My brother’s youngest son, Magnus, who is like a towheaded four-year-old version of Owen Meany (read: adorable and precocious and unintentionally hilarious), marched into the kitchen the other day, unannounced, to declare his top three songs of all time to my brother:
- "Vertigo" by U2
- "Oh L’amour" by Erasure
- The "I married my dream girl" song from the FreeCreditReport.com commercial
He also requested my brother ask me to bring some salami over to their house. But I digress…. Who knows where a kid hears a tune by a British synth-pop duo that came out nearly two decades before he was born — let alone why he likes it? Certainly not me, nor my brother.
But, more importantly, what songs do your kids love? And are they more random than Magnus’ favorite jams?
More from EW’s Music Mix:
EW’s 50 Most Heartbreaking Songs of All Time
What’s the best rainy-day song of all time?
Embarrassing albums: What are your most shameful musical secrets?
My five year old embarrassed me by singing “Womanizer” when we were shopping. I asked her to not sing that in public, so she started singing “Put a Ring on It”. We don’t listen to top 40 anymore.
It would seem the three big faves are Feist *1234 – Dragonette *Hello and Maroon 5 *Moves like Jagger… were proud
Cute picture, cute name (Magnus)! My kids sing to “Papa Don’t Preach” when they hear it on the radio. They’re 3 & 2. Don’t ask.
Thunderstruck.
TNT
And other assorted AC/DC jams.
At 4 years old, I knew all the words to most Pink Floyd songs. I’m 26 now and still catch myself singing along.
My almost four year old son demands that I plug my iPhone in when we are driving so he can sing the “na na na na” song, also known as Pink’s song “So What.”. His nursey school teacher told me he belted out all the lyrics one morning during playtime.
My five year old daughter knows the first verse of Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” by heart. Thankfully, she has not sung it at kindergarten this year. I can just imagine the look on her teacher’s face if she sang, “I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die.”
I Shot the Sheriff–Bob Marley
Hey There, Delilah–Plain White T’s
Lucky–Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat
My 2.5 year old son loves “A-me-ri-ca” by Trini Lopez. My grandmother was playing some old records the last time we visited and he’s been crazy about it since. He also loves “Electric Avenue” and “Young Folks”. He doesn’t sing along, but those are the songs he requests most often for dancing.
My 6-year old son Evan says his favorites are “Paint It Black”, “Free Ride”,and “Godzilla” by Blue Oyster Cult!
Hash Pipe by Weezer is a favorite of my boys… thankfully they don’t understand the lyrics… but it’s a catchy beat for the kiddos.
any Harry Chapin song
my 3 yr olds recent favs… Poker Face and Put a Ring On It
My youngest daughter who is now 12 has known all the words to “American Pie” for about 4 years now. Her favorite song in kindergarten was “Takin Care of Business”.
My 2 yr daughter loves “Poker Face”, “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz, and “Magik” by Ryan Adams and the Cardinals. Random mix huh?
at age 3 my son loved to sing Warren Zevon’s “Lawyers, Guns and Money”
My 4 year old son loves “Steady as She Goes” – The Raconteurs; “Young Folks” – Peter Bjorn and John; “I will Possess Your Heart” and “Crooked Teeth” – Death Cab for Cutie. He also knows the lyrics to “Pinhead” and “Sheena is a Punk Rocker”…it’s hysterical when he walks around singing them.