I have this little Christmas tradition where I try to make a homemade gift for each of my children. It hasn't always worked out, but I'm trying to be as consistent as possible with it. This year, I decided to make a Lullaby Mix CD for Lauren. She has a difficult time falling asleep, mainly because she has really bad nightmares and she is sometimes actually afraid to go to sleep. So, she has gotten in the habit of listening to lullabies at bedtime to help her relax. Right now, she has been listening to "A Child's Prayer: Primary Songs for Bedtime." We love this music at our house and it seems to help Lauren a lot. Well, I wanted to do a CD that was not primary music, but some of my favorite relaxing songs. Thanks to my husband, our kids are very well-rounded, musically speaking so I want to have a lot of different artists and time periods represented. Some are just nice songs and some have sentimental value (like the Bing Crosby one my dad used to sing to me and my sister).
Here are the songs I have so far, but I would like your input on which four or five I will choose to finish off the CD. Let me clarify that I don't want your opinion on the songs I have there already, they are there to stay no matter what (so, Brian, you will just have to put up with Bette Midler and keep quiet about it). But, I would love to hear which songs you like to fall asleep to, sing to your kids, or remember from your own childhood.
1. Rainbow Connection (Sarah McLachlan)
2. Butterfly (Donovan Frankenreiter)
3. What a Wonderful World (Glen Campbell)
4. Baby Mine (Bette Midler)
5. Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ra (An Irish Lullaby) (Bing Crosby)
6. Golden Slumbers (George Benson)
7. Lullaby (Jack Johnson)
8. Godspeed (Sweet Dreams) (Dixie Chicks)
9. Lullabye (Good Night, My Angel) (Billy Joel)
10. Peace for You (Teeter Gray)
I think I want to have 14 or 15 songs total, so your input would be very helpful. Unless you listen to crappy music, then I won't take your suggestions at all. Thanks for playing!
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17 comments:
You gotta have Michael Buble in the mix. My favorite for mellowing out is "Home".
(Also anything on the Air Supply greatest hits album, but Brian might not approve.)
OK, I am probably going to make a lot of comments on this one.
Here's another must have: "Sweet Baby James" by James Taylor
What about "Rainbow Connection"? I'm sure you could find a version that isn't Kermit the Frog.
Woops. You already have that on your list. I was too lazy to go back a page to check before publishing my comment.
Well, you could go with:
"Straight Outta Compton" -- N.W.A.
"I wanna be Sedated" -- Ramones
"Ain't nothin' but a G-Thing" -- Dr. Dre/Snoop Dogg
"Welcome to the Jungle" -- Guns n' Roses
Or, you might want to consider something more along the lines of:
"Dreamland Express" -- John Denver
"Low light" -- Pearl Jam
"Nightswimming" -- R.E.M.
"Guiding Star" -- Teenage Fanclub
"Farewell and Goodnight" -- The Smashing Pumpkins
"Smog Moon" -- Matthew Sweet
"Sunshine" -- G. Love
"My Sundown" -- Jimmy Eat World
You really ought to know better than to invite me to make musical suggestions.
"Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole
"Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles
"I'll Stand By You" Carrie Underwood
"Dream Big" Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband
"Just Like Heaven" Katie Melua
When you look me in the eye-Jonas Brothers
Voicemale
The song Remembers When-Trisha Yearwood
Simon and Garfunkel
Randy Newman-Disney songs
Norah Jones
I don't know any good songs yet, since Nate likes songs he can beatbox to, and that's not usually stuff to sleep to. But it doesn't surprise me that "Baby Mine" made the list. I don't remember who would request it during singing time in nursery almost every week in Moscow, but it wouldn't surprise me if it was Lauren ;) Thanks to Bette Middler, I was one of the few nursery teachers who actually knew all the words! It's a definite keeper (sorry Brian, I'm with your wife on this one.)
Oh, Sandra Boynton does have one song called "Rock You to Sleep" which is technically a lullaby...but Nate still beatboxes to it.
The best version "What a wonderful world" is by Louie Armstrong. Give it a listen.
Welcome to Pooh Corner - Kenny Loggins
http://www.amazon.com/Winnie-Pooh-Take-My-Hand/dp/B000001M22/ref=sr_1_26?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1227286328&sr=1-26
I guess you are going to have to let us all know which songs made the cut!
BTW, what are you making for your other two kids?
"Make Someone Happy" Jimmy Durante version from Sleepless in Seattle
Okay, I've really been thinking this one over. I've had many sleepless nights in my lifetime and music always helped.
In college I enjoyed classical, James Taylor and the never failing Pink Floyd.
You are my Sunshine, As I have Loved You and Twinkle, Twinkle are also Stewart favs.
As a child Wyatt fell asleep to the B of M stories on tape. Maybe he could hook you up with one of those. Or better yet he could record them in his voice for Lauren as he can recite them word for word. (Good sleeping tunes or frightening brainwashing technique, you be the judge.) :}
You have had so great input -- most of it I agree with wholeheartedly.
The only type of music I see lacking is classical. It is very subjective, so choose what you like, but something soft and ochestral (don't do "Manheim Steamroller" stuff).
Brooke loved her sound machine -- especially the rain and (ironically) the brook setting. Maybe get some nature soundtracks. (Obviously, no wolves.)
Also, I ran across these three songs on a blog playlist today and thought they would be pretty for a sweet sleeping princess.
Homecoming-Jon Schmidt
Claire De Lune
Bella's Lullaby-Edward Cullen (Ignore the whole vampire story and all.)
This is a great idea! This is one of my favorite Disney songs, "You'll be in my Heart" by Phil Collin from Tarzan.
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