K is for Kindie

Kindie: Kid-friendly Indie Rock

From Wikipedia:

Kindie rock is a style of children's music that "melds the sensibility of the singer-songwriter with themes aimed at kids under 10." Many popular kindie rock artists first gained fame as adult performers: these include Dan Zanes and They Might Be Giants. Other well-known kindie rock artists started directly in the genre, or did not achieve commercial success until moving in that direction: such artists include Laurie Berkner, Recess Monkey, and Tim and the Space Cadets. Children's music veterans, Greg & Steve and Bobby Susser introduced various forms of kindie rock to the school supply industry in the mid 70s, and continue to do so, within their repertoire. Cornering the market on kid-hop by blending hip-hop rhymes with imaginative storytelling is Secret Agent 23 Skidoo.

One time while I was pregnant I was rummaging through Barnes and Nobles kid music section. I understand and appreciate all that rock music set to lullabies and I get Kidz Bop and enjoy Raffi and Steve Songs.  I was looking for music that I would enjoy and that wasn't sooooooooo you know kid (annoying)-centric. Thumbing through the music, I found our favorite family band The Jimmies and I learned all about Kindie by going to their website and then Googling the term. Of course, being the music lover I am I became addicted, ergo Lila became addicted. We enjoy Mother Goose songs and all of that, but Kindie rock ensures that both parents and children are having a good time.

We enjoy:
They Might Be Giants
Greg and Steve
Medeski, Martin and Wood
The Not-Its

But...
The Jimmies are our favoritest in the whole wide world!

Parents! Are You Ready for Kindie Rock? Time Magazine article

What can I say we're trend-setting Midwestern parents!?

30 Day Song Challenge: Day Three

Day Three: A song that makes you happy

          I've been telling everyone I know about kindie rock. Kindie rock is kid friendly indie rock and encompasses such bands as The Scribble Monsters, They Might Be Giants, The Not-Its and, my favorite, The Jimmies. 

         I found The Jimmies quite by accident at B&N, I was looking for something to entertain the tiny tot. I'd been playing kiddie music and Fisher Price lullabies when I took her to school when I have to do work on the weekends and was actually looking for the lullabies when I stumbled upon their cd and recognized them from some of the videos we'd been watching on youtube. The cover kind of grabs you (their stuff is sold exclusively at Barnes and Noble and on their website) and I bought their cd instead. At Christmas I bought the dvd and introduced my whole family to Ashley and the guys in ties. We especially like Taddy, Spanimals and Bedhead. The latter is the song that makes me happy.

          I loved the song when it was just Lila and I dancing around at school or bopping around in the car on the way home. I love the song even more now that I have Christmas memories of the kidlets bopping around to the song as their older cousin rolls her eyes and laughs and we're entertained by watching kindie videos...sigh...good times!

Side note: One way to make Lila excited or distracted is to pop in the 'ole video of this song, her head starts bopping up and down, she shakes and shimmies about, she raises the roof (still not sure where she learned that one) and she sings.



"It's Cool to be Uncool"

Feel free to join in by commenting below (I really do love comments, on fb or here), or doing this challenge on your own blog.

The 30 Day Song Challenge

Day 01 – Your favorite song
Day 02 -- Your least favorite song
Day 03 – A song that makes you happy
Day 04 – A song that makes you sad
Day 05 – A song that reminds you of someone
Day 06 – A song that reminds of you of somewhere
Day 07 – A song that reminds you of a certain event
Day 08 – A song that you know all the words to
Day 09 – A song that you can dance to
Day 10 – A song that makes you fall asleep
Day 11 – A song from your favorite band
Day 12 – A song from a band you hate
Day 13 – A song that is a guilty pleasure
Day 14 – A song that no one would expect you to love
Day 15 – A song that describes you
Day 16 – A song that you used to love but now hate
Day 17 – A song that you hear often on the radio
Day 18 – A song that you wish you heard on the radio
Day 19 – A song from your favorite album
Day 20 – A song that you listen to when you’re angry
Day 21 – A song that you listen to when you’re happy
Day 22 – A song that you listen to when you’re sad
Day 23 – A song that you want to play at your wedding
Day 24 – A song that you want to play at your funeral
Day 25 – A song that makes you laugh
Day 26 – A song that you can play on an instrument
Day 27 – A song that you wish you could play
Day 28 – A song that makes you feel guilty
Day 29 – A song from your childhood
Day 30 – Your favorite song at this time last year