When my youngest brother was three, my aunt gave him a mix tape with only one song, repeating over and over. Front AND back. His favorite song; Blue’s Traveler’s Runaround. At the time, I thought it was hilarious and adorable. Now that I’m in the car with my kids for a good portion of the day, I fully understand what fresh hell it must have been for my mother.
Here’s a tip: if you like a song, do not play it for your children. Kids are song ruiners. They take such delight in hearing a song they like (even more so once they learn the words) that you will have to listen to that song again and again, and again and again, until you hate it. At that point, they will ask you to play it, “Just one more tiiiiiime, Mommy!” before they acquiesce and allow you a turn (“But nothing slow, okay?”) And know this- you will only get one selection before they ask for THAT SONG again.
Sigh.
Just a few tunes I used to enjoy before my kids loved them:
Paparazzi by Lady Gaga
Firework by Katy Perry
A-Punk by Vampire Weekend
The entire Wicked soundtrack
I’m in the car quite a bit with my littles, and the older two (mostly) control our radio. This Spring, we listened to the Sophia the First soundtrack for three months straight. Awkward is your husband walking into the kitchen as you belt out, “I’m not ready to be a princess, I don’t have what it takes…” while washing dishes.
Right now, they’re in a Kidz Bop phase. I used to let them listen to actual pop songs, but they started repeating some unsavory lyrics. (Not curse words, but not appropriate for children either, you know what I mean?) For those lucky people who aren’t familiar with Kidz Bop, let me fill you in. The Kidz Bop kids cover popular, Top 40 music, but alter the lyrics so that all songs are kid-friendly. In “California Gurls”, for example, Katy Perry croons, “Sun-kissed skin, so hot, we’ll melt your popsicle…” while the KB kids sing “Sun-kissed beach”, and voila! No worries when they sing that one in the grocery store checkout line.
They each have favorites (Oldest likes “Girlfriend” by Avril Lavigne, while my middle girl prefers “Who Let the Dogs Out”. Yayyyy), and there are so many songs they enjoy that we aren’t falling into a pattern of requesting the same song ad nauseum. Yet. (And only because the Kidz have, like, 25 albums. Note to my Chicks, we should totally form a Momz Bop group.)
My husband and I took them to see Kidz Bop in concert last Sunday. (Yep, they tour. Who knew?) Watching my girls dance and sing their little hearts out was the best part of my weekend, even if I had to endure a KB cover of “Ho Hey”.
Singing like Taylor Swift!
So, you can understand that during my time “off”, which is pretty much my running time, I like to listen to adult music. Give me the big butts, the rump shaking, sex on fire, Slim Shady, and all the words I wouldn’t even type here.
Recently, I got a new iPod shuffle, and asked my girls for some dirrrty tunes for my workouts:
Bec-
Crazy Bitch – Buckcherry
What’s Your Fantasy- Ludacris and Lil Kim
Tear You Apart – She Wants Revenge
Closer – Nine Inch Nails
Work It – Missy Elliott
Jess-
Big Poppa – The Notorious BIG
HAM – Kanye West and Jay-Z
Meri-
We Run This- Missy Elliott
Thanks, Chicks!
Share your favorite PG-13 and rated R running tunes with me. Please? Or tell us what songs our Momz Bop group would cover.
My mother still hates being stuck in the car with me and I’m in my late 20s. But for running I love just about anything by the Beastie Boys and they usually come with a parental advisory. And Hash Pipe by Weezer,
I always forget about Beastie Boys! Perfect for running. Thanks. 🙂
My mother and I still don’t agree on music for the car. Usually my kids are with us though, so we get what we get. Ha.
I’ve never been one for “mantras,” but the Beastie Boys’ “you can’t, you won’t and you don’t stop” in Sure Shot has always been really relevant.
There is always the throw back with Cake’s Nugget. Really you can’t beat anything from their Fashion Nugget album.
Yes! The good old days, haha. My husband and I have been trying to compile the perfect 90s playlist for a decade now. Cake would definitely be there. Never thought about it for exercise! Thank you. 🙂
My child listens to number 17 on one of the Music Together cds. Over and over and over. And over. When I finally get my chance, it’s all Blurred Lines and We Can’t Stop. 😉
Blurred Lines can’t stop.
LOL! My five year old loves Who Let The Dogs Out? He also loves Maroon 5’s Daylight (which he listens to a LOT, but I love listening to him try to sing the lyrics, so it’s ok).
For running, I love Neon Trees’ “Animal,” Fall Out Boys’ “My Songs Know What You Did In the Dark” and Pitbull’s “Let’s Go” I don’t think any of them are too dirty, though. 🙂
Looooove Neon Trees!
Do you listen to kids music with your son? One of my friends told me her daughter (also 5) doesn’t know it exists and she’d rather her not realize it. Lol.
Thanks 🙂
I’m a huge fan of the new Jay Z song Holy Grail but I don’t think that Jay Z is kid friendly, There’s this 16 year old from New Zeland who has been blowing up in America called Lorde, she’s just 16 so I don’t think her Lyrics could be too dangerous? I like her song Tennis Courts.
I will check those out! Thank you 🙂
My kid listens to musical scores….snore! What is wrong with him??? I prefer Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke
I wrote this post and then vacuumed while listening to Blurred Lines, with my kids in the room! Rules do not apply to that song. Haha.
Thanks.
No Church in the Wild- Kanye/Jay-Z. Not safe for kiddos, but great for running.
Love that album! I don’t hear it enough, obviously. 😉 Thanks.
I don’t have kids, but this post was hilarious. I’ve had so many friends talk about it, for those of us who are childless, its funny. Sorry.
Explicit running song right now (that hasn’t already been mentioned) – Play Hard by David Guetta with Ne-Yo and Akon
Haha, thanks so much. Don’t worry, I’m laughing with you.