Remember the old proverb, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." The premise behind the saying is clear: Your attempt to improve something that is already sufficient may backfire." In the case of the new collaboration between Raffi and Lindsay Munroe, one could amend the maxim as, "If it ain't woke, don't fix it."
NURSERY RHYMES FOR KINDER TIMES updates a bunch of anachronistic Mother Goose chestnuts from decades – and centuries – ago and hardwires them for modern, spoonfed kids. Sure, you could call "Three Blind Mice" outdated...just look at the title. The same goes for "London Bridge Is Falling Down." But are children so coddled that they can't hear about "Humpty Dumpty," an egg, for omelet's sake, falling off a wall? Does Humpty really not get scrambled and put back together? The original intention of the ditty was teamwork (all the king's horses and all the king's men) and now it's "well, Humpty's friends came running to make sure he was okay."
I'm not on board with the small-brained thinkers in Florida pushing a "Don't Say Gay" agenda for preschoolers. But I'd think "The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe" is still kind of relevant in this environment. However, 20-year-plus preschool music teacher Pam Gittleman (a member of the Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative) wanted to reinvent these rhymes to nurture caring and compassion, and promote social and emotional intelligence. Those principles are the hallmark of Raffi's Child Honouring program. I've got another idea – how about creating NEW rhymes? It might be more difficult to market them, since you lose the selling "hook" of modern woke-ness. I guess now parents have a choice. I know what mine is.
Twinkle Twinkle Kindie star Is back hosting Kids Club For tykes near and far
Well, mostly for children who live near Santa Monica, California. After a two-year pandemic break, the monthly concert series returns, with Twinkle (Alitzah Navarro Dallas) kicking things off at 11 PM on Wednesday, May 4 at Santa Monica Place.
Featured guest artists include Kids Imagine Nation (June 1), Laura Doherty (July 6), Jason Mesches (August 3), Ruth and Emilia (September 7), Andy Z (October 3), Rory Gardiner (November 2), and Baila Baila (December 7). You can check the venue's website for additional information closer to each event.
It seems like only yesterday that we first heard about Laura Doherty, but she's been recording children's music since 2009. That's an indicator of how quickly time passes – back then, Ben was only eight (the age his little brother will be much later this year). By the same token, it felt like Laura's new CD, HIGH FIVE, passed by in the blink of an eye. Turns out the 10 tunes race by in a breathtaking 27 minutes. So yes, in that instance, time certainly flew by.
HIGH FIVE opens with the easy singalong chorus of "Hide and Seek," and steps right into "Muddy Puddles." Speaking of little brothers' ages, 2017 Grammy nominee Justin Roberts stops by to duet on "I Can't Wait to Turn 8," which turned into an immediate household favorite. Youngsters will also enjoy "Lucky Charm" and "Make a Friend," as well as the instructional/hunger-inducing (and spell-check enraging) "Pasta Noodles":
Spaghetti linguini fettucinne cappellini Macaroni and cheese rigatoni Say please Mastacholi for me Ravioli in my bowl
Laura Doherty is one of those recording artists whose steady presence serves as a reminder that not everything needs to celebrate the spectacular or monitor the melancholy. Sometimes its just enough to be there and pay homage to the details of an everyday childhood. In that respect, Laura deserves a proper high five for her music and certainly for the aptly-named HIGH FIVE.
Paper Moon – Laura Doherty
Danceology – The Dirty Sock Funtime Band
In The Group – Tom Chapin
Stay Up Late – Dean Jones
Great Day – The Not-Its!
Closer To You – Michael Franti & Spearhead
I've Had It Up To Here – Weezer
Big Green Party Machine – David Heatley
Groove – Lori Henriques
Paper Moon – Laura Doherty
Danceology – The Dirty Sock Funtime Band
Germs – Joanie Leeds And The Nightlights
My Own Detective – Tom Chapin
Back To The Shack – Weezer
Jackie Wilson Said (I'm In Heaven When You Smile) – Van Morrison
Half Of Me – Rihanna
Sing – Ed Sheeran
Animals – Maroon 5
Domino Town – Dean Jones
Paper Moon – Laura Doherty
Tacky – Weird Al Yankovic
Blink Of An Eye – Frances England
Marsupial – Danny Weinkauf
That's Just Us (Playing Rock-n-Roll) – Hullabaloo
Roller coaster – Bari Koral Family Rock Band
Foolish Father – Weezer
Hello Goodbye – The Cure Feat. James McCartney
Crayola Doesn't Make a Color for Your Eyes – Kristin Andreassen
Heartbeat – Laura Doherty
Danceology – The Dirty Sock Funtime Band
Rock Melon – Gustafer Yellowgold
Blink Of An Eye – Frances England
Copycat – Bill Harley And Keith Munslow
Big Green Party Machine – David Heatley
I Got This! – Princess Katie & Racer Steve
Boo! – Trout Fishing In America
Wake Up – The Neville Brothers
Paper Moon – Laura Doherty
If I Could Fly – Riff Rockit
Lazy Raisins – Key Wilde and Mr. Clarke
Light of Love – Brady Rymer & The Little Band That Could
Shutterbug – Recess Monkey
Another Good Year – Lori Henriques
Metaphor – The Alphabeticians
Changes – David Bowie
Space Kid And Banana – Ratboy Jr.
Midnight Memories – One Direction
Heartbeat – Laura Doherty
The Ballad of Ben – Danny Weinkauf
Copycat – Bill Harley And Keith Munslow
Gettin' My Ya Ya's Out – Brady Rymer & The Little Band That Could
Free Ride Everyday – Lori Henriques
Sunglasses – The Que Pastas
Paper Moon – Laura Doherty
The Girl With the Squirrel in Her Hat – Caspar Babypants
Together We Can Fly – Danny Weinkauf
NOW That's What I Call Polka! – Weird Al Yankovic
Everything I Didn't Say – 5 Seconds of Summer
Closer To You – Michael Franti & Spearhead
Mama Don't Allow – In The Nick Of Time
Rock Melon – Gustafer Yellowgold
Space Kid And Banana – Ratboy Jr.
Electric Guitar – Laura Doherty
Pendulum – Pearl Jam
Liza Jane – Jr. Madness
Slow – Trout Fishing In America
No School Today – Danny Weinkauf
Bananas (Plum Crazy) – Tangerine Tambourine
Odd Socks – Dean Jones
My My My – Mista Cookie Jar & The Chocolate Chips
Take Your Kid To Work Day – Recess Monkey
Turn! Turn! Turn! – Elizabeth Mitchell & Dan Zanes
Electric Guitar – Laura Doherty
Danceology – The Dirty Sock Funtime Band
You Can Do This – Hullabaloo
Hide & Seek – Princess Katie & Racer Steve
A Million Ways to Play – Eric Herman
Unstoppable – Salim Nourallah
Born To Rock – David Tobocman
Raise Your Hand – The Not-Its!
Alive – Eric Herman
Shrimp – Recess Monkey
Archaeology – Danny Weinkauf
Copycat – Bill Harley And Keith Munslow
Sirens – Pearl Jam
National Hiccup Day – The Dirty Sock Funtime Band
Alove Alliteration – Mr. Palindrome
Otis – Justin Roberts
Jam on Rye – Randy Kaplan
Beach House – The Good Ms Padgett
Electric Guitar – Laura Doherty
You Remind Me Of You – Jack Johnson
Size Of The Problem – Tom Chapin
Sirens – Pearl Jam
Jamaica Ska (feat. Coolie Ranx & Little Goose) – Father Goose
Archaeology – Danny Weinkauf
Electric Guitar – Laura Doherty
Little Cloud (Featuring Rachel Loshak) – Joanie Leeds And The Nightlights
Me and My Brand New Haircut – Billy Kelly and the Blah Blah Blahs
Now Let's Dance – Elizabeth Mitchell & Dan Zanes
Just Say Hi! – Brady Rymer & The Little Band That Could
Imagination – Shine and the Moonbeams
Don't Believe A Thing I Say – Jack Johnson
Anybody Got A Watch? – The Dirty Sock Funtime Band
Jump Right In – The Twigs
Electric Lady – Justin Timberlake
Liza Jane – Jr. Madness
I Must Be a Genius – Dog On Fleas
Electric Guitar – Laura Doherty
Rock Melon – Gustafer Yellowgold
Mooshpie – The Whirlygigs
Fun Fa Fun Fun Fun – Danimal
Is This a Joke? – Billy Kelly and the Blah Blah Blahs
Everlovin' Water – Lori Henriques
Paper Moon – Laura Doherty
Fart Like a Pirate – Papa Crow
The Owie Song – David Tobocman
LMNOP – Koo Koo Kanga Roo
Holidays – Princess Katie & Racer Steve
Everybody Out There – Paul McCartney
Love Factory – Mary Kaye
Go Plane Go – Kira Willey
I Want Some Milk – Danimal
Smallest Breed – Django Jones
Monsters – Edukator, Jr.
When the World Was New – Dean Jones
Good Time – Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen
Sandwiches – Davy Andrews
Long Gone – Recess Monkey
When I Grow Up – Lucky Diaz And The Family Jam Band
Ride In My Little Red Wagon – Willie & The Wheel
In The Group – Tom Chapin
Music – Alex & The Kaleidoscope Band
Yes And No – Caspar Babypants
Bicycle – Laura Doherty
Tonight – Princess Katie & Racer Steve
Stand With Me – Dean Jones
Pendulum – Pearl Jam
Baby, Don't Cry – The Twigs
Vulture Vomit – Roger Day
Ferris Wheel – Laura Doherty
Bonsai – Billy Kelly and the Blah Blah Blahs
Me And Julio – The Little Rockers Band
This Must Be the Place – Kishi Bashi
I'm Your Boyfriend Now – They Might Be Giants
Paper Moon – Laura Doherty
Ride In My Little Red Wagon – Willie & The Wheel
Sing-A-Long Song – Lloyd H. Miller
I Got This! – Princess Katie & Racer Steve
My Secret Robot – Justin Roberts
I Am the Wind – Underbirds
Me Time – Chibi Kodama
Heart Attack – One Direction
Just Not Me – The Hipwaders
I'm a Shark (I Rock, I Swim) – ScribbleMonster
Snow Day – Zak Morgan
Lightning Bolt – Pearl Jam
Unconditionally – Katy Perry
Guitar Pickin' Chicken – Ratboy Jr.
Washing Machine – Milkshake
I'll Be An Alien – Justin Roberts
Boo! – Trout Fishing In America
Electric Guitar – Laura Doherty
Wander 'Round the World – Key Wilde and Mr. Clarke
I'm So Glad – Alex & The Kaleidoscope Band
Blue Sky Time – Alex & The Kaleidoscope Band
Show Me What You're Feeling – Tom Chapin
Great Is Better – Rabbit!
They're Red Hot – Randy Kaplan
Working On A Bridge – Lloyd H. Miller
Everybody Dance – Josh And The Jamtones
Bigga Bagga – Key Wilde and Mr. Clarke
Heartbeat – Laura Doherty
Vulture Vomit – Roger Day
Beach Ball – Recess Monkey
