While the world is on baby watch awaiting the new prince or princess, SheKnows is helping to get the nursery ready by putting together the perfect lullaby playlist.
Ever since Kate Middleton’s pregnancy was announced in December, we have all caught a case of royal baby fever.
We don’t know for sure whether a prince or princess will be joining the royal family, but we know one thing: William and Kate’s new bundle of joy is one of the most anticipated arrivals ever!
And while Her Royal Highness Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, is gearing up for a July 13 due date, we thought we would help out with getting the nursery ready for the baby in waiting.
SheKnows has come up with a lullaby playlist that is fit for a king — or queen.
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Now, it’s important to note that the 31-year-old momma to be has brought youth and vitality to the House of Windsor, so no stuffy lullabies of yore here.
From Taylor Swift to U2, there’s plenty of music to choose from. This playlist has something for all ages. Here are some highlights.
Rockabye Baby!
We’re sure Kate already knows about the Rockabye Baby! collection. Celebrity moms like Kate Hudson and Nicole Richie love these albums. If you are not familiar with them, Rockabye Baby! albums turn songs from bands like The Rolling Stones, Nine Inch Nails, AC/DC and Coldplay into lullaby instrumentals.
Since we are talking about the British monarchy here, we’re going to recommend one of our favorites from The Fab Four and the lads of Coldplay. Hit play and “Penny Lane,” “Clocks” and “Yellow Submarine” will take your baby off to dreamland. Rockabye, baby!
“Baby Mine” — Alison Krauss
I cannot listen to this song without tearing up a bit, thinking about that scene in the Disney movie Dumbo where the momma elephant is cradling Dumbo in her trunk. “Baby Mine” is such a sweet song, and Alison Krauss’ voice is perfect for it. Don’t worry, she’s back later.
“Somewhere Over the Rainbow” — Jewel
Speaking of a voice that is perfect for a lullaby. Pop singer Jewel has two amazing albums of lullabies to choose from. And her voice is so soothing and calming, it’s perfect for a fussy baby or a fussy adult.
But Jewel‘s lullaby albums, while on iTunes, aren’t available for streaming, so if we’re building a playlist, we’ll have to pick her rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” Actually, Jewel could sing the phone book and it would be lovely.
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“Lullaby” — Dixie Chicks
Written as a gift to their children, The Dixie Chicks‘ “Lullaby” is so soft and sweet, it will give the royal baby a feeling of safety and hopefully a feeling she — or he — would like to come across the pond and go to college over here in America and fall in love with one of my kids. It would be nice to have a royal in the family.
Vitamin String Quartet
Like the Rockabye Baby! albums, the Vitamin String Quartet takes famous songs and gives them a classical adaptation — this time for a string quartet. This is perfect for the moms and dads who want to lull their baby to sleep to Guns N’ Roses but realize Axl Rose’s voice isn’t exactly what you’d call soothing. However, my daughter really likes the Vitamin String Quartet’s rendition of “Sweet Child O’ Mine.”
The Vitamin String Quartet has covered songs from Lana del Rey to Ozzy Osbourne. And of course, Coldplay’s music lends itself very well to the string quartet treatment. That’s why we’ve chosen their “Yellow” for the royal baby: “Look at the stars. See how they shine for you, and everything you do.”
The Classics
“Rock-A-Bye Baby,” “Braham’s Lullaby,” “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” — these are the songs that we think of when we hear the word “lullaby.” And no royal baby playlist would be complete without songs that even the queen herself would enjoy.
But if they’re a little too stuffy for a young mom like Kate, she can always sing her own lyrics to the baby. My husband and I used to make up the silliest lyrics to “Hush Little Baby.”
“And if that hound dog does not bark/
Momma’s going to buy you a new pet shark.”
Check out these baby names inspired by real princesses >>
“I Don’t Want to Live on the Moon” — Shawn Colvin & Ernie
We love this song because the royal baby will go to sleep dreaming about all of the places that he or she can visit in the future. It’s such a perfect song about childhood — dreaming of great adventures but being safe at home with your family. That’s why we love this addition to the playlist.
“Didn’t Leave Nobody but the Baby” — Alison Krauss, Gillian Welch & Emmylou Harris
Heard in the Cohen Brothers film O Brother, Where Art Thou?, “Didn’t Leave Nobody but the Baby” has the loveliest harmonies. Although the lyrics are pretty much akin to the bough breaking and the cradle falling, it’s an amazing lullaby regardless.
“Lullaby” — Jack Johnson & Matt Costa
If Kate and William want to take their wee one back to the beaches of their vacation island in the Caribbean, all they need to do is play this song by singer/surfer Jack Johnson. Along with fellow singer/songwriter Matt Costa, Johnson takes your little ones into the surf and off to dreamland.
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“Where the Streets Have No Name” — Pickin’ on U2
We finish off our playlist with another instrumental version of song by a famous band. This time, it’s the Irish lads from U2 who get the bluegrass treatment. Yup, The Edge’s guitar has been traded in for a banjo, and surprisingly, it works really well. And while the whole album is great, “Where the Streets Have No Name” lends itself perfectly to this playlist.
TELL US
There are so many more songs on the playlist that we didn’t mention. Take a listen and tell us what would be on your royal baby lullaby playlist. Anything we missed? Let us know in the comments below.
Photo: istockphoto
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