It’s Twisted Mix Tape Tuesday, and the theme this week is the 00’s. The problem is that for much of the first decade of the new millennium I was listening to Barney and the Wiggles- and I would definitely NOT include those artists on any mix tape. Ever.
But not all kids’ music make my ears bleed. Some of those tunes are catchy, in a I-keep-singing-this-song-over-and-over-and-I-can’t-stop kind of way. So I’m taking a trip down memory lane, before DVRs were widely used and iPads were invented, when parents had to plop their kids in front of the old fashioned television to get a few free minutes to eat a candy bar whip up dinner or fold the laundry.
For those of you without kids or with younger tykes, some of these tunes may be new to you. If you have tween or teens, you may fondly remember these oldies but goodies, while simultaneously thanking your lucky stars that you don’t have to listen to them anymore.
My Man Stanley by Baha Men
(Stanley, aired on Playhouse Disney from 2001-2007)
This kid could jump into his Great Big Book of Everything and learn about different kinds of animals up close and personal. Stanley was nice enough, but he’s “proud to say his best friend is a fish”? And one that inexplicably speaks in a British accent? That’s kinda weird, Stan the Man. But your theme song is awesome.
Goodbye Song by Bear and Luna
(Bear in the Big Blue House, aired on Playhouse Disney from 1997-2003)
This song was at the end of every single show. It has a Kumbaya -ish quality to it that kinda makes me feel like I have a slight buzz.
Believe in Yourself by Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers
(Arthur, aired on PBS from 1996-present)
Eight year old Arthur the aardvark and his band of assorted anthropomorphic animal friends rock. Of course they do; their theme song is a fun reggae ditty sung by Ziggy Marley. I challenge you to listen and not jam a little in your chair.
North South East & West by Hi-5
(Hi-5, aired on Disovery Kids from 2003-2007)
The only real people on my mix tape, this super perky quintet put out some catchy tunes. Watch the clip long enough to see the future One Direction fans jumping up and down like mini-groupies.
Dragon Tales theme song
(Dragon Tales aired new episodes on PBS from 1999-2005)
A theme song that introduces each character and makes you super excited for the show? Yep. Hearing this song in our house meant 30 minutes of fun fun fun! I still know every word. And I don’t care if she denies it, but J-Lo totally named her twins Max and Emme after the sibling pair in this show. Who cares? It’s better than North West.
And there you have it, the lamest, albeit kid-friendliest 00’s mix tape ever. But I have to confess, I had fun putting it together. These songs remind me of the days when my children were small and the worst thing they saw on television was Calliou. Now that kid is creepy.
Now I can’t say that I like any of the opening theme songs, but I will say that they make me happy only because it took the hubs and me awhile to have kids, so I had a few years to dream about songs like these blaring in the background of a full, happy house. And now that’s happening and I love it. 🙂 I also have to say that Fresh Beat Band rocks! (Couldn’t help it)
I had to look up the Fresh Beats Band – by the time they came on the scene we were done with kids’ music. I whined about the sugary sweet tunes back then, but I kinda miss them now!
Arthur was such a great kids show and Dragon Tales was cute too. This brought back some fun memories!
I’m sure you watched many of the same shows that I did, Michelle – those were two of my favorites!
Oh my! My daughters are 7 and 9 (just in the last few weeks!). We enjoy many of the disney channel sitcom tunes together as a family. For their childhood, I remember most of the words to the Backyardagins! Pretty funny songs and good music, comparatively. We also watched several of the Barbie Movies dozens of times, especially the Diamond Castle. Also, fairly good music. My daughters are currently in love with The Littlest Pet Shop and My Little Pony on Netflix. I have to say, music for cartoons has come a long way since I was a kid. Everybody, sing with me…do do do do inspector gadget…
You’re right, cartoon music has come a long way. My kids loved Backyardagins too – those tunes were catchy!
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh, the Kid Years!!! Remember them well. Nice, Slu
Thanks, Slu!
This is awesome. Arthur was one of my favorites up through middle school, and my baby sister – born in 2000 – introduced me to many of these against my will. Such memories. You rock, Dana.
Arthur just has staying power, doesn’t he? My daughter had a D.W. doll that was her favorite for a long time. Your baby sister is a year older than my youngest, so I’m sure you and I watched many of the same shows when they were little. Glad to walk down memory lane with you, Sarah!
Dana! You rocked this list! I actually listened to the songs I didn’t know all the way through… I just had to know! Dragon Tales and a few of the others are still in rotation. Bear in the Big Blue House was much more beautiful than I expected! Awesome take my dear..love it!
Thank you Jen! It’s always fun to join you on Mix Tape Tuesdays.
great mix tape babe…I can handle Arthur. I was thinking of Bernstein Bears, Babar, Team Umizumi….I need to get a life, LOL
You’ll emerge from the haze of kid shows soon enough, Karen!
And now the Dragon Tales theme song will be stuck in my head for the rest of the day. Thanks for that. 😉
Oh. Also. I forgot to say I would add the “Goodbye” song at the end of every “Out of The Box” episode with the cool Bongo playing guy AND the Noodle Dance from PB&J Otter. 🙂
Excellent additions, Tracy. I also loved the “What have you Learned” song on JoJo’s circus. It was hard to pick just 5!
You are very welcome 🙂
First, Caillou IS creepy! Why is he four and BALD?? Plus, he’s such a whiny beotch. Ugh. My son likes Fireman Sam, Little Einsteins, Special Agent Oso and Jake and the Neverland Pirates. I know all of the songs by heart. My favorite of the ones that you posted is Believe in Yourself. I might have to encourage Tucker to begin watching that show because Ziggy!?! How cool!
Arthur is the best kids show ever – real life lessons without being super sappy. Little Einsteins was on when my kids still watched cartoons, but all the others you mentioned are new to me. And how Caillou is still around is beyond me!
Oh Dana – you don’t even know. “Bear In the Big Blue House”. How my husband and I loved that show and that moon song. And the whole soundtrack tape. We’d listen to it in the car when our son wasn’t even with us. And when we took him to Disney and we went to the Cartoon Disney show and bear came out with the little mouse…what was his name, it’s been to long?…we sang along and okay…maybe there was a tear or a little misting over involved. I think we traumatized our kid that day. That music – so good!
It was…we went to that Disney show too and I loved it. Whoever voiced Bear has such as lovely sound, and so does Luna. Oh – and I just googled the mouse – Tutter. I miss that show.
Allie used to be addicted to Dragon Tales. Man, I miss those days.
Me too, Kerri. I loved that show – Cassie was my favorite 🙂
Holy memories, Batman!! I haven’t heard some of those in over ten years. Crazy!
Brings it all back, doesn’t it?
Great list, Dana! Kid songs have certainly changed!
They have, haven’t they? I long for the days when I didn’t have to check out the lyrics before I let my kids listen to music.
Awwwww – Bear In The Big Blue House! But you left out Thomas The Tank Engine! Sir Toppum Hat is gonna be cheesed about that one… =)
Sorry – my kids never watched Thomas, believe it or not! My son was into trains, but we avoided the Thomas craze.
what an excellent approach! I am way, way, way (way) too old to have contemporary knowledge of these songs, but it triggers the memories of the childhood songs back in the day.
How cool is this TMT thing?
(Capt Kangeroo theme, ‘Good Morning, Captain’ is playing now. lol)
I jump in every month or two, and I couldn’t resist breaking out of the box a bit this time. Now Captain Kangaroo – that was one of my favorites!
Since, I wasn’t a mother technically until July 2009, I really don’t know most of these, but ask me for the decade we are in to list the top kids’ TV theme songs and I can list more then I would like to. So, I know that feeling all too well and seriously loved that you used this list just for that purpose since your kids were indeed little and sure you got to listen to more then your fair share of these songs over and over again!!
I’m sure you know them all! I don’t know most of the shows that are on now. But if your girls haven’t watched Arthur yet, check it out when they are a little older – it’s a great show!
I remember some of these!
Brings back memories, doesn’t it?
A fun way of doing the list. Not really my arena, but working in a nursery at the time, I did have to learn the entire Bob the Builder theme and sing it. Several times an hour.
Can we fix it? Yes we can! I bet you sang it beautifully, Lizzi 🙂
After the 300th rendition, aren’t we all rockstars anyway? XD
I love the Arthur theme song! I think it’s just so awesome for a kids show. Another confession? I adore the theme song to Berenstain Bears. I think it’s because it reminds me of a nice time – Scarlet watched it a few times when I was in my 2nd trimester with Des and it was so relaxing to let her have a bit of TV a day and for me to drift off to sleep during it..
The Berenstain Bears song was #6 on my list! I caught my daughter watching it in the last year or so. She was unapologetic, saying that it’s just a happy show, and sometimes she just needs to chill and watch a cartoon.