Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Kidz Bop. Or Not.

Note: Links & videos are NSFW.

Carlie posted about Kidz Bop, one of those pop culture things I just don't get. Or like. Or understand.

Why I don't like it, in a nutshell:

It's pushing children into the adult sphere, while pretending not to.

If you're going to rock out to Pink's So What from her album Funhouse -- do just that. Why have a bunch of kids singing it, in Kidz Bop, Vol. 15? I find it a bit creepy to see all these tweens singing Pink's anthem of break-up, survival, and just all around adult, grown up, drinking, going to bars, partying awesomeness.

Check out Pink singing, at this video at YouTube (embedding not allowed).

And here is the scary as hell Kidz singing the same song:



If you want kid's music, check out WXPN's Kids Corner. Which has music for kids of all ages.

Meanwhile, I'm trying to think of the worst. possible. songs. for Kidz Bop to record. Except I'd be scared to see if they have covered it.

What about Sick Bed of Cuchulainn from the Pogues'Rum Sodomy & the Lash



Any other suggestions?

Edited to add:

Bib-laura-graphy makes me want to scrub my brain and ears after hearing this gem of children singing....um. Click. Be Afraid. Perhaps they (and their parents) are like Buffy? "Of course, I had no idea what it was about."

Judith represents the Australians by suggesting "You Only Like Me Cause I'm Good in Bed" by Aussie rock legends Skyhooks (circa 1973). Perhaps the tots could sing it, thinking it's about pillow fights?




© Elizabeth Burns of A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy

7 comments:

Swirl Girl said...

When I heard the Kidz Bop version of Party Like a Rock Star in our Music Room at the library I almost fell over. About 10 minutes later a parent wanted to borrow it. Go figure.

Misrule said...

"You Only Like Me Cause I'm Good in Bed" by Aussie rock legends Skyhooks (circa 1973)

Anonymous said...

It's not Kidz Bop, but there is a children's choir cover of "I Touch Myself" by the Divinyls floating around on the internet. Supremely disturbing.

ilefkowitz said...

Kidz Bop - where to start? I don't have a problem with kids listening to adult music. Mine do it all the time in the car, with me. Emphasis on "with me". I am in the car monitoring what is on the radio. I do switch stations if something comes on that I feel is not appropriate for them to hear. I have a problem with Kidz Bop primarily because it is children singing music that is not appropriate for them.

This is just another example to me of how we are pushing our kids to grow up faster. Why should an 8 year old be singing anything by Brittney Spears? Especially when there is SO much good music out there for kids.

tanita✿davis said...

*lies on floor, twitching*

The Divinyls just put me over the top. Or, under the floor, as it were. Migraine. Sudden.

Liz B said...

Ilene, see, that's my whole issue -- kids listening to rock? Good, fine, awesome. And singing along and all that -- GREAT. Fine. Whatever their grownups think is OK.

But kids singing the adult songs -- it's this weird adultifying of kids (like toddlers & tiaras). And then packaging it to parents, under, apparently, the pretense of keeping childhood "safe" by not having the adult singing it (and, I'm assuming, with changes in lyrics. Do kidz bop about exhusbands?)

ilefkowitz said...

Liz, that's exactly it! Toddlers and Tiaras is a great comparison. Kids are kids for such a short time, why rush it? As I said, my kids listen along and sing in the car but we are there to answer any questions they have about the music, the lyrics or whatever else pops into their devious little minds while listening to it. Kidz Bop is all about the kids acting older. I don't need nor want my kids acting any older than they already are. Glad to see that others agree.