Twinkle Time Stays Busy With Love

Children's recording artist Twinkle Time (Alitzah Weiner Navarro Dallas) made a swift pivot when she saw her live event schedule dry up in 2020 due to the pandemic. Some would say that's because she's used to dancing and thinking on her feet, as the former member of the '00s girl group Nobody's Angel is familiar with complicated choreography. Instead of filling her calendar with more than 300 appearances (as she had in 2019), Twinkle went to live daily YouTube videos and Instagram posts. 

As 2021 hit its second season (spring), Twinkle added to her children's music checklist with a weekly two-hour children's music Top 20 Countdown. Artists on recent shows included Stacey Peasley, SaulPaul, Kids Imagine Nation, Wendy & DB, Laurie Berkner, and way too many to list. The show is available on Pittsburgh's family-friendly radio station Jump 105.3 on Saturday mornings at 8 AM ET and can be downloaded as a podcast from Apple, Audible, Podbean, and iHeart.

But wait, there's more! Twinkle celebrated the dawn of 2021 with a new song and video about masking up. English and Spanish versions (Mask / Mascara) debuted the first week of January. She's releasing music periodically in anticipation of her fourth children's music CD later this year. In the meantime, you can see her roller disco-themed video for the latest song, "Love." The tune is available from iTunes in both in English and Spanish:

L-O-V-E love
A magical word that needs to be heard
All over the world

"We had one 30-minute Zoom rehearsal and only two hours on location," Twinkle explained in an Instagram post. "After all the group shots, the crew was breaking down the set while shooting my closeups at the same time!" Twinkle and her energetic crew shot the video on location at Wheel House Skate in Hemet, California under strict COVID protocols, choreographed by IJay Espinoza and directed by (husband) James Dallas.

You can view the video below:

Quick Hits: Phriman Finds Activities, Caroline's Teen Power Pop

Do your kids keep busy with mind-expanding activity books? Mike Phirman feels their struggle and celebrates their experiences with his new five-song concept EP, ACTIVITY BOOKS. The songs are all about (you guessed it) sundry large-format paperbacks that challenge kids' brain processes – mazes, connect the dots, word searches, color by numbers, and and what's wrong with this picture.

The new children’s music label 8 Pound Gorilla Records is rolling out spring releases from its eclectic roster of performers. The SiriusXM Kids Place Live favorite, LA-based comedian/singer/songwriter/dishwasher/juggler Mike Phirman fits their "sweet spot" of silly, sweet, and mildly educational (so parents can nod their heads and pat themselves on the back). 

"Connect the Dots" opens the playlist with the reveal of a luggage dog (it gets explained if you don't know what that is). "Color By Numbers" begins with a clangy, literal translation as a picture of a boxing ring is completed. "Word Search" features “Weird Al” Yankovic as “stuff that gets sucked up by a vacuum." No, I'm not making that up. "What's Wrong With This Picture" rolls along with a country music feel, as Mike sings "there's a bell in the melon that I'm sellin'." The EP closes with "Maze/Petting Zoo Bouncy House" with a GPS system that has a mind of its own on the way to the eponymous destination.

ACTIVITY BOOKS is available from Mike Phirman's website, Amazon, and Apple Music.

Here is the new video for the song "Color By Numbers / Bobbing and Weaving":

Teenage pop singer Caroline understands that perceptions can sometimes be deceiving. Her new single "Smiling" depicts internal emotional turmoil while attempting to put on a happy face. She sings about wanting to share what's behind the surface, no matter how troubling that might be for other people:

People never care about who you are
So I want to show them all my scars

Caroline fills her social media with daily livestreams and interactions with her youthful fan base. You can grab the song at Soundcloud, Spotify, and YouTube. Here is one of (many) videos for "Why Can't You Be Mine":

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, March 25, 2021

Manic Monday – Billie Joe Armstrong
You Can Get It If You Really Want – Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could
Clown Shoes – Ratboy Jr.
Cut the Cheese – Danny Weinkauf
New Pair Of Shoes – The Bazillions
People Watching – Dean Jones
Loving & Kind – Aaron Nigel Smith

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Love Dies Young - Foo Fighters
La Brea Tar Pits - Weezer
Blue Night - Story Pirates
Fanga Alafia - Aaron Nigel Smith
I Think We're Alone Now - Billie Joe Armstrong
I'm an Optimist - Dog On Fleas
Your Love is a Metaphor - Danny Weinkauf

Big Drums from Paper Bag Party, Suzi Shelton's Happiest Tree

Fun Fact: Ringo Starr was the first Beatle to release a solo album after the band's breakup. He also segued from drummer to frontman with relative ease. The brainchild of a pair of drummers, Paper Bag Party is the Banana Splits for preteens. The cast of characters – Tibbs, MG, Grandpa, Darci, and Bagel – are all paper bags with different personalities. The episodes (available on Youtube) focus on taking selfies, online shopping, and lots of drum lessons, or at least as much as you can squeeze into one minute featuring a paper bag playing the drums. Here is a representative clip, where MG teaches "Drum Safety." Stick around – it's only one minute long! More videos can be found on Paper Bag Party's YouTube page. Follow them on Instagram as well.

Did somebody mention the Beatles? Oh that was me. Parents' Choice once called Suzi Shelton “the Beatles for the preschool set.” And what a great pivot that provides to "Magnolia Tree," her brand new song and animated music video. If you've ever heard the phrase "a tree grows in Brooklyn," then you know where Suzi found her inspiration –  a beautiful, blooming tree that shades her stepdaughter Julia while she plays.  

The weather outside is no longer frightful. Birds are flying back North. Grass is turning green. In-person schools are conducting outdoor learning in the open arms of Mother Nature. "Magnolia Tree" harkens back to 1970s "Magic Garden," complete with whistling and a singalong chorus. And speaking of mothers, Suzi wrote "Magnolia Tree" with her son Sebastian and recorded the tune in his room (with virtual assistance from her bandmates guitarist Greg Mayo and drummer Dan Weiner):

Take my hand and come with me
Under my magnolia tree
We can jump and play and laugh all day
Just me and you
Your beauty blooms just once a year

The animated “Magnolia Tree” music video is a collaboration with Dallas-based artist Jackie Land and Venezuela-based illustrator and animator Alcides Urrutia (who previously collaborated with Latin Grammy winners 123 Andrés). You can watch the video for "Magnolia Tree" right here:

Putumayo Relaxes Kids In Yoga Dreamland

The concept of the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup was rather simple – mix two well-loved food substances and create a wholly new product. Putumayo Kids used that same methodology to create YOGA DREAMLAND, the label's fifth yoga and ninth dreamland CD. The merger produced exactly what you might expect, a collection of nine gentle pieces (I'm on the fence about referring to them strictly as songs) curated with the goal of soothing and recalibrating young minds.

One seldom gets to use the term "mind-numbing" in a positive way, but YOGA DREAMLAND serves as an entrée into basic yoga poses for beginners (with a 24-page companion booklet that can be downloaded if you choose to purchase the music via the Internet). The goal is to calm young, active minds at days-end and refocus children on tomorrow's programs and goals. 

As parents scrambling for more pandemic-centric home activities in 2020, yoga moved into the forefront. It's not like yoga for kids suddenly became a thing; in fact, Ben was participating in a yoga class when he was six years old (in 2006). A variety of livestreamed providers gives YOGA DREAMLAND a sweet landing spot in the public consciousness. 

Since 1999, Putumayo Kids has directed the company's world music concept for young audiences. YOGA DREAMLAND features  performers from the United States, Colombia, England, Germany, India, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Poland, and Senegal. The album was co-created by musician/yoga instructor Seán Johnson (of Wild Lotus Yoga in New Orleans) and Putumayo founder Dan Storper. The collection is a fascinating blend of pieces by authentic artists representing their country's works. Putumayo's roster is better spelled than pronounced, hence performers include Polish star Justyna Steckowska, British-Indian composer Nitin Sawhney with vocalist Jayanta Bose, Japan's Aiko Shimada, and the Mexican-American/German duo Mirabai Ceiba.

Don't put on YOGA DREAMLAND if you're planning on driving; it's music to stretch, decompress, and prepare youngsters for slumber. On the plus side, if they do fall asleep three songs into the CD, just relax. It will take that much longer to listen to all nine tracks. 

YOGA DREAMLAND is available on Putumayo Kids' website, Amazon, and Apple Music.

Here is the Facebook Live video with YOGA DREAMLAND co-curator, yoga teacher, and musician Seán Johnson, live from Wild Lotus Yoga in New Orleans:

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Chasing Birds – Foo Fighters
You Can Get It If You Really Want – Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could
Finally – Franz Ferdinand
Summer's Here – The Bazillions
Go – The Black Keys
La Brea Tar Pits – Weezer
Glue – Frances England

Ben's Playlist - Monday, March 15, 2021

Helicopter Leaves – Ants Ants Ants
Reality In Motion – Tame Impala
Boy with a Hole in his Heart – Danny Weinkauf
Even When....  – Ratboy Jr.
Here Comes The Rain – Weezer
El Corazon – The Lucky Band
Inkpot – Kepi Ghoulie

Putting On A Show With Beth Jean (Video Debut); New Fuzzy Lemons Songs

Children’s performer Beth Jean's song, "Waddlin' We Go (The Penguin Song)," recently won the Grand Prize in the Children’s Category for Session II of the 2020 John Lennon Songwriting Contest. The song appears on Beth Jean's upcoming second album, LET'S PUT ON A SHOW, slated for release on April 9.

A midwestern family favorite, Beth Jean's videos are featured on the Emmy-winning Wisconsin-based PBS children’s show The Friday Zone. LET'S PUT ON A SHOW is a concept album and Beth Jean has released the video for the title track as a teaser. The video harkens back to 1930s and 1940s musicals, where a midwestern gal dreams of stardom whilst singing with her cow, moves to the big city (Manhattan), successfully auditions for a famous producer (also played by Beth Jean), and performs with a chorus of dancing flamingos (what better way to remain socially distanced from other people?). 

Watch the world premiere of "Let's Put On A Show" here:

 

 The Fuzzy Lemons are everywhere, if you believe their website. The pride of New Jersey have released two new songs to get kids up and moving (and keep parents patient and sane). "T-V-O-F-F" is the rocking refrain that all adults – pandemic or not – find themselves shouting to get kids on their feet and engaged in physical activity. "Breakfast" features ukulele (and spoons and kazoo) and reminds everyone about the importance of recharging your body:

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day
It gives you lots of energy to run and jump and play
Have some bacon and eggs or ham on toast
Early in the morning when you need it the most
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day

You can grab the songs at the Fuzzy Lemons' website, Apple Music, Spotify, or Pandora.

Here is a pre-pandemic performance of the band singing "No More Monkeys":

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, March 9, 2021

Holding Poison – Foo Fighters
Everything Happens For A Reason – Weezer
Lazy Boy – Franz Ferdinand
Buenos Dias – The Lucky Band
Who, What, When, Where, Why – The Bazillions
Humans Are Still Evolving – Dean Jones
Shine A Little Light – The Black Keys

Dreaming With the Pointed Man Band

In the olden days (pre-pandemic), a one-man band entertained crowds by performing with tambourines on his knees and maracas attached to his elbows, as well as a harmonica strung around his neck. The modern-day one-man band is Dan Elliott, Portland's eponymous Pointed Man Band. Dan has returned with DREAMS, a four-track EP to brighten your dreary mid-winter spirits. Dan likes to paint word pictures to the point when even a song like "Dreams" comes alive with vivid imagery ("Your mind will race with parachutes in tow").

The songs ("Winter & Co.," "Unsung," "Dreams," and "Love") aim high in celebration and camaraderie, as even the dreariest months make Dan break out into smiles. "Love" can feel in short supply when you can't see loved ones or travel any distance due to coronavirus. But "love is love no matter who you're thinking of," Dan instructs listeners. "Winter & Co." remarks on day becoming night and how the night stars are more than metaphor in something we can strive to reach:

Turning the bright lights on
Light up the sky like the moons and the sun
So turn the bright lights on and we
Aim for the stars cause that’s who we are

There's an asterisk on the one-man band aspect, as Dan is accompanied by wife Kay and son Noam (making it a one-family band, more accurately). Co-production polish was provided by Pat Hanlin (Josh and the Jamtones), with concept design and artwork by Portland illustrator Brooke Weeber. 

It's the rare children's music act that sounds like the Alan Parsons Project crossed with Roxy Music. Most of you can go diving for Wikipedia or ask Alexa who I'm talking about. Or better yet, just accept that the decidedly unsharpened Pointed Man Band will drive right into your kids' imaginations.

DREAMS is available from the Pointed Man Band's website, Bandcamp, Apple Music, and Amazon. 

Here is the video for the band's song, "Love":

Ben's Playlist - Monday, March 8, 2021

Stars – Ants Ants Ants
Doppelganger – Dog On Fleas
Winter Bird / When Winter Comes – Paul McCartney
Dead Roses – Weezer
Two Towns – David Gibb & Brady Rymer
White Whale – Kepi Ghoulie
No Son Of Mine – Foo Fighters

Let's Go With the Laurie Berkner Band (World Premiere Video)

There are some hard and fast truths for most children's music performers, especially when they face an unending procession of Zoom concerts. Paramount is the simple, declarative statement: They will never be Laurie Berkner. Sound harsh? Maybe, but consider the three decades of street cred that Laurie brings to the culture of kids' music. It's been 25 years since the release of WHADDAYA THINK OF THAT? In the intervening time, kindie has become a "thing." The Berkner Band has soldiered on, past piles of discarded download cards, broken CDs, and scratched vinyl singles left in the wake of hundreds of acts that followed.

I'm not comparing Laurie Berkner to Furiosa, the character played by Charlize Theron in the "Mad Max" remake. Laurie's journey included many detours that benevolently opened entry ramps for other artists, such as adapting her songs into children's books and starring in a short-form TV series for Sprout! (now Universal Kids). She even took a six-year break from recording new music to start a family with husband/former bassist Brian Mueller. 

During the early days of the pandemic, Laurie held daily (then thrice-weekly) "Berkner Break" concerts for quarantined children. Those concerts helped spawn many of the songs for her 14th release, LET'S GO! The 16 songs span appreciation for nature ("I Saw A Butterfly"), accomplishment ("Tied My Shoes"), and self-awareness, personal pride, and identity ("Beautiful Light"):

I'll make my beautiful way in this world

The way I dance, the way I sing, the way I bounce, the way I twirl

The way I think, the way I see, the things I'll do and who I'll be

I'll make my beautiful way in this world

The contradiction of the pandemic era is that isolation has made recording music easier for many bands. The refrain "when can we get together" has been solved by shared Google docs and cloud-based sound files. The song credits on LET'S GO! read like a jigsaw puzzle, with a round-robin of musicians and singers. Yet the tunes come together seamlessly, delivering Laurie's beloved, patented song style to her perpetually renewed fanbase. When the world is ready to reopen, the Laurie Berkner Band is excited to meet old fan and new alike. At the very least, LET'S GO! is an understatement.

LET'S GO! is available from Laurie Berkner's website, Spotify, Soundcloud, Amazon, and Apple Music.

The Laurie Berkner Band will be doing a pair of virtual concerts for Easter and Passover on Sunday, March 28 at noon and 5:00 PM ET. Tickets for both shows are available here.

Here is a world premiere video for "When It's Cold," featuring Brady Rymer: 

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, March 4, 2021

No Son Of Mine – Foo Fighters
That's My Style – The Bazillions
Lost And Loving It – Kepi Ghoulie
Seize The Day – Paul McCartney
Bird With A Broken Wing – Weezer
Anything Can Be A Hat – Ratboy Jr.

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, March 2, 2021

'Cause I'm A Man – Tame Impala
The Kiss Of Venus – Paul McCartney
Medicine At Midnight – Foo Fighters
Whole Wide World – Billie Joe Armstrong
Taco Tuesday – The Lucky Band
It's A Wonderful Life – Kepi Ghoulie