when my oldest son turned 4, i burned a disk of songs for the family to enjoy singing together. it included quite a diverse playlist: showtunes, folk songs, bible songs, christmas songs and the like. it wasn't about a theme; it's just about singing in the car--a favorite family activity.
now that my youngest son is coming upon a birthday, i thought i'd make a new disk for him as well. (i feel compelled to point out how much we like gifts that can be shared by the whole family.) as i began to peruse and decide upon songs to be included, it led me to compile this master list of 100 songs that every kid needs to know.
i don't have any criteria or preconceived notions of what ought to be on there...or at least i didn't when i began. i wasn't looking just for songs from my memory of youth, i wanted good songs. quality is important.
the age of the song didn't really matter to me. if the latest songs are among the greatests songs, i'm happy to include them. but i always have a soft-spot in my heart for enduring music. some songs are great because they have stood the test of time, but some songs have stood the test of time simply because they are great. (and i should mention that some songs should retain their historicity--they are teaching moments!)
despite being for children, i didn't necessarily care if the renditions i found were of children singing. again with the concept of enduring, i want to expose my kids to great artists: bing crosby, frank sinatra, bill gaither, etc. as a music instructor, it sometimes pains me that upcoming musicians have, what i consider to be, some gaps in their exposure. who determines this, i don't know. it's another post for another blog on another day.
genre was another facet to consider, though this falls under some previous categories mentioned. i didn't want only sacred songs; i didn't want only inspirational songs. i want pop and rock and r&b and classical and standards and...and...and...diversity and eccelectism inspire me.
one overriding theme i see as i look at the titles i've compiled so far: encouragement. the lyrics have positive messages in them. even if they are silly lyrics (such as 'mairzy doats'), there is strength in the message. in the same line with encouragement is responsibility: there are songs that every citizen are responsible to know. (how embarrassing are 'national anthem' lyric snafus?)
so, you can see where i'm coming from. but you won't yet see where it's going--i haven't compiled my final list. feel free to post and respond with ideas and suggestions.
Lord of Creation, thank You for the gift of music. may we be responsible with the sounds with which you have entrusted us. thank You also for my wonderful children--a gift so undeserved. i am blessed.
1. Alphabet song
2. Awesome God
3. Bare necessities
4. B-I-B-L-E
5. Father Abraham
6. Give a little whistle
7. God bless America
8. Have patience (from music machine)
9. I got rhythm
10. I love to laugh (from mary poppins)
11. If I had a hammer
12. If you’re happy and you know it
13. In the garden
14. Inka-dinka-doo
15. Let a smile be your umbrella
16. Mairzy doats
17. Oh how he loves you and me
18. Oh susanna
19. Oh what a beautiful morning (from Oklahoma)
20. Old macdonald
21. Over the rainbow (from wizard of oz)
22. Puff, the magic dragon
23. Rocky top
24. Seventy-six trombones
25. Sing (as recorded by the carpenters)
26. Singin’ in the rain
27. Star-spangled banner
28. Take me out to the ballgame
29. This little light of mine
30. Together wherever we go
31. Tomorrow (from annie)
32. Trading my sorrows
33. Twinkle, twinkle little star
34. Victory in jesus
35. What a wonderful world
36. YMCA
37. You are my sunshine
38. Zaccheus was a wee little man
stay tuned for more development!
now that my youngest son is coming upon a birthday, i thought i'd make a new disk for him as well. (i feel compelled to point out how much we like gifts that can be shared by the whole family.) as i began to peruse and decide upon songs to be included, it led me to compile this master list of 100 songs that every kid needs to know.
i don't have any criteria or preconceived notions of what ought to be on there...or at least i didn't when i began. i wasn't looking just for songs from my memory of youth, i wanted good songs. quality is important.
the age of the song didn't really matter to me. if the latest songs are among the greatests songs, i'm happy to include them. but i always have a soft-spot in my heart for enduring music. some songs are great because they have stood the test of time, but some songs have stood the test of time simply because they are great. (and i should mention that some songs should retain their historicity--they are teaching moments!)
despite being for children, i didn't necessarily care if the renditions i found were of children singing. again with the concept of enduring, i want to expose my kids to great artists: bing crosby, frank sinatra, bill gaither, etc. as a music instructor, it sometimes pains me that upcoming musicians have, what i consider to be, some gaps in their exposure. who determines this, i don't know. it's another post for another blog on another day.
genre was another facet to consider, though this falls under some previous categories mentioned. i didn't want only sacred songs; i didn't want only inspirational songs. i want pop and rock and r&b and classical and standards and...and...and...diversity and eccelectism inspire me.
one overriding theme i see as i look at the titles i've compiled so far: encouragement. the lyrics have positive messages in them. even if they are silly lyrics (such as 'mairzy doats'), there is strength in the message. in the same line with encouragement is responsibility: there are songs that every citizen are responsible to know. (how embarrassing are 'national anthem' lyric snafus?)
so, you can see where i'm coming from. but you won't yet see where it's going--i haven't compiled my final list. feel free to post and respond with ideas and suggestions.
Lord of Creation, thank You for the gift of music. may we be responsible with the sounds with which you have entrusted us. thank You also for my wonderful children--a gift so undeserved. i am blessed.
1. Alphabet song
2. Awesome God
3. Bare necessities
4. B-I-B-L-E
5. Father Abraham
6. Give a little whistle
7. God bless America
8. Have patience (from music machine)
9. I got rhythm
10. I love to laugh (from mary poppins)
11. If I had a hammer
12. If you’re happy and you know it
13. In the garden
14. Inka-dinka-doo
15. Let a smile be your umbrella
16. Mairzy doats
17. Oh how he loves you and me
18. Oh susanna
19. Oh what a beautiful morning (from Oklahoma)
20. Old macdonald
21. Over the rainbow (from wizard of oz)
22. Puff, the magic dragon
23. Rocky top
24. Seventy-six trombones
25. Sing (as recorded by the carpenters)
26. Singin’ in the rain
27. Star-spangled banner
28. Take me out to the ballgame
29. This little light of mine
30. Together wherever we go
31. Tomorrow (from annie)
32. Trading my sorrows
33. Twinkle, twinkle little star
34. Victory in jesus
35. What a wonderful world
36. YMCA
37. You are my sunshine
38. Zaccheus was a wee little man
stay tuned for more development!
