Like shoes, music can serve a specific purpose. So in the same way that black leather high-heeled boots are best worn to loud and crowded nightclubs, soothing vocals and chilled-out instrumentals play well at home while I am shoeless with my new baby girl.
Inspired by an article I read a while back about music and children, I compiled Baby’s First playlist to listen to on the drive home from the hospital and at home in the following weeks.
The article was not the typical “classical music is good for babies,” pitch, but written by a father who had given great thought to the first music his child should hear. Jazz, he decided, would fill his infant’s ears while riding home from the hospital.
I didn’t save the article (or the name of the author and cannot find the article by doing a Web search), but the message stayed with me. As a parent, I have a unique opportunity to share wonderful things with a new person. To expose her to great music, art and the best of life.
My daughter will develop her own taste as she grows, but I can lay a foundation for appreciation that she will hopefully embrace.
I did not set high goals for Baby’s First playlist - meaning that the criteria for inclusion doesn’t include music that has to be proven to aid in cognitive development or have at any time been considered great. More than anything, I looked through my music library for songs that, for one reason or another, soothed and delighted.
While somewhat aware of lyrics, I found myself selecting tempo and rhythm above all else.
Compiling the list was more challenging than I expected. What I intended to serve as an introduction to music became more of an introduction to me – meet your mom in 15 songs or less. The songs on the list are favorites through the years as well as a few new ones that, when put together, remind me of happy times and good people.
An alternative name for this playlist could be the “No Shoes” or “Comfortable Shoes” mix. It’s not intended to represent the best music and doesn’t inspire a range of moods. It’s simply a collection of songs best suited for relaxing, napping and bonding.
Sophia will have years to explore her family’s entire music collection, hopefully picking a few favorites of her own. More playlists will follow - I’ll just save The Distillers and Smashing Pumpkins for the more appropriate middle school years.
Baby’s fist playlist
1 – By Your Side (The Neptunes Remix) by Sade
2 – California Stars by Billy Bragg and Wilco
3 – Groove Armada – At the River by Ministry of Sound
4 – Wild World by Beth Orton
5 – Eleanor by Shannon Worrell
6 – Diffusing by Michael Brook
7 – Make me Whole by Amel Larrieux
8 – Pressure Drop by Jimmy Cliff
9 – Sweet and Low by Fugazi
10 – Heartbeat by Tres Chicas
11- Rock me on the Water by Jackson Browne
12 – What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong
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