Music for Babies

When Oliver was just a few months old, we didn’t really have any children’s music, so when we were in the car with him, I would put on the most reassuringly normal music we owned (mainly the Beatles) so that we could sing along. I think I had read somewhere that babies should not be exposed to music that could upset them, e.g., shifts in volume, unexpected noises. Playing music at mealtimes, however, often became distracting, especially if he was upset about something, although this is now less of a problem, mostly on weekends. There were a few times when I would sneak some adult listening in, cradling a sleepy Oliver in my arms while playing something like Brian Eno's Music for Airports or 'New Grass' by Talk Talk. Most of his exposure to music so far, however, has been through the classical pieces on the Baby Einstein DVDs and a few classical-based CDs at bedtime.

Now that he's almost 2 and rapidly becoming more verbal, he'll probably start to respond to music more and so we're faced with the dilemma of finding music that's intended for children but won't drive parents crazy. And whether it's because today's parents want to remain young and hip longer or they believe they relate to their kids better than their parents did to them, there's an increasing amount of children's music for hipster parents being made.

While it's understandable that parents want more options than traditional choices like Raffi or Sharon, Lois and Bram, I suspect that the desire for kids' music that won't send adults running screaming from the room after repeated playings can result in music that both groups find merely tolerable. This is where I think a recent compilation titled See You On The Moon! (Paper Bag Records, PAPER018) falls short. It may feature some indie names but there doesn't seem to have been much thought given to whether it should feature happy playtime music or sleepytime songs, or a jolly first half and a gentle second half. Instead, it veers uncomfortably back and forth between upbeat, joyful and energetic tracks (notably, Apostle of Hustle's '24 Robbers', the only track to feature children's voices, and the cartoonishly nonsensical 'Fruit Belt' by Kid Koala and Lederhosen Lucil) and more downbeat selections that would work well at bedtime (Junior Boys' 'Max', Detective Kalita's 'Baby Brother').

Taken individually, some of the more playful tracks are winning efforts that kids may enjoy, including Alan Sparhawk's cheerily casual, acoustic 'Be Nice to People With Lice', the inspirational title track by Great Lake Swimmers (which contains a nod to Free to Be... You and Me) and Glissandro 70's creaky, rackety 'Voices Are Your Best Friends'. But there are also a couple of clunkers that are a drag to listen to, no matter how old you are: Broken Social Scene contribute an unforgivably lethargic take on 'Puff, the Magic Dragon' (more lava lamp than night light), while Mark Kozelek's 'Leo and Luna', though admittedly about a pair of cats that used to get on his nerves, is delivered with a subdued nonchalance bordering on mopy indifference.

It may be that the artists involved aren't parents (there are a few mentions of nephews and nieces in the liner notes), but I suppose the problem is that it's not unlike other compilations in that it's inconsistent in tone and mood. The solution may lie in judicious CD programming or putting the upbeat and downbeat tracks on separate mixes, iPod playlists, etc. Then again, you may just be able to put it on in the background either at bedtime or playtime and your kids won't care either way.

Larry

P.S.: Hot Chip's 'I Can't Wake Up' is a decent lullaby (except for being about not being able to wake up) but kids may get more of a kick out of their silly video for 'Over and Over'.