In 2011, parents and kids alike tuned into Sirius XM’s Kids Place Live to discover the freshest and most fun tunes. This national radio show, boasting a strong online community with nearly 17,000 fans on their Facebook page, became a key indicator of what songs were resonating with young audiences across the country. Let’s take a nostalgic trip back to that year and explore the standout tracks that topped their charts.
Every week, Kids Place Live aired its popular “13 Under 13” countdown, a kid-friendly version of classic music countdown shows. While not solely based on objective data, the rankings offered a valuable snapshot of song popularity, influenced by listener requests and the station’s expert curation. The chart placements reflected actual airplay, demonstrating a connection between the rankings and the songs kids were enjoying.
To compile a year-end list of famous songs from 2011, we analyzed data from the Kids Place Live Fans page, a dedicated online community that tracked the weekly “13 Under 13” charts. This compilation focuses on songs that first appeared on the charts in 2011, acknowledging that some tracks continued their popularity into the following year.
While this list isn’t a definitive, scientifically perfect ranking, it represents the songs that captured children’s attention and enthusiasm in 2011, becoming staples on Kids Place Live. Consider this your guide to the top kids’ hits of that year, a “13 Under 13” for the entire year.
Top Kids Songs of 2011: The Chart Toppers
Here are the songs that consistently ranked high throughout 2011, divided into groups based on their overall points and listed alphabetically within each group.
The Top 6: Unforgettable Anthems
These songs dominated the airwaves and became true favorites:
- Baron von Rumblebuss – “Did You See (What the Cat Dragged In)?”
- Caspar Babypants – “Butterfly Driving a Truck”
- Todd McHatton – “I Think I’m a Bunny”
- Mike Phirman – “Chicken Monkey Duck”
- Barbra Streisand (Llamanator Mix) – “Duck Sauce”
- Keller Williams – “Mama Tooted”
Notably, “I Think I’m a Bunny” by Todd McHatton and “Mama Tooted” by Keller Williams demonstrated remarkable staying power, continuing to chart for over six months after their initial appearance.
The Next 5: Highly Popular Tracks
These songs also achieved significant popularity and airplay:
- Blue October – “Jump Rope”
- Seth Decker and the Missing Piece – “Cucumber Canoe”
- The Fray – “Mahna Mahna”
- Joe McDermott – “Kitty Fight”
- Recess Monkey – “Flapjacks”
The Final 2: Standout Hits
Rounding out the top tier were these two notable songs:
- Cars 2 – “Collision of the Worlds”
- Recess Monkey – “Grandmom’s House”
It’s worth mentioning that Jonathan Coulton’s “The Princess Who Saved Herself,” a hit from the previous year, would have easily made this list if expanded to a Top 15, highlighting its enduring popularity.
Top Artists of 2011: Consistent Hitmakers
Beyond individual songs, some artists consistently delivered popular tracks throughout 2011. Here are the top 10 artists based on songs that first charted in 2011:
- Baron von Rumblebuss
- Caspar Babypants
- Joe McDermott
- Todd McHatton
- Mike Phirman
- Recess Monkey
- ScribbleMonster
- Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
- Barbra Streisand (Llamanator Mix)
- Keller Williams
Celebrating the Sounds of 2011
This journey back to the famous kids’ songs of 2011 offers a fun glimpse into the music that entertained young listeners that year. Sirius XM’s Kids Place Live played a vital role in showcasing these artists and songs, creating a shared musical experience for families across the nation. Which of these songs do you remember? Share your favorite kids’ music memories from 2011 in the comments below!
