Top 20 Most Inappropriate Kidz Bop Songs

#20: “Paparazzi” (2008) Lady Gaga

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We assume that many Kidz Bop members dream of one day being admired by adoring crowds— and, on the surface, this might seem like the perfect song to relay that. However, whoever chose the number may have missed that it connotes heavy undertones of stalking. These lyrics: "Chase you down until you love me" and "I won't stop until that boy is mine" don't really scream healthy relationship vibes. According to the artist, the song is about balancing fame and love and trying to get "the paparazzi to fall in love with [her]." Many complex themes are going on here, and a kids' album probably isn't the best place to explore them.

#19: “California Gurls” (2010) Katy Perry feat. Snoop Dogg

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Katy Perry wrote “California Gurls” as a West Coast response to “Empire State of Mind.” Seems like a perfectly tame subject for kids to sing about, right? Think again. With references to “gin and juice,” “sex on the beach,” and pretty much all of Snoop’s verse, there was certainly a lot of editing to be done here. Even “Daisy Dukes, bikinis on top” was deemed too immodest by whoever penned the censored lyrics. Surely, the adults were aware that Perry’s Candyland wasn’t necessarily somewhere you’d want to take your kids? So who wants to break it to them that the “popsicle” she’s singing about isn’t the refreshing sweet treat one might consume on a hot day?

#18: “I Like It” (2018) Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin

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The Kidz Bop creators clearly put a lot of effort into finding a Cardi B song they could work with — and credit where it’s due, this was probably the best choice. This Latin hip-hop number is a catchy celebration of the artists’ heritage and, in the summer of 2018, you could barely walk a block without hearing this jam. However, it isn’t short on expletives, and Bad Bunny’s verse references firearms, various non-kid friendly substances, and his affinity for Latina women. Besides that, they stayed pretty loyal to what Cardi B likes rather than changing the lyrics to reflect things children enjoy. After all, we all know how much kids love and appreciate their Balenciagas.

#17: “I'm the One” (2017) DJ Khaled feat. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper, Lil Wayne

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Aw, a sweet song about finding “the one.” Oh, wait, no. This collaboration of big names brags about how their wealth, charm, fame, and well-endowment mean they could be “the one” for any woman they want. So how did it end up on a child-orientated album? Well, as with many of their song adaptations, “I’m the One” brings the narrative to the dance floor. Still, whoever was in charge of tweaking Lil Wayne’s verse probably could’ve tried a little harder. Sure, the drug reference was cut and replaced with, “when she hear this song, she dances crazy.” But we really hope these kids didn’t understand the true nature of the lyric, “Don’t make me catch a body.”

#16: “Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat)” (2020) Jason Derulo & Jawsh 685

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Thanks to a TikTok trend originating from Jawsh 685’s original beat, this song was everywhere in 2020. So, we kind of get why they decided to cover it. However, this proves that just because a track is popular doesn’t mean it needs to be featured on a Kidz Bop album. The number’s about unrequited love, where the singer keeps running back to the same person even though they know their feelings aren’t reciprocated— not something we imagine too many kids will find relatable. Almost hilariously, the lyrics about kissing have been censored, but the sentiment remains the same. The most savage thing about this rewrite is that it now makes no sense.

#15: “My Immortal” (2003) Evanescence

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Alternative rock isn’t a genre you’d typically associate with children’s music. Yet, Evanescence managed to make two appearances on Kidz Bop albums. Kid-ifying the electrifying rock-anthem “Bring Me To Life” just feels plain wrong. But trying to tackle “My Immortal”...? What were they thinking?! Both songs are from the perspective of someone in a dark place trying to break free. That’s some pretty heavy stuff for youngsters to be singing about and listening to. We’re all for teaching children to express their feelings healthily, but lyrics like “When you’d scream, I’d fight away all of your fears” are probably just a little too mature. Don’t get us wrong; we love Evanescence; we just don’t love kids taking on such dark material.

#14: “50 Ways to Say Goodbye” (2012) Train

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In the words of singer Pat Monahan, this song was “a gag about a girl breaking up with a boy, and being […] so immature that the only way to handle it [is …] to tell your friends that she’s dead.” Yet, someone over at Kidz Bop HQ thought this would be an excellent choice for their “Megapop” album. Unlike its source material, the girl in the kid-friendly version seemingly enjoys a fun post-break-up vacation rather than 50 hypothetical gruesome endings. Though she does face several setbacks, such as getting chased by a mudslide and a lion, her break still sounds pretty ideal overall. Also, considering what typically gets censored, we’re pretty surprised the word “crappy” and mentions of the “east side nightclub” were left in.

Have you ever properly listened to this song’s lyrics? It follows a steamy conversation between two exes while their respective partners are elsewhere. It’s clear that the narrator and mystery woman still have feelings for each other, and the double entendres are hard to ignore. So, how did Kidz Bop handle such adult content? Well, they didn’t do much. Yes, you heard that right: children are singing about cheating on a partner. We would’ve loved to be in the room when the group was presented with this song. We can’t fathom any alternative explanation for this content, but if you can, you know where the comment section is.

It’s hard to imagine a Nicki Minaj track that wouldn’t be deemed inappropriate for this target audience. But, we suppose a song about defying all odds to fulfill your greatest potential is as good a choice as any. Still, it also contains references to drinking and sex, and repeats several expletives, so the censoring lyricists had to get creative. The “We’re Kidz Bop, and we’re takin’ over” alternative lyric is laughable, but we’re not sure why the part about paying rent wasn’t edited out. How many children do you know who pay bills? Still, Kidz Bop is proof that any song can be about dancing if you really want it to be!

#11: “Follow Me” (2000) Uncle Kracker

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Did someone really find this song about an extramarital affair and think, “Hey, this belongs on a children’s album?” Do these kids even understand what they’re singing about? We hope not. Based on some of the lyrics, the meaning isn’t exactly up for interpretation. Mentions of rings and feeling guilty all in the same verse essentially put the writing on the wall. However, some fans believe this song is actually about drugs. Unsurprisingly, that doesn’t make its inclusion any more fitting. According to the artist, it indeed has a double meaning, so this is a two-for-the-price-of-one in terms of inappropriate subject matter.

Sorry to disappoint the sweet tooths among us, but just in case you hadn’t heard, this song isn’t actually about enjoying dessert while looking out to sea. Rather, it’s about sex on the beach. DNCE didn’t clarify whether they’re singing about the cocktail or getting down to business. Although if you listen to the words, then it’s very likely that it’s the latter. Either way with expletives, alcohol references, and some pretty explicit imagery, we imagine that some parents might not approve of their offspring singing along. If so, they might prefer the“Kidz Bop” version, which offers a more literal translation of the title.

#9: “New Rules” (2017) Dua Lipa

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Considering that this song is about moving on from a relationship, we’re not sure how many “Kidz Bop” fans can really relate. To be fair, Lipa’s advice seems pretty sound and it’s never too early to teach kids how to stay away from unhealthy relationships. Even so, the content of the song is perhaps a tad premature for little ears. Any mention of drinking had been removed entirely as has a reference to waking up your ex’s bed. Nevertheless, it’s still definitely a break-up anthem. You might want to wait until after their first heartbreak before playing this track to your little ones.

There are several interpretations of what’s “going down” in this song. But with mentions of drinking a lot, partying hard, and various states of undress, none of them are particularly kid-friendly. The chorus literally suggests drinking so much that you blackout. Naturally, “Kidz Bop” removed those lyrics and replaced them with ones about dancing instead. Even so, we’re not sure just how wild they think a children’s dance party can get. Admittedly, this song is a bop and definitely one that would send you to the dance floor. Maybe they should have included lyrics about staying hydrated at these apparent crazy kid parties instead.

#7: “Love Me Harder” (2014) Ariana Grande feat. The Weeknd

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Who saw the title of this song and thought it was the right choice for a “Kidz Bop” album? The name alone gives it away. Ariana is known for expressing her sexuality through her music and this one is on the more explicit side. As far-fetched as it sounds, the kiddie version is now about singing. Someone behind the scenes worked extremely hard to censor the song’s mature nature and it’s actually kind of hilarious. It’s been edited so much that it could essentially be a brand new track. If only they’d thought to change the repetitive “Love Me Harder” part as well.

#6: “Lose My Breath” (2004) Destiny’s Child

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Admittedly, we also jammed out to songs just like this when we were younger in total blissful ignorance. Evidently, whoever deemed this song appropriate also thought that the lyrics were PG enough too. The major difference is the chorus of children who interject every now and again. We can only assume that they decided that Destiny’s Child was urging the “baby boy” to “keep up” on the dance floor. Somehow they’ve overlooked the actual meaning behind the breathy sounds between the lyrics. Do you want to tell them that it’s not the sound of someone going too hard on the dance floor or should we?

#5: “Toxic” (2004) Britney Spears

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With lyrics like “With a taste of your lips, I’m on a ride,” we’re not really sure what it was about this particular song that screamed ideal for children. As we’ve already seen, “Kidz Bop” loves exchanging suggestive lyrics for ones about dance. Yet, someone still scanned Britney’s “In The Zone” album, straight past “Me Against the Music” and settled on “Toxic.” Sure, it’s one of her most famous songs but hearing kids sing those evocative words is still a bit weird. We guess that someone at “Kidz Bop” didn’t get the memo about Britney’s “Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman” phase.

We understand that “Kidz Bop” wants to make pop music more accessible for kids. However, if a song is explicitly about sex, does it really have a place on a children’s album? Not to mention the lyrics about drink and drugs. Not only that, but their version erases any gay reference. Instead, this is now essentially a song about chilling on a Hawaiian beach. Fans were understandably angered by the LGBTQ+ censorship and started a petition to pull the album altogether. The changes didn’t go unnoticed by the artist either, who shared the new lyrics on Twitter, much to the amusement of his fans.

#3: “Love on the Brain” (2016) Rihanna

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Oh to be a fly on the wall, when this song was finalized for the “Kidz Bop 35” album. Rihanna’s songs are quite racy at the best of times but this one especially has no business being on a playlist aimed at children. She sings about being consumed by her love for a man that she knows is bad for her. To make matters worse, some believed that it hinted at her past relationship with Chris Brown. Even their attempts at creating more family-friendly lyrics fall short if you ask us. In fact, their edits are only marginally less explicit than the original.

Just because this song was everywhere in the summer of 2016, it doesn’t mean that it’s appropriate for every setting. Considering that the song is about two people hooking up, it needed quite heavy editing to make it more family-friendly. As a result some of the lyrics no longer make sense and are actually quite absurd. Among the funniest is the way that they’ve reimagined bed sheets as sheets of paper. It probably would have just been better to skip this song altogether. Also if you have to rewrite the entire chorus then you might want to rethink its place on your album. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “I Love It” (2012), Icona Pop feat. Charli XCX Nothing to See Here, Just Some Kids Singing About Crashing Cars & Watching Them Burn “I’m Real (Remix)” (2001), Jennifer Lopez feat. Ja Rule JLo Wasn’t Singing About Her Appetite for Food “So What” (2008), Pink You Know, for When the Kids Go Through Their First Divorce? “In the End” (2000), Linkin Park Kids Singing About Hopelessness Is Kinda Morbid “Thrift Shop” (2012), Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz This Isn’t Just a Song About Being Thrifty, We’ll Tell You That

#1: “That’s What I Like” (2017) Bruno Mars

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Someone took a look at this song and thought, well let’s just change it to stuff that kids like. So, they came up with strawberry milkshakes, hanging out in your jammies, and hanging by the fire. But we all know that this isn’t what Bruno’s singing about at all. His lyrics describe a more adult kind of evening. Look, credit where credit’s due, their rewrites are pretty inventive and much of it is hilarious. They’ve even changed lines about owning a condo in Manhattan and renting a beach house in Miami. After all, we all know how particular kids can get about property management.