Dr. Dog has, once again, written a kick-ass post on music. Though I can't describe music as well as he can, I thought y'all might be interested in what MM and I listened to on our odyssey to visit my mom and step-father at their country house:
1. Free to Be You and Me. While supremely corny and a product of its time (1972), this was a favorite of mine as a kid and is now a favorite of MM's. The songs are interspersed with funny stories and, though each and every one has a MESSAGE, the message does not detract from the fun. MM's favorites on this album are the first Dudley Pippen story, Helping, Housework, and It's Alright to Cry. We always skip Girl Land.
2. Really Rosie. Another favorite of mine. Carol King sings Maurice Sendak. Brilliant. MM's favorite is Chicken Soup With Rice. He won't let me play past Avenue P, 'cause that half the album (the old "B" side) is scary.
3. Dog Train. Several bands, including Blues Traveler sing Sandra Boynton. The title track is a keeper as is I Need a Nap (Weird Al and Kate Winslet), Sneakers, Wave Bye-Bye, Pots & Pans, and Brocolli. We skip all the Cow Planets and, unfortunately, Dragon Fire and the Allison Kraus song.
4-6. Beethovan's Wig, Beethovan's Wig 2, and Beethovan's Wig 3. MM and I love these. We sing along. We Sing Verdi Very Loud, we ask each other to Please Don't Play Your Violin at Night.
MM now recognizes these pieces of classical music everywhere. At Panera, during commercials, at dinner parties. He impressed a room full of grownups singing Vivaldi a few weeks ago.
7. (groan) Aladdin. On the plus side, we hadn't listened to it in a long, long time and we only listened to it once.
8. No! by They Might Be Giants. MM likes this less than I do. But we're both fond of Bed Bed Bed and In the Middle, In the Middle, In the Middle.
What I like best about all but (groan) Aladdin is that, for the most part, I enjoy these albums as much as MM does. There's no Hokey Pokey or Apples and Bananas on any of these guys. They're good singers singing good music with (often) very, very silly words.
MM was an excellent traveler, btw, and very helpful - looking out for signs for exits and food and not whining at all.
Bonus conversation!
MM: (on seeing a car with no lights on in the rain) "Hey! You! Headlights!" (I wonder where he got that from....oh! Me!)
Through My Glasses, Dorkily
13 years ago
15 comments:
"Hey you, headlights!"
TOO FUNNY!!
Lyra likes "No!", but she also likes other selections from the TMBG oeuvre, including "Flood" and "Apollo 18". We rarely listen to kids music anymore. She likes U2, the Decembrists, and Japanese punk (of all things).
Now if only I could get her to eat something other than mac n cheese...
Great list! I will be driving to North Carolina (12+ hours) with the girls and no husband/buffer in July. I think I will need to stock up on some of these.
Sounds like you had fun.
We found a video at the library that had "Chicken Soup With Rice" as well as Carole King's version of a couple other Sendak songs. Terrible animation but dangerously catchy music.
My favorite songs on TMBG No! are "Where Do They Make Balloons?", which is basically the definition of whimsical, and "Clap Your Hands", with its great funky groove. Somebody could make a lot of money doing a dance-club remix of that one.
Right now, Sammy's favorite CDs are a Stevie Wonder compilation and Lyle Lovett's Joshua Judges Ruth. The kid has astoundingly great taste in music.
As for the headlights, in my car, I usually say, "Turn on your lights, [expletive]!", with the expletive being either "@sshole" or "f*ckwad" if I'm alone, and "doofus" or "biscuithead" if the boys are with me.
Thanks for the link and the kind words, sweetie.
Liz and Mrs. C: We're big into "No!" Although both kids prefer some straightforward Barenaked Ladies. "Another Postcard" and "Shoebox" are the current favs.
Of course, right now, nothing trumps the "Mulan" soundtrack. BE A MAN!!!!!
Corndog: I'm so stealing "biscuithead" as my bowdlerization of choice.
Sounds like a great trip. I like the music choices!
Check out Wee Hairy Beasties. Really, I think you'll like them, since our taste in kids' music is really pretty exactly similar (we do more folk-inspired stuff in our house.) In their adult-music life they're the Mekons, but I haven't gotten around to getting their grownup music yet.
On grown-up music, Z. likes the Fratellis. Listening to her singing along in the car (making up sounds that were sort of like the words) inspired me to buy the album and the lyrics are abominable.
My mom went nuts at Kohl's and bought AB Dog Train, Philadelphia Chicken AND the third one, the name of which I'm forgetting. I love "I Need a Nap," but my favorite is "Dragon Fire." It's just so darn pretty. AB loves all the CDs, but I think Dog Train is his favorite.
Ooooh! The Mekons!!!!
I've gotta get that. And the other TMBG albums. Where Do They Get Balloons is one of my favs off No! but MM doesn't like it as much.
I'm introducing him to a wider range of music including The Decemberists, Blue October, and "grown-up" albums by the bands he already knows. He's a fan of The Beatles and The Split Enz, but he insists they're covering The Wiggles and won't be told otherwise.
You should really check out The Bottle Let Me Down: Songs for Bumpy Wagon Rides with can't miss hits like Don't Wipe Your Faces On Your Shirt, I Am My Own Grandpa, and Senor El Gato.
My brother sent this album to my kids a few years back and it's one of my favorites.
I really like No! also, but the kids don't seem that into it.
My kids LOVE Really Rosie to this day. IMHO, it is one of the best kids' albums ever.
What, no Trout Fishing in America? Oh, you simply must:
My hair had a party last night,
It musta got into a terrible fight,
Cause when my head hit the pillow it was lookin' all right,
My hair had a party last night.
My hair had a party last night,
When I lay down everything was all right,
It started out friendly but there must have been a fight,
My hair had a party last night.
Early in the morning, I get out of my bed,
The birdies are singing outside.
There's waffles on the table and a cold glass of milk,
I got a warm, happy feeling inside.
I can't wait to go to school and I love myself,
I'm the captain of the football team.
The alarm goes off and I hear mom yelling,
And I realize it must have been a dream.
My hair had a party last night,
It musta got into a terrible fight,
Cause when my head hit the pillow it was lookin' alright,
My hair had a party last night.
My hair had a party last night,
When I lay down everything was all right,
It started out friendly but there must have been a fight,
My hair had a party last night.
I pick up a brush, pick up a comb,
I look at the scissors but I leave them alone.
There's a lizard that lives in the rocks by the sea,
This morning that lizard looks a lot like me.
I try to wet it down but it only makes it worse,
The cowlick in the back is a family curse.
I pick up a cap and I put it on my head,
And wish I was dreaming back in my warm bed.
Great list, and great comments.
Almost every time we get in the car, Miss M. asks for "talking boys" - it's one track on a Dan Zanes record where some random kids are talking about the weather. For some reason, she loves it.
Peter Paul and Mommy is a big favorite.
We've got The Bottle Let Me Down and MM loves Don't Wipe Your Face on Your Shirt, but I forgot to put it in the car for the trip. I definitely have to check out Trout Fishing in America.
MM will forever associate trips with you with this music--I still have very specific memories of trips with my dad and the soundtrack we listened to.
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