Maker Songs for Maker Kids

I don't know if this generation of kids are any more DIY than previous generations, but those kids with maker tendencies (or parents who want to encourage those tendencies) have never had as many opportunities to indulge them (not to mention temptations to ignore them).

I was listening to The Board of Education's fine new album Binary when it occurred to me that the song "I'm Not Here Right Now," about a kid not so keen on sitting in a classroom but very keen on getting out and constructing and exploring, could be an anthem for today's maker kids.

So here's a playlist to be inspired by the next time you and your kids are turning a cardboard box into a race car, learning basic electronic circuitry, or building your own cardboard drum set.  I tried to stay pretty close to the maker concept (and avoiding music-making or cooking and the like), but strayed occasionally into maker-friendly songs that more generally celebrate imaginative use of found objects and creating one's own entertainment.  (Also, despite the number of tracks covering the Woody Guthrie classic, this is nowhere near the number of versions of "Bling Blang" that are available.)

Yes, I understand the slight irony of listening to others' creative works while creating your own, but nobody's perfect.  Go forth and create!

Maker Songs for Maker Kids [Spotify url]

Billy Kelly – The Ballad of Johnny Box
The Biscuit Brothers – I Did It Myself
The Board of Education – Vasimr (to Mars!)
The Board of Education – I'm Not Here Right Now
The Board of Education – Know Your Inventors, Pt. II
The Board of Education – Know Your Inventors, Part I
The Board of Education – Lunchtime (Tin Foil Robots)
Brady Rymer – Bling Blang
Caspar Babypants – Googly Eyes
Coal Train Railroad – With A Box
Dan Zanes & Friends – Thrift Shop
Dog On Fleas – Bling-blang
Elizabeth Mitchell – Bling Blang
Fox and Branch – Bling Blang
Frances England – Bling Blang
The Hipwaders – Art Car
The Hipwaders – My New Camera
Imagination Movers – Imagination Movers Theme
The Jellydots – Adventure Quest!
Johnny Bregar – Yes I Can
Johnny Keener – Bling Blang
Justin Roberts – Cardboard Box
Keith Munslow – Cardboard Box
Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band – Lemonade Stand
Lunch Money – Come Over to My Dollhouse
Matt Clark – Cardboard Box
Metric – Everybody Has a Talent
Monty Harper – My Video Camera
The Pop Ups – Box of Crayons
Ralph's World – Sunny Day Rainy Day Anytime Band
Recess Monkey – Fort
Recess Monkey – Science Fair
Recess Monkey – Toolbox
Recess Monkey – I Got A Toy, But I Played With the Box
Secret Agent 23 Skidoo – Hot Lava
Secret Agent 23 Skidoo – Brainstorm
Secret Agent 23 Skidoo – Bored Is A Bad Word
Sugar Free Allstars – Cardboard Box
They Might Be Giants – Science Is Real
They Might Be Giants – Put It to the Test
They Might Be Giants – Computer Assisted Design
They Might Be Giants – Where Do They Make Balloons?
They Might Be Giants – The Edison Museum

Songs for Thanksgiving

I've posted a lot of Thanksgiving-related songs and videos over the years, but I think it's probably time to collect them all in one place. (And early enough that you could actually prepare a playlist before fighting the crowds at your local grocery store.) If I've forgotten something, I trust you'll let me know. Enjoy the turkey (or tofurkey, or in the case of our household, usually seafood lasagna).

Laurie Berkner - "(I'm Gonna Eat on) Thanksgiving Day" (as close to a kindie Thanksgiving Day anthem as we have)
John McCutcheon - "Thanksgiving Day"
Charity and the JAMband - "Thank You" (close enough, right?, and now you can download it for free for now)
Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer - "Thank You" (this one's much more Thanksgiving-related)
Brian Vogan and his Good Buddies - "Last Thanksgiving"
Todd McHatton - "Happy Vegan Thanksgiving Song" (listen here; purchases this week go to charity)
Bill Harley - "Enough is a Feast"
Bill Harley - "Thanksgiving Prayer"
Kindiependent - "Kids' Table"
Jim "Mr. Stinky Feet" Cosgrove - "Gobble Across the USA"
The Harmonica Pocket - "Give Thanks"
Dre Towey - "Turkey Bop"
Joanie Leeds and the Nightlights - "The Tofurkey Song"
Spencer the Gardener - "The Gobble Song"
Kurt Gallagher - Tommy Turkey (watch here)

Songs for Adoption (Newly Updated)

I first posted a list of songs for adoption about four years ago and updated it last year. Without going into great detail (if you want more, read the original list), adoption has been a part of our how family has grown, and for that I'm grateful.

This Saturday, November 19, 2011, families across the United States will celebrate National Adoption Day. Everyone's adoption journey is a little bit different, so trying to come up with a list of adoption songs is difficult work. Still, here's a short list (albeit slowly growing), which I've generally tried to restrict to very adoption-specific songs. I'm sure there's more, so if I've missed any, please let me know in the comments.

"Happy Adoption Day," by John McCutheon (off his Family Garden CD or his Supper's on the Table... best-of)
"From God's Arms to My Arms to Yours," by Michael McLean
"The Red Thread," by Lucy Kaplansky, off the album of this same name
"Cartwheels and Somersaults," by Justin Roberts, off Meltdown! -- OK, this isn't really about adoption, but it is all about the joy of adding another child to a family and it spoke to our family's situation wonderfully.
"Not Alone', by John Carlin from his CD First Time For Everything
"When Love Takes You In," by Steven Curtis Chapman off Declaration
"Once Upon a Time," by Miss Lynn off Something New (and download the song for free here) -- those of you with a Guatamalan adoption experience should check it out, especially...
"I Am Your Mother Too" from the Keb'Mo album Big Wide Grin
"I'm Adopted" by Randall Goodgame on his Slugs & Bugs album Under Where? (note: this song has a definite Christian bent so that may make the song more (or less) attractive to you)

The Five Best Halloween Kids Music Videos... Ever?

Well, of course not. I mean, I'm sure a Halloween kids music video will come out next year that will knock number 5 below out of the list. [Ed.: Heck, I forgot one already, added as #6, that should've been in the top 5.] But they're five videos six worth your family's 15 minutes or so.

5. John Hadfield - "Robot Monkey Head" [YouTube]

OK, technically speaking this isn't a Halloween video. But it darn well should be.

The list continues...
4. Justin Roberts - "Trick or Treat" [YouTube]

This is a live video recorded with a low-res Flip camera. It is also indisputably one of the greatest Halloween songs ever written. Average the two is #4 on this list.

3. The Sippy Cups - "The Day After Halloween" [YouTube]

This is the best day after Halloween video ever. This is probably the only day after Halloween video ever, but that's quibbling.

2. Princess Katie and Racer Steve - "Halloween" [YouTube]

This year's addition to the list, featuring nifty animation, a 53-piece orchestra, and a decent song to boot.

1. Brian Vogan - "That's How a Pumpkin Grows" [YouTube]

Great song and awesome video. Worthy of the Great Pumpkin.

****

Bonus: Uncle Rock - "Picnic in the Graveyard" [YouTube]

Totally forgot about this video from Uncle Rock.

Even More Halloween Songs and Videos

Like all good (or is it bad) scary movies, my original Halloween music post for 2011 spawned not just one sequel, but has, with this post, become a full-on trilogy.

Chuck Cheesman has offered up his Halloween song "Halloween Freak Out!" from his latest album Dancing With No Shoes On as a free download for the next few days (and, really, who would want to listen to it on, say, Nov. 2nd?). Note: actual freaking out during the song is minimal. The download is available at the the top of this page.

Baze and His Silly Friends are offering up a free download of their 2009 song "Scare Me, Scare You."

Number of times "scary" is in the title = 2. Actual level of scariness = 0.1 (but that's OK!)

Download the track here or via the widget below.

DidiPop has a jazzy take on the season. Number of jazzy Halloween albums = 0? Number of jazzy Christmas albums = approaching infinity. And now, you can download the tune for free.

DidiPop - "Goblins" [YouTube]

Finally, Gooney Bird Kids and the Sounds Sweet Show both have big Halloween playlists/podcasts up. You can check out Gwyneth's 52-song stream here and David's podcast here.