All my best kindie music picks from the recently concluded spooky season!
Photo credit: Andy Z on Facebook
Well, Halloween 2020 has come and gone. And it's not an ordinary celebration here as we are facing the COVID-19 pandemic.
But extraordinary times called for extraordinary sounds, especially for kids and families. These songs had uplifted the spirits of the little ones who have been deprived of physical trick-or-treating, but at least these songs have given little ears a treat!
And in case you don't know what "kindie rock" means, it is not a variant of K-pop. However, it refers to indie-pop and rock sounding songs designed specifically for kids.
Since I'm just starting this blog, I will be shining the spotlight on some kindie rock artists every once in a while. I hope the songs I feature will give you a break away from the songs you hear a lot of on the radio and on Spotify.
And since kids like Halloween (and also have missed it badly this year), there have been several kindie hits for kids and families. Some songs here are brand new, others were put out just this year (to ease the COVID burden).
Here are a few of my favorite Halloween-related kindie songs we had this year.
Haunting Days of Halloween
(Lucy Kalantari and the Jazz Cats)
Photo from Facebook page of artist mentioned above
Grammy winner Lucy Kalantari started her "Jazz Cats" band to bring the sounds of 1920s-style jazz to the younger audiences.
Her style is very much reflected in this amazing song, as it captures the spirit of old-time jazz as well as the spooky season.
I like this song not only for the reasons mentioned above, but also because it really gives off a vibe reminiscent of classic horror but it's watered down for the little ones. Not to mention, anything by Lucy Kalantari is written and sung in a very heartfelt way, and it'll take ya back to the Roaring 20s.
SPOTIFY ARTIST LINK
WEBSITE: https://lucykalantari.com/home
Ghostbusters
(Andrew & Polly)
Photo from Facebook page of artist mentioned above
Let's face it: Ghostbusters (the original) and Ghostbusters II are always go-to family friendly Halloween movie. Even my mom thinks it's the greatest 80s movie around.
But Andrew & Polly, one of my favorite kindie artists and makers of the fun podcast "Ear Snacks" (I actually wrote them twice and they replied!) made a twist to this classic hit.
But before diving even further, here's a brief intro. They had made tons of great songs for kids and families, including several songs for Sesame Workshop. They have a very fun style of making music and their songs are mostly feel-good and mood boosting.
And this song is no exception.
This version is very fun to hear, and while the original defines how movies sounded in the 80s (and sounded fun, too!), this take is among the best out there. I liked it that it included the pair's quips about Ghostbusters. The quips heard in some of their songs is one of their signature things. Another signature? This song is also splattered with a few kazoo strings and it adds to their "fun for kids" vibe.
And while you're at it, why not check out "Odds & Ends", the album this song originated from, out on Spotify to hear some more of their great songs? You'll also love them, I promise.
WEBSITE: http://andrewandpolly.com/
Zoombies
(The Pop Ups)
Photo from Facebook page of artist mentioned above
The Pop Ups are very much known for their pop, hip-hop, and EDM-sounding take on kid's music. They had won several Grammys and also sang the theme to my favorite podcast, Wow in the World.
Every song they make has a very high enjoyment factor. They really make you (and your kids) move to the music.
They had another upbeat song for Halloween called "Costume Party". But I chose this as it is a new release from the artist. It blends the spooky spirit of Halloween with the current reality of struggling with all these online classes, hence the title "Zoombies".
It really does reflect a day in the life of a student studying while under quarantine. The spoken lyrics are very relatable and will always remind me of going to school under a pandemic.
If you like this song, I recommend checking out their Grammy-nominated album "Giants of Science"? It's yet another fun album to enjoy.
WEBSITE: https://thepopups.com/
Ain't No Party Like Halloween
(Secret Agent 23 Skidoo)
Photo from Facebook page of artist mentioned above
What Secret Agent 23 Skidoo is known for is being kind of like the Will Smith or the Black Eyed Peas of the under-13 crowd by specializing in hip-hop made just for families.
This really describes a kid's excitement for the scary season in a style very reminiscent of Will Smith. And the fun here is that it really does put you in the Halloween spirit, especially now that many kids miss the fun of trick-or-treating.
WEBSITE: https://secretagent23skidoo.com/
What Am I Gonna Be (For Halloween)
(The Laurie Berkner Band)
Photo from Facebook page of artist mentioned above
If the kindie rock scene had its own big star, it would definitely be Laurie Berkner. She has pioneered the genre and made it into what it is today. She has been into music for kids since 1998, and is still going strong, making several albums, two DVDs, music for TV, going on concerts, even graced events like the 2006 Macy's Thanksgiving Parade and even an Audible series! And this lady's still going strong, lighting up kid's faces wherever she goes. No wonder The New York Times hailed her as "the Adele of the preschool crowd". In my opinion, she's like the Bruno Mars of the under-13 demographic.
What makes the songs (and Laurie herself) stand the test of time is how upbeat the songs are and also it makes kids (and their parents, too) wanna get up and down in song and dance.
And when it comes to Halloween, she never fails to capture that energy. In this song, she shares what she wants to be, and just like any other kid, she's undecided on what her costume will be. But in the end, it all boils down to the excitement of trick-or-treating.
If you love this, check her out on Spotify, her YouTube channel, and even her own website where you can buy her band's merchandise!
Also, she has a Facebook page and starting next week, she will be having a series of FB Live concerts on weekdays at 11am ET/8 am PT/16:00 GMT/12 am Manila, Singapore/1am Tokyo/2 am Sydney. She also has a virtual Christmas event on December 13 at 5pm ET/2pm PT/22:00 GMT/6am Manila, Singapore/7am Tokyo/8am Sydney. While you're at it, why not (virtually) see Laurie in action?
WEBSITE: https://laurieberkner.com/
And there you have it! Five of my favorite kindie Halloween anthems! Hopefully you get to use these songs maybe next year and at least you get to know some of the artists I'm getting into. I will be doing these kindie picks every once in a while to showcase the very best in new kid's music.
