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Kid Music Roundup
by Phoebe Assenza
New and upcoming tunes for groovy grandkids of all ages
Music for a Green Planet
Hayes Greenfeld, founder of the award-winning music-education program Jazz-a-ma-tazz, and the “Pied Piper of jazz,” has recorded a new album with an eco-conscious slant. Released this past Earth Day, Music for a Green Planet is a smooth indoctrination for jazz-loving, environmentally minded kids. Lyrics about cruising around in hybrids and renewable energy may fly over younger listeners’ heads, but the music is good enough to overshadow the blatant lessons.
Price: $15
Available at: Amazon.com
The Blankies
The Blankies are a “cartoon band” with three concept albums. "Learn" teaches the seasons, months of the year, the alphabet, and other preschool basics with pop-influenced, innocuous rock. “Peace” covers manners and etiquette with mostly folky acoustic jams. Our favorite is “Action,” the opening track of which challenges toddlers to move like a robot to ’80s-era synthesizers, drum machines, and canned handclaps.
Price: $14
Available at: Amazon.com
Rockabye Baby! Lullaby
This series takes rock music’s biggest and baddest (think AC/DC, The Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin) and transforms their seminal songs into soothing lullabies for babies (think soft piano, xylophones, and chimes). Other renditions span more contemporary rock like Nine Inch Nails, U2, Coldplay, and Bjork. If your grandbaby’s parents are big Pixies fans, you can pre-order a CD of those renditions, which will be released on June 10.
Price: $17 each
Available at: RockabyeBabyMusic.com
KidzBop 80s Gold
It started as a pop-culture novelty, an album full of tween-age kids singing that day’s mainstream hits. KidzBop has since turned into an enormously popular string of records, an original online series, and a live touring show. The newest is 80s Gold, a set of covers from the golden age of synth-pop and hair bands. In classic KidzBop style, a chorus of preteens sings songs like “Karma Chameleon” and “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” The funniest part is hearing the Twisted Sister stadium anthem “We’re Not Gonna Take It” at its most palatable for kids.
Price: $11
Available at: Amazon.com
Yo Gabba Gabba
Probably the most aggressively stylish music for preschoolers, Yo Gabba Gabba covers lessons like sharing, eating healthy, and saying “please” within a mishmash of hip-hop remixes and original dance beats. Even if your grandtoddler’s parents are the only viewers who recognize musical guests like the Shins and Biz Markie, the variety show is a funky and energetic romp for anyone with ears. Now in its second season and airing weekdays at 11:30 am (ET/PT) on Nick Jr., and Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. (ET) on Noggin, Yo Gabba Gabba will release both its first DVD and CD this fall. Check their website to stay apprised, or to purchase T-shirts in the meantime.
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