AIBU to want to find music I can enjoy with my 4 year old?

[Doesntlooklikeanythingtome]

After living in a haze for the last few years, I have finally found my feet and want to enjoy listening to music with my child but am a bit lost. I'm looking for recommendations that are child friendly but not kid's music, which can be pretty grating. Have recently purchased Divide Ed Sheeran, Human Rag n Bone and Greatest Day Take That. Something we can sing to, dance to or have in the background during playtime. Open to classical, pop, rock etc. Please share the albums that you and your kids enjoy together. Thanks

Mine are very into the Sing soundtrack. DS1 loves Golden Slumber (and other Beatles songs) and DS2 is obsessed with I'm Still Standing.

Mine liked the pogues and lots of punk. The anarchic energy seems to be very child like!
But they got lots of reggae and soul and trip hop too, there were no objections.

Both my DSs loved the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah band as sing along car music. At about 4 my first DS thought the Laurel and Hardy Blue Ridge Mountain of Virginia was the funniest thing in the world ever.

Just play what you like, at this age they will enjoy it. Once they hit around 12 you will hate their music and vice/versa

Another vote for all of the children’s albums by They Might be Giants here!

When they were little the dcs used to listen to whatever we were listening to, but we had to skip some more explicit lyrics or slightly adapt them
I remember listening to Kaiser Chiefs on an endless loop for a while.

From the posters saying just play them what you like to listen to - that's not the point with 4 year olds is it - there are so many songs with lyrics totally inappropriate for a 4 year old (anything on DS16's playlist for a start!)

I second putting the radio on - loads of different stations playing different music but generally the versions without the swearing.

My boys loved The Beach Boys and Simon and Garfunkel when they were babies/toddlers. (Not Bright Eyes though, obv) I think Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel have really soothing voices even now.

A lot of 50s/60s music is pretty good for kids - it's generally safe content-wise and the voices are nice and the music usually has a bop to it. DS2 used to make me and DH cry with laughter when he'd dance to the "Twist" as a toddler.

My 5 yo is all about the soundtracks.
Disney
Sing
Trolls
A very weird, cheesy but wonderful film called Strange Magic

My 4 year old likes a bit of pop punk so Offspring, Blink 182, Green Day. And also anything off my power ballads albums, he loves Purple Rain and The Final Countdown! He was even dancing to Marilyn Manson the other day!

Bizarrely, DS1 really used to love Kylie Minogue. They were babies when she made her comeback and for some reason, "Your Disco Needs You" was one of their favourites.

From the posters saying just play them what you like to listen to - that's not the point with 4 year olds is it - there are so many songs with lyrics totally inappropriate for a 4 year old

Well thats fairly obvious but plenty of choice in all genres without inappropriate language

My kids love
Uptown funk,
Happy by Pharell Williams,
Cant stop the Feeling- Justin Timberlake
Shut up and dance-Walk the moon
Black magic -Little Mix
Firework and Roar- Katy Perry
Moves like Jagger -maroon 5 ( fortunately they don’t pay much attention to the lyrics!)
I gotta feeling - Black Eyed Peas
Shake it off - Taylor Swift

Also Gangnam Style , but then also some decent stuff like Rag n Bone Man -skin, Rihanna -Diamonds and Sia - Chandelier and Adele - Set Fire to the rain. They are 6 and 3. We listen to music a lot. I hope they maintain a love of music and develop their own tastes.

my two aged 7 & 3 currently LOVE the Greatest Showman soundtrack, anything from Disney films eg Moana, Tangled Lion King, Beauty & the Beast also go down well (though eldest is starting to outgrow those now) they also love Little Mix, Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran, Foo Fighters, Acdc & eldest has recently discovered Michael Jackson too. We have the radio on a lot but also listen to a wide range of music on spotify & the kids soon ask to hear a song again if they like it!

Love Boney M, The Drifters, 90s music, like Ace of Base, Britany Spears. Got lots of downloaded on my Alexa that I use when kids are about. Bryan Adams, Sia is also good. Got Now Reggae Albums on Alexa, live Reggae.

Mine loves the greatest showman soundtrack she knows every word!

Others have beaten me to it but I came on to say Nick Cope, he's such a great bloke. His music is great for kids to sing along to but not annoying. I love Why is the Sky Blue and Snowman Kind of Day, kids obviously love The Baby's Done a Poo.

We also like the Amazon Music play lists, ones like 50 Happy songs.

DS1 used to love REM as a toddler. I can fully understand that - Michael Stipe has a lovely voice.

Thanks for all the suggestions. A great collection of ideas to sift through and sample over the weekend :)