Last week when I posted that video about Atti’s obsession with music, I got a couple questions about what he listens to, so I thought I’d share our favorites and hopefully hear about a few of yours.
His go to music that never fails is anything by Elizabeth Mitchell. She’s amazing. She can turn anything – folk songs, punk, reggae, – into music for babies by her simple guitar and clear voice. So far she’s released You Are My Little Bird, You Are My Flower, and You Are My Sunshine, and I’m waiting with baited breath hoping she’ll release something else soon. I think Atti likes her the best because she sounds like a mama singing.
We’ve started listening to a lot of classical music and opera – especially when I need a peaceful moment – and we listen to a lot of world music, but especially Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Bear lived in South Africa for a couple of years and came back totally hooked. It didn’t take me long to become infected as well. I’d play Shosholoza to my belly and feel Atti start wiggling around to the music. You can’t be sad when this comes on.
I also really love Kites are Fun by The Free Design. I have no idea what the story is on these guys. They kind of sound like the people who sang that song Afternoon Delight, but instead of singing about nookie they’re singing about bubbles and kites and running through the grass. I don’t know if it was intended as music for kids or what, I only found out about them because one of my favorite podcasts uses the music for their intro, but it is thoroughly delightful.
They Might Be Giants is also crazy awesome for kids now, and while I don’t have their ABC or 123 collections, I have been a subscriber to their podcast where they share the songs and animated clips. Atti just stares at the computer screen transfixed whenever I put them on.
I kind of have an aversion to a lot of music that’s made for kids, so I’m always looking for music he likes, but that I can listen to without wanting to jump off a cliff. We listen to a lot of bluegrass together – he really loves Gillian Welch, but what really made my life easier was when I ended up making a bunch of playlists for Atti that are made up of normal adult music, that also happens to be appropriate for him. He’s got a Beatles playlist, an Elvis playlist, a Motown playlist (every kid should know Marvin Gaye’s Pride and Joy), but my favorite is the playlist I put together of lullabies.
Lullaby – Dixie Chicks
Close to You – the Carpenters
Danny’s Song – Loggins and Messina
Alright for Now – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (closest version I could find)
Like a Star – Corrine Bailey Rae
Morning Has Broken – Cat Williams
Shower the People – James Taylor
I’ll Take Care of You – Dixie Chicks (the video to this one is hilarious, but the music is what I was looking for)
Somewhere Over the Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
You’ve Got a Friend – James Taylor and Carole King
To Make You Feel My Love – Bob Dylan (this is a cover by Adele – who I love – but I also really love Dylan’s original version on Time Out of Mind)
New Soul – Yael Naim
The One Who Knows – Dar Williams
That last song is OUR song. That’s the one I sang to Atti every day in the hospital. That’s the one I whisper to him when he’s at his most distressed. That’s the one that I can never get through without welling up. Gosh it’s beautiful.
Do you guys have any good recommendations?
A Western (NOT "country) group I love, Riders in the Sky, are great in general and they also do children's music (they did songs for Monsters Inc, Toy Story, etc). I love their stuff! <a href="http://www.ridersinthesky.comwww.ridersinthesky.com<br />A world/folk/bluegrass/jazz/blues group is The Paperboys, many of their songs get me up and moving! And my friends' kids love it when we're in the car driving somewhere. <a href="http://paperboys.comhttp://paperboys.com<br />And for quiet contemplative music, I love the classical guitar work of Christopher Parkening, and his collaborations with other artists. But his simple and solo "Simple Gifts" just makes me so happy. 🙂 And the work he did with Kathleen Battle, oh I love it. http://www.parkening.com/ Happy Listening!! 🙂
I may have a really bad singing voice, but because it's 'mama's voice' it works. When my twins get fussy, whether it's wiping their faces or trying to feed them their dinner, there are a couple songs that settle them down easily. Santa Claus is Coming to Town (I don't know how that happened)Twinkle Twinkle Little StarThe Wheels on the BusRow Your BoatWe took a 'Mommy and Me' type swimming class at the YMCA, which involved a lot of nursery rhymes. So that explains the last 3 songs, but I'm not sure how the Santa song fits in…Whatever works, right?
Oh I want a mix tape! Atti has always responded to the Talking Heads. Like magic. And nothing else. Someone told me they thought it was the strong drum beat: sounds like a heartbeat. I don't know. My Atti Loves music, steals his big brothers ipod, climbs up on the chairs by the computers at the library and puts headphones on, really seems to seek out music, but I've never seen a baby that loves music the way your Atti does. Like a shot of heroin. Or substitute an analogy that is healthy and not disturbing…
I hate, with a passion, kids music, so my child has been deprived of these joys….this is what my tike likes to listen to the most:James Taylor (all of his songs. i put on a concert on dvd when i need time to do things around the house…it mesmerises him for hours); Mozart for bed (he will NOT sleep without his 'moshartt'); and loves loves loves harry belafonte…he could dance to his music forever!he also has a new crush for the soundtrack of 'Into the Wild' by Eddie Vedder (makes his daddy oh so proud), and Amy Winehouse, which makes me proud (But, and its a big but, not good on the foul language…so beware!).last but not least (am a little ashamed…but no, not really 😉 he really likes iron maiden….Go figure! i would strongly advise Harry Belafonte for some fun afternoons with Atti, a good way to get him to move and discover rithm…good luck,candida