That sounds fun! I bet she'll get a kick out of the project you're doing for her!
A few spirited songs: The Song is You, Ain't No Body's Business If I Do, Too Marvelous for Words, You're theTop, Don't Fence Me In, When You're Smiling (Louis Prima's version is fun.) Begin the Beguine, Frenesi, Let's Face the Music and Dance, and A-Train are all very upbeat instrumentally.
I’d say do a short easy audio tape with songs from different decades and try it with her to see what she likes. Most of these answers are from memories of our own grandparents, whose choices might be different from your mother. My dear MIL, born 1911, really preferred Andy Williams, The Seekers and other songs from the 50s and 60s. NOT ‘Bicycle Built for Two’. I had had suggestions for ‘My Old Man Said Follow The Van’ and ‘Down at the Old Bull and Bush’, Victorian songs which she could scarcely remember.
Foxx, perhaps you could clarify the time period specifically?
This is a good example of old songs, back from the 1800s, that were still popular during the early days of someone now in her 90s, some of which I still enjoy.
Click on any one of the songbook icons, use the "Google Preview" icon and scroll through the introduction, list of songs, and more. I found a lot that I had forgotten about.
When I was trying to find music for my mother I kept getting recommendations for all the big band tunes that were popular in the 40's but after a while I realized that mom would have still been a young woman in the 50's, so some of the early rock and roll could be appropriate. Depending on her taste in music some of the early country classics might be good too, and are often overlooked.
Did it my way was not a song from the 40s. Go on line and see what songs were sung during the 30s, 40s, and early 50s. Being 90 they probably don't care for rock and roll.
I thought back to songs my grandparents used to sing. Came up with "The Band Played On," "As Time Goes By," and "Sentimental Journey."
If you wanted newer songs - "In My Life" (Beatles), "Reminiscing" (Little River Band), "Old Days" (Chicago), and a song Elvis used to do "Memories." Not the one from Cats.
My Mom 93 loved listening to her Big Band music of the 40s. Glen Miller, Andrews Sisters etc. This is the music she grew up with and still could sing along and would try to dance a little I her wheelchair.
Not sure what you call "old person" songs but there are inspiring songs with every generation. Here are a few Google and I came up with What a Beautiful World...Louis Armstrong Stand By ME ...Ben E King Here Comes the Sun...The Beatles Imagine...John Lennon Always Look on the Bright Side of Life...Monty Python We are the Champions....Queen Ain't no Mountain High Enough...Marvin Gaye Live Like You Were Dying...Tim McGraw
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A few spirited songs: The Song is You, Ain't No Body's Business If I Do, Too Marvelous for Words, You're theTop, Don't Fence Me In, When You're Smiling (Louis Prima's version is fun.) Begin the Beguine, Frenesi, Let's Face the Music and Dance, and A-Train are all very upbeat instrumentally.
A specific artist, soft rock, easy listening from, say the 50's.....you'll have a playlist hours long.
My 'easy listening from the 50's 'has Perry Como, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett, Louis Armstrong, more artists than I can name.
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This is a good example of old songs, back from the 1800s, that were still popular during the early days of someone now in her 90s, some of which I still enjoy.
https://store.doverpublications.com/0486171337.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyZCmzrbq5AIVT77ACh1MSw7IEAQYASABEgLEkfD_BwE
Click on any one of the songbook icons, use the "Google Preview" icon and scroll through the introduction, list of songs, and more. I found a lot that I had forgotten about.
The 40s were the big band era.
Little Brown Church in the Vale
Take me out to the Ball Game
As Barb states, there are songbooks with all these old time songs. I have one that has a lot of good songs. If I can find it, I'll post some more.
If you wanted newer songs - "In My Life" (Beatles), "Reminiscing" (Little River Band), "Old Days" (Chicago), and a song Elvis used to do "Memories." Not the one from Cats.
Sentimental Journey
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
Hey Good Looking
I Left My Heart In San Franciso
Here are a few Google and I came up with
What a Beautiful World...Louis Armstrong
Stand By ME ...Ben E King
Here Comes the Sun...The Beatles
Imagine...John Lennon
Always Look on the Bright Side of Life...Monty Python
We are the Champions....Queen
Ain't no Mountain High Enough...Marvin Gaye
Live Like You Were Dying...Tim McGraw