ISO: wholesome, but hip, CD suggestions for 8-year-old

[gobluem82]

My daughter is turning 8 soon, and since she has a little stereo, I'd like to get her a couple of CD's for her birthday. She likes top-40 music, but I'm definitely not ready for her to listen to Britney Spears or that type of thing. She has some Barbie CD's now, which she likes, and as you might imagine, there's nothing objectionable there. Do any of you have any other ideas of music we both will like?

[Laura]

What about some of the pop christian contemporary groups like Plus One or True Vibe. You could probably listen to some of their songs on Amazon. When my daughter was into "pop" music last year she really liked them.

[Peeps]

We recently had to get a gift for a 7 year old little girl and she requested the soundtrack from The Princess Diaries. She also loves the soundtrack from The Parent Trap. Or what about the Grease soundtrack?

[m4star]

How about soundtracks? Or maybe even some "classics" like Beach Boys or Beatles? It may not be Top 40 but it would give her a good pop/rock foundation without all the sexy lyrics. Also, consider singles too. They sell singles on CD and the chances are that you've heard the song on the radio or MTV already (so you can make the call on it's lyrics).

[Mbart]

I totally agree with you on the difficulty of finding age-appropriate music! I have an eight year-old daughter and we really struggled trying to find music for her. She loves the beat of the Britney Spears music, but I do not consider her an appropriate role model for any child! She claims she doesn't want to be a role model for pre-teens, but then she has her face licensed out to about 5000 products made for kids...uh-oh, I feel a rant coming on...I'll stop myself and answer your question! My daughter has several really fun Christian CD's - as mentioned before, Plus One and True Vibe are very good. She also likes a band called Jump 5. I've only heard a demo tape, but it got us all moving...Also, Zoe Girl is another fun girl band, as well as V-Enna: very fast, dance music. She also likes Jackie Valasquez (sp?) and Rachel Lampa.

All my kids like the ESPN Jock Jams CD's. They have the songs you'll hear at football, basketball games, etc. - they are very fast and danceable. I like the other ideas posed about soundtracks...I'll have to remember that. I've thought about the Monkees...I used to love them as a kid! Wonder if you can still get them! As a last resort, if you have access to the equipment, you could burn your own CD. Although, I had my very conservative brother make one for my daughter, and she came home with some song about "I wanna go boom, boom, and spend the night together, together in my room..."!!! Sheesh!

Good Luck!

[boisewinesnob]

I was going to suggest some of the same stuff that Mbart said: Zoe Girl is a really good one. Rachel Lampa and Jackie Valasquez are great, too. Also, Avalon is one we like.
My 16-yr-old son loves Brittney, but if I had a daughter, I would rather have her listen to something a little more modest, too!
Suzy

[beacooker]

Originally posted by Peeps
Or what about the Grease soundtrack?

Just wanted to point out that the Grease soundtrack is wonderful, but maybe not wholesome! Remember the song Greased Lightnin'? Or Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee? Of course, I listened to it when I was 8, and I think a lot of the stuff went over my head, but I understood some of it.

[Kerri]

What about Mandy Moore or Aaron Carter? I think they are both teens who are a little younger than the Brittany clones and act/dress a little younger as well.

[HARRYET]

I agree with the soundtrack cd's, ie: Disney movie soundtracks, always wholesome. Another Disney suggestion is the "radio disney" cd's, they take some of the popular tunes, but change the lyrics slightly.

Ann :)

[AndreaU]

We had "Peanuts" day a few weeks ago (Oct. 2 is the anniversary of when the comic strip came out) and brought in my Peanuts CDs... the music was done by Vince Guaraldi. My 5th graders LOVE it!! They beg me to play it every day now and even offer to behave if I do. (How can I say no??) If you've ever watched a Peanuts tv special, like last night's "Great Pumpkin," you at least know the theme song "Linus & Lucy." The one I have in class is called "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" and the "Charlie Brown Christmas" CD is AWESOME, too!

[ewatkins]

Try the Shrek soundtrack --my nine year old likes it. I also heard the soundtrack from Recess (the movie) was good --oldies stuff.

[MrsReber]

I have a couple of neices who love country music. providing you like any of it, there are alot of cd's that are wholesome. My one neice loves John Michael Montgomery. There's some good Garth Brooks, too. It's pretty mellow, too. I just met a 9 year old last weekend who loved 60's music and had the Austin Powers soundtrack! He had some Pink Floyd, too, and some Queen. Interesting.

[AndreaU]

MrsReber- you reminded me of my 9 year old nephew who loves to listen to the Grateful Dead and the Jerry Garcia Band. He puts in a tape and just dances around the room!

[Jessica]

Yeah, I had the Grease record (yes, record) in the third grade. When I listened to it as an adult, I could not believe my mother let me own this!! She probably thought most of it went over my head.

[DmOrtega]

Aaron Carter & Billie Gillman are favorites in our house. Both are about 12 years old and loaded with talent.

[Little Bit]

Don't forget classical music! I remember dancing myself dizzy to the "dance of the sugar plum fairy" when I was little. I'm not any kind of ballerina, but boy, that was fun!

What about some ballroom dance music? jazz? Glenn Miller? Something sacred, perhaps (depending on your inclinations)? Expand her horizons without making a big deal of it, and who knows what might happen?

There are all sorts of music collections out there that will be age appropriate, without being preachy or teachy (or boring!)

[ama47369]

My college roomate used to be a camp counselor during the summers. They would play an AWESOME group called TROUT FISHING IN AMERICA to the kids. It is so much fun that when she would bring the CD's home, we would end up listening to it with our friends! Their website is www.troutmusic.com

They have several CD's to choose from. The one I particularly remember is called "Big Trouble."