This is proving harder than I thought - *much* harder than the original broadly-rock CD. As before, I have taken your suggestions and put them through my filter (ie left out anything I don't know (this means almost everything on your list, Persephone) or don't like or don't already own - pausing to register with shock that I have neither 'Love Shack', possibly because if I hear it even one more time my brain will turn into taramasolata, or 'Groove Is In The Heart' - then suddenly craving all kinds of other things I've never owned, like Avril Lavigne, who nobody suggested, but even so, rushing over to iTunes to start rectifying these absences, before realising that if I download anything at all I am not going to be able to stop), added a few ideas of my own, and then ruthlessly pruned the list.The rules that I have been playing by are: it must be a proper pop classic; the artist cannot have appeared on the previous CD, as that interferes with educational purposes; it must be something you'd totally love if you heard it for the first time between the ages of 3 and 11; and I can't put on anything that might warp their tiny minds. I don't mean because of lyrical filth - that would rule out Prince, for a start - but I mean because it can only be approached with a heavy dose of world-weary ironic appreciation if it is not going to lead you seriously astray. So that ruled out Take That. And also, to my immense disappointment, Lionel Ritchie's 'All Night Long' - I don't want to curse these kids to a lifetime of sloppy R'n'B.
After all that I have been left with the following list which is far too long and not at all conclusive and is still a great matter of internal turmoil for me. I know: why don't you make that turmoil worse with your comments?
1. Take On Me - aha
2. Walk This Way - Aerosmith / Run DMC
3. Respect - Aretha Franklin
4. Holding Out For A Hero - Bonnie Tyler
5. Baby One More Time - Britney Spears
6. Video Killed The Radio Star - The Buggles
7. Move On Up - Curtis Mayfield
8. The Magic Number - De La Soul
9. Hot Stuff - Donna Summer
10. Son Of A Preacher Man - Dusty Springfield
11. Mr Blue Sky - ELO
12. Sound Of The Underground - Girls Aloud
13. River Deep, Mountain High - Ike & Tina Turner
14. Higher & Higher - Jackie Wilson
15. I Want You Back - Jackson 5
16. Can't Get You Out Of My Head - Kylie Minogue
17. Lady Marmalade - Labelle
18. Music - Madonna
19. I'm A Believer - The Monkees
20. Ca Plane Pour Moi - Plastic Bertrand
21. Kiss - Prince
22. Don't Stop Me Now - Queen
23. Shake Your Tail Feather - Ray Charles
24. Rock DJ - Robbie Williams
25. Leader Of The Pack - Shangri-las (non-negotiable: it's their mum's favourite song)
26. Everyday People - Sly & The Family Stone
27. Wannabe - Spice Girls
28. Birdhouse In Your Soul - They Might Be Giants
I know what you're thinking. What about...? Not to mention....? But the sad truth is we have to *cut* this to the tune (ahem) of about eight songs. Which is not to say that there can't be substitutions. But they had better be good ones.
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13 comments:
Well, seeing as three of the songs on your list are among my suggestions, I can scarcely complain, can I? I've got no strong issues against any of your selections (half a dozen of which are unfamiliar to me). I'm not crazy about "Music", but then, I've never been crazy about Madonna, and it's your list. So rather than saying "Lose these ones", I'll plead for those that I think should remain (and I'm totally with your sister on "Leader of the Pack"):
First, the three from my list:
"Video Killed the Radio Star"
"Everyday People"
"Birdhouse in Your Soul"
Also please keep:
"Respect"
"Son of A Preacher Man" and
"I'm a Believer" (sneaking in Neil Diamond via The Monkees, well done!)
The rest are, I'm sure, worthy selections. (Personally, I prefer the Tom Jones/Art of Noise cover of "Kiss", but, as I've said, it's your list...)
My word verification is "listome", how perfect is that?
Um, Walk This Way and Baby One More Time up at the top, right after you said the rules about insinuation (or outright ideas)?
Good list though.
Ok. For what it's worth (and taking into account I want to include all the tracks you've chosen, 8? that's harsh!!)
My picks would be
Ca Plane pour moi. Because I was the top end of your age range when it came out.
Wannabe cos everyone has to love the Spice Girls
Leader of the Pack - purely self indulgent but I remember doing a play at school to this song (at again the RIGHT age for your target group)
Don't Stop Me Now because I love Queen now though I didn't then, so this should be about introducing them to songs they're grateful for when they grow up. (Also my kids love Queen)
I'm a Believer becuase the Monkees were the soundtrack to my teens. I'd have probably gone with Daydream Believer but this will do(and it is in Shrek -ooh is that a cheat, they'll know it already)
River Deep Mountain High cos Ike and Tina are unbeatable
Can't Get You out of my Head cos Kyle is fab
Take on Me - because I loathed it at the time and Spouse liked it which tells you something, particularly as I now like it. Did I mention I am big on nostalgia.
Rock DJ because Robbie rocks and I have recently found out that someone I was at school with works for him.
Hope that hasn't muddled you too much!!!
Lose Girls Aloud (they're bound to have heard it already), and Ca Plane Pour Moi (it's in foreign).
And can I make a plea for more old-school Madge?
I don't have any older Madonna, or not on CD anyway (I got it all back in the dark ages on tape and vinyl.) I suppose I could download some. I am inclined to leave Ca Plane Pour Moi on as a nod to their French-language heritage, even if it is Belgian.
Ray Charles - Shake your tailfeather is right on the money - a huge hit in our house with my 8yr old daughter - (watch The Blues Brothers to get all the dance moves). She has also recently discovered the Mamas and Papas - California Dreaming but that might be a bit 60s for this comp. I like Ca Plane Pour Moi - it was in a TV ad about a year ago, and Juliet loved it then.
OK, in my personal opinion these are rubbish (or in Madonna's case shouldn't be given the oxygen of publicity): Aha, Kylie, Spice Girls, Madonna, Girls Aloud (sorry Cheryl), Britney and Bonnie Tyler.
Music? Music? That's very worldweary ironic blah.
Holiday!
Holiday!
Oh you just HAVE to put 'Birdhouse in your soul' on the final compilation. It proves that songs can be uplifting nonsense.
you have to keep Ca Plane Pour Moi, and Birdhouse in your Soul, and Video Killed The Radio Star...no particular reason. you just have to
Dump aha. For the rest, I am no help whatsoever.
Rebecca! Traitor! How can you of all people suggest dumping aha?
I had a panic in the middle of the night last night when I realised that there wasn't any ABBA on the list.
I had a panic when I failed to suggest any Erasure or Pet Shop Boys.
Got that off my chest.
Pedro
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