Classic songs to introduce to young kids?

[sparebooks]

DS is 7 and I've noticed he's getting more interested in music ie. if a song he likes comes on the radio he'll go quiet and tell me it's his 'new favourite'.

We've got a couple of long car journeys coming up and I wanted to put together a playlist of defining Uk/US songs I'd (selfishly!) like him to know!

Along the lines of:
Hotel California
Stairway to Heaven
Some Queen, Guns n Roses.. and some more recent too I guess

These were not chosen by me, but we added Faith by George Michael and A Message to you Rudy by the Specials to DC's spotify playlist after they came on in a cafe and he was having a little boogie to himself in his chair.

When my now 16 yo was in his high chair he used to bash in time with the crescendo of Bridge over Troubled water... I thought he might be a musical genius....
He's not.

He does still appreciate Simon and Garfunkel though.

Love both of these!

I am also a big fan of Simon & Garfunkel and hadn't thought of that yet 👍🏻

Prince, Nirvana, Aretha Franklin, Etta James, REM, Arctic Monkeys, Mazzy Star, Lana Del Rey. Make it eclectic not just 60’s/70s. We have a Spotify playlist which my daughter and I both contribute to and shuffle - so she gets a load of stuff she likes and she gets a classic music education too. She’s 9 and she’s music obsessed.

Mine like to hear my memories of songs too, so include the ones you remember from school discos!

My 6 year old grandson has been mad about Michael Jackson's music for a while now.
And yes, it's great fun, catchy stuff but I think we're all dreading the time when he will have to be disillusioned about his hero.

My son went through a David Bowie phase when he was 7-8ish, after his greatest hits cd was played regularly in my car. Space Oddity and Under Pressure were particular favourites, and still are when they pop up on the radio. He is 16 now.

Mine liked Lovecats by the Cure....

Duran Duran- Hungry like the wolf
U2
Erasure
Beatles
ABBA

all went down well for us

The whole of Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

Octopuses Garden by The Beatles!!

My DS loved Madness at about that age

Busted - Thunderbirds are go
Bon Jovi
Eurythmics?
Dire Straits- money for nothing

Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves
All Sit Down
Golden Brown
Black Parade
Justified & Ancient
Ride on Time
Insomnia

get eclectic! 😂

Queen Greatest Hits and Fleetwood Mac like Rhiannon

Absolutely wonderful album, but for a 7-year-old?

Gosh, where to begin with this - so much wonderful classic music to get to know. I'm quite envious, actually!
A few to consider, probably mostly already mentioned:
Bob Marley, lots of possibilities
The Beatles and ABBA, ditto
Supertramp - many incredibly catchy numbers from the 70s
Slade - ditto
Baker Street, Gerry Rafferty
I can see clearly now the rains have gone, lots of possible versions
Ain't no sunshine now she's gone, Bill Withers
He ain't heavy, he's my brother, The Hollies
Tiger Feet, Mud
Mr Blue Sky, ELO

That'll do for starters!

My dc love Rumours and I played it a lot on car journeys when they were younger

Blondie as well like Atomic

Ds was note and rhythm perfect on Mrs Robinson when he was about 3yo.
Red Rubber Ball was also one of his favourites, and The Zoo, Baby Driver, Sound of Silence, Hazy Shade of Winter and Keep the Customer Satisfied were all ones he sang along to.

He also had a liking for "And then I kissed her" by the Beach Boys. Odd choice, but he loved it and used to ask for it regularly in the car.

There's also some of the Queen songs like Don't stop me now, and It's a kind of Magic, although I think the main reason why he liked them was his favourite Red Arrow you-tube video was set to them.

I did enjoy introducing him to the Chicken Song and Agadoo and YMCA all of which he was astounded that they had ever been considered worthy of anyone buying. He was terrified of Mr Blobby though.
Dh thought I was winding him up when I was singing the Star Trek song and used the lines "Boldly going forward, 'cause we can't find reverse", but ds thought it was very funny. He loved the Superman song too.

One of my favourite moments was when he'd just got bluetooth headphones (aged quite a bit older) and went through a phase of wandering round the house still listening to whatever he'd set playing. I'd been teasing him about really listing to YMCA so one day I sneaked upstairs and set it to play YMCA on a loop.
First time he came on, he had a look of putting up with that song but not being so bothered he needed to do the exercise to go upstairs and change it. Second time, he gave a huge put-upon sigh. As it started for the third time, I saw realisation spread over his face and he rushed upstairs to stop it.
That was 3-4 years ago. If he comes down with his headphones on, I usually only need to sign Y, and occasionally M and they come off. 🤣

My DS1 absolutely adored B52s Rock Lobster.. he learnt the mid song noises really quickly, good fun!

Abba
Carpenters
Another vote for madness
Sweet Caroline. BomBomBoom
Barry white my first my last my everything

Slade
Motown

I was listening to that today - brilliant

Lovely thread as it reminds me of when mine were younger and we'd all sing along.

My dad was in a band until recently, 50's, 60's & 70's music, they loved it and even learnt to rock n roll dance.

They also loved
Dolly Parton
Micheal Jackson
Fleetwood Mac
Bob Marley
lovers rock
UB40

Oh and ABBA of course!

DS loves anything by the foo fighters, linkin park (modern classics?) blondie, Fleetwood Mac, the Beatles, the who, pink Floyd, lots you've already said, Phil Collins and most recently it's another day in paradise he loves, he said it's so sad and asked me lots of questions about homelessness and people without families/help (so you may or may not want to go there)