About Jack's Tunes

As Jack's birth announcements make their way through the mail, we thought it was a good time to talk about Jack's tunes, and why we chose these songs. You can download each of the songs on the lower left of this page.

1. Over the Rainbow - IZ (Listen | Learn more)

We love to vacation in Maui, and inevitably, this song is played on the radio, in hotel lobbies, at the airport, everywhere! We thought that it was a nice message for Jack, and that it represented a special part of how we loved to spend time together, and how we look forward to spending time together as a family.

2. Mine to Keep - Debbie Shaefer (Listen | Learn more)

When Jenn was pregnant she envisioned Mark holding Jack sleeping. The lyrics are very tender and seem like a perfect fit to describe the relationship between Mom and Jack.

3. Baby, I Love You - Natalie Merchant (Listen | Learn more)

This is just a fun song, and there's a line in a song about the boy leaving. "Someday you may wanna run away...I'm gonna stop you from saying 'goodbye'." In a way, it made Jenn think about that day in the future when Jack will leave home, and in a funny way, how Jenn will be the overprotective Mom who'll always want to watch over him.

4. You've Got a Friend in Me - Lyle Lovett and Randy Newman (Listen | Learn more)

This song is from Eddie and Truman to Jack. The doggies will always be some of Jack's closest buddies, and the boys wanted to share their big furry welcome to Jack.

5. Teddy Bear - Elvis Presley (Listen | Learn more)

You have to have a little bit of Elvis in your life (not too much, mind you). Mark likes this song because he sees himself and Jackeroo dancing around the room to this song. We also wanted to start Jack early in the art of sweet-talking, just like Pops. :)

6. Crying Won't Help You - BB King (Listen | Learn more)

Jenn chose this one because you need some levity in your life when you've been crying for a long time. It's a good bathtime song. No matter how much you cry, Jack, you're gonna get cleaned up in the bathtub!

7. American Boy - Chris Isaak (Listen | Learn more)

Jack is the original American Boy (and Mom loves Chris Isaak).

8. Pop's at the Bop - Indigo Swing (Listen | Learn more)

Just like our wedding CD, the swing music tradition continues with this fun little boppy number. Jack is working on his Charleston step right now.

9. House at the Top of the Tree - They Might Be Giants (Listen | Learn more)

Mark chose this one simply because it's such a cute kid's song. As Jack gets older, Mark plans on telling bedtime stories like these to Jack, about fantastic things like dogs driving cars, mice eating houses, and living in trees with bags of potato chips.

10. Wonder - Natalie Merchant (Listen | Learn more)

We like this song for what it says about the amazing miracle of life and how beautiful and wonderful children are. Who knows what Jack will grow up and become, but we're sure we'll be in awe.

11. Best is Yet to Come - Frank Sinatra (Listen | Learn more)

Need we say more?

12. Extraordinary Thing - k.d. Lang (Listen | Learn more)

Jack coming into our world has changed things in such an amazing and wonderful way. He's such an incredible gift to both of us, and we cherish him very much.

13. The Prayer - Charlotte Church and Josh Groban (Listen | Learn more)

A song full of promise and the future, just like Jack. This song has a really nice message. Parenting can be hard, and we hope that we can continue to be blessed as our family grows

14. Return to Pooh Corner - Kenny Loggins (Listen | Learn more)

Jenn loves Winnie the Pooh, and this is one of the greatest little kids songs out there. Jenn can't wait to share the things she loves as a child with Jack.

15. Lullaby Baby Blues - Keb Mo' (Listen | Learn more)

A sweet little lullaby, which we hope will come in handy when Jack needs to go to bed!

16. When You Dream - Barenaked Ladies (Listen | Learn more)

Mark wrote about this song previously here:

"It's a song from the writer to his newborn son, and when I hold Jack while his mom is sleeping, and it feels just like the two of us, I like to wonder what he's dreaming about as he makes little noises, and flexes his legs. But even moreso, I love pondering what fantastical things he will dream about in the days to come."

A last note, but an important one! The design for the birth announcements came from Jack's Auntie Lindsay. If you need a designer for anything, drop her a line.