Ben Gundersheimer (Mister G) is a living contradiction. The Jewish Latin Grammy winner has released his new children's music CD, FIREFLIES. This release does not promote multi-lingualism or multiculturalism. Instead, it's a straightforward, plain-spoken, old-fashioned folkie/kindie release. After a wave of "woke" or "important" releases, it's nice to see an artist belting tunes about everyday topics without glancing at the headlines.
If there's any theme to FIREFLIES, it's the sense of childhood wonder at the great outdoors, nighttime, and being surrounded by the majesty of nature. It all starts with the title track, relating to "sweet summer breezes passing through the trees" while holding his sister's hand.
"Not a worry in the world," G sings in "Sweet Summertime," building further along on "Me and You" and "Big Old World," stopping for a snack with "S'Mores." If there's a more consistent children's music producer than Dean Jones, I'd like to hear the evidence, as there's a natural progression and flow to FIREFLIES, with neither a false notion or odd instrumentation. Lucy Kalantari ably provides vocal support, among others. And when you just need somebody to listen, there's a "Four-Footed Friend":
There are times when the world gets rough Had enough of the human stuff She's always there for me She sees the forest for the trees.
In these troubling, tumultuous times, there are few things that everyone can agree about. Music is one of those areas – well, except if you were a Texas Trump supporter AND Willie Nelson fan this past month. Nonetheless, Mister G can sing about "Together As One" and people from distant lands taking each other's hands and truly mean it. May there be better times ahead, with more open-mindedness and sing-alongs. And fireflies. And Mister G.
Multiculturalism allows this generation to enjoy a whole new array of musical tropes. Kwanzaa was not even a holiday when I was a kid. The big deal in any Jewish household was Hanukkah – and the big song was "I Have A Little Dreidel." Followed closely by "Hanukkah O Hanukkah." Followed closely by... well, it would take several decades until Adam Sandler concocted "The Hanukkah Song."
Christmas albums are still the norm (paging Brady Rymer and REVVIN' UP THE REINDEER). However an outlier crops up every now and then. Brady included a Hanukkah track. Joanie Leeds has recorded TWO secular children's CDs. Those are fun, inclusive, and won't produce as much eye-rolling as the Chabad-backed Mighty Mitzvah Kids. Into this mix throw Ben "Mister G" Gundersheimer – just don't throw him under his latest release, THE MITZVAH BUS.
Mister G has won a latin Grammy Award. His other 2017 CD, MUNDO VERDE/GREEN WORLD, was a multi-lingual ode to ecology and Planet Earth. So there's clearly a larger agenda as Ben circles the globe, walking English, Hebrew, Spanish, and Yiddish onto his bus. The semi-traditional sounding "Shabbat Shalom" succinctly sums up his thought process:
Shabbat shalom Come on home, put down that phone Shabbat shalom It's been all week Now it's time for a treat Shabbat shalom.
According to Mister G, his most cherished bar mitzvah present was a guitar, which served as his gateway to music education. Now he's playing it forward by honoring his grandparents and recording the reggae-tinged "Hanukkah," "Challahlalala," "Latkes for Breakfast," and more. The songs go completely around the yearly spectrum, including the descriptive "Purim Party Song" and "Camp," which seems to serve as the placeholder for a summer single.
THE MITZVAH BUS is part history lesson, part Hebrew tutorial, part holiday celebration, mostly whimsical, and entirely enjoyable. And like most children's CDs, it winds down with an appropriate good night song, here being "Lilah Tov," which translates into good night. And as long as I can go another year without having to explain "The Hanukkah Song" to my kids, it is a good night.
If positive affirmation had a band name, it might be Vanessa Trien & the Jumping Monkeys. Back with their fourth CD, WONDERFUL YOU (get the idea), the brightside Bostonians deliver a dozen sunny, feelgood tunes for tots, toddlers, and youthful students.
The CD practically radiates its central concept, a celebration of family, friends, neighborhood. and community. You don't have to read between the lines on a song like "Shine":
Greet your family and friends hello Give a hug, how you love them so Hear the laughter and join right in It feels all right with everyone tonight And the love is burning bright and you will shine
Alastair Moock is on hand to kick things off with the singalong "One Foot in Front of the Other," which sounds like a missing track from his release, "Singing Our Way Through," an album tracked his daughter's successful battle with cancer. Trien lauds her New York roots on "Fireworks," as its chorus marvels at "fireworks over the Brooklyn Bridge." Former Dan Zanes bandmate (and Boston area resident) Barbra Brousal is featured on two chipper songs, "Round and Round We Go" and "Feeling Thankful," which also has Rani Arbo on vocals. While I'm listing guest performers, here's a tip of the hat to Mister G (Ben Gundersheimer), who lends five fingers for a cover of "Willie and the Hand Jive."
There's nary a dark cloud or acknowledgement of a bad dream on WONDERFUL YOU. Making a joyful noise is the over-riding mission, right down a cover of the Beatles' "All Together Now," where Trien's kids Ellis and Laila (and their pals) join the chorus. Doubt is not an option on WONDERFUL YOU, a highly unusual stance in this quirky election season. But that's the world of children's music, where a gentle "Circle of Friends" singalong closes out the disk and resets the table for a new day of engagement and entertainment.
WONDERFUL YOU will be available on October 14 from Vanessa Trien & the Jumping Monkeys website, CDBABY. and iTunes.
Here is an almost brand-spanking video of the band performing their new song, "Shine":
Not every song about happiness needs to be sarcastic and melancholy. How's that for an introduction to a review of BUBBLE WRAP, the new children's music CD from Eric Herman and the Thunder Puppies? The Rolling Stones recorded a song called "Happy" that was jaded and lewd. "Happiness" from the show You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown will reduce you to a puddle of your own tears. By that definition, "Hello," the closing number on BUBBLE WRAP, on the surface is an upbeat, simple, and earnest reminder that there's no bad time to say hello. Until you read the fine print...it's a tribute to Eric's late wife and co-writer Roseann Endres, who died during the creation process of the album. Its lead in, "Okay," was written right before and just after she passed away, and finishes with the haunting refrain, "I'll love you always," accompanied by their two daughters, Becca and Evee.
Great art can come from turmoil, tragedy, and struggle. Heck, Van Gogh cut off his own ear. But a smaller, personal family affair can change the dynamics for everything. It took Eric Herman five years to pull together his last CD, PARTY ANIMAL. At that point, he resolved not to put his recording career that far on the back burner. For the first time playing a full CD with his entire band, the Thunder Puppies, Eric delivers music both from the child and parent perspective. The six-minute-plus "Everybody's Watching" builds to the reveal of the protagonist gulping that he's backstage and petrified with stage fright: I know they all will laugh at me And this play is not meant to be a comedy. I can't go on stage now Because everybody's watching me.
Attention must be paid to the Thunder Puppies - Dave Pettey, Ben Macy, Chris Baugh, and Javier Ruiz. They take some of the workload off Eric, allowing him to concentrate more on his duties as lead singer and band frontman. Who else would rock out so hard on a song declaring "You Are What You Eat." The band gets to go full-blues mode on "Where's Saturday," while depicting the tedium of the typical school week.
Eric uses his ironic perspective to its best advantage on tracks like "Phone," where a child's youthful exuberance is tested by his parents obsession with their mobile technology. Has the invasion of the body snatchers been manufactured by Apple and Samsung? It's quite possible. Guest performers Keith and Ezra (Trout Fishing In America), Roger Day, Mister G, and children's poet laureat Kenn Nesbitt enliven every adult's regular treatise to "Take A Bath." The band deals with managing expectations on "What I Want," possibly a response to PARTY ANIMAL's "Can We Buy a New Car (So I Can Have a Balloon)?" It also serves as the appropriate setup for "Everybody's Watching." And what adult male hasn't at some point wished "I Wanna Be That Guy" who exudes positive role model testosterone from his pores.
Eric Herman invites your inner child to join him and the Thunder Puppies on a playdate. While you're at it, bring the kids. The music's ostensively for them, isn't it? Otherwise, who's going to point out the mathematical illogic on "Sunflower Seeds"? Music can educate, music can amuse, and music can help quell fears and sadness (not completely, but it fills the void). Eric Herman has more than 50 million YouTube views on his channel. If that were the only true measure of artistry, he'd be a household name. Well, he is around ours. With BUBBLE WRAP, Eric Herman is back on top of his game and looking for new fans to say "Hello." As the final line on the CD declares, "Any time is a good time to say hello." Are you ready?
Mother Nature's Son – Aaron Nigel Smith
Dessert Island – Recess Monkey
Everybody's Going Out To Play – Billy Kelly and the Blah Blah Blahs
Big Green Party Machine – David Heatley
Cocodrilo – Mister G
Hola Hello – Mariana Iranzi
We Are All One Kind – Jambo
Breakfast – Ratboy Jr.
The Plumbing Song – Weird Al Yankovic
Give Me Back My Hat – Bill Harley And Keith Munslow
I Just Had an Idea – Elska
Life Is Better With You – Michael Franti & Spearhead
Grumpy Boy – Steve Songs
Everybody's a Baby 'bout Something – Bill Harley And Keith Munslow
Nonsense – Davy Andrews
I Found You – Caspar Babypants
Gotta Get Up – Sugar Free Allstars
Up All Night – One Direction
Rooting For My Baby – Miley Cyrus
Cocodrilo – Mister G
Chuckers – Key Wilde and Mr. Clarke
