Mom’s Mixtape: Imagination

I did finish the Imagination Mix. It’s available as an iMix here. We’ve actually been listening to it for a few days, and it’s gone over well. (Well enough that I, for one, am desperate for the next one!) It’s crazy which songs end up being their favorites.

1. Imagination - Bert and Ernie
2. Just My Imagination - The Temptations
3. Imagination - Erasure
4. With Imagination (I’ll Get There) - Harry Connick, Jr.
5. Imagine - Jack Johnson cover
6. Can You Imagine - Laurie Berkner
7. Pure Imagination - Lou Rawls
8. Surfin’ in My Imagination - Ralph Covert
9. I’ve Got to Use My Imagination - Gladys Knight and The Pips

As promised, we’ve also been doing some “Imagination”-related activities. 6 did a crossword puzzle based on the lyrics of the songs, 5 did a word search, and everybody colored a picture of things that start with the letter ‘I’. I wanted to share the puzzle input, but my favorite create your own crossword puzzle/wordsearch site doesn’t save the data. (I’ll keep working on that). We also brainstormed ways we use our imagination and played picnic dress-up.

Since Imagination was a big hit with the older 2, the next theme is for my little guy. He’s rather obsessed right now with both airplanes and songs about them. From my iTunes, I’ve got Gary Allan watching the airplanes, Train counting them, and John Denver leaving on one. What can you add?

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You know that I’m a sucker for anything acoustic.

Oh, how I do love a good mixtape.

Modern technology has simplified the process (whether that’s good or bad is arguable), but I have had fewer occasions for creation in recent years.

With summer upon us, the kids and I have been barreling through songs on my iPod, borrowing new CDs from the library and blaring the radio in the car, and I realized I have a reason once again to design perfect playlists for some fresh, new, occasionally-appreciative listeners.

Now I need your assistance with my latest new plan for content: Mom’s Mixtapes, which, of course, I intend to post on Mondays (see what I did there!).

In an effort to start this summer off with a creative focus, this week’s topic: Imagination. Imagination appears as the subject of plenty of popular songs, among them a few that I already own:

• With Imagination (I’ll Get There), Harry Connick Jr.
• Imagination, Erasure
• Surfin’ in My Imagination, Ralph Covert

Brainstorming time - any additions from your archives? Imagination need not be in the title, but should be in the lyrics, and while the subject matter need not be kid-cognizable, it should be kid-friendly. (For those of you who might be so inclined to offer it (and you know who you are), I’ll probably skip this one.)

I have considered grabbing Pure Imagination from the Willy Wonka movie. Gene Wilder’s presentation disturbs me slightly less than the Kenny Loggins cover, but I think I lean toward the Maroon 5 version as the least terrifying. (Can someone tell me how a song with such lovely lyrics manages to creep me out so badly?)

Tune in Monday for a final list, an iMix and related summer activities.

Posted in Mixtape Monday | |