If there was ever a time to sing the blues, it was during our shared pandemic year. Contrary to popular belief, the blues are not exclusively gloomy or unhappy. Blues is a song style that can convey many positive sentiments, such as family, environment, and community. Leading the 2021 blues brigade is Boulder, Colorado-based Jenn Cleary, with her first children's release, ALL TOGETHER NOW!
Cleary's journey to children's music took a circuitous path that went through Nepal, India, and Tibet. Making a difference on that side of the planet, she founded and ran a non-profit that promoted locally sustainable health and economic sufficiency programs in those countries. During that time, Cleary became acquainted with Dorje Dolma, a girl raised by nomadic yak herders in Nepal who needed life-saving surgeries. Cleary brought Dorje to America and subsequently adopted her. After college, Dorje went to work in a preschool and the duo cowrote the song, "Families Of All Kinds," based on Dorje's firsthand experiences. Dorje also contributed the cover artwork, "Healing Heart," for ALL TOGETHER NOW! (For more about Dorje's journey, you can read her book, Yak Girl: Growing Up in the Remote Dolpo Region of Nepal.)
During the past two decades, Jenn Cleary has released three adult-oriented blues CDs and performed around the world, including at the Sundance Film Festival and Colorado Rockies games. Her playlist always included a handful of infectious, kid-friendly tunes, leading her to develop ALL TOGETHER NOW! for family audiences. Cleary shares flights of fantasy on songs like "Dinosaur Friend" and "Bubbles." Similar to Tom Chapin's "This Pretty Planet," Cleary mixes social consciousness with traditional family interests. An avid beekeeper, the pollinating creatures make appearances on several tunes, most prominently on "My Sisters And Me" about a beehive working in harmony. The theme is crystal clear in numbers like "Clean Water," Love Right Now," and "Backyard Farm" (her zydeco variation on "Old MacDonald").
Having traveled extensively and helped families in far-flung countries, Cleary doesn't break a sweat singing about the disparity of families. What makes a family different doesn't make it any less relevant as a family unit, she points out on "Families of All Kinds." That also goes for the animal kingdom, on "Our Wild Family." Thanks to technology, the pandemic showed kids that their concerns are no different from other children around the world. On ALL TOGETHER NOW!, Cleary celebrates the amazing variety of universal values that surround and sustain our civilization. That's clear cause for upbeat blues, sunny skies, and honey bees.
Thirteen years ago, my son Ben started to listen to music while he ate breakfast. I would throw on a Sesame Street CD or one of the homemade "birthday CDs" comprised of pop tunes and the Wiggles. I also printed out the playlist from iTunes – and Ben would mull it over, looking at the cover art and telling me which songs "lacked" representative illustration. I never imagined that years later, those early selections would lead to more than 750 event previews, live event and music reviews, and interviews, as well as commentary about children's music and more.
I'll get to the historical perspective, but most importantly for artists who have contacted me in the past two months – I am done for 2019. If your video, song, or album had a 2019 release date, I apologize but the shop is closed for the year. I will be forward-thinking from this point on. More to the point, I am also phasing down my children's music portfolio. It's been coming for the past year, as Ben has long aged-out of the demographic. But his younger brother prefers modern pop (think Imagine Dragons) and sighs heavily if I suggest bringing new, unplayed kids CDs on our road trips. You see the number of posts dropping, year over year. That's not by accident.
In the oft-told tale, family acquaintance Uncle Rock (Robert Burke Warren) began recording children's music and we bought his first CD. When "Rock and Roll Babysitter" was played on Bill Childs and Spare the Rock (STR) radio show and podcast, that inverted the paradigm. Suddenly we were immersed in the "kindie" (kids independent) explosion. Sure, Ben was seeing Dan Zanes, Tom Chapin, Justin Roberts, and even Ralph's World at Symphony Space. Now there were a myriad host of others and he began to develop his own tastes, scanning the STR song list and selecting tracks for me to purchase and save.
The inaugural Stink kid's music showcase was in 2008 but we missed it due to a scheduling conflict. In 2009, we made a point of attending the event, held at Jalopy in Red Hook, Brooklyn. First was a Ralph's World concert at Symphony Space in the morning. We walked in, ran into Ralph Covert, and said "We'll see you later in Brooklyn." Five hours later, I was next in line to use the bathroom at Jalopy. As Ralph exited the facilities, I said "As I was saying..."
Stink marks the first time that I broke out the camcorder (later iPhone) and began recording artist performances. This was our first experience with Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could but certainly not the last. Nine years later, we'd see Brady at a show at the Quogue Library and Ben would feel comfortable enough to walk to the mic and sing along.
Ben sings with Brady Rymer, July 2018
Leading into Stink, I started to publish Ben's playlists on this blog. I set up the Blogger page to "save" articles written for a Queens weekly newspaper that stopped publishing. Conveniently, I could now dedicate the blog to children's music. The first playlist (May 1, 2009) was an eclectic mix of kids (The Jimmies) and pop (Whitney Houston, Jack Johnson, and Weezer). I hadn't learned how to coordinate my social media and I don't think I was even on Facebook yet. About six months in, I wrote a "mission statement," called "Music for Kids, Not Children's Music," to more fully explain my methodology.
Artists started to contact me directly via email but I wasn't doing regular reviews until after Kindiefest 2010 (the renamed Stink). Once or twice a month, I ran a review. Kindiefest shows, and later Kidstock in Port Washington – became big occasions to shoot performances videos for my YouTube channel. Things exploded in 2012 as multiple PR people began deluging me with CDs and offers to attend New York-based events. Ben now had a toddler younger brother and these concerts were often inappropriate for him, so we would pass. Instead, I concentrated on reviews. By September of that year, I was up to weekly articles.
Fast-forward in 2018 when I added GeekDad to the chore list – publishing an astounding 72 pieces in 52 weeks. And turned down stuff along the way, but not enough. Finally I hit full capacity. The part-time hobby became burdensome. I found myself previewing stuff and realizing my kids would not be interested. But I wasn't interested either. So why was I bothering? Because I had given my word. And thus my time was no longer my own.
Fids and Kamily is sunsetting because of real-world challenges. I fully understand that there are currently more opportunities and pipelines for children's music such as Spotify and Soundcloud, yet there are fewer reputable outposts to review those offerings. Early into my GeekDad tenure, I explained to site managers that my reviews are concise because parents have limited time. Therefore, I don't pad my articles with CD track listings.
I also don't want to feel resentful towards the artists I'm reviewing. On more than one weekend, I've sat down with a stack of upcoming releases to "knock out" 1-2 articles. Late this year, I had a bottleneck of reviews for CDs being released the same day, with holiday videos and songs pushing back Dog On Fleas from October 18 into early December. That opened my eyes to saying "no" more, for my own sanity.
I'm not going to stop writing. I'm not pressing Ben to make playlists every morning and he routinely skips them on his own. I'm writing more adult-centric material (you can follow me at Medium). There will be some reviews and one-off pieces on this site as well, although I don't know if I'll hit 3,000 articles (I'm just under 2,900). Have a great holiday season. Enjoy your family. Eat in moderation. Breathe. See you in 2020. Stay healthy.
Don't Fence Me In– Andy Z
All In A Day– Alastair Moock & Friends
Ground Food– Ratboy Jr.
If I Could Fly– Riff Rockit
Look, Think, Guess, Know – Tom Chapin
Everything I Didn't Say– 5 Seconds of Summer
Bad Haircut – The Bazillions
The Start of Things – Alison Faith Levy
The Bullfrog – Red Yarn
Caught in the Screen – Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
Look, Think, Guess, Know – Tom Chapin
Hamsterdam – Ratboy Jr.
Tacky – Weird Al Yankovic
Lightning Bolt – Pearl Jam
Amnesia – 5 Seconds of Summer
Everybody Out There – Paul McCartney
If I Could Fly – Riff Rockit
Look, Think, Guess, Know – Tom Chapin
Right Side of the Bed – Ratboy Jr.
Take Me Away – Sunshine Collective
Amnesia – 5 Seconds of Summer
Backyard – Riff Rockit
Da Vinci – Weezer
Flannel Jammies – The Not-Its!
Lightning Bolt – Pearl Jam
Right Side of the Bed – Ratboy Jr.
Size Of The Problem – Tom Chapin
Two Trees, Old Friends – Molly Ledford & Billy Kelly
Ahava – Joanie Leeds & The Nightlights
Another Good Year – Lori Henriques
Back To The Shack – Weezer
Change Your Ticket – One Direction
Danceology – The Dirty Sock Funtime Band
Grapes – Andrew & Polly
Look, Think, Guess, Know – Tom Chapin
Secret Fox – Gustafer Yellowgold
The Bullfrog – Red Yarn
Caught in the Screen – Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
Don't Stop – 5 Seconds of Summer
Let's Be Friends – Mil's Trills
Nose In A Book – The Not-Its!
NOW That's What I Call Polka! – Weird Al Yankovic
Right Side of the Bed – Ratboy Jr.
Size Of The Problem – Tom Chapin
Da Vinci – Weezer
Everything I Didn't Say – 5 Seconds of Summer
Kings & Queens – The Hipwaders
Manatee – The Whizpops!
My Own Detective – Tom Chapin
The Tale Of The Sun And The Moon – Eric Herman And The Invisible Band
Trapped In The Attic – Lloyd H. Miller
Dad Is Takin' a Nap – Keith Munslow
Grizzly Bear – Red Yarn
Ice Skates – Jazzy Ash
Let The Records Play – Pearl Jam
Look, Think, Guess, Know – Tom Chapin
Poofy – Ratboy Jr.
Raise Your Hand – The Not-Its!
Animal Kingdom – Key Wilde And Mr. Clarke
Back To The Shack – Weezer
Fill It Up – Josh And The Jamtones
I'm Not the Sharpest Tool – Dean Jones
Ice Cream Man – Suzi Shelton
Look, Think, Guess, Know – Tom Chapin
Rest Easy Now – Eric Herman And The Invisible Band
Tacky – Weird Al Yankovic
Closer To You – Michael Franti & Spearhead
Everybody Out There – Paul McCartney
If I Could Fly – Riff Rockit
Mooshpie – The Whirlygigs
Motorcycle Mom – The Not-Its!
My Own Detective – Tom Chapin
Thingamajig – Lucky Diaz And The Family Jam Band
Alligator Get-Together – Key Wilde And Mr. Clarke
Carry a Tune – Recess Monkey
Change Your Ticket – One Direction
Extraordinary – Eric Herman And The Invisible Band
Future Days – Pearl Jam
Invisible Wind – Earthworm Ensemble
Look, Think, Guess, Know – Tom Chapin
That's Just Us (Playing Rock-n-Roll) – Hullabaloo
All Around the Kitchen – Andy Z
Blink Of An Eye – Frances England
Coral Reef – The Whizpops!
Crazy Mountain Road – Eric Herman And The Invisible Band
My Own Detective – Tom Chapin
Show Me A Sign – Michael Franti & Spearhead
Sponges – Ratboy Jr.
Start Of The End – The Dirty Sock Funtime Band
Trapped In The Attic – Lloyd H. Miller
Amnesia – 5 Seconds of Summer
Coral Reef – The Whizpops!
The Girl With the Squirrel in Her Hat – Caspar Babypants
Maps – Maroon 5
My Own Detective – Tom Chapin
No More Lonely Nights – The Airborne Toxic Event
The Start of Things – Alison Faith Levy
Stay in the Pool – Jason Didner And The Jungle Gym Jam
Da Vinci – Weezer
Extraordinary – Eric Herman And The Invisible Band
It Suits You – Gustafer Yellowgold
Life In Color – OneRepublic
Rainbow Tunnel – Alison Faith Levy
She Looks So Perfect – 5 Seconds of Summer
Size Of The Problem – Tom Chapin
Together We Can Fly – Danny Weinkauf
Coming Back For You – Maroon 5
Domino – Van Morrison
Free Ride Everyday – Lori Henriques
I Can Still Say I Love You – Keith Munslow
I'm Not the Sharpest Tool – Dean Jones
Iko Iko (feat. Josh and the Jamtones & Little Goose) – Father Goose
Jet – Robin Zander & Rick Nielsen
Look, Think, Guess, Know – Tom Chapin
Upside Down – Ratboy Jr.
Farewell – Rihanna
Go Jump in the Water – Keith Munslow
Lightning Bolt – Pearl Jam
Mothership – Mr. Saxophone
My Own Detective – Tom Chapin
Tunneling To Paradise – Pointed Man Band
Uh Huh – Dean Jones
You Can Do This – Hullabaloo
Brick By Brick – Recess Monkey
Like I'm Gonna Lose You – Meghan Trainor Feat. John Legend
Look, Think, Guess, Know – Tom Chapin
Mama Don't Allow – In The Nick Of Time
My Heart Is Open – Maroon 5 Feat. Gwen Stefani
She Looks So Perfect – 5 Seconds of Summer
Sing in the Sun – The Harmonica Pocket
Snaggletooth – Dean Jones
Sunglasses – The Que Pastas
