What to Play for a Kid Birthday Party

It's been a while since I last posted here. And in that time, I was busy with party preparations for a double birthday party for my kids, ages six and four. I was to be responsible for -- what else? -- the music. And while there were a few requests from my six-year-old, her selections alone wouldn't get us through the freeze dance portion of the party. So here's what I chose:

"Wake Me Up" - Avicii
Seems like a good, danceable tune to get a party started. And thematically, it's about the passage of time. Seems like a win-win.

"Safe and Sound" - Capital Cities
A dance party favorite in our house, although the kids don't actually know it by name. Still, its irresistible hook makes it a no-brainer.

"Let it Go" - Demi Lovato
The first request from my daughter. I couldn't make it the first song of the playlist because I wanted the crowd -- and all the little girls who adore Frozen -- to be assembled at the party before it came on. And when it did, it was a smash. Especially if you like to see six-year-olds belt out Disney girl-power anthems.

"Strawberry Fields Forever" - The Beatles
The second of my daughter's three requests. A bit of a come-down from the upbeat fare that preceded it, but I honored her wish. I'm not sure it worked.

"Fall Back Down" - Rancid
Surprisingly, this is one that we play a lot at home. Sure, it's bona fide punk rock, but it has a kid-friendly message: "If you fall back down, I'm gonna help you back up again/If you fall back down, I'm gonna be your friend." If there's an evil subtext lurking in there, I can't figure it out. And I can say that the kids kept dancing, so its inclusion was justified.

"Family Time" - Ziggy Marley
Another family favorite in our house (and our car, which is a sensible family station wagon). While the other kids probably didn't know this song, mine did and they all sung and danced anyway.

"The Magnificent Seven" - The Clash
This is one my four-year-old son likes hearing in the car, so I stuck it on here for him. And it worked great during the limbo and the obstacle course.

That concluded the dance portion of the party. Had it gone on, we would have enjoyed the following:
"Signal in the Sky" - The Apples in Stereo
"Yellow Submarine" - The Beatles (the third of my daughter's three requests)
"Song 2" - Blur
"Girl" - Beck
"New Life" - Depeche Mode
"Just Like Heaven" - The Cure
"Fantastic Day" - Haircut 100
"Midnight City" - M83
"Our House" - Madness
"Temptation" - New Order
"Fireflies" - Owl City
"Such Great Heights" - The Postal Service
"Whip It" - Devo
"When You're Young" - The Jam
"Crash" - The Primitives
"One Step Beyond" - Madness
"A Message to You Rudy" - The Specials
"Mass Romantic" - The New Pornographers
"Last Nite" - The Strokes
"It Must be Love" - Madness
"Polish Girl" - Neon Indian
"The Mother We Share" - Chvrches
"The Electric Version" - The New Pornographers
"Love Shack" - The B52s
"History Never Repeats" - Split Enz