by Jamie Cunningham & Andrea YeagerLIBR 264

April 13, 2011

Selecting Music for Tweens:

Separating the Epic from the Embarrassing

Selection Criteria Currency and popularity

Released in the last two years Is it a “classic”?

Are there messages a tween could decode? Will this music be a “gateway” to other artists/ genres Diverse communities represented Positive, affirming message Is it cool? Was it on Glee? Is it critically acclaimed? Will it require conversations with parents? Is there a clean version available? Is there buzz around it?

TV show In the news In a movie

Selection Tools Asking Tweens

what they like! Social

Networking Sites (e.g., Facebook)

Common Sense Media

Pitchfork Media iTunes

Spin Magazine Paste Magazine Rolling Stone

Magazine Amazon MTV YouTube Personal

knowledge

Recommendations That Are Epic. . .

. . . For When You Just Start to Love Music

Recommendations by Jamie

Vampire Weekend Origin: New York,

New York Genre: Indie-pop,

Afro-beat Why is Vampire

Weekend so cool? College friends from

Columbia University Rise to fame via the

blogosphere Multiethnic band LGBTQ friendly

Vampire Weekend

Major Albums: Vampire Weekend

(2008)▪ Common Sense Media

rating of “Iffy” for ages 12-14 (some swearing)

Contra (2010)▪ Common Sense Media

rating of “On” for ages 12+

Key Tracks: “A-Punk” “Holiday” “Giving Up the Gun”

Adele Origin: London,

England Genre: Soul, R&B Why is Adele so cool?

Breaking down barriers for what it means to be beautiful▪ “Fat Positive” role model

Grammy Award Winner for “Best New Artist” in 2009

Latest album is a MASSIVE hit, topping the Billboard charts!

Adele Major Albums:

19 (2008)▪ No Common Sense

Media rating 21 (2011)▪ Common Sense Media

rating of “On” for 12+ Key Tracks:

“Chasing Pavements”

“Hometown Glory” “Rolling in the

Deep”

Arcade Fire Origin: Montreal,

Canada Genre: Indie-Rock Why is Arcade Fire so

cool? They are one of Stephanie

Meyer’s [author of Twilight] favorite bands

Write smart songs about the importance of being yourself

Their latest album, The Suburbs , is a critical and commercial success!

Arcade Fire Major Albums:

Funeral (2004)▪ No Common Sense Media

Rating Neon Bible (2006)▪ Common Sense Media

Rating of “On” for 13+ for mentions to war

The Suburbs (2010)▪ Common Sense Media rating

of “On” for ages 12+ Key Tracks:

“Rebellion (Lies)” “No Cars Go” “Ready to Start”

Robyn Origin: Stockholm,

Sweden Genre: Dance,

Electronic Why is Robyn so

cool? She plays the kind of

music she wants . . . Not the kind that labels want her to play!

Unconventionally pretty Catchy, smart tunes

Robyn Major Albums:

Releasing music for over a decade

Robyn (2005)▪ Common Sense Media

rating for 13+ for some swearing and references to drugs and/or alcohol

Body Talk (2010)▪ No Common Sense Media

rating; does have a parental advisory sticker

Key Tracks: “Dancing on My Own” “Indestructible”

Yeah Yeah Yeahs Origin: New York, New

York Genre: Indie-Punk,

Dance-Punk Why are the Yeah

Yeah Yeahs so cool? Multi-ethic band (singer

Karen O. is biracial [Korean & Polish])

Their song “Heads Will Roll” featured on Glee!

Karen O. wrote the soundtrack for Where The Wild Things Are!

Yeah Yeah Yeahs Major Albums:

Karen O.: Where The Wild Things Are Soundtrack (2009)▪ Common Sense Media

Rating of 2+ It’s Blitz! (2009)▪ No Common Sense Media

rating▪ A personal favorite of mine;

on my material’s blog! Key Tracks:

“Zero” “Heads Will Roll” “All is Love” [Karen O.]

Check Out Jamie’s Video Mix

Jamie’s Tween Playlist:

http://sites.google.com/site/jamiestweenplaylist/

And Now for Something Completely Different