This 2016
Greatest Hits! collection from the
Kidz Bop franchise is essentially a reboot of the 2009 album of the same name. An entirely new track list culled from early-2010s
Kidz Bop albums is featured on this 14-song affair. Some generally upbeat and appropriately kid-friendly numbers like
Pharrell Williams' "Happy" and the first ever
Kidz Bop original "Make Some Noise!" are sure bets, and
Meghan Trainor's "All About That Bass" sends a positive message to preteens. As with any
Kidz Bop release, some tracks just feel too strange, like
PSY's almost lyric-less dance smash "Gangnam Style" and
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' ode to resale "Thrift Shop," which just seems clunky and forced. With almost any chart hit up for grabs, it's always interesting to see what will be filtered through the
Kidz Bop machine, and this highlight reel reveals that the veteran franchise has not lost its savvy. ~ Timothy Monger