Time stands still for no child. In 10 years, kids go through sneakers, shirts, schools, and reading levels like nobody's business. For children's music, 10 years is therefore a lifetime. For recent 8 Pound Gorilla Records' signees The Figureheads (Jeremy Bryan, Greg Marshall, and Dave Olsen), it's going to be interesting to see how the Milwaukeee-based hip-hop combo acclimate to a generation of new artists, considering they spent a full decade out of the limelight.
The Figureheads are about having fun with an edge of social consciousness. Of the six songs on their STARS, their new EP, "Make It Better" and "Gotta Believe" stress singing together to improve our lives, with the wind at our backs, while we all have breath in our lungs. But there's also fun and family with "Sticky Song" and "Wave and Stomp."
The Figureheads may be back for awhile or just turtling (sticking their heads out of their shells). For a brief 16 minutes, your kids can hear what they've been up to since approximately 2012.
Speaking of that next generation of children's music performers, they were inspired to fashion songs for kids by artists such as Recess Monkey, Gustafer Yellowgold, and Frances England. Vancouver, Canada's The Zing Zangs (Trevor Walls and Emma Watson) began writing songs together after high school. Ttagged "the second generation of kindie" by Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, the duo has compiled their material into their debut CD, THE GOOD DAY, with the help of über-producer Dean Jones (who even guests on "Chatterbox").
THE GOOD DAY encapsulates the high-spirited experiences of two friends (can we give them a nickname like "Tre-mma"?). Tunes chart morning through nightfall, sharing music ("Let's Start A Band"), games ("Hide and Seek" with Mista Cookie Jar and "Playing in the Park"), and winding down with "Shadows Dance" as the sun begins to set. It's 11 songs in 23 minutes, just the right amount of time for a hyperactive child to percolate and settle into bed. All in all, THE GOOD DAY is a promising start for the Zing Zangs.
I could go on and on about the importance of Earth Day and how sustainability is something that everybody needs to take seriously. But I'm writing about kid's music, which means you need to run the content through the perspective of a child; being neither vengeful, judgmental, or ominous. During a program for school children a few decades back, Daria (Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou) was asked to conceptualize a song for the occasion. She used the chestnut "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" and reconfigured it with the help of her students into "We've Got the Whole World In Our Hands." Their vision included not only recycling and ecology but also family and community outreach. She then took the song and crafted it into a workbook that can be used in educational programs about Earth Day.
You can hear the song on Spotify and Apple Music. Here is Daria singing "We've Got the Whole World In Our Hands":
Another performer celebrating Earth Day is New York City's Esther Crow has delivered a timely video for her song, "Stuff." The concept is easy enough to understand… you don't need to be a hoarder to find your living space overwhelmed by possessions. As her song explains, responsibility means previously-read books and used shoes can be given away to make another friend's day:
I got stuff in my closet, I got stuff in my drawers
I got stuff to deposit at the local thrift store
So much stuff that I never even wore
So much stuff I can't fit it through my door
So much stuff I can't take it anymore
The video for "Stuff" showcases the Crow fam (including 8-year-old son Vincent) and the Strawbitty Yops, under the engineering prowess of Grammy Award-winning über-producer Dean Jones. The one thing we can all agree is that there's not enough quality children's music and Esther is diligently working to overcome that oversight.
You can hear "Stuff" on Spotify and Apple Music. Here is Esther Crow's video for "Stuff":
Our country is at an interesting crossroad. The word "rainbow" has become a polarizing term when applied to social activism. However, in the realm of children's music, rainbows are still the go-to for teaching the interdependency of colors and emotions. Kelli Welli invited a host of other artists to perform guest vocals on "Rainbow Love Song" from her upcoming ROBOTS DON'T TELL JOKES release (from 8 Lb Gorilla Records):
If all of the colors of the rainbow were my love for you
Together we'd be purple and apart I would be blue
We'd have happiness in yellow
And our kindness would be green
Darling, you are everything to me
"Rainbow Love Song" blends the voices of Red Yarn, Flor Bromley, Kymberly Stewart, Twinkle, James Dallas, Elena Moon Park, Claudia Robin Gunn, Maddy Heart, and Bryan Daste into unified orchestral harmony. The album will arrive next month, but until then, here's some unified kindie power:
What if you wanted to produce your first children's music release but were unable to coordinate with your producer in person? FIRE DOG frontman Mark Pagano and über producer Dean Jones decided to tackle the pandemic-related issue head on, producing Mark's debut MAMMAL MUSIC, a kids CD under the monicker Marko Polo, entirely remote.
The duo heated up the wifi between St. Louis and upstate New York, where Mark and Dean live, respectively. The 10 tracks on MAMMAL MUSIC are mostly acoustic with a variety of keyboards and horns augmenting the subjects, such as "Heart Muscle" and "Big Brains."
You can definitely hear the "Dean Jones" influence in the often-silly but well-polished tracks. For instance, Mark extols the strange noises made by worms (!) on "New Sound," featuring what must be a theremin. A running theme on MAMMAL MUSIC is self-empowerment ("Be Brave" and "Planet Earth") and that's become more common as children witness other segments of the population stand up for their rights (think 'Kids Lives Matter'). MAMMAL MUSIC marks Mark's gentle entry into children's music, and he's prepared to entertain families and other mammals with his songs.
When you're the self-proclaimed "King of the Family House Party," it's important to acknowledge that there are homes all over the world. Even though Father Goose has planted his flag in the New York area, he is expanding his base. That means a new EP, INVISIBLE, with collaborators from a literal United Nations: Jamaica, Singapore, Mexico, India, Saudi Arabia,
Thailand, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Barbados, Netherlands, and Africa.
Sidelined from doing live show in performance spaces due to the coronavirus, FG spent his pandemic crafting a gamut of songs with his rotating touring crew, making music that could be viewed remotely. But it turns out he had a bigger goal in mind. Goose used Zoom and cloud sharing to deliver danceable melodies with positive messages that enforce social responsibility and community engagement.
FG puts words into the mouths of a young generation that feels "Invisible" while adults repeat the same mistakes, over and over. "Why" addresses deniers of systematic racism, as people of color seek to "keep on rising," despite challenges from existing class structure (and even a police siren to drive home the point), with a chorus that refrains, "Is it the color of my skin?" There are no easy answers for these tough questions, but FG uses music as his forum to offer possibilities so kids won't feel invisible.
You can also view the video for "Invisible" here, as well as stream the entire EP on YouTube:
Schoolhouse Rock exists only on the Internet (and in our collective memories). Children's musician and ethicist Esther Crow recently enlisted double Grammy winner Lucy Kalantari to duet with her on "Bees, Beavers, and Bats," which now has its own educational video, courtesy of animator Elana Fox (yes, Fox and Crow fighting on the same side). The song, from Esther's album ALL TOGETHER NOW, touts the importance of the animal kingdom in relation to biodiversity, centering on the three tune title characters. The song was arranged under the watchful eye of über-producer Dean Jones (who plays drums on the song). You can follow Esther Crow on Spotify and watch the video for "Bees, Beavers, and Bats" below:
Red Yarn (Andy Furgeson) loves to make music with his friends. His compatriots are a pretty integrated bunch of folks and when they get together, it's a joyous sound. Inspired by Inauguration Day poetess Amanda Gorman (as well as Walt Whitman and a host of others), Andy wrote "I Hear America Singing." The song features 123 Andrés on guest vocals, with backing vocals provided by Kymberly Stewart, Little Miss Ann, Aaron Nigel Smith, Dean Jones (who also produced the track), his wife Jessie, and his son's first grade class at the Woodlawn Elementary School.
Born in Texas but currently based in New York, visual artist Arielle Wilkins of Brothas N Sistas created the artwork for the lyric video (below). Dave Gulick of Ants Ants Ants provided motion graphics and animation. There's a strong message in these lyrics, about reaching across the aisle for common ground:
Today I heard some joyful music
I sure know some folks could use it
To heal the holes in their broken hearts
To be the soundtrack for a fresh start
Andy's got more music coming later this year, and a full CD expected possibly by year's end. All those credits are a mouthful, but the result is the following song about citizenship and community:
The ever-prolific Father Goose has returned with a summer song about friendship and positive emotions. "Spread Love" (instead of coronavirus, perhaps) features singer Danni Ai, a regular on the recent spate of Goose songs. FG spent his pandemic crafting a series of songs with his rotating touring crew, making music that could be viewed remotely, as the "King of the Family House Party" was sidelined from doing live show in performance spaces. "Spread Love" is a slow reggae tune, perfectly in tune with the recent heat wave. You can grab the song on Spotify. You can also view the video for "Spread Love" here:
Jim Henson realized that puppets make learning easier (and more fun). A puppet's primary appeal (tactile look and interactive feel) is thwarted through the aural medium. Nevertheless, performers persevere. And video provides a way to introduce those puppets to a new audience. As the world reopens and live concerts blossom anew, those performers prepare to engage with those kids. And that's exactly what Esther Crow, founder of Thunder & Sunshine, is experiencing right now as she mounts a summer tour to support for her solo CD, ALL TOGETHER NOW.
Esther spent her pandemic year pivoting to remote showcases, like many other children's music performers. She also made the decision to use more ecologically- and socially-conscious material. Coronavirus demonstrated the ability of kids to adapt to new circumstances. We can't go back to the way things were (denying climate change, suppressing votes, minimizing minority expression) and Esther used her voice (sometimes with puppets created by Jeff Lewoncyzk) to distract, amuse, but also educate her young audiences.
Like many artists in the kids' music space, Esther's resumé looks like a Venn diagram, with a punk rock band (The Electric Mess), her six-woman children's band Thunder & Sunshine, and her solo career, as well as numerous songwriting competitions and awards. The 10 tracks (and additional interstitial puppet intros and sketches) on ALL TOGETHER NOW were helmed by Grammy-winning über-producer Dean Jones.
The jazzy "Bees, Beavers, and Bats" features Esther and Grammy winner Lucy Kalantari sharing vocals about how these creatures assist with photosynthesis and other facets of nature. "Ocean" is a soaring ballad (and environmental call-to-action) about the importance of these bodies of water across the planet. There are also soulful songs about creatures such as "Inchworm," (not the classic kids tune), "Caterpillar," (not the truck) and "I'm A Muskrat." Esther brings everything into 20/20 focus with the first single from the album, "It's So Easy Bein' Green" and "Hard To Be Happy," an emotional response to our shared pandemic ordeal. As the world heals and kids demand normalcy sooner rather than later, Esther delivers music (and puppets) that brings everyone all together now.
The pandemic is still in full force, although a semblance of normality is beginning to emerge, including socially distanced concerts. Little Miss Ann (Ann Torralba) knows that youngsters have a short attention span, so she's boiled down more than a year of tumult, turmoil, and tenacity into her sixth children's music collection, titled 28 DAYS. All of the songs were written, recorded, and produced under quarantine, guided by the experienced hand of über-producer Dean Jones. Toddlers and preschoolers alike will enjoy the 11 progressive, infectious songs delivered by one of Chicago's favorite children's performers.
If there's one thing that people needed the most during COVID, it was friends. Miss Ann used the pandemic as an opportunity to load up 28 DAYS with special guests such as Frances England (on "Bright Winter Day"), Tommy Soulati Shepherd of the Alphabet Rockers (the title track), Amelia Robinson of Mil's Trills ("Stars On the Island"), and Elana Moon Park and Suzi Shelton ("Good Luck"). Shelton returns on "Marshmallow Man," the first video from 28 DAYS. Chicago-based violinist Anna Jacobson guests on "Goin' Down the Road," a countrified number about learning from nature:
You never know who you'll meet
On your journey down the road
So be open to the froggies and the foxes and the toads.
They might be big or they might be small
Use your heart, not your eyes, don't put up a wall
The constant thread throughout 28 DAYS is "we will be just fine, one day at a time," as Miss Ann sings on "Safe At Home." It's been a tough year-plus for everyone and a little introspection goes a long way. But as Miss Ann gently emphasizes, it's also time to look forward, move upward, and plan ahead for the next 28 days.
The Grammy Museum Experience is hosting Little Miss Ann as one of the stars of its "Spring & Sing! Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month Celebration," on Saturday, May 22 at 11 AM ET. Click through to hear music and stories about performers' Asian heritage, including Elana Moon Park, Mista Cookie Jar, and Falu.
Lost And Loving It – Kepi Ghoulie
La Brea Tar Pits – Weezer
It's a Miracle – Dog On Fleas
Buenos Dias – The Lucky Band
I Spy – Ants Ants Ants
Die For You – Justin Bieber Feat. Dominic Fike
People Watching – Dean Jones
Reality In Motion – Tame Impala
La Brea Tar Pits – Weezer
That's My Style – The Bazillions
What Kind Of Fruit – Dean Jones
Glue – Frances England
Racecar – Uncle Dox
Winter Bird / When Winter Comes – Paul McCartney
In celebration of Earth Day 2021 (Thursday, April 23), musician Esther Crow has released the bio-friendly song, "It's So Easy Bein' Green." Yes, the title plays off Joe Raposo's iconic Sesame Street tune. In June, Esther is stepping away from Thunder & Sunshine, her funk-rock ensemble, to promote her upcoming solo CD, ALL TOGETHER NOW. The project, spearheaded by kids' music über-producer Dean Jones, promises songs about environmental justice, social justice, and animals. Esther is releasing a video next month to commemorate Endangered Species Day on May 21.
Featuring her seven-year-old son Vincent, "It's So Easy Bein' Green" addresses ways to bring about positive change, in line with this year's slogan, "Restore the Earth." The duo talk about such easy-to-accomplish tasks as eating less meat, riding a bicycle to reduce carbon emissions, and utilizing reusable water bottles:
It's so easy bein' green
Living' low waste, using LEDs
Picking up bottles on the beach
Whatever you can do, to help make it clean
As Esther points out, “If each of us made these small adjustments in our lives, we could have an impact."
The post-pandemic spring blast of children's music continues next month with the release of SLOW CLAP, a new CD from Koo Koo Kanga Roo. To prepare audiences for what's coming, they've dropped the first video, “Ice Cold Lemonade.” Making their case for a summer anthem about the citrusy kids favorite, the song was produced by Lazerbeak (who worked with Lizzo, among other notables) and features a guest verse from Murs, a Los Angelino who knows a thing or two about sunshine. The kaleidoscopic video shows the duo of Bryan and Neil dressed as oversized lemons in a park, a playground, and on a boat. Because lemons love boating, mmkay. Watch the video here:
The last time Michael & the Rockness Monsters put out a CD, they were looking back at a century of music, which was ironically called SEEING LIFE IN 2020. Obviously, Michael Napolitano could not foresee what would actually occur during our pandemic year. But he used his quarantine to livestream a variety show for children called "House Party," with songs written with contributions from all over the world. Those compositions make up the heart of SIMILARITIES, the new release from the Family Napolitano – Michael, wife Heather, and their daughters, Emilia (13) and Sienna (11).
Not to put too fine a political point on it, but a divisive, dysfunctional administration polarized the country over the past four years. The Rockness program seeks to unify and nurture listeners with positive influences. Hence, the title track on SIMILARITIES focuses on cultural parallels and what brings us together. Although Zoom meetings posed some challenges, engaging with children allowed Heather to perpetuate their Rockness Music education program, a female-owned family business.
Rockness channels a Story Pirates vibe with their comical tune, "This Is Not a Song About Unicorns" Band drummer Edd Duran croons in his native Chilean (Spanish) on the acoustic "Perezoso." Rockness draws material from four generations. The son of a professional drummer, Michael pays tribute to his grandfather on “Italian Farmer.” Similar to last fall's SONGS WITH MY DAUGHTERS from Elliott Park and his three teenagers, Michael sought inspiration from his kids. Sienna co-wrote "The Fox and the Feline" about a pair of unlikely friends. Both girls co-wrote the final two tracks, "Campfire" and "Together," which became a familiar singalong on their YouTube variety shows.
The pandemic brought together many artists to interface on their respective releases. This CD features a cover of Credence Clearwater Revivial's "Down on the Corner" that will get your kids jumping (unless you're driving). Two-time Grammy winner Lucy Kalantari and Americana roots musician Red Yarn provide vocals, with blasts from the band's horn section. Über-producer Dean Jones guides SIMILARITIES with a steady hand, resulting in one of the Rockness Monsters' strongest CDs in their 10 year-plus history.
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
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
'Cause I'm A Man – Tame Impala
Winter Bird / When Winter Comes – Paul McCartney
White Whale – Kepi Ghoulie
El Corazon – The Lucky Band
Clown Shoes – Ratboy Jr.
What Kind Of Fruit – Dean Jones
That Thing You Do! – Billie Joe Armstrong
Stars – Ants Ants Ants
Even When.... – Ratboy Jr.
Summer's Here – The Bazillions
Humans Are Still Evolving – Dean Jones
Word Association – Dog On Fleas
Perfect Day – Danny Weinkauf
It's A Wonderful Life – Kepi Ghoulie
Afternoon Walk – The Okee Dokee Brothers
Helicopter Leaves – Ants Ants Ants
Reality In Motion – Tame Impala
People Watching – Dean Jones
Go – The Black Keys
I'm an Optimist – Dog On Fleas
Cut the Cheese – Danny Weinkauf
The Moment – Tame Impala
All Star – Andrew & Polly
Wastin' Time – The Okee Dokee Brothers
Humans Are Still Evolving – Dean Jones
Run to Me – Bee Gees
One – Aaron Nigel Smith
Even When.... – Ratboy Jr.
Thank You For Being You – Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could
What Kind Of Fruit – Dean Jones
White Whale – Kepi Ghoulie
Shine A Little Light – The Black Keys
Two Towns – David Gibb & Brady Rymer
Cut the Cheese – Danny Weinkauf
Glue – Francis England Honey
People Watching – Dean Jones
That's My Style – The Bazillions
With a Little Help From My Friends – Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could
Word Association – Dog On Fleas
Anything Can Be A Hat – Ratboy Jr.
Taco Tuesday – The Lucky Band
