STEWART COPELAND

My oldest son is becoming 9 years old over a week and his interest in music is growing. So he's getting a MP3 player for his birthday and I want to add some songs on it. Ofcourse I'm gonna add the songs I know he likes, but I also want to give him some "education" in popmusic. I wanna put some songs/bands on it, which I think he really needs to know. Like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, names and bands that were important for the development of modern music/rock music. Obvious names for us, but he knows (almost) nothing.

So, which song or band do you think should be on that MP3-player?

Maybe a bit of Jimi Hendrix?

Hi Maud!

Led Zeppelin I think is another pretty obvious addition - though of course I don't know how you feel about 'parental advisory' issues concerning lyrics. For myself I have chosen to ignore such concerns altogether, kids I think are clever and do not need to be patronized. Some stuff will go over their heads and that is fine as well. This perhaps explains how come my eight-year old daughter is so fond of Motörhead
I've been thinking of trying out how my girl would like the Kinks, for pure songwriting quality I think that would be a great choice!

Dire Straits, Pink Floyd, REM, Bob Marley, Mike Oldfield...
I think one song (or two) is ok

A bit OT, but I wanted to add this: if you are interested in world music for your son as well, this company
http://www.putumayo.com/
has great kids' collections of music from all over the planet. I love these too, it was like I finally found kids' CDs that I don't give me a migraine!

[quote="rapa"]This perhaps explains how come my eight-year old daughter is so fond of Motörhead [/quote]

Haha. Love it.


Also (depending on the direction/how far back you want to go) Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Black Sabbath, The Clash, . . .

Great idea, Maud!

What a great topic for a thread! And I like how you educate your son. Wish him a happy birthday for me.
I only have one addition, Elvis Costello's Alison. Now, before y'all start booing me, hear me out.
There's a professor at York University's Faculty of Music who teaches a course or two on pop/rock music. He has won several Grammy's for his writing on sleeve liner notes. His name escapes me. He teaches Alison to his students as the quintessential pop song. I heard him talk about it on the radio. His argument was compelling, but like his name, forgotten to me. Anyway, I know Alison would get Prof. Whathisname's vote for your sons mp-3 player.

I had to add these great artists...

Miles Davis: Kind of Blue
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBpLKm8vw4M
(I know it's jazz but it's the quintessential Miles...a must have!)

Billy Joel: The Stranger
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n5Wtqwn ... re=channel
(I had to include a New Yorker or maybe two! [see below])

The Ramones: Ramones Mania! (this being the best album to find all their greatest hits Your best bets might be "I Wanna Be Sedated or Blitzkrieg Bop but this youtube clip is my personal favorite.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHh1x8izGyg


(And the best thing to come out of New Jersey next to Donna)
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band: Born To Run
(Especially the 30th Anniversary Edition with this hidden jem...a video of their live performance at the Hammersmith Odeon, London 1975)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYPSZiE0OAs

Sect404 you stole my suggestion as well:
Miles Davis - 'Kind Of Blue'
You know what, I just bought it as I had nothing from such a great artist, and I wanted something to start with; reading this message I immediately thought about suggesting this album, then I read your answer as well; great great great choice...

>http://www.putumayo.com/
Great suggestion as well; I run this label in Italy

What else, have you already said something from Leonard Cohen?

Ah Maud - that is difficult! I can only share the experience of being a kid - I HATED my parents trying to get me to like 'their' music. I would have loved to have had a few tapes of their favourite songs/pieces, and a promise that if I liked anything I could ask for more. Does the new technology allow that?!

(Having access to a radio was their greatest musical gift to me...does anyone remember radio )

ETA: Putamayo gets my vote too, but do balance it out with some really, really depressing leonard cohen. And on a completely different tack, I've never met anyone of any age who didn't grin from ear to ear listening to Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli.

I would add some Beatles music. Accessible to all ears from those who are skilled musicians to new listerners. Porbably Rubber Soul, Revolver, or Sgt Peppers. Or Yellow Submarine ihas more music kids would probably like.

Of course Klark Kent is always good. h course there are "adult" themes in some of the songs. And you probably don't want your kid to telling people to kiss his socks if they don't like his arrogance at age 9. Stay Ready and Ritch in a Ditch seems safe enough and fun.

Yes yes yes, that's the spirit. I'm definitely gonna add some Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix. But I believe it's too soon for Miles Davis. I'm looking for popular songs that changed the music and songs that everybody knows. It has to be from the 50-s till now and a lot of different kinds (rock, regae, ska, punk, new wave, house, etc).
I really would like to offer him a very broad range, Smudge, so he can chose. He is very good in saying what he likes and what not. He can always ask for more. There is no parental advisory issue, because he doesn't understand the english language (yet).
I don't like Allison myself, but maybe I'm gonna add something else from Elvis Costello.
Me myself, I like all the old ones, so you have to help me with the newer names. What "did" it the last 20 years?????

Could I pop The Smiths on the table? Not everyone's cup of tea but I think a 9 year-old might be quite taken with the jangley guitar, if not some of the lyrics!

Maud, Here are some to add..

Bill Haley & the Comets - Rock Around The Clock ( supposedly the start of Rock n Roll)

David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust & Heroes

Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody & We Will Rock You / We Are The Champions

Someone else mentioned Mike Oldfield gotta have Tubular Bells.

Thin Lizzy - Whiskey In The Jar & The Boys Are Back In Town

E.L.O - Roll Over Beethoven & Mr. Blue Sky

Ah yes, Animal, Bill Haley ofcourse.
But guys, you need to help me with the new ones. What songs did change the music the last 20 years? You don't have to like them. As I said: I want to give my son the whole range of different popular music styles ( ehhh to some degree, I'm not gonna put Jan Smit (some famous dutch singer) on it)

Or aren't there any? I can't think of any. I don't believe that people are gonna talk about Britney Spear's music in 20 years....
Maybe N.E.R.D or Pharell?
What do you think?