What Kind of Music Do Your Kids Listen To?

My children are in high school. Their iPods contain everything from Mozart to Lady Gaga. They are well versed in classical music, pop music, techno, and even musicals...
They are musicians themselves.
Some of the music out there is sleezy, but so was some of the stuff we listened to...
My children don't dress like Kesha or Gaga, and they don't act like them either, so it's all good.
YMMV
LBC

Let's see.

Today we started out with some Eric Satie. We moved on to The Knife. Spent a few minutes doing dishes and listening to At the Gates. Took it down a notch with Dead Prez. Then, Leonard Cohen got us ready for nap time. Tonight, we'll see what's on the menu.

I guess, they listen to what ever I want to listen to. We have a lot of dance parties.

I don't let them listen to (what I deem as) inappropriate.

I do like exposing them to all sorts of music: Patsy Cline to Pavarotti, Vivaldi to David Bowie, Black Metal to Folk, top 40s to underground bands, to, to, to. Music is a good reason to live.

They listen to all kinds. Kid types, classical, show tunes, and others.
My son, likes rock.
But yes, we don't let them listen to obnoxious sexual stuff.
Since my kids are young.
For my 8 year old, more varied.

My girls love catchy tunes with a beat - they *rarely* pay attention to or even realize what the lyrics are. Some of their favs (the edited versions of course!) are:
California Girls - Katy Perry
Tik Tok - Kesha
Single Ladies - Beyonce
Karma Chameleon - Culture Club
Forget you - Cee Lo Green
Bad Romance - Lady Gaga
Love Story - Taylor Swift
Raise your Glass - Pink
Walking on Sunshine - Katrina and the Waves
Call Me - Blondie

I'm a bit of a classic rock/80s rock kinda girl, but my husband listens to EVERYTHING and so do my girls.

There are worse things than a little girl singing along to a catchy pop song.....

Our son, 4, listens to whatever we have on disc that we've already introduced him to. Loves Crowded House/Neil Finn/Finn Brothers, sings "Yellow Submarine" and "Raindrops, Falling From my Eyes" ( a 50s classic); loves the Music Together cds (although I'm burned out on them), Dan Zanes, kid-friendly pop and jazz, which is what we put on most of the time anyway.

The only radio stations we listen to are NPR and the local jazz station, so we're not usually inundated with inane sexual/violent lyrics anyways. (and sometimes the news is so depressing on NPR, we usually listen to it when he's not within earshot.)

My kids love music from musicals that they have watched. Music from Joseph and the Technicolor Dream coat, Cats, Sound of Music and they LOVE School House Rock! Your kids are all perfect ages for School House Rock!

Ah, my son once listened to only what I played - a combo of 50s through 80s music. Abba to Zeppelin, classical to funk. Then he became a teen and discovered the radio. Ugh now he listens to all the new stuff - most of which I find trashy and inappropriate.

Fortunately, I find that his exposure to other genres of music has had an impact - he loves Johnny Cash and all the Outlaw Country; Green Day, Red Hot Chili Peppers, some Ramones, Beatles, and more.

From him I have learned that I like Bruno Mars and Train, some Rhianna, and other popular music.

So we trade - some days my music, some days his, some days stuff we both enjoy.

And while I find today's lyrics overly sexual, he pointed out that much of the music I listen to (Joplin, Morrison, et al) have heavy drug references, and "Oh, Mom, they all died from drugs".

Most importantly, when we hear something on the radio that I think is inappropriate I tell him what and why. It helps keep us communicating in important ways.

God Bless

We listen to all kinds of music, from all genres, and most time periods. :)

Tehehe, my mother said the same thing! Generational thing I guess!

:)

My kids listen to all kinds of music, from jazz, to 40's music, to todays music. Thanks to my husband they have a wide range:) I have never met anyone with a music library like my hubby!

I love so many different kinds of music, and have tried to encourage my kids to listen to a good variety. I don't go for things with with inappropriate lyrics, but otherwise different styles are fair game. When my son was little we were walking through the mall and they had music playing through a store's system. My son yelled out, "Hey, Mamma! That's Aretha!" All the people around us laughed and several asked how he knew who that was. (They also thought it was funny to hear him sing RESPECT, "Give me some pasta when I get home!")
I think whatever style they like, it's okay as long as they keep it clean. But I totally aggree that a lot of the current music is so computer enhanced that it sounds like robots singing instead of people. My nephew is an aspiring "musician" but the the only instrument he can play is a computer keyboard! They don't even have to know how to play an instrument or sing on key anymore! I wonder what music will sound like 20 years from now. Hmmm...

I remember being so sensitive to lyrics in the early years-like, from the first few notes of a song, I knew EVERY WORD. Luckily it was the early 70's where mainstream radio hits were for EVERYONE of all age groups, so it would be things like Abba, Kenny Rogers, John Denver, Elton John, Aretha Franklin, CCR, Johnnie Cash, etc good stories and lyrics and musical skill levels for kids to understand-and fun disco (Bee Gees lunchbox) to dance to. When I got older I liked edgier and more raw stuff, but never lost appreciation for lyrics and skill.

I am guilty of occasionally tuning out and letting "dumb" music play in the car if it has a beat, but because my kids are at that massively important developmental stage-2, 3 and 5 (my oldest knew the whole lyrics to "Country Road" at 2 1/2-we totally skipped the kiddie music) I make sure to pick stuff that has substance of some sort most of the time, like, real funk, or real soul, or some classical, or classic rock, or rap (they like the "fast talking kind of music"). I try not to waste too much of their time on trash like Kesha and make sure to crank up Adele instead for her voice.

I know when they get older, they'll like some stupid stuff and I'll try not to make a big deal of it.

My hubs (metal musician) and I both have hundreds and hundreds of albums we play at home-they're listening to the Verve right now, they love everything from the Carpenters, to Ella Fitzgerald to the Cure, so HOPEFULLY they'll forge and intelligent musical path of some sort. But if not, it wont' be our fault :)

I saw a great line on a Bob Dylan documentary, people in that era when he was just getting started used to ask what new artists "Had to say". If my kids like really vapid stuff, I'll be sure to say it's fine if they want to listen to it on their own time, but I'm not in the mood for it because it's not "saying anything to me". Maybe that will be the equivalent to my mom screaming at me to turn off my Alien Sex Fiend albums in high school :)

Nope, it's not just you, we are just officially old.
When my kids were your kids' age they also listened to good music (my music that is!) like the Beatles, U2, etc. along with a healthy dose of show tunes, lol!)
But they don't stay that way. Around 5th/6th grade they really get into whatever is popular, so be prepared, it is SO obnoxious. Even if you don't buy it/allow it at your house/in your car/on your computer, it will seep in.
Luckily my son has much better taste than my daughters (which translated means he's like me!) in that he likes rock/alternative/dance and hates rap/pop/country. Good boy!
But my girls (ages 12 and 15) LOVE all the stuff I consider garbage: kesha, katy perry, etc. and all the random rappers on top 40 radio, ick!
I don't want to drive a further wedge between us since we already differ in so many ways, so I'll let them listen to their tunes in the car and sometimes we'll have conversations about the lyrics. It can be a great way to talk about values and how, as a female, you really want the world to see you.
I remember an old aunt telling my aunt back in the 60's that Jim Morrison was a sex devil and anyone who listened to the Doors or any hippie music for that matter was evil and would burn in hell.
Like I said, we are officially old.

We really do listen to a little of EVERYTHING. I hate Tejano or polka, but the kids will even listen to that too and I won't discourage it just because it's annoying to me. We love zydeco, blues, jazz, dixieland, golden oldies, classic, rock, some of the old metal, emo, reggae, classical, big band, swing, world beat (african and cuban especially), praise and worship, christian rock, ska, some of the pop punk stuff, some pop, classic country, new country, some rap, show tunes, "new wave" from the 80s (like The Cure or Depeche Mode), bluegrass, and children's musicians like Laurie Berkner, Music for Aardvarks, Jack's Big Music Show soundtrack, Nuttin' But Stringz, etc.
My 4 year old can hum many Mozart adagios and his favorite is the clarinet concerto. Our favorite show tunes are the from Chicago and Aida (I've taken the kids to both). We actually surprisingly really like the newer Eminem stuff but the lyrics must be the "clean version" because he curses a lot in the unedited versions....but I think he's really talented. J really likes some of those songs. I used to love Linkin Park and Rage Against the Machine (among others) but set them aside because I feel a little angry or aggressive with that kind of music, and that's not what I want to feel with my boys, and I think children are really sensitive to that. I swapped Rage for Andrae Bocelli, LOL, but I also have stopped having so much road rage. (haha) What seriously cracks me up though, as many GREAT songs as they hear on a daily basis, what their favorite songs are at the moment are "Friday" by Rebecca Black (autotuned TO DEATH, but you know, it's age-appropriate, the kid is dressed and dancing the way any NORMAL 13 year old would, it's a happy little song, and I have learned to love it when I see both my boys light up and start dancing immediately--it's AWESOME to see them break out dancing, all smiles...and while inane to the average adult, it actually makes me happy to remember that kids really don't have to have a lot of weight in their day to day life. If I didn't have kids, I'd gouge my eyeballs out with a spoon before listening to this, but because I do have young guys, I really like this song and will join in to shake my booty with them, especially in the kitchen while pouring the cereal), and "Baby" by Justin Bieber.....fortunately Bob Marley and Me First and the Gimme Gimmes are close behind. Go figure.
I must admit that I am too much of a feminist to allow certain music in the home though (thinking Pussy Cat Dolls, etc). I'm a lot more watchful of the spirit and message of a song than the genre of the song. (like rap: gangster rap or musicians like arrested development? BIG difference in the message).

In the car we rely on KLOVE mostly, because I don't have to worry about what they might hear...but I also play cd's...Beatles, Donna Summer,Barbara Streisand, Four Tops, some young Country ( like Taylor Swift) I like oldies a lot. My kids are exposed to a wide range of music, just as I was when I was young. Because of being exposed to a wide variety of music I developed a love for music.

My 14 and 16 year old boys listen to Christian Rock. Recently I discovered my 16 year old had downloaded my Bach and Chopin piano cds onto his Ipod, so I guess he's listening to that, too.

when my now-9YO girls were younger we played a variety of music - blues, jazz, classic rock, classical, folk, zydeco, reggae, world music. They went through a "Wiggles" phase in preschool (which I actually didn't mind b/c they incorporate a variety of musical styles and I didn't have to worry about them parroting NC-17 lyrics). Then more or less on their own they became fond of classical music and opera (they're ok with jazz, esp. if we remind them that composers like Gershwin and Bernstein were fond of jazz) and (knock wood) they really don't care for the pop music that their peers listen to. DH sometimes grumbles that they complain if he tries to play his old Led Zep or Jimi Hendrix CD's, but I tell him that he can play them if he wants to, but *he'll* have to answer all the kids' questions about what the lyrics mean! ;-)

We listen to whatever we feel like. New, old, really old (Medieval Madrigals LOL) They've got some "children's music" but..ugh..some of that stuff is so demeaning and terrible! We don't like mindless "bubblegum" rock of any era, that over processed because they can't sing stuff.

My daughter likes queen, journey, louis armstrong and justin beiber

lol!

I'm with you M. B...in our house we listen to a lot of music - and almost none of it is new. We do a lot of Beatles, Steely Dan, even Grateful Dead, Phish, classical, reggae (mostly Bob Marley and Burning Spear), we also like My Morning Jacket and Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros. When the kids are awake we usually pick upbeat songs they can dance to. We sometimes play classical when they are playing quietly.

My son (8) listens to all kinds of stuff. He hates any & all rap (thank God!). He likes classic rock (Beatles, CSNY, Queen, BTO, Moody Blues,), oldies (Frankie Valley, Doo-wop), some older alternative stuff (Social D, Killers, Ramones) classical, and pop (BTR, Victoria Justice?), with a little odd thrown in--Johnny Cash, Spongebob Squarepants songs, Proclaimers, etc.
He's a product of us and his musical taste reflects that!

I like all kinds of music except for twangy country and rap, so I try to expose my son to that. Some of his favorites are Elvis, Skynard, Bob Marley, Green Day & Jimmy Buffett. & AC DC I listened to metal when I was a teen, so he likes that too, but he will listen to music from the 50's through today. He loves to "play his guitar" & sing while we sit on the bed & watch him perform. He already has the rock star stance LOL! He just turned 5

It's not you. I really think this is a generational thing. My mom couldn't stand my music (70s & 80s stuff), saying exactly the same things you said. I finally believed her when, after years of listening to my old 80s CDs, my then 8 year old started singing "My Sharona." That was pretty darn raunchy if you ask me! Anyway, I stopped complaining after that.

My kids listen to all the music their peers listen to on the radio and often tell me what songs are "good" and which are not. Otherwise, we listen to everything from big band to contemporary.

But, for little ones, I would stick with Disney.

Good luck!

I'm a classical pianist that grew up listening to Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, Vivaldi. I'm only 35. Just because you're from a particular 'generation,' it does mean you are limited to the confines of the music from that era. I think if you listen to a good mix of stuff, your children will too. How are they supposed to even be aware of it otherwise?

My oldest son (13) plays the guitar very well, and loves music with good guitar solos. He listens to classic rock/metal (Metallica) and current rock (Dragonforce). He also likes some country (George Strait) and really loves Christmas music. :) Listening to music and trying to figure out how to play it by ear is something he loves to do. I love listening to him as he figures it out. My youngest (7) follows in his brother's footsteps. Overall, classic rock is the main thing they listen to. I love it!

Me and my kids listen to COUNTRY and we LOVE IT!!!!!!

= )

My kids love Johnny Cash, Rusted Root and Beetles. They got Mp3 players for Christmas and they came with some free iTunes. We loaded them with a lot of Kids Bop songs which are kids singing classic and current songs.

it's not just you ... he listens to what we listen to and I do try to edit it ... We listen to Rock, classic, current, heavy etc ... Country, classic, current, crossover etc ... Broadway & Standards from all sorts of shows, Classical, Jazz basically you name it we listen to it aside from Rap and most of the Pop music. I would say the only Pop we listen to is Katy Perry (that is not for the little one mostly) and Kelly Clarkson.

Does she get to listen to Rod Stewart? My mom hated the music I listened to and so banned it from the house. But my teeny transister radio got all the stations under the covers at night after they went to bed.

My kids listen to Christian contemporary, and they like it.
Lately however my16 year old has started listening to the rock/pop station. She likes some Owl group that sings Fireflies and Katy Perry.
She has deemed Justin Bieber unlistenable, WHen I asked if I would like him, she said No M., you do not like Juston Bieber. I didnt even know he was a singer. I thought he was an actor.

I have kept most of the contemporary music out of the house and car until now. Ttey are older though and don't care for most of the smut.
And they all like classical, Beethovan, Mozart, Tchaikovsky and Celtic music is a big hit.

I just noticed you were up the road. My 16 yo likes B101.5 rock/pop and 90.5, that's the Christian radio, if you can get it. I sometimes have talk radio on, WTOP

My kids like a lot of that new pop stuff, which has kind of rubbed off on me (hey, makes for good butt shaking music!!)... but we listen to EVERYTHING. Everything. My 7 year old loves the Cranberries and Dropkick Murphies the best (but picked out a Beatles pencil holder for school). My 5 year old loves some Lady Gaga! (we had a pretty funny convo on what exactly a 'disco stick' is, HAHA!)... My 16 month old loves everyyything. He's the cutest. The easiest way to calm him down is rock something... me too! Music is so calming, no matter what. The beat moves my heart. They also love cleaning their room to classical music. The girls have been getting more into classic rock, I think because that's what we mostly play at the boat club because it's so neutral. I think our different musical tastes are a positive thing... they get me liking things I hadn't before, and I've got a WORLD of musical tastes I'm still teaching them :)

my daughter's favourites include bach, mozart, handel, some romantic composers with whom i am not familiar, jazz, folk, some old r&b, iron & wine, sigur ros and a bunch of other stuff including kid music like they might be giants. i basically let her have free reign over my cds and the radio. i was very surprised when on the way to her favourite classical station she demanded to stop on the jazz channel. i have since learned she does not like all jazz and seems to favour coltraine and his contemporaries. i think if you let your kids go they might surprise you. and fwiw, if my parents had banned public enemy and punk my brother and i would have found ways to listen to anyway but we may never have checked out the simon & garfunkel on my parents shelf. having said that, i don't let her listen to the magnetic fields because although i know she would LOVE it, the lyrics are catchy and very adult and i don't need her going into kindergarten singing them. i guess my final thought is guidance and loose restriction are ok for us but i try to give so many options that she doesn't see what she's missing. go outside the televison and commercial radio stations, there is a lot out there!

My youngest son (19) is classic rock-he went through a rap phase years ago that I think gave him compassion towards the plight of the people that the songs were written about-instead of angst. My oldest daughter listens to country music while driving. it's a blend with the other three- I usually listen to Fox Talk in the car-or Broadway-or Sinatra.

Nothing that has any sexual connotation nor anything to do with kids having adult-type relationships.

Way-Fm, KLOVE, or AirOne. They all are available online if you cant get them in the car. And my kids love the music. I love looking in the back seat to see my 5yo son sign to TobyMac.

My oldest (17) listens to Metal and as much as I hate the sound of it, I'm proud of her. She thinks out of the box, and many of the bands she loves aren't popular at all. Her favorite is, but the messages in some of their songs are still good.
Her little sister (13) listens to rap and my oldest is constantly "Why? why would you listen to that?"
All music now is sleezy/ignorant. Even country.

I listen to old and new music. My daughter loves Yo Gabba Gabba and it's music, but that's about all the kids music she hears. I cannot stand listening to little kid music unless it's coming from the cartoon they are currently watching. Otherwise, my kids listen to all the music I listen to which is anything but country and heavy metal. You would probably consider me a bad mom for that, but it's just how I roll.

We listen to kids music and positive music of various types. No adult music because I am trying to let her be a child.

When it's just me in the car, I primarily listen to a Christian radio station in MD. You might think that it's all hymns and boring, but it's upbeat Christian rock with new and relevant artists both for the young crowd and middle age crowd. All of the music has a positive message (some music encourages self esteem, confidence, strength in hard situations, as well as just plain loving God music as well), and the DJs never use profanity or suggestive statements. My daughter is under 2, so she doesn't get the whole music thing just yet, but I like that she'll grow up hearing and recognizing these songs.
On the other hand, my husband and I also like to listen to alternative rock on the regular radio stations, and are huge Green Day fans. We often think that Green Day will be for my daughter what Neil Diamond was for us :) However, we are worried about the profanity and suggestive themes of some songs, so I know there will come a time in the near future where we'll have to stop listening to it in the car.
If you have cable radio stations on your TV, if you search for something called Kid's Hits, it plays all current music by popular artists (not the remakes that actual kids sing) that does not have profanity or suggestive things. Like Taylor Swift, Jonas Brothers, etc. That may be an idea for something to listen to while at home.

I tend to listen to music that my daughter shouldn't be hearing...so when she is in the car with me, she loves to listen to my Christian K. cd(if you have seen Leverage, he's the guy who beats everyone up!). He plays rock country...she loves it! It isn't bad and she loves singing along with it! She also loves songs that come from Disney/kids movies. Like the song Life Is A Highway from Cars.

My boys started out loving Doodlebops. we have seen them twice in concert! They moved the to the Backyardiagains. My middle son is my music junkie. He loves all the classics....Jimi,Clearance Clear water Revival, Beatles. Then he loves Pearl Jam, Korn, Rise against, Kesha,Avril,Linkin park,Breakin Benjamin...He loves anything with bass and guitar...the louder the better. It is a good thing his dad and great pop are i nto music like its no bodies business!!! He got a paper jam guitar and drum set for christmas! it is hilarious!!

I get most all of it edited. If it doesnt come edited...dad uses best judgement on deciding what is ok for him.

My oldest and youngest are not really that into music. They are normally the two tell my husband or I to turn it down.

My kids LOVE LOVE LOVE The sound track to Nightmare Before Christmas. It is alot of fun!! And there are like three or more versions of it. From instrumental to ROCKING OUT...IT is just fun!!!