Kidz Bop Kids are back with Kidz Bop 36, on which they keep up the pop covers and experiment with hip-hop
The Kidz Bop franchise takes hit songs and sanitizes them into easy singalongs for the junior demographic. Yet since Kidz Bop released its first edition in 2001, the covers have become more sophisticated and the Kidz Bop Kidz went from being behind-the-scenes child singers to tour headliners. The crew that sings on Kidz Bop 36 consists of Ahnya, Sierra, Julianna, Cooper, Freddy, and Isaiah. The album’s centerpiece is a cover of “Congratulations,” which was recorded by Post Malone ft. Quavo. On the original @postmalone celebrates making it to stardom in a hazy, drawn-out celebration that includes bragging about being surrounded by “twenty bad b***hes.” Kidz Bop Kids are surrounded by “all my friends” and in the music video the six of them congratulate each other while throwback videos of them when they were younger play in the background.
Kidz Bop Kids have made it to the big leagues of touring
Besides getting creative with “Congratulations,” @kidzbop experiment with hip-hop on a cover of “Juju On That Beat,” which continues to be a strong reminder of the staying power of Crime Mob‘s 2004’s hit “Knuck If You Buck.” The Kids do nothing that resembles the petulance of knucking and bucking, but neither did Zay Hilfiger and Zayion McCall. Then there’s a two and a half minute version of “I’m The One,” originally by DJ Khaled ft. Quavo, Chance The Rapper, Lil Wayne, and Justin Bieber. That squad is reduced by the Kidz Bop Kids down to Bieber and Lil Wayne, whose verse is heavily rewritten. All 16 songs on Kidz Bop 36 clock in below three and a half minutes, with the longest being a cover of “Believer,” originally by Imagine Dragons, a stretch for the Kids who do not usually belt out dystopian anthems.
This was NOT the filming of Kidz Bop Kids’ “Believer”
The rest of Kidz Bop 36 provides glossy covers of pop songs. The Kids finally take on Moana theme song “How Far I’ll Go” and also remake hits by Charlie Puth, Shawn Mendes, Justin Bieber, Demi Lovato, Miley Cyrus, and Selena Gomez. The highlight among pop covers is “Crying In The Club,” which somehow elevates the Camila Cabello original. The tropical pop track centers on the Christina Aguilera “Genie In A Bottle” sample that reinforces the Kids comforting each other to not cry in the club. That’s a message everyone can agree on coming out of Kidz Bop 36 and with the Kids’ growing professionalism, there will be no reason to cry when they come on tour to your city.
Kidz Bop Kids are aligned on the #aintnocrying message
