Twist and Shout

So, I occasionally create mix CD's for the kids in my life. For instance, when a friend had a pool put in the back yard I made a "Pool Party" mix for her family.

I realize there are bigger issues in the world but I seriously worry about what kids listen to these days. I'm not talking about Rap and obscene lyrics, I'm talking about The Wiggles, Barney and Raffi. It's all genuinely offensive! Think about it, if that's all you had to listen to wouldn't you lose your mind?!

I guess it comes down to not being able to stand how condescending people are to kids. Given the choice a kid will take The Beatles over "Kidz Rock" any day. It's bad enough that their diets are full of processed food does their music have to be processed as well?! Besides, kids like to hear music that their parents listened to as kids and better yet it saves the parents sanity.

Yesterday I went to a birthday party for my friends four-year-old twins. I left behind a "Kids Mix" for my friend. Here is a sampling of the kid-friendly tunes included on yesterday's mix:

Loco-Motion - Grand Funk Railroad
Coconut - Harry Nilsson
Daydream Believer - The Monkees
Crocodile Rock - Elton John
Little Willy -Sweet
Burnin' Love - Elvis Presley
Octopus' Garden - The Beatles
Nothing from Nothing - Billy Preston
Tra La La La La La La - The Banana Splits
Joy to the World - Three Dog Night
Cherry Bomb - John Mellencamp
We Got the Beat - Go-Go's
Whip It - Devo
Blitzkrieg Bop - The Ramones
Love Cats - The Cure
Rock Lobster - B-52's

I encourage everyone to make mix CD's for the kids in your life. They'll be more interesting for it. If there is some not so subtle subtext to certain songs...who cares? I didn't get it as a kid and they won't either.

The nice side effect is that my four-year-old niece does interpretive dance to The Who and my seven-year old nephew sings along to Bitzkrieg Bop at Dodgers games. He's been doing that since he was about four. The crowd loves it!