Kids Love Reservoir Dogs!

Before anyone calls DFS, my wife already told me that I couldn't let our kids watch the movie until they're ten or so.  That's pretty harsh, but I've agreed to obey her wishes (Pulp Fiction comes a little earlier, I think). 

We have several CDs with kids' music, and they must be good because our kids love listening to them.  Recently it got to the point that the boy was demanding Dino-songs every time it was meal-time.  I dreaded those times because that music is so ... I don't know ... insipid.  It makes my head hurt.  I scoured our CD collection to find anything remotely child-appropriate but not so damn stupid.  Surprisingly, the search ended with Reservoir Dogs.

There are at least two songs on this album I guarantee your nearly-three year old and your 16 month old will love.  Hooked on a Feeling starts out with the "OOGA CHAKA OOGA OOGA OOGA CHAKA" mantra that Ally McBeal's subconscience baby made famous again in the late '90s.  That right there is enough to delight the kids.  Smiles galore leading into frantic dancing.  The melody is light and simple, which the kids dig. 

Coconut is really where it's at, though.  You know, "put the lime in the coconut and drink 'em both up...."  That song starts up and Elena's eyes light up and she waits for the vocals.  As soon as those kick in, she starts swinging her arms and moving her feet in a dance reminiscent of Elaine Benes, but somehow on a 16 month old it works.  Seriously, she really makes it work -- soon all the 16 month olds will be doing the Elena.  Seb now requests the Coconut song instead of the song that goes [to the tune of London Bridges, if you please]:

"Dinosaurs are very big, very big, very big,
Dinosaurs are very big, very very big..."

He's practically an adult. 

A couple warnings about the CD are also in order, such that you can't just let the CD run its course while the kids are around.  One, the kids enjoy Stuck in the Middle with You, which is a dandy song, but if you've seen the movie there's only one thing you can think of while listening.  Once I start dancing like Michael Madsen and checking out the cutlery in the kitchen, I know it's time to move on.  Powerful imagery.

Also, let me just say that if my son starts reciting Tarantino's "Madonna Speech," well, I'll call DFS myself.  Not until he's ten.

Comments

[D. Derek]

Good stuff. I've got George Baker's "Little Green Bag" in a mix that I'm currently listening to often. You're absolutely right, though; I can't listen to "Stuck in the Middle..." without trying to dance as poorly as Michael Madsen. Gasoline, anyone? And has there ever been an opening scene in a director's debut as good as the Madonna Speech?

[NeffCo]

i remember rockin' out to "Hooked on a Feeling" when i was about 4 or 5 years old. i had the 45 and one of those cheap plastic record players. That was my jam, man! i still love hearing that bass slide down between the "i-i-i-i-i" and "am hooked on a feeling..."