Songs I Use To Calm My Fussy Kids

 

The lore of taking care of little ones goes, that when they are fussy, tired and no matter what you do they just wont calm down. Play some white noise, sing a lullaby, maybe even go on a car ride.

I've used the method of playing some r&b to calm both of my daughters down. I aim for ballads mostly but long as its soothing I'll trt it. There have been a few songs I thought would work that didn't.

For the ones that do work, here are ten songs I play when I need to get the kids to relax.

Enigma-Return to Innocence

This song is one you'll never know the artist or the actual title by name. However, when the beat kicks in it instantly takes you back to either those 90's music commercials, an episode of Cold Case, or the ending of Man Of The House starring Chevy Chase and Jonathan Taylor Thomas.

The song mesmerizes my daughter and she just looks at the ceiling while it plays.

Paul Weller-Thinking of you

When I worked at a grocery store, this song was a staple in the Playlist. And eventually found its way into my head on repeat. The guitar riff and backing band is soothing. Which has helped calm the little one down and help her fall asleep.

After 7-Nights Like This

This song performed in the classic 1991 film Five Heartbeats. Was covered by the band After 7 for the soundtrack, and it's a favorite of mine. A true throwback to the motown era of music.

When the bass hits and you hear shoo boom doo dee doo. You feel the soul in the group's voice. My daughter evidently feels it too cause she chills out.

Temptations-My Girl

Speaking of the Motown sound,  an all time classic has knocked the kid out on a few occasions. Not sure if it's David Ruffin's voice or the horns that mesmerizes her. If I play it while she's fussy, she's out in a blink of a eye and that is A-ok with me.

Lenny Kravitz-Ain't Over Til It's Over

This is another song that was frequently played in the super market. I had no idea it was Lenny Kravitz's song though. When my oldest daughter would get up in arms fussy as a baby, screaming at the top of her lungs.

Soon as we turned this on either home, in the car and a few times while we were out. It instantly bought her down and she chilled out.

Even now she bops her head and gets lost in the song when it plays.

Michael Jackson-Human Nature/Never Can Say Goodbye

When I saw the Michael Jackson one cirque du soliel show in Vegas years ago. This mix combining Never Can Say Goodbye and Human Nature had me in a choke hold. Both in itself are beautiful songs so combined its magic.

Good to know the legacy of MJ still resonates and this song instantly calms the fussiness.

Bruno Mars-It will Rain

This Bruno Mars creation for one of the Twilight films, is one of his best in my opinion. You hear his pain in the song, the piano keys are strong but not overbearing. And it sounds like the perfect song for a dreary day just staring out the window.

I guess the idea of a raining day making you sleepy, works for all ages. Cause the kiddo definitely falls asleep as this plays.

New Edition-can you stand the rain

Another song discussing rain, New Editions probably most loved song and best ballad. The harmonizing, the beat, the birds chirping in the beginning. Are all subtle hints its time fo relax and calm down just a little bit.

Which helps when you have a fussy baby or toddler you need to relax. This song gets the job done 

Adele-Chasing Pavements

It's no secret Adele has one of the strongest and gifted voices in music history. Every time she belts out a song you feel that it came from deep down her soul. Chasing Pavements between her voice, and the orchestra backing will have you singing along with raw emotion.

This song is one of my Ace in the holes, if no other song has worked to calm the kids down. This usually gets the job done and they are out like a light.

Rihanna-Stay

One of Rihanna's most powerful ballads. It's a sad song but also soothing and relaxing. For an adult listening it may just have you thinking about life. For a baby that just needs to calm down, it has the right chords and vocals. To get them to chill out and it hasn't let me down yet.

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Why We Still Love House Party 30 Years Later

“I don’t give a damn if Marvin Gaye ‘Gonna be there, you Won’t!”- Pops

That line sums up the basis of 1990’s House Party which has become a classic in the 30 years since it’s release. Released March 9th, 1990 and starring tarring rap duo Kid N’ Play, Martin Lawrence, Tisha Campbell, A.J. Johnson, and Robin Harris the movie was a film the culture didn’t know it needed until it was released. High schooler Kid gets into a scuffle with school bullies (Full Force members B-Fine, Bowlegged Lou, and Paul George) during lunch That causes Kid’s dad (Robin Harris), to ground him and keep him from the biggest party of the year thrown by his best friend  Play.

What ensues is a night of dodging bullies and the cops, getting the girl, and having fun. In the early 90’s most Black films highlighted inner-city youth and issues, and the aggression that a lot of Black youths harbor. House Party on the other hand showcased an often under depicted demographic middle-class Black youths who just want to get laid and have fun.

House Party carries so many attributes of the culture that still resonate today. Kid N’ Play and all their friends care about how they dress and look. They just want to rap and dance and look good doing it. Throw in sneaking out while you’re grounded, worried parents who are also pissed. Dealing with overzealous cops, high school bullies that look too damn old, and playing the game to get the girl. The soundtrack is a time capsule of late 80’s hip hop and r&b, and the now legendary New Jack Swing sound. Everyone knows and loves the classic dance off in the middle of the film between Kid N’ Play and Tisha Campbell and A.J. Johnson. 

We can’t forget the quotable lines that make the movie enjoyable to watch time after time. “I smell Pussy”, “follow the drip”, “What the hell is a Public Enema?”, “I would put my shoe so far up your ass, you’ll be shitting sneaker for a month.” "I'll fight a girl", "I know you will, I seen your ass get beat by a couple." And so many other lines you can still quote today, and those in the know will instantly get it.

House Party also is one of those movies that has a lot of stars or actors with consistent work, that you did not realize. Martin Lawrence is a comedy legend who starred in the classic sitcom Martin a couple of years later, and inspired a generation of comedians. Stand up legends Robin Harris and John Witherspoon displayed why their two of the funniest comedians ever. Tisha Campbell has built a nice career displaying her comedy chops between Martin and My Wife and Kids.  A.J. Johnson has built a fitness empire for herself. Everyones favorite scumbag Clifton Powell has an appearance. Funk legend George Clinton steals his scene as a DJ at a party. Daryl Mitchell, Anthony Johnson, Kelly Jo Minter, and Joe Torry all faces you may know more than the name, all have small appearances in the film.

House Party is a movie that those under 18 who watch it enjoy it because of some of the adult content, and looking forward to being in those at times dangerous but relatively harmless situations. Adults on the other hand can watch and relate to the carefree teenage days when you just needed to get home before your parents realized you were gone.

House Party has left a legacy between two direct sequels starring Kid  N’ Play, and a sequel starring music group immature that is related to the original strictly by title. There was also a sequel released in 2013 in which Kid N' Play make a cameo appearance. There are plans to reboot the original with Lebron James producing it, which goes to show how influential the film is years later.

It has made legends out of Kid N’ Play and let several Black youths know dance moves can get you the ladies. House Party is a simple film with a  simple mission, enjoy life and have fun doing it which is why we still love it 30 years later.    

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