mr Spaceman - Byrds 'opens up the possibility of a rock'n'roll universe'.

Changes - David Bowie - because many Bowie songs have a singalong quality to them. I think even Jean Genie and Rebel Rebel would work for kids.

Get It On - T. Rex - it's very catchy but presumably the kids would ignore the innuendo. Otherwise why not go straight to Zep's Trampled Underfoot!

I would also add Dylan's The Mighty Qunnn (Quinn The Eskimo)
My Sweet Lord - George Harrison (a singalong introduction to spirituality)
Rocket Man - Elton John (outer space again)

I know when I have music playing in the car and Rosalind asks what the song is then she tends to like it. Her favourite Eagles song is probably Heartache Tonight. I must ask her to tell me which other ones she likes.

anne-o-gg
07-28-2009, 10:28 PM
I am a little pickier on what my kids listen to...

this is extreme, I know, but a couple of years ago I listened to every song on my then 11 year old's mp3 player...the songs I didn't know I printed out the lyrics and I was SHOCKED :woah: at some of the filth she was listening to! I had always been very strict about the music I allowed, but hadn't realized what she was hearing at school and was then downloading - to her credit, she didn't understand the lyrics - she was doing it just because the song was popular...I had to sit her down, read the lyrics and explain them :fear:. I won't even go into the things I had to explain other than to say it was mostly slang about a girl losing her virginity, drugs, rape, the "F" bomb - omg-sh!!

Clearly, I would rather her listen to the Eagles anyday!! This was current music I had to put a stop to - IF (and that's a BIG IF) it can be called music...the music of the 70's and 80's, for the most part, i would allow...

My daughter is 14 now and LOVES country music - but even there, I have banned some songs due more to the attitude of the song (before he cheats) than the actual words...but we still go over the lyrics together and I softened to where I let her decide if it's appropriate (um, for the most part! I'm still her mom!) But I've noticed that she usually makes good choices...so I'll be there to guide her (not shove her) while I can...

EagleLady
07-28-2009, 10:39 PM
I am a little pickier on what my kids listen to...

this is extreme, I know, but a couple of years ago I listened to every song on my then 11 year old's mp3 player...the songs I didn't know I printed out the lyrics and I was SHOCKED :woah: at some of the filth she was listening to! I had always been very strict about the music I allowed, but hadn't realized what she was hearing at school and was then downloading - to her credit, she didn't understand the lyrics - she was doing it just because the song was popular...I had to sit her down, read the lyrics and explain them :fear:. I won't even go into the things I had to explain other than to say it was mostly slang about a girl losing her virginity, drugs, rape, the "F" bomb - omg-sh!!

Clearly, I would rather her listen to the Eagles anyday!! This was current music I had to put a stop to - IF (and that's a BIG IF) it can be called music...the music of the 70's and 80's, for the most part, i would allow...

My daughter is 14 now and LOVES country music - but even there, I have banned some songs due more to the attitude of the song (before he cheats) than the actual words...but we still go over the lyrics together and I softened to where I let her decide if it's appropriate (um, for the most part! I'm still her mom!) But I've noticed that she usually makes good choices...so I'll be there to guide her (not shove her) while I can...

I think Censorship is wrong and that kids should be allowed to listen to what they want.

anne-o-gg
07-28-2009, 11:11 PM
Then it's a good thing they're my kids...;) I'm the one who will have to answer for how they are raised.

AzEaglesFan
07-29-2009, 02:33 AM
Since I know this is getting off track I'll be brief. When our son was small we would be careful what we listened to, what we watched on tv and our language. It took him a week in public school to come cussing like a drunk sailor. He really didn't have any concept what he was saying he just heard it from the other kids.

Prettymaid
07-29-2009, 07:10 AM
I think Censorship is wrong and that kids should be allowed to listen to what they want.


Spoken by a true kid.

MikeA
07-29-2009, 08:43 AM
I can't lie about it. When I was a kid, I certainly didn't think my parents...okay, my Mother...was being fair about music. And maybe she wasn't. There was no music in our house other than what came out of my transistor radio for years and years and the only music Mother approved of was Church Hymns sang from the "Official" Hymnal <LOL>

What that meant was that I had to get pretty good at clandestine listening when at home. Later, when I started driving, I had to remember to put the radio back on the channel that carried the Cardinals Baseball Games!

To my credit, I never got caught listening to Blues stations at night when in bed with my head under the pillow with the Transistor held tightly to my ear and nothing but the 3' long telescoping antenna sticking out touching the window screen beside my bed.

Maybe that instilled in ME a paranoia about letting some people really know who I am and what I do. To this day I still hide things that I do from my Mother! You'd think I'd have grown out of that in 60 years <LOL>

But MY philosophy in raising my own kids and in my relationship with my grandson has been that MUSIC is what I want them to listen to....AND....get involved with as deeply as their inclination leads them! If it is Church Music, that's good. If it's "Itsy Bitsy Spider" or "Rock A Bye Baby", that's okay too. If it's good ole Rock or Blues (oh, how I wish I'd inspired Blues in my Kids!), that's okay also as long as it isn't teaching a 3-yr-old to spout off foul lyrics when attending a Church Service or embarrassing their parents and more importantly, learning to Curse or grow up thinking popping a cap in someone's posterior it the Socially Acceptable thing to do!

But that is NOT what this thread is about. It is about suggesting songs that can be given by someone who isn't making those character developing decisions about their own children, but rather trying to provided something that will not be perceived as detrimental by the parents of the children to whom the gift of music is being given.

To that end, I do apologize for hijacking the topic to rant and rave about Miles to me in whom the sun rises and sets! <smile>.

And Nancy, you are not being "judgmental". You are just trying to honor the true nature of the request being made.

TimothyBFan
07-29-2009, 10:13 AM
Gosh guys--sorry I asked, didn't mean to start so much controversy. :hilarious:

Thanks for the input from everyone and I don't think there is any right or wrong here. What might work for one family might not work for another. We did it our way, and so far so good, our children are well adjusted young adults (thank you Nancy for the compliment) and have caused us no heartache as of yet. Hopefully that will stay that way. I know Nancy and she is a very wonderful person and she was raised another way in regards to music. Again, no right or wrong way here! We are all different.

EL-as for your comment-:shock: WOW--what's that saying, don't judge till you walked a mile in my shoes? All I can say is contact me in 15-20 years when you are raising your own children and let me know how it's going.

Molly--I had just thought of Henry The VIII right before I read your reply and FP--love the Magic Bus idea!! This cd could end up to be 5 or 6 cds a piece for the kids! So many great ideas!! Thanks again everyone.

Mike & Molly--your personal stories about Miles and Tom just cracked me up. I could definitely see Dillon or Katie singing a whole song at that age (appropriate or not) and the whole pork chop as a gun had me in stitches!

EagleLady
07-29-2009, 10:23 AM
Spoken by a true kid.



What's that mean? If you consider 19 a kid, wow. :worried:

anne-o-gg
07-29-2009, 10:29 AM
TBF - what about Celebration (Kool and the Gang) I loved that song as a kid! There's one called "L-O-V-E", by Nat King Cole, that has been used in movies (I'm specifically thinking of the remake version of the Parent Trap)

haha...my kids listen to new versions of The Tide is High etc...how many times I tell them "you know that a remake of a70/80's tune"...I usually add "because we had GOOD music!" :hilarious:

anne-o-gg
07-29-2009, 10:30 AM
What's that mean? If you consider 19 a kid, wow. :worried:

lol - I didn't know you were 19 - that explains SO much now...:hilarious:

EagleLady
07-29-2009, 10:41 AM
I didn't mean to come out as judgmental, I was just saying my opinion.

Brooke
07-29-2009, 10:49 AM
Sounds to me like you've gotten quite a good list together, TBF! And it sounds like you won't have to worry about the parents asking you why you put a certain song on there!

My kids grew up listening to most all kinds of music-heavy on the Eagles, of course! I didn't really try to censor too much. I guess from the way we raised them that they knew what was appropriate and what wasn't. I did object to my daughter listening to Def Leppard once. I'm sure she just did it when I wasn't around though! Then a few years ago, hubby and I got the chance to go see DL in concert (and I really love some of their music now!) and when I told her about it she couldn't believe that we had gone to see a band we wouldn't let her listen to when she was a kid! I said we were all grown ups now! Anyways, both of my kids have managed to turn out to be nice, well-adjusted adults!

Back when they were itty bitty, though, I had to have a talk with my Dad about his cussing in front of them because they tended to pick that up! :fingerwag:

luvthelighthouse
07-29-2009, 11:12 AM
Sorry, but I have to comment, even if it is hijacking... it's not cencorship when it's your own children... it's called parenting. Parents have to make choices for their kids all the time. There is NO way I'd want my kids listening to eminem! I enjoy his music, but not appropriate for young children. I'm sorry, I don't remember who said it above, but I think that some music is a good communication starter for certain topics. Something they hear in a song and don't understand gives the parent an opportunity to discuss sex, violence ect and give their children their views on the topic.

In any case, it's not censorship when it's your own kid.

TBF, I think you have a good list to choose from. Those are catchy songs and will surely have the kids parents going nuts singing Henry VIII over and over! LOL

Ive always been a dreamer
07-29-2009, 11:17 AM
Gosh guys--sorry I asked, didn't mean to start so much controversy. :hilarious:

Thanks for the input from everyone and I don't think there is any right or wrong here. What might work for one family might not work for another. We did it our way, and so far so good, our children are well adjusted young adults (thank you Nancy for the compliment) and have caused us no heartache as of yet. Hopefully that will stay that way. I know Nancy and she is a very wonderful person and she was raised another way in regards to music. Again, no right or wrong way here! We are all different.

Willie - no need to apologize here. This has been an interesting discussion. Fortunately, most members on this board are mature enough to participate in an adult conversation and understand how to respectfully disagree with someone else.

With regard to what we consider kid-friendly music, as this discussion has proven, there is more than one way to "skin a cat", but let me just say, I pity the poor parent who doesn't try to censor some of what their children do. After all, isn't parenting all about setting boundaries and providing guidance? As some wise men once sang "teach the children well"! :wink:

MikeA
07-29-2009, 11:26 AM
TBF, I think you have a good list to choose from. Those are catchy songs and will surely have the kids parents going nuts singing Henry VIII over and over! LOL

Oh GOD! Henry VIII would drive me NUTS! <LOL> I didn't teach that one to my kids, but they both heard it somewhere and rattled it off for months!

"One Eyed One Horned Flyin Purple People Eater"

"Itsy Bitsy, Tinny Wennie Yellow Poka Dot Bikini"

Folk Music...or some of it is okay I think:

"Puff The Magic Dragon" (supposedly drug related but today, I still can't see where!

"Mercedes Benz" Teaches economic value and priorities <LOL>

"Woops, There Goes Another Rubber Tree Plant"

"Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport" evolution <LOL>

Koala
07-29-2009, 12:47 PM
I have no children, however I work daily with them.
What some children for music heard, I canīt understand.
What for words used in some songs is simply nothing for children!

anne-o-gg
07-29-2009, 01:28 PM
"Woops, There Goes Another Rubber Tree Plant"

"Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport" evolution <LOL>

My kids LOVED these songs (mostly thanks to Barney!:hilarious:)

GlennLover
07-29-2009, 06:32 PM
LOL, Mike. I loved some of those songs as a child (and I'm not that much younger than you)! :hilarious:

Freypower
07-29-2009, 09:49 PM
I had no idea anyone in the US would even have heard of Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport. Of course I grew up with it but it did have a rather politically incorrect verse which Rolf Harris no longer sings.

Speaking of Australian songs, I think Men At Work's Down Under is very appropriate for kids, especially the 'Vegemite sandwich' part. Another good one is Split Enz' Six Months In A Leaky Boat. It tells a history lesson (mainly about New Zealand) but is also very catchy.

'Rubber Tree Plant' is Frank Sinatra's High Hopes, and that is another song I grew up with.

I was listening to Paul Simon's Was A Sunny Day earlier and I think that would appeal to kids. I would also add One Love by Bob Marley.

eaglesvet
08-03-2009, 08:58 PM
I'm a late-comer to this discussion, but I've got a completely different bent on it. I'd like to promote a duo known as Trout Fishing in America, who have been together producing family music for 22 years, and are awesome! I came across them when my kids were small, and followed them for a number of years (even as far as 1 1/2 hours away to see them in concert...with toddlers, as well as when the kids were older!) I still enjoy their adult-oriented music today, although it's been awhile since I've seen them in concert. They have a number of CD's out--you can find them on their website www.troutmusic.com (http://www.troutmusic.com), as well as in Borders and Barnes & Noble.

Ezra is 6'9" tall and plays guitar, and Keith is 5'5" and plays bass. Right away you can tell that humor is part and parcel of what they do. But their music is much more than that...the two of them are both lyrically creative and musically sophisticated. Their blend of folk/pop has diverse influences of reggae, latin, blues, jazz, country, and classical music. They have won multiple National Indie Awards, Parents Choice Awards, and American Library Awards; as well as 4 Grammy nominations. The June 2008 Performing Songwriter Magazine named them as one of the Top 100 Most Influential Independent Artists in the past 15 years...between Phish and Widespread Panic...also in the company of Willie Nelson, Jack Johnson, David Byrne, Tom Waits, Alison Krauss, and Jimmy Buffett.

We have three of their older children's CD's that I love: My World (two of my favorite songs, "My Hair Had a Party Last Night" and "Baby's Got the Car Keys"), Big Trouble (which contains many of the staples they do live in concert), and Infinity. However, my absolute favorite CD is one of the adult ones, Closer to the Truth. This CD has so many fantastic beautiful songs, I would highly recommend it to anyone here. Actually, given what I have learned from "The Greatest Band Thread," I think PM's musical taste most closely matches mine...so my bet is that Cathy would really enjoy this CD.

ETA: The bass that Keith plays is the bass cello!

TimothyBFan
08-04-2009, 08:05 AM
Thanks Eva for the suggestion. Just checked them out on YouTube. Just looking at them cracked me up because they look like Mutt & Jeff (just dated myself a bit there didn't I?). I sent my niece an email with a link to a couple of the videos for her to check out.

Prettymaid
08-04-2009, 08:15 AM
Actually, given what I have learned from "The Greatest Band Thread," I think PM's musical taste most closely matches mine...so my bet is that Cathy would really enjoy this CD.

Well now I have to check them out! :hilarious: Thanks EV.

eaglesvet
08-05-2009, 11:53 AM
Thanks Eva for the suggestion. Just checked them out on YouTube. Just looking at them cracked me up because they look like Mutt & Jeff (just dated myself a bit there didn't I?). I sent my niece an email with a link to a couple of the videos for her to check out.
They are hilarious as well as talented in concert, and they tour all over the country. They began 22 years ago in Texas (in Houston, baby), and now hail from Arkansas...but they tour just about everywhere in the US and Canada. If she becomes hooked as I did, she should definitely bring her kids to see them when they are a little bit older!

eaglesvet
08-05-2009, 12:04 PM
Well now I have to check them out! :hilarious: Thanks EV.
I only have heard one of their adult CD's, Closer to the Truth, but there are so many good songs on it! A few of my favorites are: Dreaming, Old Things, After You've Gone, Closer to the Truth, Alberta Postcard, Almost September, The Sun the Moon the Stars. Enjoy!

TimothyBFan
01-21-2010, 10:35 AM
I've been meaning to tell you about this and my niece was telling me about this again this morning when she dropped her daughter off.

Remember when I started this thread and why? Well the cd's were a huge hit with my 1 1/2 year old great niece. She is loving them. She has 2 favorite songs on them and continuously wants them played while she dances around. One is Mickey by Toni Basil (oh Mickey you're so fine....) and the other one is Sh Boom by Timothy!! Every morning she runs over to her little pink cd player and yells "Sh Boom, Sh Boom" and pushes the button. Whenever they go anywhere any more, they have to take the cd with them and she wants it played over and over and over. I'm so proud!!! :hilarious: Her Mom also because she told me last week that she loves Ballroom Blitz and Little Willy and wants me to make her a Sweet cd because she's really loving them. :hilarious: I'm doing such a great job with these kids! :thumbsup:

Prettymaid
01-21-2010, 12:21 PM
Good job Willie. That's how music lives on. When your great niece becomes a parent perhaps she'll remember and pass on her love of these old songs!

sodascouts
01-21-2010, 12:31 PM
One is Mickey by Toni Basil (oh Mickey you're so fine....)

Oh my gosh, I loved this song when I was little! Of course, then it was new, lol.

Great job, TBF!