My kid likes music. I think. My kid likes to demand certain songs and moves so I’m assuming they like music. That’s enough for me. 

Am I one of those parents that’s trying to live through their kids by forcing them to listen to certain music? I don’t think so. They do not like my favorite bands and that’s OK. 

Am I one of those parents that’s stupid happy when my kids likes music I think is good? Absolutely. Is that just as bad as living through them? Maybe. I don’t know. But I do know that I have to listen to whatever they’re listening to so we’re going to keep listening to good or at least not bad stuff. 

What follows is the top 10 songs according to my 2-year-old. Are they set in stone? Absolutely not. Lists like this should never be final. Favorites change and that’s OK.

Runners Up

Ramones “Blitzkrieg Bop” (Mono)

The Ramones’ self titled debut has been reissued many times and this matters. The version we listen to is the 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition. It features four studio version of “Blitzkrieg Bop” and two live versions of “Blitzkrieg Bop.” After listening to each version dozens of times, my kid has developed preferences between versions. The mono version sounds both bass heavy and tinny, but it’s still an amazing song so we do play this version every once in a while.

The Beach Boys “Good Vibrations”

If this was the top 10 songs according to my 1-year-old, it’d be number one with a bullet. But as they age, they’re less into psychedelic rock and harmonizing more into loud guitars and pummeling drums.

ELF Learning “Clean Up Song for Children”

Do they like the song? Eh. It occasionally does encourage cleaning up so we tend to play it every so often and they tend to move to it every so often.

Ramones “Sheena Is a Punk Rocker”

This one is extremely frustrating because they love the song but think they don’t love the album. Ramones Ramones is requested ad nauseum. Whenever we play Rocket to Russia, it’s met with demands for the first LP. But once “Sheena” comes on, Rocket to Russia is fine. Once “We’re a Happy Family” begins, it’s back to demanding the fist LP.

Mike O’Donnell and Junior Campbell “Thomas the Tank Engine Theme (Original)”

They’re more into the song than the TV show but we play the TV show because it exposes them to George Carlin at a very formative age.

Ramones “Bonzo Goes to Bitburg”

I can’t explain this one but I’m grateful. It’s somewhat of an outlier in the band’s catalogue so it’s a welcome respite whenever it’s on and they’re not screaming for something from the self-titled debut.

10. Various Artists “The Alphabet Song”

Huge fan of the intro, “A, B, C,” and outro, “Now I know my…” Somewhat indifferent about the middle. It breaks the top 10 due to the frequency they sing it.

9. Ramones “Blitzkrieg Bop” (Single Version)

More middle than the mono mix and the kick drum has a warmer feel. 

8. Cookie Monster and Gonger “Monster Foodies Theme”

The best part of modern Sesame Street. I have no problem playing this whenever requested. 

7. Ramones “Blitzkrieg Bop” (2016 Remaster)

Sounds thicker than the mono and single mix, this is closest to the version I listened to as a kid. It’s not the best, but it’s close. 

6. Jimmy Eat World “Sweetness”

They like the whoas.

5. Various Artists “The Wheels on the Bus”

It’s not so much that they love the sound, it’s the accompanying dance moves that gets them going.

4. Fisher-Price – Whatever this Laugh & Learn^® Click & Learn Instant Camera plays

I did not purchase this toy. Their mother did not purchase this toy. A loving and great friend purchased this toy. And if this loving and great friend ever has a child, I will buy that child many plastic toys that play songs that get stuck in everyone’s head.

3. Ramones “Rock ‘n’ Roll High School”

Every single part of this song (only this version, the music video version does not count) works, from the consistent, “Rock, rock, rock, rock, rock and roll high school” to the backing vocals to the “Fun, funs” to the Phil Spector mix, making the band sound like they’re playing in a cavern. As a parent, it my responsibility to teach my kid that Phil Spector made life changing music but was a very, very, very bad person. And Cheap Trick shouldn’t have turned down the film Rock ‘n’ Roll High School. 

2. Various Artists “The Itsy Bitsy Spider”

What a song! What a story! 

1. Ramones “Blitzkrieg Bop” (40th Anniversary Mono Mix)

Dee Dee’s, “1! 2! 3! 4!” are included, making this a winner from the jump. The vocals are pushed out, the guitar is louder and rings out, the bass is consistent and never gets in the way, the backing vocals in the pre chorus are a little louder and the drums are perfectly placed. The best mix of the best song of 1976. While most repackaged, blown up, unnecessarily long reissues tend to feel like cheap cash ins, new mixes like this have the ability to make a perfect song even better. And less annoying to hear for the thousandth time. I might have listened to this song over one thousand times. It’s only 2 minutes and 12 seconds. 

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