Clean Music for Classrooms and Car Rides: Playlists Everyone Can Agree On
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I listen to music while I’m cleaning, driving, working … you name it. In the classroom, I’d often have some going during morning arrival (typically lofi or jazz) so my students could listen to calming tunes as they started the day. Naturally after I had my son, I wanted him to enjoy too. After a while I tried out popular kids music. But I very quickly figured out that those tunes became a little …. much.
No shade to Baby Shark or Cocomelon but c’mon, variety is the spice of life. However, you might not have the time to comb through every last lyric in more mainstream music. So, here are some family friendly songs that won’t drive grownups crazy. Perfect music for family road trips or even those rides to school!
1. Don’t Worry be Happy by Bobby McFerrin
2. Take Me There by Blackstreet, Mya , Mase, Blinky Blink (shoutout if you remember the soundtrack this was from!)
3. Circle of Life by Carmen Twilie, Lebo M
4. Stand by Me by Ben E King
5. Yakety Yak by the Coasters
6. I2I by Tevin Cambell, Rosie Gaines
7. Stand Out by Tevin Campbell
8. In the Mood by Glen Miller
9. Golden by Huntr/x
10. What It Sounds Like by Huntr/x
11. Green Onions by Booker T & The MGs
12. Colors of the Wind by Judy Kuhn
13. Charlie Brown Theme by Vince Guaraldi
14. Baseball Theme by Vince Guaraldi
15. The Duck Song by The Duck
16. Chicago by Benny Goodman
17. What a Wonderful Word by Louis Armstrong
18. It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got that Swing) by Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington and His Orchestra
19. The Hampster Dance Song by Hampton the Hamster
20. Stompin at the Savoy by Benny Goodman
21. Let’s Dance by Benny Goodman
22.Blame It on The Blues by Sidney Bechet, Albert Nicholas
23. Queen Bee by Count Basie
24. Blues in Hoss’ Flat by Count Basie
25. One o’ clock Jump by Count Basie
26. Space Jam by Quad City DJ’s
27. Hakuna Matata by Various Artists
28. You’ll be in My Heart by Glenn Close, Phil Collins
29. How Far I’ll Go by Auli’i Cravalho, Disney
30. Take on Me by a-ha *
31. School Days by Chuck Berry
32. Fireflies by Owl City
33. All of Me by Roy Eldridge
34. Rhapsody in Blue by Philharmonia Orchestra
35. Symphony No 5 by Chicago Symphony Orchestra
36. Four Brothers by Art Pepper
37. Dancing queen by ABBA
38. Life is a Highway by Rascal Flatts
39. Hot Fun in the Summertime by Sly and the Family Stone
40.Everyday People by Sly and the Family Stone
41. I’m a Believer by Smash Mouth
42. Sing, Sing Sing by Benny Goodman and his Orchestra
43. Black Bottom Stomp by Jelly Roll Morton, His Red Hot Peppers
44. Begin the Beguine by Artie Shaw
45.Woodchopper’s Ball by Woody Herman and his Orchestra
46. First Date by Thomas Newman
47. Wall E by Thomas Newman
48. Like Whoa by Aly & AJ
49.Rush by Aly & AJ
50. I Got You (I Feel Good) by James Brown
51. Walking on Sunshine by Katrina & The Waves
52. Jump The Line by Harry Belafonte *
53. You’ve Got a Friend in Me by Randy Newman
54.September by Earth, Wind and Fire
55. Shining Star by Earth, Wind and Fire
56. Love on Top by Beyonce
57. Let’s Dance by David Bowie*
58. We Will Rock You by Queen *
59. Diamonds by Rihanna
60. High Hopes by Panic at the Disco*
61. Roar by Katy Perry
62. ABC by The Jackson 5
63. The Greatest by SIA
64. We are the Planets by the Storybots
65. The Incredits by Michael Giacchino
*Take a listen and see what you think. It might depend on your child’s age.
More Notes:
Of course, add in other favorite Disney songs and tunes from your own childhood. BUT, make sure they are the ones you won’t mind listening to over and over again. If you’d like to add more to this playlist, I highly recommend looking into Lofi, and Jazz music as well.
Have more songs? Leave a comment below and let’s help each other 😊