Just over a year ago, I walked into L’s class for pick-up like usual. That’s when I saw something that I’ll never forget. I watched, stunned, as the kids eerily chanted Frozen’s “Let it Go” like little glassy-eyed zombies.
Did I mention the radio wasn’t playing at the time?
The teacher insisted that the kids request the song constantly. Actually, I believed her 100%. Who doesn’t know or have a kid that insists on the same movie or music every single time? Have you ever seen what a 2-year-old will do when you insist on playing something that they don’t want? It’s ugly…real ugly.
But that was a defining moment. So I decided right then to stop listening to the same few songs on an endless loop. It was time for our children to learn how much good music is out there!
I started small, telling little half-truths like “The car picks the music, honey. I can’t change it” or “Your song is mixed into the Sonos playlist, you’ll just have to wait to hear it.” Thankfully, she took the bait. And these days she’s just as likely to sing along with Michael Jackson as she is any Disney song.
Now with party season upon us, I’m pulling together a playlist of birthday party songs perfect for all our guests, from little kids to adults. Most importantly, more than half of the playlist is not ‘kid music’. These 30 are our favorites, and span several decades of family-friendly music.
30 Kids Birthday Party Songs that Won’t Drive You Crazy
- (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher – Jackie Wilson
- Got to Get You Into My Life – Blood, Sweat & Tears
- You’ve Made Me So Very Happy – Blood, Sweat & Tears
- My Girl – Four Tops
- The Lion Sleeps Tonight – Tokens
- Johnny Be Goode – Chuck Berry
- Oh, Pretty Woman – Roy Orbison
- Dancing in the Street – Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
- I Heard it Through the Grapevine – Marvin Gaye
- Sitting on the Dock of the Bay – Otis Reading
- I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) – Four Tops
- Jimmy Mack – Martha & The Vandelles
- Wouldn’t it Be Nice – The Beach Boys
- Good Vibrations – Beach Boys
- Twist and Shout – Beatles
- Wipe Out – Surfaris
- Wooly Bully- Sam the Sham & The Pharaohs
- Build Me Up Buttercup – Foundations
- Sugar, Sugar – Archies
- ABC – Jackson 5
- Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough – Michael Jackson
- Octopus’s Garden
- Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours) – Stevie Wonder
- You Are My Sunshine – Ray Charles
- Volcano – Jimmy Buffet
- Love and Luck – Jimmy Buffet
- Fun, Fun, Fun – Beach Boys
- Jump – Van Halen
- Do You Believe in Magic – Lovin’ Spoonful
- Birthday – Beatles
To be fair, we do mix in a few favorites from the Disney soundtracks, but we try to mix it up with a good variety of old and new music. At least we don’t have to worry about too many more zombie-Elsa moments these days!
What are your favorite kids birthday party songs?
Do your kids like to listen to the same songs over and over again?
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You can never go wrong with Michael Jackson! And early Madonna. We were at a kids party today and the kids were dancing to Journey and MJ and a few other classics and it just made me grin.
Haha I say the same things—I don’t pick the songs, the DJ does (which is true!). Or that the iPod will shuffle it and I have no control over it whatsoever lol.
YES TO THIS LIST!!! I think I need this for my own personal spotify much less my kids birthday parties! Perfect selection 🙂
The Frozen zombies, that is pretty creepy! That would be resolution inducing for sure. I like your list and I think your car half truth is pretty much THE truth. It would frighten the children if we told them that listening to Justin Bieber makes mommy crazy and when she is crazy the car might not be driven very well. Just saying is all…
Love the list! Thanks for sharing!