Kidz Bop

[Hamatron]

The weird thing is, when I was listening to the samples on Amazon, it didn't sound like they were cleaning the lyrics up that much, or any more than your typical radio edit-- and at points it sounded like the original artist track was playing, then what sounded like random kids and a stray self-medicating adult would start singing/yelling on top everything.

That's some seriously funny stuff though-- kids singing 'The First Cut is the Deepest' WTF?

Remember Sugar Beatz? I used to try to talk my friend into buying it whenever we were watching TV late at night (obviously stoner/drunk college students are a key demographic for Sugar Beatz...!?). The worst cover they did was 'What's New PussyCat?' It was sung by a grown man with kids doing the chorus, and what sounded like a cat being strangled in the background. Oh, the humanity!

[duskwolf]

My problems with it are thus:

1. You can't have it both ways. You can't purchase this album in the hopes of protecting your child while keeping them "hip". Once they go out into the real world, they're going to hear the actual version at their *actually* cool friend's house. Then, they're going to be teased for being uncool for listening to the lame version. Just let your kids listen to Disney albums until they're old enough to suck on your nipple with both feet on the ground.

2. The singing is AWFUL. No emotion, no understanding. It's just BAAAAD. But because kids sing it, it's pretty much okay for kids to hear. Mediocrity is acceptable, because it's by kids for kids.

3. What ridiculous marketing exec devised the name? "Put a 'z' on the end. Kids, er, KIDZ, will dig it because they'll think it's EDGY!" And what kid in their right mind uses the word "bop"? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

4. Above posters, I agree...what 8 year old kid really understands what they're singing about? So, why does it make sense to have them singing it? And singing it FLAT!

Crap...as if music wasn't bad enough, we need THIS foisted on us.

[Inkyblott]

1. You can't have it both ways. You can't purchase this album in the hopes of protecting your child while keeping them "hip". Once they go out into the real world, they're going to hear the actual version at their *actually* cool friend's house. Then, they're going to be teased for being uncool for listening to the lame version. Just let your kids listen to Disney albums until they're old enough to suck on your nipple with both feet on the ground.

My thing is that, to recognize and get excited about these songs, kids would have to have heard them. Even if they heard a version without any foul language they've still probably heard a version that isn't as cleaned up as the Kidz Bop version so what's the point. They've already heard the song. Why would they want to listen to squeaky, weak covers?

I do wonder if some of the people who buy the cds aren't teachers or other people who work with kids. They might play the cds in a setting (school play, music class, etc) where they'd want to have some popular music but playing the actual originals could get them in trouble.

I want to hear (not really) 8-10 year olds belting out:
Fascination Street or Kyoto Song by The Cure
West End Girls - Pet Shop Boys
Blasphemous Rumours or Personal Jesus- Depeche Mode
Stagger Lee - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
The Beautiful People - Marilyn Manson
Your Retro Career Has Melted - The Faint

[Hamatron]

OK, so this is not a Kidz Bop cover, but I found the Sugar Beats cover of "What's New Pussycat." Take a listen. I guarantee you won't be disappointed-- you have to scroll down a little bit. The shreiking cats are a nice touch.

Bad covers cleaned up or sung by kids crack me up. I remember the kids that had to listen to that sort of crap when I was little, and I was always shocked when peers seemed to like that crap. All I could think was-- "Those poor, deluded bastards. They have no clue..."

[emersende]

pathtaken, I personally don't mind that people buy the cds. I just enjoy ranting.

I was astonished that they're covering songs like "All Star," "Steal My Sunshine," 'Sk8ter Boi" . . . and then I realized that the reason for doing this was to re-make popular songs and market them specifically for kids too young to get really into the current radio hits. Go figure.

Oh, and I listened to some of the songs from the original Kidz Bop album. They are tear-your-hair-out horrible. I feel really bad for parents who buy these albums now, although I guess it's better than Barney.

[Deleted]

Well, it's one thing if the kids hear it and like it better (though lord knows why), but the parents who buy it to protect their kids from dirty bad evil lyrics are really stupid.

If you don't feel comfortable letting your kids listen to some of these songs, fair enough, but don't then go and buy Kidz Bop, because that's just stupid. Sure, they'll be protected from smut, but they'll be exposed to shitty music.

Of course, I'm talking as the girl who was familiar with Handel's Messiah in first grade.

[schmoosie]

My stepson loves his Kidz Bop CD. He especially loves their version of that stupid over and over again song. He'll listen to it over and over again. Put the track on repeat and he's happy. He also loves the U2 and Greenday covers. He just ADORES it.

What I don't get is this: his mother has been playing, at full blast, Metallica, Godsmack, Stained etc etc. I know he likes Metallica because he'll sing into his play microphone imitating the lead singer's voice. I know he's heard good rock music and his mother isn't concerned with any of the lyrics. She thinks its cute when he sings Voodoo. Next time I see him, I'll ask him what the big deal about Kidz Bop is. He'd rather listen to that than anything else.

[JDub]

-Push It, Salt N Pepa

That song was so my jam when I was 8 years old. I remember being at my best friend Elisha's birthday party and all us kids were begging her parents to play it. They said they'd only do so if we danced, because we were being shy about it. And we definitely got out there for this song. I had no idea at the time why her aunts and uncles and parents looked pretty amused at the sight of all of us singing along. Good times.

[polygal]

The CD series that doesn't know when to quit is heading towards Kidz Bop 9.

Including "Wake Me Up When September Ends" makes me head hurt. Although, I am puzzled they didn't try to include "Don't Cha". "We Belong Together" is almost as wrong, though.

[topher]

Wake Me Up When September Ends

My five year sings that song everytime it's on.
Wife is a big Green Day fan.