[Learn4Life146]

I think this is the right place to post this since it's a music question.

I want to make a CD of songs I can play in my classroom while my students are doing independent projects or group activities. I have some classical, relaxing music to play during work time, but I want some upbeat, trendy tunes to play occasionally.

What are some KID-FRIENDLY songs that are popular right now? When I ask my students what music they like, I get replies like, "Eminem, Lady Gaga, and Alice Cooper." (No idea about the Alice Cooper response..) These are second graders, for pete's sake. I know there are those Kidz Bop CDs, but I find those just a tad annoying.

Thanks in advance for any song suggestions!

[MissHoney344]

there are a few classical CDs that are Disney songs redone in classical style. My students LOVE them and like recognizing the tunes.

Heigh Ho Mozart
Bippity Boppity Bach

Check them out!

[ForeverMom]

My kids like Firework by Katy Perry. I'll try to think of some more. Little brain dead at the moment.

[MeMimi]

Do you have a computer hooked up with speakers? You can use Pandora.com and just type in Kids Bop for the station, you will get all their song for FREE, all kid friendly. or you can type in any artist/song/genre and it will play songs by other similar artists. I play it from time to time when the kids are working, they love it.

[JacobsMommy]

My kids love my Vitamin String Quartet songs. As the name implies, it is "classical" renditions of popular songs/artists. (Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts, Lady Gaga, Linin Park, etc.)

[sunshinyday]

I also love using Pandora in the classroom. I teach middle school. Some of the stations that I've played before and RARELY have an inappropriate song pop up are:

Bruno Mars

Jack Johnson

Katy Perry (Once in a while a song I'd rather the kids not listen to pops on with this one, but like a PP, my kids LOVE Firework, and this station plays a lot of girl power-y kinds of songs.

Boyce Avenue (covers TONS of popular music, and from what I've heard, they edit it and take out any bad words)

ETA: Upon further review, I see you teach 2nd graders! So the Katy Perry station might be a little too much for them. I'm so surprised how many of the kids (even the little ones!) know popular, inappropriate songs. I guess many of them have older siblings...or parents who play the radio and don't think about who's listening...

[luckysanders]

Fireflies by Owl City. It's a little older but really clean.

I don't know about Bruno Mars
from Grenade:
No, no, no, no
Black, black, black and blue beat me till I'm numb
Tell the devil I said “hey” when you get back to where you're from
Mad woman, bad woman,
That's just what you are, yeah,


although Just the Way you Are is pretty clean.

OH!!!! What about Justin Bieber, if you can stand it! ☺ ...or the pop versions of Taylor Swift

BTW, I just googled "clean pop songs for kids" and got lots of listings....

HAHA on the eminem, etc. I tell my fifth graders that just because they listen to it at home does NOT mean that their parents want me to let them....

[Learn4Life146]

JacobsMommy, I'd never heard of Vitamin String Quartet. Ahh, that is wonderful! I Googled and found a lot of the songs on YouTube. Ha, I'd never thought I'd be able to use Fall Out Boy or My Chemical Romance (two of my favorite bands) songs in my classroom, but this could make it happen! You've totally made my night.

I've tried Pandora before at school, and it's blocked. Phooey.

I like Firework, Fireflies, and Jack Johnson. I could probably tolerate Justin Bieber in small doses. Is "Love Story" by Taylor Swift appropriate? I like that one.

Thanks for all the suggestions! I have a nice weekend project ahead of me now.

[fromkto3]

I know Will Smith prides himself on not using any curse words. His daughter Willow just came out with some tunes that the kids seem to like. I would have to guess that she follows in her daddy's footsteps...

Oh, and the "Curious George" soundtrack by Jack Johnson.

[teach316]

I agree with Jack Johnson... kids like it, and I do to!

If you go on Itunes, you can find instrumental versions of popular songs. So, they are songs that kids like, and may hear on the radio, but what you are playing is just instrumental. My kids are always asking if I can "turn on the words" !! Anyways, I find it a great compromise, and we all enjoy it.

[magnolia]

Thanks for all who posted. I love that I'm learning about new songs. Jack Johnson and Vitamin String Quartet. Very cool.

[it'sjustme]

My students LOVE Kidz Bop. They take popular songs and they are sung by kids. They also take out any words that are not appropriate for kids.

[TeachNut]

I have some Radio Disney CDs. They are the popular songs sung by the artists but with lyrics that are appropriate for the kids.

I also find that if I get the older ones with the music I like from the 80's & 90's, the kids love them just as much! They love the beat.

[SusanTeach]

I got an ipod from donorschoose and needed to know the same thing! Here are some my kids ask for (not in any order):

"Smile" by Uncle Kracker (also great for teaching similes!)
"Love Story" by Taylor Swift
Any Selena Gomez songs
"Never Say Never" by Justin Beiber
"Fireworks" by Katy Perry
The soundtrack from the Chipmunks movies (they LOVE that!)
The soundtrack from the Enchanted movie (girls love that)


Some asked for Lady Gaga, but I couldn't find any appropriate ones.

[JacobsMommy]

Glad you like VSQ. I also like rock-a-bye baby, but I have to have smaller doses of that one!

They Might Be Giants!