If your kids are anything like mine then they like two things, ice cream and noise. I figured the best way to get them into rock music and off of stuff like Teletubbies and Barney was to show them how loud and out of control rock & roll could be. I started to make a list of the best rock screams and had them listen to the music and countdown to the point where the rock yell comes in. Here are my top rock screams. Hopefully this helps to teach your kids about the power of rock & roll.

Paul McCartney

The Beatles should be on every list with the words “rock music” in it. Check out the scream at the beginning of “Helter Skelter.” The song is one of their most rockin’ but the yell is that much better because Paul seems to run out of breath and lets fly with a furious “Yeeeeeeah.”

Bruce Springsteen

Number two might be hard to come by. It’s off of Bruce Springsteen’s Live 75-85 box set. His “Darkness on the Edge of Town” was a great mid tempo track from his 1978 album, but this live version is worth waiting until the end to hear Bruce hold that lost note as he bellows “Tooooooooooooown.” A great rocker proving that his live show is always worth the price of admission.

(This version isn’t from Live 75-85, but it is from the same tour as the one used on the box set.)

Roger Daltry

Finally, the top of the list belongs to Roger Daltrey and The Who on “Won’t Get Fooled Again.” The song is a little long but it’s worth it for your kids to sit through the whole thing. The scream comes at the end of the breakdown. Roger releases an anthem with his “Yeeeeeeeeah” as Pete Townsend replies with his windmill guitar. There’s a quick final verse about meeting the new boss after that works perfectly with his yell. The scream is so long that I let my kids see if they can mimic the length (something my wife is not too fond of).

What, no Axl Rose, no Robert Plant? No Demon of Screamin’ Stven Tyler, fer cryin’ out loud? Check back for Part Two, coming soon! Name your favorite rock scream in the comments.

Let’s be honest, most of us will never play guitar like Jeff Beck, hit the drums like John Bonham, or craft a song like Bob Dylan. The one thing we are all capable of doing is attempting to sing along with our favorite songs. Can we hit the same notes as Mariah Carey? Probably not, but there are a few rockers out there who didn’t get the job based on hitting the high notes. Here are the top three singers whose voices are probably just as imperfect as yours. That way, you and your kids can sing along and sound just like the rock stars.

3) Bruce Springsteen

Even Springsteen has admitted that his first band wouldn’t let him sing. We don’t put on The Rising because of its vocal qualities, we put on Springsteen for his moving lyrics and passionate songs. Singing along with Bruce never makes you feel inadequate, it does however make you want to get in your car and drive somewhere.

2) Brian Johnson

When your first album with a new band is Back In Black, it’s hard to top it. Johnson stepped in to lead AC/DC after Bon Scott passed away and he brought with him a voice that sounds like he started singing after screaming his throat raw for the past four hours.

1) Joe Cocker

I don’t know what is up with Joe Cocker’s voice, but I do know it works. Usually Beatles’ covers don’t live up to their originals but Cocker’s version of “A Little Help From My Friends” is a whole new song with a gravelly voice that gives it a new kick.  Also check out “When The Night Comes,” you’ll be able to sing along and sound just like Joe himself.

If you’ve heard Ke$ha’s number one hit Tik Tok, you might want to listen to it again before allowing your toddler to dance to it in their diapers. While the song has an infectious beat and Ke$ha’s stirring repetition of “Whoa Whoa Whoa Whoa” might get your feet tapping, this current Billboard Hot 100 topper has true party lyrics which are not appropriate for little kids. Try explaining to your kids what “Brush my teeth with a bottle of Jack” means or why “Boys are trying to touch my junk”. If you’ve seen the video you know Ke$ha is a party girl whose appearance includes an attire that proves she has been living the lyrics to her hit.

Instead of playing this latest hit try these 5 other songs to get your toddler dancing:

1) The Police – De Do Do Do De Da Da Da

The song title says it all. If this song isn’t geared towards young kids I don’t know what is.

2) The Faces – Ooh La La

Same idea. The song title sounds like something your two year old might have come up with. That coupled with the fact that the song is about wishing you were wiser when you were younger is perfect.

3) The Beatles – I Saw Her Standing There

Sure, all early Beatles songs are great for young kids (and many of the later ones as well) but this one stands out because of the way they held the high notes when singing “Held her hand in Miiiiiiiiine”.

4) The Bangles – Hazy Shade of Winter

Although written by Paul Simon it is the Bangles version that gets my kids jumping. The way the song shifts from slow melodious sixties groove to a guitar rock song makes their heads pump in a way that would make any father proud.

5) Bruce Springsteen – Born to Run

Considered a rock anthem by most and a state anthem by New Jersey, kids will love the break in the middle followed by Bruce’s scream of “1,2,3,4” and moving right back into the song.