One of my recent projects was to try my hand at writing a few children songs. This was actually harder than I thought. Make things simple, but not too simple. The structure needs to be long enough to be catchy, but short enough where the child doesn’t get lost in the music.
Luckily, my wife was a great sounding board for the various ideas I had. She’s very nice in providing negative feedback as gently as possible.
“That’s not bad honey.” (Translation: That’s very boring and it needs lots of work).
“I like that lyric honey.” (Translation: The rest of your lyrics are kind of generic and bland)
Another great thing about having my wife help critique is that she listens to this type of stuff all day. My coworkers would probably go crazy if they heard me listening to children songs at work all the time.
After the music past the wife test, I ran it by the 3 year old. If he likes singing it, this is a good sign. A few weeks ago we drove down to San Diego from Orange County, and I plugged in the Evo in the car stereo and played the songs for him. He seemed to like them well enough. A few days later, my wife told me he was running around the house singing them to himself. Woot!
Anyway, here are the two songs. The first one is called “I Can Be Just Like The Sun” and is supposed to get kids out the door, away from TV, and making new friends. The second song is called “I’m A Rollercoaster”. It’s pretty much about being a rollercoaster.
I Can Be Just Like The Sun
By Jared Ong
Verse
When the sun beams bright today
I know it’s his special way
He tells me “go out and play”
To make new friends with you
Chorus
I can be just like the sun
I can smile for everyone
He tells me “go out and play”
To make new friends with you
Verse
When the sun beams bright today
I know it’s his special way
He tells me “go out and play”
To make new friends with you
Chorus
I can be just like the sun
I can smile for everyone
He tells me “go out and play”
To make new friends with you
He tells me go “out and play”
To make new friends with you
MP3: I Can Be Just Like The Sun
I’m A Rollercoaster
By Jared Ong
Verse
All aboard
Climb on everyone
Here we go
Careful you hold on
Up Up Up Up Up Up Up Up
Chorus
I’m a rollercoaster
I’m a rollercoaster
I’m a rollercoaster
Heading for the ground
I’m a rollercoaster
I’m a rollercoaster
I’m a rollercoaster
Going down down down
Verse
Up the hill
Hold on everyone
To the top
Careful you hold on
Up up up up up up up up
Chorus
I’m a rollercoaster
I’m a rollercoaster
I’m a rollercoaster
Heading for the ground
I’m a rollercoaster
I’m a rollercoaster
I’m a rollercoaster
Going down down down
I’m a rollercoaster
I’m a rollercoaster
I’m a rollercoaster
Stop
MP3: I’m A Rollercoaster