Search - Various Artists :: Songs for the Car

Move Over Radio Disney!

Dee Sharp | Long Beach, CA United States | 08/27/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As a modern American family, we spend a *LOT* of time in the car, shuttling from one event to the next. During the commute, we usually have Radio Disney on, which, for the most part, isn't bad. It's "real" music (compared to, say, the Kids Bop series, whose cover versions I find atrocious), but being commercial radio (and one owned by a major entertainment company like Disney) there's a lot of repetition, and a lot of focus on Disney artists. So was I happily surprised when I stumbled on this collection. These are all the original versions (except "Teach Your Children," but more on that later), and I knew most of the songs, so I was taking a chance that my kids would enjoy it. Was I relieved when, on a handful of occasions, my kids would go, "Hey, I know this song!"



The CD opens with Madness' "Our House," a fun romp of a tune that I remember growing up and my kids now know as the theme to a coffee company commercial. Smash Mouth's "All Star" my kids know from Shrek, while they remember "Stir It Up" and "Everybody Dance Now" from the "Chicken Little" film. Chuck Berry's "Route 66" was in "Cars," and Lionel Richie's "All Night Long" was the inspiration for the Cheetah Girls' "En Fuego."



"Three Is A Magic Number" and "Teach Your Children" are two tunes from *MY* youth; the former I recall from the Schoolhouse Rock cartoons, while my dad would always crank up Crosby Still Nash & Young's "Teach Your Children" whenever it came on the radio while we were in the car. It's a shame they couldn't get CSNY's version, but Joseph Israel's beachcomber reggae version has a great feel to it, especially during the dog days of August.



James Brown's "Ants In My Pants" is an interesting choice. It's not one I know well, but it's classic James Brown funk (and a welcomed departure from "I Feel Good"). My 10 year old loves it. My 7 year old, however, loves The Temptations, and sings the opening line like a man wounded.



It's fun to hear Hanson's "MMMBop" (which was always a guilty pleasure of mine) in this setting; they give the Jonas Brothers a run for their money. You can hear the seeds of "Year 3000" in this.



The CD closes with a whimsical track from Bobby McFerrin called "Manana Iguana," a little live gem.



Really smartly selected, I catch myself listening to this disc even when the kids aren't in the car. Highly recommended."