Music to empower girls

[Kali]

My DD is 5 and she is just discovering pop music. She loves to sing along to my iphone and we have been downloading songs that she likes from Glee. We are mad about Glee here! :yes I know I can't sheild her 100% from some of the songs out there YKWIM but if I can download some empowering songs to counterbalance then I think that is a great start.

At the moment, two of her favourites are 'Fireworks' Katy Perry and 'Just the way you are' Bruno Mars.

Does anyone know of any other really great empowering girls songs that are current that I can download for her?

And

For those of you with older girls, What do you do about some song choices that are really inappropriate, with sex content for example or that are really disempowering for women in genral? I know I can't stop her from listening to these songs but it feels like a mine field at the moment.

[Rinelle]

No ideas on good songs, E is into things like ghostbusters here, LOL. But I think that for songs with sex content or other not so postive content, I find that in our case at least, these things go straight over E's head. Will be different in a few years I'm sure, but for now, I'm not too worried about it.

[lizlea]

we are big glee fans here too.

But whenever I bring up lyrics to some of the songs with miss 14 she says "mum, it's just a song, I know x is wrong (or whatvever). Accompanied with eye rolling. She doesn't listen to anything really offensive, and actually a lot of the time listens to glee or songs from musicals. But I have to just acknowledge that she is an intelligent girl who has many many influences on her life and thinking, not just songs.

[sarah bean]

Don't know if they count as current, but the two that spring to mind are christina aguilera's Beautiful, & Pink's Stupid Girls

[sarah bean]

Oh crap, I just read that she is five lol, not pink's stupid girls at all. I take that back *face palm*

[Ethereal]

What about older songs? Start her on 'I am woman' ;). The girls belt that one out louder than me :p.

Lily Allen :D :D.

In the past song content has gone waaaaay over the heads of the kids. We all love to listen to JJJ Hottest 100 CD's in the car (one of the few things we can all agree on lol). The song content sometimes goes over my head too, TBH. I had to stop and think about it though when A used to sing randomly Foxtrot, Uniform, Charlie, Kilo :laugh. Well, we found it funny, anyway. She had no idea what she was singing, but others would so we stopped listening to that song.

What sort of themes are you trying to counter? Maybe, not just empowering songs but songs that have a gentler story to tell?

Emiliana Torrini is lovely & still upbeat. Jungle Drums (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ9vkd7Rp-g), Sunny Road (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyuL1z2tejs), Nothing brings me down (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0gJ34H9llk).
Sarah Blasko has a great mix too. Night & Day (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ndvmw9CWwZU), All I want (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QX1RgyCl1Xs).

[Phoenix]

Loving your song choices Aleza!! :great

[Phoenix]

BTW, I think those songs are good Sarah, I think they are just as age appropriate as the others mentioned!

[GreenGully]

Our boys love the They Might Be Giants children's albums. They are gender neutral, cool and educational to boot!

[Rinelle]

They Might be Giants are the BEST. :)

[Ethereal]

We love Frances England (http://www.francesengland.com/music.php) :). I'm using her on my website :heart.

[Kali]

Oh thankyou everyone. I plan on sitting here with her and listening to these songs and letting her choose some to download.

I am not concerned so much about the sex stuff as I know she really doesn't understand it. What I am more worried about are the ' a boy just dumped me and now my life is over' type songs, or the 'I am only worth something if I am beautiful' type songs.

I think 'I am woman' is perfect for the type of song I want her to listen too.

[Hailstorm]

These aren't current but are good.....

Sometimes it takes balls to be a woman (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ5G8PZ-2zI) - Elizabeth Cook

Respect (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1M2fk72mfw&feature=fvst) - Aretha Franklin

I know I can (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLmRoVMfsD8) - Nas (this is a hip hop song, but the lyrics are really powerful...you might not like this one for A though)


I'm not really hip with what's hot right now :2lol

I'll have a think about it a bit more

[lucylu]

whenever I bring up lyrics to some of the songs with miss 14 she says "mum, it's just a song, I know x is wrong (or whatvever). Accompanied with eye rolling.
Sounds like my DD... but she's only 7!!!! Lord help me :wallbash:

My girls love TMBG too. Actually, who am i kidding, i love them as well!!

I know you wanted current songs and these are not... but my girls (6 & 7) love them:

I don't feel like dancing - scissor sisters http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4H5I6y1Qvz0
Dont stop the music - rihanna http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHpH6ATr0lY (maybe not hugely empowering, but DD loves it)
we are family - sister sledge http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmJjD33eKDU
jump around - house of pain http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwQbPgouUYo i LOVE that song!
bust a move - young MC http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xy4FXhkm6Nw
ABC - jackson five
stayin alive - bee gees
gonna make you sweat - c&C music factory
Born to be alive - patrick hernandez
get up and boogie - silver convention
you should be dancing - beegees
kung fu fighting - carl douglas
play that funky music - wild cherry
car wash - rose royce

sorry.. too lazy to put the rest of the youtube links in!

yep, we like our disco here! :2lol In fact, DD just highjacked the computer and is now scrolling through the ipod n finding her favourites

[lucylu]

Oh, and this is my favourite empowering track:
Unwritten - natasha bedingfield http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jloQ6xsx3bE
love it, love it, love it!
It's like Ann of Green gables - 'today is a new day with no mistakes in it' :heart

[Phoenix]

I broke my Youtube ban for that song Lucylu! I love those words, I don't think I have listened to all of them before!

[lucylu]

oh, why the youtube ban?

yeah, the words are beautiful

[Phoenix]

I went a bit nuts on Youtube at the beginning of my internet month and have very little left. :oops

[Kali]

alrighty, DD and I are going through this long list now. Stay tuned!

[Kali]

For my own record, because I am too lazy to grab a pen,

So far she like
'Sometimes it takes ball to be a woman'
'Jungle drums'
'Unwritten'

[jodiemiller]

My kids are right into Hey Soul Sister by Train at the moment (feel free to roll your eyes - we're highly sick of it but they're not done with it yet). It's a quirky love anthem that doesn't dwell on any physical qualities in the beloved (ie, nothing about looking beautiful - it's all about other qualities). Thumbs up from us (though I had to explain the "like a virgin you're Madonna" line a few times).

Also, it makes the ukelele cool - which I know you'll appreciate. ;) I have introduced the family to Isreal Kamakawiwo'ole thanks to you and Emma.

[Kali]

Oh yeah Somewhere over the Rainbow is just gorgeous and a family favourite. Soul sister is also DD and DS favourite. That sang it the other day from start to finish when they were cold and wet and over it. It boistered their spirits enough to get them into the kayak and home LOL

I am adding Beautiful by Christine and Stupid girls as well to DD playlist. We are still going through the list so keep them coming if you think of any.

[Phoenix]

I love his sound Jodie! Very cool!

Paradise by the dashboard light, Meatloaf?? :2lol I kid..

[Hailstorm]

My kids (and I) luff Twist and Shout (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVlr4g5-r18)by the beatles and Johnny be good (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEeF9r_8JMA&feature=related)...the Marty McFly version :2lol

[Ethereal]

I don't normally do fluffy, but we had Delta on yesterday (which is like M's album but I'm forbidden from sharing that with they boys :p) and thought Born To Try (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nA-plUPT7wM) was another goodie for this list.

Just to regress a little I had the super calm Alanis Morissette on in the car (total high school years flashback).
Perfect (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_1BQRAkcyc)
Hand In My Pocket (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTgrASzzUXU)(it uses the word sh*t once in the song ion case you don't want swearing around little peeps :)). This song by the way is A's current fave.

4 Non Blondes What's up (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0l4TofljsU&feature=related) (dang I love it when bands sound just as good live).
Pink live version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0JqezeBN_U) with Linda :).

I love this thread :2lol.

[Pinky]

I'm going to go through this list later... I'll tell you what was on my daughter's disco party play list for her birthday party

Gonna Make You Sweat The Hit Nation
Dancing Queen ABBA
Wavin' Flag 3:40 K'naan
Funkytown 4:05 Lipps, Inc.
The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Re-Recorded Version) 2:44 The Tokens

Disco Duck 3:18 The Hit Co.
Twist and Shout 2:33 The Beatles
Celebration 4:59 Kool & The Gang
Song 2 2:02 blur
What I Like About You The Romantics
I Got You (I Feel Good) 2:47 James Brown
We Are Family 8:21 Sister Sledge

[lucylu]

Oooh, I am loving this thread! There's nothing like music is there?

Miss7 has asked me to download this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fn5mpmpIzy8 - Britney - Lord help me!!

The lyrics are too bad... i guess... could be a lot worse... I like the 'keep in dancing till the world ends' DD loves to dance
what do you all think?

[Kali]

LOL I walked away from DD listening to one of the songs on here the other day and I came back and she was listening to some very awful Britney song. *roll eyes* That was when we/I decided that she had listened enough ;)

[Ethereal]

Have another one for you :)

Jewel - Stronger woman (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaXr2vGDQwk)

[lucylu]

Ooh, nice one Aleza xx

[Kali]

I like that one.

I downloaded 'Beautiful' and 'I am woman' yesterday. She loves 'Beautiful' and she smiled a knowing smile when I started singing 'I am woman at the top of my lungs' I think it won't be long till we will be able to belt it out together.

[Phoenix]

I listened to that awesome Jewel song then the 'up next' video was about Paris Hilton and her jewel encrusted punanay! Riiighhhht!! :2lol

[Ethereal]

I know, ridiculous, right? Lol. Never mind, just stick to the Jewel one ;).

[emd]

Miss Six and Miss Five got an iPod each for Christmas, and I regularly update their playlists. This is a bit of what's on them...
Isn't She Lovely (a capella version by Idea of North - this is Miss Six's "song" according to MIL)
Virtual Insanity - Jamiroquai
Strawberry Fields Forever - The Beatles (Miss Five's birth song)
Protons, Neutrons, Electrons - Cat Empire
The Sweet Escape - Gwen Stefani (I'm not sure how empowering this is, but they love it and it's a nice acknowledgement that we all have bad moods and make mistakes)
She's a Genius - Jet
Black Betty - Spiderbait
Buy Me a Pony - Spiderbait
Holiday - Vanessa Amorosi
Shine - Vanessa Amorosi
Lighthouse - The Waifs
Steer - Missy Higgins

[Kali]

Oh some good ones there. I like Shine. I think that might be downloaded soon.

I heard 'Sisters' by the Eurythmics today as I was doing the shoppping.

OT - I downloaded Justin Beibers new song today "Never Say Never" It is more for boys and relates to bullying and standing up for yourself, so it is on Ds playlist at the moment and we are talking about it.