Beatles Kids: The Offspring of Paul, John, George and Ringo
Posted on Mar 03
Kids love listening to the Beatles, whether it’s the simple catchy beat of “I Want To Hold Your Hand” or the trippy, psychedelic lyrics of “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.” My son loves the fact that there is a whole song about an octopus! The Beatles were arguably the greatest rock band ever so we thought it would be fun to take a look at the band’s own kids. Could the success of the Fab Four ever continue on with their kids? Do talented parents crank out talented offspring?
Paul has four kids with his late wife Linda. His son James (named after his father James Paul McCartney) is trying his hand at music but aside from popping up on dad’s albums he hasn’t set the charts on fire. The real success in the McCartney children is daughter Stella who is a world-famous fashion designer and has a joint venture with Gucci. While it might not be music, you know growing up in a house with Paul and Linda would lead you into some sort of artistic endeavor.
George and his second wife Olivia begat Dhani, who also followed in his father’s footsteps. He ended up finishing his father’s album Brainwashed (imagine subbing for a Beatle, even if it is your father) after George passed and formed a band called thenewno2. Check out Dhani playing “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” at George’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
John and his first wife Cynthia had a son Julian, who was a popular musician in the eighties with hits like “Too Late for Goodbyes” and has put out 5 albums. John’s other son, Sean, who he had with Yoko Ono, became a noted indie rocker who has several solo albums, co-wrote a Lenny Kravitz hit and plays with Cibo Matto and The Plastic Ono Band. Two boys, both following in their late father’s footsteps.
Perhaps one of the most successful musicians of all the Beatles’ children was Ringo’s son, Zak Starkey who became what else? A drummer like his dad. Zak has been known to back The Who and you probably saw him perform at this year’s Superbowl halftime show.
It’s never easy to have a famous rocker as a father, especially when that dad was in a band like the Beatles. But it seems that music has flowed from fathers to sons in their case with most of them becoming quite successful at it.
5 Songs To Get Your Toddler Dancing
Posted on Feb 04
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.
The Top 5 Beatles Songs (Performed by Muppets)
Posted on Sep 29These are our favorite Beatles covers from The Muppet Show. Our list would go on forever if we added Sesame Street (Letter B, anyone? Still cracks us up!), though we just may do that someday. Muppets performing Beatles is a magical combination.
5. Beetles Sing Beatles - This one makes the list in spite of its lack of Muppet starpower (Kermit introduces the bug band as a talented young group of unknowns) because of the classic grumpy Statler and Waldorf comeback at the end.
4. Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da - Two muppet blokes and a chorus of canines equals wacky fun.
3. Floyd’s Guitar Gently Weeps - The lead guitarist for Electric Mayhem shows his softer side, on what looks to be the set of Hitchcock’s Rear Window. How could you not love The Muppet Show?
2. A Little Help From My Friends - Janice the hippie Muppet is tied up, about to become the human sacrifice of a stone, saxophone-playing Eagle, and she still manages to beat out some pretty slinky percussion. The members of Electric Mayhem sneak past her pig captors to save the day. That’s what friends are for.
1. Gonzo Acts Naturally - Gonzo, a mirror, a ukulele and a Buck Owens song that the Beatles covered. What could be more entertaining?
Beatles Coloring Pages!
Posted on Sep 28
Want a really cool rock & roll-themed activity for your kids? Beatlefans.com scanned an official 1960’s Beatles coloring book. You can print and color your favorite images of John, Paul, George and Ringo, while teaching your little ones the ABC’s of rock. B is for Beatles!
Do Kids Still Relate to the Beatles? One Dad Finds Out.
Posted on Sep 24
In the age of Radio Disney, does classic rock & roll still speak to children? One very clever dad decided to find out. Will Hodgkinson from the Times Online (UK) wondered if the current round of Beatlemania was being lost on his kids. He bribed them with toffee to participate in a very unscientific focus group where played them Beatles classics to get their thoughts. We have to say it’s one of the funniest things we’ve read in a long, long time! Here’s a sampling:
Apart from Rowan, who claims only to know about the beetles in her garden, panel members are vaguely aware of the Beatles. “They look like me so I like them,” offers Otto, proud possessor of a mop-top bowl cut.
“They are a rock band from olden times,” adds Isabella. “They did lots of songs,” says Pearl, somewhat unhelpfully, but then Pearl’s musical interests are focused entirely on the soundtrack to Mamma Mia!, so she can be forgiven.
Resolving to give the study session a chronological overview, I begin by putting She Loves You on to the record player. “She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah,” sing Lennon and McCartney on their Number One smash from 1963. “No she doesn’t,” Otto says.
“I thought it was quite strange,” comments Rowan when the song is over.
“It’s different from most of the songs I’ve heard.”
“I loved it,” says Isabella. Why? “I don’t really know.”
After musing for a while, index finger lodged in nostril, Fred concludes: “It’s good.”
Read the rest here!
Want to start ‘em young? Check out Rockabye Baby! More Lullaby Renditions of the Beatles.
The Long and Winding Road: The Beatles’ Most Inspirational Album Cover
Posted on Aug 18
The UK’s Daily Mail Online has a really cool article featuring some of the many, many covers inspired by The Beatles’ legendary Abbey Road LP — from Snoopy to Sesame Street, to the Red Hot Chili Peppers to Kanye West, to the unfortunately named Screaming Afterbirth (yikes!). What are your favorites?
Can’t get enough Beatles covers? Check out Rockabye Baby! More Lullaby Renditions of the Beatles.
Clunk, Tinkle & More Lullaby Renditions of the Beatles
Posted on Apr 14
Now for an update from lullaby world headquarters (where snoring and drooling are always encouraged):
We are way too proud of our new CD, More Lullaby Renditions of the Beatles. We know that parents aren’t supposed to pick favorites so let’s just call it our new favorite. Of course it doesn’t hurt when you are working with some of the most recognizable and beloved melodies ever.
Producer Mike Baiardi and the Rockabye Baby! listening team worked really hard to bring a sweet and soothing vibe to these renditions of beautiful Beatles tunes, complete with lots of “clunk and tinkle.” Clunk and tinkle is what we call the yin and yang of a perfect lullaby—the clunky wood percussion that gives the childlike feel to the song while tinkling bells, celesta and glockenspiel add a sweet fairy dusting of our patented sleeping potion.
Lest you think those long hours in the listening room have turned our minds to mush, check out the audio samples here to see what we’re rambling about. Did we hit the mark on this one? Let us know! We aim to please. But first and foremost, we aim to nap.
This just in: Check out a review of More Beatles from The Oklahoman!
