Children’s Song Medley: A playlist of classic and popular hits everyone knows

Tango of the Red Ogre and the Blue OgreBito Isao

The Tango of the Red Ogre and the Blue Ogre # Isao Bito

This song, performed by Isao Bito—known for his husky, cool voice and rockabilly image—also drew attention for being featured on NHK’s Minna no Uta.

Unusual for a children’s song, it sets red and blue ogres dancing to a tango rhythm.

With its concept, music, and animation all tailored to children’s tastes, it became very popular.

yomogi-jōbu nowarabeuta

Spring children's song / For the April–May seasonal festivals: [Yomogi-Jobu no]. I'd like to play it to coincide with the festival.

It’s a simple song that evokes a sense of nostalgia.

You can almost see a nature-rich scene, with the fragrances of irises and mugwort drifting in the air.

It’s easy to imagine children energetically playing tag.

This work conveys the essence of Japanese culture, which has long cherished local customs and the power of plants.

It’s a perfect piece for cherry-blossom viewing in spring or for playing in nature.

How about singing it during time spent with your children? It will surely become a fond memory.

Singing while moving the body also seems likely to support children’s healthy development.

butterflyYōroppa min’yō

♪ Butterfly – Choucho | ♪ Butterfly, butterfly, alight on the rapeseed flowers [Japanese song / shoka]

Didn’t you often sing it in kindergarten? It’s a song that makes you want to sing when you see cabbage white butterflies fluttering in the spring.

Wrapped in the gentle spring sunshine and air, it’s a song you want to sing with your mother.

Please sing it while thinking of rapeseed flowers and butterflies.

The Puppy Police OfficerSakushi: Satō Yoshimi / Sakkyoku: Ōnaka Megumi

The Puppy Police Officer

It’s a song about asking a lost kitten where it lives, but it only says it doesn’t know.

So they ask other animals, yet no one can figure out where the kitten’s home is, and even the police officer dog is at a loss and ends up crying.

Being a police officer is really tough, isn’t it?

Do-Re-Mi Songsakushi: osukā hamāsutain / sakkyoku: richādo rojāsu

Children’s song “Do-Re-Mi” Peggy Hayama version

One of the signature songs from the musical “The Sound of Music.” In its Japanese translation, it’s a great song for learning note names.

Because you can easily memorize the Do-Re-Mi-Fa-So-La-Ti-Do scale by singing it, and it’s easy to sing, it’s often sung at schools.

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Starsakushi: jēn teirā / sakkyoku: furansu shanson

Kira Kira Boshi (Twinkle Twinkle Little Star) | Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in Japanese | @supersimplejapanese

It is a nursery rhyme loved not only in Japan but all around the world.

In English it is “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” and the Japanese translation is faithful to the original.

It is also famous as a piano piece and is included among the early pieces in Bayer.

King Kamehameha of the Southern Islandssakushi: itō akira / sakkyoku: morita kōichi

[Popular Children's Songs for Summer Vacation] The Hamehameha Great King of the Southern Island / Minna no Uta (Covered by UtaSuta)

As soon as it appeared on NHK’s Minna no Uta in April–May 1976, it became instantly popular, so much so that it was rebroadcast just two months later.

The singer is Ado Mizumori, who was also well known as a TV personality and manga artist.

The Hamehameha Great King actually has a proper backstory: historically, Hawaii was ruled by a king named Kamehameha, and the Hamehameha Great King is said to be his friend.

People often mistakenly sing “Kamehameha” in the lyrics, but the correct word is “Hamehameha,” so please be careful.