While children’s songs are generally considered to be harmless fun, they often have historical roots or present a little hidden story that could be viewed as a parable or fable. Let’s take a quick look at a few unusual songs for kids which will include the ‘Invasion of the Twisted’ brought to you be the advancements in technology and an ever changing world.
Say Hello to the ‘Finger Family’ Songs
The songs belonging to this trend might have you feeling a little uneasy when you watch the videos that have made them very popular and very controversial.
The finger family term comes from an early presentation which showed the heads of famous cartoon characters perched on top of a fingertip and dancing together as the hand moved the fingers. The majority of the videos start out innocent and funny then quickly gravitate to having these very familiar, celebrated and well loved, cartoon figures blowing each others heads off with automatic weapons and even coming suicide. This family finger is extremely popular.
These have become prevalent on the ‘YouTube Kids’ channel and may pop up on other video outlets designed for children. The only thing you can do is maintain that level of parental protection you already have; always paying attention to what your children are listening to and are what they are watching.
The Truth is; Mary Lied.
Based upon most historical references, the ‘Mary’ presented here who became known as ‘Quite Contrary,’ is Mary of Tudor who alluded to a belief that once becoming queen she would not enforce a particular religion upon the people of England.
She did the exact opposite. Once in power, she declared the Roman Catholic Church as the one and only ‘Church’ and this led to the torture and death of many Protestant believers.
The phrase ‘Silver bells’ is attributed to a nickname for thumb screws and regarding ‘Cockle Shells,’ well, let’s just say there are sensitive and private places on your body you don’t want to feel the sharp piercing of cold steel.
Understanding the ‘Garden’ usually goes one of two ways; Mary of Tudor was barren and therefore nothing could grow in her garden with the word ‘Garden’ symbolizing her womb with that line of the song designed to seem innocent when it was rather insulting.
The second viewpoint is that her garden grew well due to the constant, very special, fertilizing from the dead bodies buried in rows. The word ‘Maiden’ was also another name for the guillotine, as in the ‘Iron Maiden,’ and these execution devices were set up in a row to kill multiple people as a demonstration and a spectacle to entertain and inspire fear in the people of England. Very similar, actually, to the significance in the United States of the ‘Public Hanging’ being of prominence in the days of the old wild west.
Are You a Gummy Bear?
A relative newcomer in the world of nursery rhymes, this song appeared in 2007 and is included in a video game known as ‘Just Dance Kids.’
A few quick ideas that have been tossed about regarding this song are that life is good and you should be proud of who you are. There is also the plain fact that you if you are focused on talking funny and saying silly things you’ll be forced to take a break from thinking; take a break from fear and worry.
Songs for children should be fun and innocent and, from the perspective of a child, almost all of them they are. Any deep and profound understanding can wait until they are older and they may never become aware of anything pertaining to their favorite childhood song other than how much fun it was and, how much fun it still is.