Hang on, you're not going anywhere. Neither are your kids. What's a parent to do in these turbulent times? How about giving your family more than 30 minutes of peppy, poppy, and preppy children's music? Danny Weinkauf and his Red Pants Band have released their fifth – yes, fifth – collection of tunes, DINOSAURS AND METAPHORS. Your sons and daughters may know about oversized, extinct creatures, but Danny and company introduce them to the latter concept.
A man who wears many hats, Danny plays bass for They Might Be Giants, who themselves put out a fistful of children's music CDs. Danny's tracks from those releases piqued his interest in furthering a sideline as a kids' recording artist. That brings us to DINOSAURS AND METAPHORS, with its 15 songs delivering direct messages. For instance, the moral of "Don't Want a Haircut" is "hey that wasn't bad." Similarly, "A Song That Makes Me Happy" is so infectious to the point that my kids were joining in by the second chorus. Which is the point. Of the song.
Danny pulls out a scratchy Louis Armstrong impression for "I've Got the Hiccups All Day." He fancies flatulence in the stink-tacular "Cut the Cheese." Homeschooled kids will find humor in the (now nostalgic) heavily ironic "Hooray It's Monday!" Former music composer Alf Clausen of The Simpsons receives a tribute on "Homer, Danny, and Alf." Danny conducts a perfect round (think "Row Row Row Your Boat") on "Boy with a Hole in his Heart" featuring bandmate Tina Kenny-Jones:
There once was a boy with a hole in his heart Who felt like his world was falling apart Then one day a bird sang a song from above And the hole in his heart was filled up with love
Tina shares harmonies and delivers powerful lead vocals on many tracks, including "Lovely Lazy Saturday Morn" and "Dinosaurs on Rollerskates." The Red Pants Band trio is rounded out by drummer Steve Plesnarski, in the event we get to attend live concert events again in the future.
A child's world is a complicated place and Danny Weinkauf likes to poke around its nooks and crannies, like an english muffin with dripping jelly. With DINOSAURS AND METAPHORS, Danny scrutinizes the mundane and the metaphysical from a kid's frame of reference and wraps everything in a handy dandy, enjoyable package.
The overall theme of Joanie Leeds' anthemic new release, ALL THE LADIES, is optimism. She wants change, not in her daughter's lifetime, but her lifetime, and that shines through on her first collection in nearly three years.
The genesis of ALL THE LADIES (which we discussed in a lengthy Q&A) came post-divorce. While booking more performance as a solo artist, Joanie became aware she was culpable of surrounding herself with mostly male backup performers, to the detriment of an extraordinary collection of female artists in her extended children's music community. With assistance from Grammy winner/producer Lucy Kalantari, Joanie assembled a post-feminist Murderer's Row of performers, including Lisa Loeb (also a Grammy winner for children's music), Suzi Shelton, Sonia de los Santos, Carly Ciarrocchi, Chava Mirel, and more.
The themes on ALL THE LADIES go remarkably deep for "children's music," including forays into divorce ("Rosie Darling"), gender inequality ("Half of the World"), and even miscarriages ("For You"). There's also an historical ode to Brooklyn's own Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg ("RBG"). Joanie uses a deft touch, and the messages are not so heavy-handed that you feel compelled to switch to gangster rap on Spotify for less offensive material. The pro-life proponents will have have a hard time even reading the second meaning into the lyrics of "For You":
You don't understand how much I hoped for A little girl like you who I could love more And more with each rising sun 'Cause one smile had come undone
The primal mother-daughter bond is especially fierce with Joanie, sparking songs such as "Lioness," "Every Mother," and the sonic ballad "Beautiful" (not the Christina Aguilera tune). "If Girls Ruled the World" marches ALL THE LADIES into feminism and finishes with an all-star choir on "Half of the World" calling for unity, peace, and harmony.
Joanie is putting her money where her mouth is, sparking change in national culture in favor of women's rights. A percentage of the Sound Exchange royalties for ALL THE LADIES go to the National Women’s Law Center, which fights for gender justice by driving change in the courts, in public policy, and in society, especially for women facing multiple forms of discrimination.
Children's music is a breeding ground (excuse the current global situation) for engaging young minds with ideas and possibilities. ALL THE LADIES strives to transform that potential into actual change, with Joanie enlightening listeners that all children are created equal, even if progress happens one song at a time.
Ben Rudnick knows that kids can get stressed. And the best/worst time to stress is when the world is in disorder (a better kid-friendly term than chaos). To address those issues, he has released a new song called "Monster No." In this gentle acoustic tune, coronavirus becomes the monster who can be vanquished through hand washing, wearing a mask, and sheltering in place. You can stream (and purchase) the song through Soundcloud:
Individuality is celebrated by Jumpin' Jamie on his latest single, "I Don't Wanna Dance (Just Like Everyone)" from his upcoming release, NEVER MIND THE BLOCKS. You have your own special moves and 'tude on the dance floor? Then let's see some of your moves. Here's the video:
Rules, rules, rules. That's all kids face with sheltering in place and homeschooling. Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could have now crafted a song to help make following health rules a bit more entertaining for kids. The "Do the Five" campaign inspired both his tune and video (featuring his daughter, Daisy). Follow these five important health tips and learn the dance at the same time:
1. (Hands) Wash them often
2. (Elbow) Cough into it
3. (Face) Don't touch it
4. (Space) Keep safe distance
5. (Home) Stay if you can
Diverse Latin American influences permeate Flor Bromley's newest offering, FlESTA GLOBAL. You will become familiar with Peruvian marinera, Mexican son jarocho, Brazilian batacuda, and Colombian cumbia. Just when you think you know a song like "La Bamba," Flor and collaborator Claudia Vega deliver a rousing new version.
Flor stresses bilingual fun as she tours through South America to discover where these rhythms were born, accompanied by her band, Sinuhé Padilla, George Sáenz, and Raphael Torn. Flor already released a "bonus" single of the song "Superhero" in English, but the CD contains the Peruvian version that she would have sung in her native country.
Flor performs bilingual shows throughout the tristate area (with her sidekick Kitty). Her agreeable style and infectious attitude shine on tracks like the pro-immigration "We Came to America," the Dixieland swing track "Balloon Party" with Jazzy Ash, and the Columbian ode to friendship, "Lalalalalá" with 123 Andres. Come for the celebration, stick around and possibly learn about world culture.
FIESTA GLOBAL will be released on April 24 on Apple Music and Amazon.
Give You a Call – Jack Forman
Helicopter Leaves – Ants Ants Ants
Inside I Shine – Danny Weinkauf
One – Aaron Nigel Smith
That's My Style – The Bazillions
Word Association – Dog On Fleas
You Can Get It If You Really Want – Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could
A lot can happen in three years. Between her two most recent releases, BROOKLYN BABY and ALL THE LADIES, New York City's Joanie Leeds became a single mother, a solo recording artist, a change-maker for gender equality inside the children's music community, and now an online festival promoter.
Joanie is celebrating her upcoming album with the All The Ladies Music Festival (click the link) on Friday, April 3, featuring a lineup of 14 female artists including Lisa Loeb, Lori Henriques, Suzi Shelton, and more. All of the performers are featured on ALL THE LADIES (out the same day) and perform 15-minute sets, from 12:30 PM-4 PM, when Joanie wraps up the show.
Recording artist Joanie Leeds
As early as 2018, Joanie thought about creating an all-female produced and performed album. "Before any song was written, I knew I wanted a female producer, engineer, mixer, and master engineer, even before I made a list of instrumentalists and vocalists – which of course also had to all-female," she explained. "Last year, the ideas began to come to me and I started writing songs with this concept in mind."
New York's musical community comes together at coincidental intervals, and fortuitous timing played a part in Joanie connecting with Grammy winner Lucy Kalantari. "It felt relevant to engage a female producer and I was burning to start this album," she recalled. Joanie took her daughter to see Red Yarn (Andy Ferguson) at Symphony Space and Lucy was there with her son, Darius. "After the concert, we all went out for lunch and I whispered my idea to her about an all-female album," Joanie continued. "Lucy seemed interested. She'd been wanting to produce someone else’s album for some time and connected with the idea. So we were off and running."
Joanie had a long list of "women to work with," mostly singers, but trimmed it for logistical reasons. "I would have loved to have even more women involved," she sighed. "Ultimately, it was a large, amazing ensemble. Lucy found all of the instrumentalists and recorded most of them in her home studio. She really took the reins – I wasn't even there for most of those sessions!"
ALL THE LADIES tackles mature themes, including divorce, gender inequality, and even miscarriages. "Kids today are exposed to way more than I was in my Gen-X upbringing," Joanie said. "My four-year-old knows more about death, racism, and sexism than I did in middle school. I wanted to musically include important themes in an accessible and appropriate way for all ages and genders."
Over the course of 20 years, Joanie's career has evolved from "adult" solo performer to bandleader of the popular Joanie Leeds and the Nightlights, back to solo – as part of the adult duo Joanie and Matt (with Matt Check) as well as playing for younger audiences. "I have always written all my own songs and brought the tunes to the band to arrange," Joanie said. "The finances for making an album, publicity, marketing and paying musicians per show, that all falls to me."
Organically, her shows remain "Joanie Leeds" with rotating backup musicians. "The process isn’t much different now, except I am trying to consciously hire more women, something I'm guilty of not doing in the past," she confessed. Joanie recently came to terms with the all-male structure of the Nightlights. If one of her band members was unavailable for a gig, they would recommended a friend as a substitute. "It was problematic that I never questioned all of their recommendations being male," she continued. "I was usually in such a hurry to find a replacement, there wasn’t time to be picky. My thinking has evolved. I'd like to serve as an example for other bandleaders by hiring more women."
Joanie had planned a big release party for ALL THE LADIES, but the real world rudely intruded. Her online All The Ladies Music Festival provides an alternative that even allows more participation by the musicians. "Before everyone knew the devastating impact of Covid-19, my environmentalist brother told me what the economic impact would be and that I should stop traveling and prepare," Joanie said. "But I didn’t believe him until my album launch concert at the Childrens Museum of Manhattan was canceled."
Joanie's brother pressed her to find a way to create income immediately. As a single mother without a full-time salaried spouse, Joanie knew she had to take action right away. "I didn’t really have time to sit, wait, and see what happened," she said. "I felt panicked at the start. Once my tour was canceled, more than half of my income evaporated. I had to act quickly."
In response, Joanie started a subscription service called Quarantine Kids Concerts (on Facebook). "I was one of the first children's musicians to offer this sort of program for children, which initially translated into an influx of members," she explained, "but signups tapered off, as more performers jumped into the marketplace. The insulting government payout amount isn’t going to cut it for most freelancers, especially city dwellers with large rents and overhead. Plus it's not going to arrive until May."
Joanie conceived of the Quarantine Kids Concerts the evening of Wednesday, March 11. "The idea kept me awake all night," she laughed. "By Thursday afternoon the next day, my business plan was finished and I started with social media outreach." Timing was paramount – a day or two later, a sizable number of kindie folks began offering similar services. "Whether they're free, or donation-based, or through a subscription service, we are all trying to find a healthy balance of what feels good, what our family's specific needs are, and what we offer to the community," she added.
ALL THE LADIES hold special significance because it's the first recording where Joanie's daughter was an active, willing participant. "I don’t have much choice in the matter now," Joanie said. "She asked to be on the album and I was happy to include her." Joanie's daughter's voice appears on the songs “Anything” and “RBG.” "I’m thrilled to have this recording for posterity," she added. "Years down the road, she can look back and hear her sassy four-year-old self! As a mom, that is really special."
Click on the link for more information on the All The Ladies Music Festival on Friday, April 3, from 12:30 PM-4 PM, when Joanie wraps up the show. ALL THE LADIES is available the same day from Amazon and Apple Music.
Here is the video for the title track, "All The Ladies":
Are you trapped in the house? Trapped in an apartment? Trapped in a trailer park? Trapped on a luxury boat? Okay, maybe the last one is kind of a stretch. No matter what, children's music is here for you. Okee Dokee Brother Joe Mailander and his son Hap recorded a video singing "If We Ever Needed Love Before," and it's so cute you need to see it by clicking on the image:
Mista Cookie Jar and Dean Jones teamed up for a cover version of the Dog on Fleas' front man's "Just Another Finger." It's the story of a thumb, told from the perspective of a thumb. Yes, that's what it's about:
Ok. I'm the kinda finger that you wouldn't put a ring on Not rilly, unless the ring
was kinda silly.
Mister CJ is plotting his next CD for later this year. Will this track make the cut? Who knows. You can buy it for a buck or just hear it here at Bandcamp:
What if there were more to life then just being a children's music performer? I know, it's hard to wrap your head around the concept. But Billy Kelly decided it might be possible. To that end, he minimized the window of his music recordings (a computer joke) while opening a new window into the world of family-friendly comedy.
We saw him do his thing live a few years ago in support of his first comedy CD. Now he's back with an Audible Original standup comedy special for parents and kids – the perfect antidote (don't sue me) for Corona virus. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll want to leave your house. But in lieu of all that, here's a one-hour comedy special that's perfect for the whole self-quarantined family. Find it online at Billy Kelly's website or at Audible.
Bilingual children's recording artist Flor Bromley is prepping for the release of next month's FIESTA GLOBAL with the release of the bonus English-language single, "Superhero." The song appears in Spanish as "Superhéroe" on the CD. Flor perused a plethora of different musical styles throughout her upbringing, and "Superhero" is an upbeat rocker, reminiscent of early Green Day.
Cloud Skateboard – Mo Phillips
Doppelganger – Dog On Fleas
Dozen Good Reasons – Danny Weinkauf
Ducky Is The Name Of My Bike – Caspar Babypants
Finally – Franz Ferdinand
Planting Seeds (Featuring Sean Staples) – Alastair Moock
Summer's Here – The Bazillions
Environment breeds music. Slaves sang spirituals (despite what Blazing Saddles portrayed), impoverished Okies sang folk tunes, British mods inspired Quadrophenia. The groundbreaking Free To Be: You and Me injected social commentary into children's music in the early 1970s, and demonstrated that young minds could multi-task just as well as teens and adults.
In the intervening decades, social justice has not only gained a name, but a game strategy as well. Crowdsourcing allows musicians to band together like-minded people who celebrate, educate, and course correct. Alastair Moock has taken that tactic with his newest release, BE A PAIN. The title mockingly refers to such people as Muhammad Ali, Mahatma Gandhi, Rosa Parks, and Billie Jean King ("She was a King who was also a pain," he insists).
When society's norms are stretched, or abused, to their limits, children's music gets more insightful as the songwriters and performers stress the importance of personal freedom, family, and individuality. Activism reacts like a rubber band. [POLITICAL WARNING] Right now, we are cursed with an American Cancer in the White House and a government not for the people, but for a handful of privileged families whose wealth dwarves the majority of our population. The venal narcissism and lack of empathy of this existential Voldemort is a black stain on our history, and will hopefully start to be washed away come this November. In the meantime, Alastair and his collaborators know this is the time to "Get To Work" on making that happen. [END OF WARNING]
The messages on BE A PAIN are forthright and brutally honest, from an adult perspective. But they also trend as first-rate kid's motivational songs, such as "Kids Can Do Great Things" (with Kris Delmhorst), "What Is A Leader?" (featuring Rani Arbo), and the conquering hate anthem, "Lead With Love" (with Melanie DeMore). If pressed for a representative track, I would highlight "No Wall (Ninguana Pared)," sang in English and Spanish by Alastair with Sol y Canto and Alisa Amador:
There's no wall between an ending and a start There's no wall between the sunshine and the dark There's no us, there's no them All walls fall down in the end There's no wall that keeps us all apart
Alastair heard the clarion call of activism not long after embarking on his career as a children's musician a decade ago, including a remarkable CD dedicated to his young daughter's fight with pediatric cancer, SINGING OUR WAY THROUGH. That led to ALL KINDS OF ME AND YOU, about gender roles, ethnicity, and identity. With his band of merry mini-influencers, Alastair seeks to stem injustice and preach to the warmness of each human soul.
Alastair Moock and the change-makers on BE A PAIN lean more towards heartwarming then heartbreaking. Bringing about change requires more than nickels and dimes. Isn't a childhood worth more than that? Alastair strives to bring his message to more underserved communities, which suffer from cuts to arts funding. To that end, BE A PAIN was funded by a campaign that guarantees a free enrichment program to a school or Head Start program for every $1000 raised during this campaign. It's still going – here's the link again. The closing song, "What We Tell Our Children," includes a list of common refrains, ending with "Remember to share." Including music? Well, who wouldn't.
Backstroke Raptor – Story Pirates
Clown Shoes – Ratboy Jr.
Harmony With You – Jack Forman
If I Had A Hammer (Featuring Clio Moock) – Alastair Moock
Inkpot – Kepi Ghoulie
Lazy Boy – Franz Ferdinand
What Kind Of Fruit – Dean Jones
Anything Can Be A Hat – Ratboy Jr.
Everyday Life – Coldplay
Everything Has A Song – Caspar Babypants
#Goals – Jack Forman
One Foot / Lead With Love (Featuring Crys Matthews) – Alastair Moock
Under the Big Umbrella – Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could
All Star – Andrew & Polly
Be A Pain – Alastair Moock
Champion Of The World – Coldplay
Humans Are Still Evolving – Dean Jones
In My Nintendo – Jack Forman
New Pair Of Shoes – The Bazillions
Shine It Up – Caspar Babypants
Mother and daughter children's music performers Ruth Weber and Emilia Lopez-Yañez have returned with their new CD, KOKOWANDA BAY, with a message of ecology and the three R's (recycle, reduce, and reuse). The alien acquaintance URR (from their previous CD) transports the duo on a mini-vacation where they teach children how nature can only do so much.
We must do more to help save the planet. In the end, who knows? But it's up to younger citizens to do their part, and Ruth & Emilia are being proactive with their peppy, interactive tunes.
The Laurie Berkner Band has a new video for their song, "Chipmunk at the Gas Pump." It's about jumping and pumping. Comes complete with an eco-friendly reference to e-charging station. It's always a fun jaunt with the Queen of Kindie music... Here's the video:
With the novel Corona virus taking the world by storm (literally), the Okee Dokee Brothers have recorded a quick PSA for kids called "Don't Touch Your Face." You can listen, just don't... okay, you get it.... and dry those hands, too! Click on the pic to get to the video!
Cloud Skateboard – Mo Phillips
I Love The Night – Gustafer Yellowgold
It's a Miracle – Dog On Fleas
Orphans – Coldplay
Stumble Into You – Jack Forman
That's My Style – The Bazillions
Who In The Circus Is Me? – Caspar Babypants
Bring My Chimpy Home – Caspar Babypants
Even When.... – Ratboy Jr.
Handle With Care – Like Father Like Son
Loving & Kind – Aaron Nigel Smith
Under the Big Umbrella – Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could
Word Association – Dog On Fleas
Flexible Brain – Ratboy Jr.
Fly Like A Bird – Dean Jones
Noodles And Butter – Caspar Babypants
One – Aaron Nigel Smith
Sunshine Sunny Sun Sunshine Day – Danny Weinkauf
Who, What, When, Where, Why – The Bazillions
You Do You – Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could
Growing up is tough. That's why Peter Pan refused to do it. Suspended adolescence is one of the primary charming enticements in becoming a children's musician: You get to continually relive your childhood experiences through the eyes of an attentive, appreciative audience. Raffi never had children of his own over the course of a 40-year career. Others embark on "late" parenthood, when they're established themselves and the timing is right. That's the case with Justin Roberts, who released his first kid's music CD, GREAT BIG SUN, in 1997. And released his first child in 2019 – more than 20 years later.
Roberts' latest release, WILD LIFE, chronicles the delights, trials, and tribulations of new parenthood. It falls well within the bounds of his last effort, LEMONADE, as well as an earlier effort, LULLABY. The songs are acoustic, with keyboards and harmonica on "Hide And Seek," which is about "how there ain't nobody who doesn't want to be found" more than the kid's game. The CD also contains a few shout-outs to God, on this track as well as "Wild Life." Put that information into your non-secular folder when you compile your musical shopping list.
Produced by "Not Ready For Naptime" bandmate Liam Davis, WILD LIFE is a deeply personal effort for Roberts. Newborns are more prone to tantrums during loud music, resulting in an absence of ravers and audience participation tunes. WILD LIFE instead relies on a group of instrumentalists that includes fellow bandmate/percussionist Gerald Dowd, pianist Lisa Kaplan, baroque cellist Anna Steinhoff (incidentally Mrs. Roberts), and vocalist Nora O’Connor (who has sung with the Decemberists).
Roberts welcomes his firstborn with wonder on the song, "Glad You're Here":
We don't know if you descended from some far-off distant star But you landed in our laps now we happy are Now we'll dance with you and sing to you while we're spinning on this sphere So you don't forget the world is full of love, and we're glad that you're here
Title track "Wild Life," perhaps the most evocative song on the CD, is a life lesson written by longtime Roberts' friend, playwright Craig Wright, with a chorus urging kids to "cut their own path through this wild life." The liveliest song, "I've Got the World (For You)" almost gets the kids up and dancing. I said almost. On WILD LIFE, children's music bridges the space between parents and kids; sharing the spectacle of modern life, and taking baby steps until everyone – no matter what age – is confident as an individual, special person. And ready to walk on their own.
Father Goose always promises a good time and a positive message. Now the self-proclaimed king of the house party presents his latest video, "Rise Up Now" featuring Coolie Ranx, Addis Revolution, Itimo and Vic Rosario. Inspired by ongoing modern day issues and events that affect adults and children alike, "Rise Up Now" addresses human suffering, racism, equal rights, justice, extinction, social agendas, and cyberbullying. As FG says, "As we strive to create a better world for humanity, we all will continue to rise up now as one."
Buenos Dias – The Lucky Band
Dozen Good Reasons – Danny Weinkauf
Everything Has A Song – Caspar Babypants
Garden of Your Mind – Andrew & Polly
Helicopter Leaves – Ants Ants Ants
I'm an Optimist – Dog On Fleas
Stick Up Stand Up – Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could
All Star – Andrew & Polly
Even When.... – Ratboy Jr.
Have You Ever Been Real – Dean Jones
I Love The Night – Gustafer Yellowgold
I Spy – Ants Ants Ants
Orphans – Coldplay
Taco Tuesday – The Lucky Band
Clown Shoes – Ratboy Jr.
Fly Like A Bird – Dean Jones
Give You a Call – Jack Forman
Lost And Loving It – Kepi Ghoulie
Loving & Kind – Aaron Nigel Smith
Stars – Ants Ants Ants
Thank You For Being You – Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could
Nashville musician, illustrator, and children's book author Elliott Park celebrates Valentine's Day with a charming duet, "Love Will See Us Through," featuring eight-year-old Lilah Benjamin. With so many divisive forces in the world today, Park hones in on the pure, unadulterated bond between parents and offspring.
There's no overt politicizing and it's a world of difference between what a child sees as overwhelming compared to a parent. But Park brings it all into focus with a simple piano arrangement that instantly makes listeners recall Randy Newman's "You've Got a Friend In Me." In that sense, "Love Will See Us Through" is a notable companion piece.
Park: The road has been a little rough and a little bit rude, but I know love will see us through.
Lilah: Whatever, it don't matter, what it takes we will do, 'cause I know love will see us through.
You can look for Elliott Park's debut children's CD, JUST BE, from his website and Amazon. You can stream "Love Will See Us Through," (out February 14), on Soundcloud:
Finally – Franz Ferdinand
Inside I Shine – Danny Weinkauf
It's A Wonderful Life – Kepi Ghoulie
Shine It Up – Caspar Babypants
Village d'Ãtoile – Dog On Fleas
What Kind Of Fruit – Dean Jones
With a Little Help From My Friends – Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could
Backstroke Raptor – Story Pirates
Ducky Is The Name Of My Bike – Caspar Babypants
People Watching – Dean Jones
Stumble Into You – Jack Forman
White Whale – Kepi Ghoulie
Word Association – Dog On Fleas
You Can Get It If You Really Want – Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could
Anything Can Be A Hat – Ratboy Jr.
Handle With Care – Like Father Like Son
Harmony With You – Jack Forman
I'm an Optimist – Dog On Fleas
Who In The Circus Is Me? – Caspar Babypants
Who, What, When, Where, Why – The Bazillions
You Do You – Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could
Buenos Dias – The Lucky Band
Doppelganger – Dog On Fleas
Even When.... – Ratboy Jr.
Everything Has A Song – Caspar Babypants
#Goals – Jack Forman
Inkpot – Kepi Ghoulie
Summer's Here – The Bazillions
It looks like the year 2020 will see a bunch of returns and re-inventions, as well as an upswing of singles releases. Secret Agent 23 Skidoo has promised to have monthly EPs (!) coming, for a total of more than 60 tracks by the end of the year. But for now, here are the first two selections.
The answer to the hypothetical question, "Do you need to have children to make extraordinary music for children?" used to be "Justin Roberts." The Chicago-based performer and his band, The Not Ready for Naptime Players, garnered three Grammy nominations during their long-tenured career. Very soon Justin's new CD, WILD LIFE, will arrive, celebrating his marriage and subsequent introduction to parenthood. In the meantime, we have the first single, "Heart Like A Door," and it sounds like fatherhood agrees with him. Take a listen here and you'll agree with me.
Those two fellows from Koo Koo Kanga Roo are at it again. By that, I mean they've released another single from an upcoming release, date to be determined. The song, "My Jam," is gathering airplay at Harlem Globetrotters games, so kids are getting jiggy (and jelly) with it. "We are excited to get to partner with Koo Koo Kanga Roo as we're big fans of the work they do to help kids be active," commented Globetrotters rep Hammer Harrison. "We hope that when kids and families watch the video they are inspired to get up and get moving." You can grab "My Jam" here and watch for the video next week.
Bryan and Neil from Koo Koo Kanga Roo will bring "My Jam" and their other newest songs “Glitter” and “Hot Sauce” to California audiences starting today. As always, they will get fans of all ages up and dancing along at several venues around the Golden State:
January 23 at 6 pm: Voodoo Room, San Diego, CA
January 24 at 6 pm: Temblor, Bakersfield, CA
January 25 at 6 pm: Cornerstone, Berkeley, CA
January 26 at 6 pm: Holy Diver, Sacramento, CA
January 29 at 6 pm: Strummer’s, Fresno, CA
January 30 at 6 pm: Chain Reaction, Anaheim, CA
January 31 at 6 pm: Rock City Studios, Camarillo, CA
These shows are open to all ages. Details and advance tickets (unless otherwise noted, $15 general admission; $40 VIP admission) are available now at http://kookookangaroo.com/shows
Bring My Chimpy Home – Caspar Babypants
Cloud Skateboard – Mo Phillips
El Corazon – The Lucky Band
Flexible Brain – Ratboy Jr.
Helicopter Leaves – Ants Ants Ants
Loving & Kind – Aaron Nigel Smith
New Pair Of Shoes – The Bazillions
Mista Cookie Jar's new song "Kindness Is the Way" falls somewhere between rap and piano jazz. CJ refers to this style as "soul jambalaya," on a track that symbolically drops on Dr. Martin Luther King Day, as the Senate gears up for a game of political Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots over the Trump presidency.
The world can be a cold place but a friendly smile or warm embrace can make all the difference. The Cookie maestro takes his upbeat hip-hop lyrics and delivers them over a tinkling piano and midtempo drumbeat:
For our love love love to elevate, we gotta do whatever it takes. To the top top top you bet we'll escalate each day, everyday.
You can grab "Kindness Is the Way" from Mista Cookie Jar's BandCamp page as well as his website.
Buenos Dias – The Lucky Band
Ducky Is The Name Of My Bike – Caspar Babypants
Fly Like A Bird – Dean Jones
Handle With Care – Like Father Like Son
In My Nintendo – Jack Forman
Lazy Boy – Franz Ferdinand
Non-secular children's music walks a fine line between entertainment and enlightenment. Every Christmas song ever recorded (with the exception of "Last Christmas") qualifies as non-secular. However kids of all religions happily sing along when December rolls around. If you're in the market for story-oriented modern interpretations of classic religious tales, (Brendan) Parker and (Erick) Alexander have released "All Of Us: Bible Songs for Everyone."
The duo are also responsible for a multitude of amusing non-secular children's CDs recorded as Spaghetti Eddie, over the past several years. "All Of Us" covers creation to the Nativity to the stories of Noah and Jonah (and the whale). They have branded their new project under their own names to disengage from the more generic Spaghetti Eddie brand. The songs are bright and filled with uplifting sentiment, perfect for certain developing religious sensibilities. You can order "All Of Us" from Parker & Alexander's website.
What if Seth Rogen decided to record children's music? I have a feeling it would sound (and look) something like Jesse Jukebox (otherwise known as Jesse Freidberg). A children's music educator and performer, Jesse teaches kids how to play instruments on his website, as well as tells stories, and acts as a font of unassuming entertainment.
Jesse's third CD, AWESOME! drops next week. The title track is now available as a video, featuring sign language from his deaf friend Jaison Anderson. They recount a large number of things that are, well, awesome. Here, watch for yourself:
Clown Shoes – Ratboy Jr.
Garden of Your Mind – Andrew & Polly
New Pair Of Shoes – The Bazillions
One – Aaron Nigel Smith
Shine It Up – Caspar Babypants
Taco Tuesday – The Lucky Band
Word Association – Dog On Fleas
All Star – Andrew & Polly
Backstroke Raptor – Story Pirates
Inside I Shine – Danny Weinkauf
That's My Style – The Bazillions
Under the Big Umbrella – Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could
Village d'Ãtoile – Dog On Fleas
Who In The Circus Is Me? – Caspar Babypants
Dozen Good Reasons – Danny Weinkauf
I've Got An Apple Pie In My Bookbag – Lisa Loeb and Kid Pan Alley
In My Nintendo – Jack Forman
It's a Miracle – Dog On Fleas
Noodles And Butter – Caspar Babypants
White Whale – Kepi Ghoulie
With a Little Help From My Friends – Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could
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.
Once upon a time, there was "The Dreidel Song." Then Adam Sandler added "The Hannukah Song." But what else was there for kids? Mama Doni added "Hanukkah Fever" and the LeeVees did a whole CD of clever tunes. But you had to KNOW they existed. Now Alison Faith Levy has added to the limited collection, thanks to a desire to learn the ukulele.
Alison yearned to play the ukulele like her friend and bandmate Karla Kane. So she bought one and taught herself to play it. Now they have released the holiday duet, “All I Want For Chanukkah Is a Ukulele.” Talk about synergy! You can find the tune on Soundcloud, Apple Music, and Spotify, and enjoy it with the whole mishpucha.
Two of the most iconic holiday songs fall under the jazz category, performed by the Vince Guaraldi Trio – “Christmas Time is Here” and “Linus and Lucy,” which is often misidentified as “The Peanuts Theme.” The songs are part of the classic “A Charlie Brown Christmas” which is the second–best-selling jazz title in history. This year, you can even purchase a special green vinyl edition.
The soundtrack features music from the 1965 animated television special and includes “O Tannenbaum,” the two aforementioned tracks, and a bunch more. “A Charlie Brown Christmas” was the first television special based on the Peanuts comic strip, created by Charles M. Schulz. Controversial at the time due to overtly religious content, it is now considered mild (although if Schulz had Linus read from the quran, I'm sure it would be banned from American airwaves to this day).
There's no greater opportunity for wordplay than when a children's musician juxtaposes a word that works as an emotion and a name. Duke Otherwise's new video for “Joy’s a Grump” takes full advantage of kids with mismatched names and their teacher, Miss Nomer. Duke's niece once met a girl named Joy at a party and gave him the inspiration for the song, telling him “her name shouldn’t be Joy ‘cause she is grumpy." The CD is available for sale at Duke's website.
Holiday joy is another kind of making merry. And Denver's Katherine Dines and Hunk-Ta Bunk-Ta celebrate with a video for their new song, "Joy":
The true Dean of children's music is Dean Jones – über-producer of many acts like Gustafer Yellowgold, Frances England, and the Lucky Band – as well as an individual performer and part of the three-man band, Dog On Fleas. The latter is returning after a five-year hiatus with their newest release, I'M AN OPTIMIST. The CD certainly wins a "truth in advertising" award, as it's one of the most unrelentingly sunny and upbeat things I've heard in quite some time.
"Wanna Be" is a call-and-response song about growing up and choosing to be original, different, and fulfilled. "In a world of talking, I wanna be a listener," Dean sings. "In a world of rangers, I wanna be a black bear." The nature ode "Sting Along" will spark joy among the young animal lovers in your midst, recounting how every creature has its own family, genus, and species within its taxonomy.
Dog On Fleas must have wanted to land a funky dance groove and they succeeded with "Village d'Ãtoile," which is french for "Star Village." That's also the entire extent of the lyrics for the song. "Doppelganger," based on a true story of misidentification, starts with its Alan Parsons Project vibe and changes personality a moment later. The anti-educational "It's a Miracle" takes the modern world at face value…
It's a miracle...that an airplane can fly up in the sky. It's a miracle...that an apple tree comes from an apple seed. It's a miracle...when you see ants work together, and how about the bees. It's a miracle...that our heads don't pop off every time we sneeze.
Dog On Fleas is more than Dean Jones, surely. John Hughes (not the filmmaker) provides bass, guitar, and vocals. Chris Cullo sings and plays drums and percussion instruments. The trio spent the past year ensconced in upstate New York, fiendishly plotting their return. Hard to believe it's been half-a-decade, but Dean had other fish on his plate. And knowing Dean, that could have been a song right there.
It's almost retro for Dog On Fleas to come back as the 2010s are ending. The Fleas (or Dogmen or whatever you call them) sound as if they've always been a part of the children's music scene and never left. I'M AN OPTIMIST is best characterized on "A Little Hiccup," where the narrator could have become dejected by mistakes or adversity, but explains that life still went on and yours should, too. Time doesn't stand still and Dog On Fleas is optimistic that there will be more days to dance and celebrate in the future.
Fred Rogers (aka Mister Rogers) had a long and storied career and still-growing legacy. He has been celebrated with numerous awards and tributes, while alive and posthumously. There was an acclaimed documentary last year ("Won't You Be My Neighbor," now on HBO). This month debuts Tom Hanks in "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood."
Musical producer Dennis Scott sought to secure the majesty of Fred Rogers' more than 200 songs with last year's collection, "Songs From the Neighborhood." Now he is returning to sip from that well with another compilation, THANK YOU, MISTER ROGERS. The 13 tracks on this release parallel the earlier CD, but that's because there are essential tunes in play, such as "Won't You Be My Neighbor," sung here by the Cowsills, the 1960s band that was the model for the TV series, The Partridge Family.
There should be a natural children's album in the songs of Fred Rogers. Yet these two releases skew towards adult contemporary artists such as Vanessa Williams on "Many Ways to Say I Love You," Christian vocalist Sandi Patty on "Please Don't Think It's Funny," country artists Kellie Pickler "It's Just a Good Feeling" and Lee Greenwood "When the Day Turns to Night." I found myself needing to explain who was singing every single track to my kids, and then apologizing that 90 seconds of gentle messaging was being turned into three-minute dirges. Off the top of my head, I could come up with a laundry list of currently-recording children's musical acts to pump some oxygen into the arrangements for this collection.
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood is available for streaming on PBS and Netflix, but THANK YOU, MISTER ROGERS is made for people who stop watching the show more than a generation ago. It's hard to fathom another reason Rita Wilson is attached to the project other than her relation to Tom Hanks and his upcoming film – she's not exactly a top tier performer in the children's music genre. The rationale is easier with Mickey Dolenz – the Monkees were at one point contemporaries of Mr. Rogers, and Mickey vocalizes the best selection, "Perfectly Beautiful Day," which doesn't overstay its welcome. If you want to share your memories of Mister Rogers, the website acts as a fan site as well. So give your thanks there, and find samples of the songs as well.
Bring My Chimpy Home – Caspar Babypants
Finally – Franz Ferdinand
Have You Ever Been Real – Dean Jones
It's a Miracle – Dog On Fleas
Stumble Into You – Jack Forman
Sunshine Sunny Sun Sunshine Day – Danny Weinkauf
Thank You For Being You – Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could
Backstroke Raptor – Story Pirates
Everything Has A Song – Caspar Babypants
I Spy – Ants Ants Ants
Inside I Shine – Danny Weinkauf
People Watching – Dean Jones
Who, What, When, Where, Why – The Bazillions
You Can Get It If You Really Want – Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could
The dynamic duo known as Koo Koo Kanga Roo continue to make catchy, amusing pop songs for children. Their latest video rocks and raps to the chorus of "It's too hot" for "Hot Sauce." You can grab a look and listen right here:
Family musician Ashli St. Armant (also known as Jazzy Ash) has released an Audible original in the style of a Nancy Drew book – "Viva Durant and the Secret of the Silver Buttons" is told through the eyes of brave young black girl (enthusiastically narrated by Bahni Turpin). The book is free for Audible members through December 1. You can grab a sample of the book here. Or watch the trailer below:
The kindie version of Lady Gaga might very well be Twinkle Time (Alitzah Wiener-Dallas). Now the West Coast performer is packing her sparkly bags and bringing her stage show to New York's Lincoln Center on Monday, December 2 for the 20th annual Winter's Eve festival from 5:30-9:00 PM.
Twinkle has spent the past decade building a following from the ground up – including a YouTube channel where she spent a good chunk of the year teaching young viewers to "Learn That Letter" from A to Z. It now showcases her torchy version of "New York, New York" (first popularized by Frank Sinatra) in tribute of her upcoming visit to the Big Apple. You can stream the song at Spotify and watch the video here:
While I'm in the neighborhood, Jazz at Lincoln Center's Blue Engine Records has released JAZZ FOR KIDS, featuring Wynton Marsalis and an orchestra doing souped-up syncopated favorites such as "Old Macdonald," "Mah Na Mah MNa," and "Pop Goes the Weasel."
I've written previously that there's been an explosion of children's jazz recordings – from Jazzy Ash to Lucy Kalantari (2019 Grammy winner) to Diana Panton to Lori Henriques and many more. But none has the pedigree and longevity that Wynton Marsalis and his orchestra bring to the table. That's not an insult – that's recorded, undeniable fact. With JAZZ FOR KIDS as their testimony and evidence.
This collection is the real deal – fully imagined tunes that sometimes have little to do with the original concept past the title. "Wheels on the Bus," narrated by Today show host Hota Kotb, goes on for 10 minutes of inspired, polished improv. Not exactly for everybody's tastes – but this is a CD to help your kids cultivate that special taste bud.
Canadian jazz performer Diana Panton loves the classics and her second release for children, A CHEERFUL LITTLE EARFUL, is chock full of tunes many adults have either never heard or forgot a long, long time ago. It's a tranquil rainy day diversion, and a way to get children interested in the burgeoning field of jazz for juniors (if I may coin a phrase).
Panton covers such well-known composers as Hammerstein and Rodgers ("Happy Talk"), Sammy Cahn ("Pocketful of Miracles"), Cole Porter ("Experiment"), Ira Gershwin (the title track), among others. It's definitely a time warp for older listeners (although my eightysomething stepfather took a power nap as we all listened on a drive home from Connecticut). The kids were similarly amazed that I knew the lyrics to album-closer "Hush-a-bye Island," which has appeared on at least five Frank Sinatra compilations. There are also songs you "know" but were unfamiliar with the composers – "Sing a Rainbow" by Arthur Hamilton and "Red Red Robin" from Harry Woods, for instance.
Musicians Reg Schwager and Don Thompson fill the songs with gentle instrumentation and verve. Panton makes sure you don't miss any of the underlying emotion as she turns a phrase, even on such well-trod ground as Jeff Moss's "I Don't Want to Live on the Moon." As Ben pointed out "Ernie sings that!" If you're in the mood for vibraphone and singalongs, A CHEERFUL LITTLE EARFUL gives kids a wistful education of bygone days that a handful of musicians are striving to turn into a fanciful future.
Jennifer Cook and Anne Montone's LISTEN. LOVE. REPEAT. is both a coloring book and a children's CD. Both halves complete a collection they hope will help kids develop harmoniously in both heart and mind. The duo record as Again Again, a mnemonic that is both cute but also extraordinarily hard to search on Google. Their strongest Web presence is on Facebook (and the Soundcloud link was both broken and, when truncated, showed no songs to play).
LISTEN. LOVE. REPEAT. is a preschooler's collection of ambient, peppy tunes, from "The Kids Are Here (First Day of School)" through "Wrap Your Arms Around Your Family" to "Camping Song (Lullaby)." Their priorities are blended families, sharing, and being progressive. If I were conservative, I'd ask how much crunchy granola was served during the making of the CD. However I strive for inclusivity as well, so I admire their vision of serving up Joni Mitchell and Kate Bush for kids. Another influence, Bette Midler, on the other hand, might incorporate something with a more nuanced message for adults. Jennifer and Anne are also collaborating on an Again Again podcast about "adulting with children." I might just stick with Childish from Alison Rosen and comedian Greg Fitzsimmons. Again again, that's just a matter of tastes.
Dozen Good Reasons – Danny Weinkauf
Helicopter Leaves – Ants Ants Ants
I'm an Optimist – Dog On Fleas
It's A Most Unusual Day – Diana Panton
New Pair Of Shoes – The Bazillions
Noodles And Butter – Caspar Babypants
Peace Be To All – Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could
A Long Island-based favorite children's music artist, Brady Rymer is debuting a video for his song, "Drop In the Bucket." The song was inspired by Bucket Fillers, a Michigan-based elementary school initiative promoting kindness and compassion.
The video was conceived, produced, and directed by New Jersey's Jackson Liberty high school seniors Lianne Richards and Rebecca Chiafullo, assisted by teachers Ethan Nobel and Missy O'Keeffe. Completing their vision required more than 300 H.C. Johnson Elementary School students.
You can buy Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could's latest album, UNDER THE BIG UMBRELLA, from Amazon. And here's the new video:
Ever feel that the only way to comfort someone – a child, family member, or friend – was to tell them how you valued them? Mista Cookie Jar feels your pain. And his new song, "All I Need Is You," is guaranteed to assuage that process:
Wanna feel all the feels with you Cuz life’s a roller coaster ride, they say. And even if we’re less up than down, If we’re together, we gonna be ok.
You can find the song online elsewhere, but wait – you can also find it right here!
Don't ever call children's music predictable because sometimes you will be surprised, astounded, or utterly impressed by elements of an unexpected release. However Kare Strong and Josh Goforth have produced an impeccably produced collected of Celtic songs aimed at kids, BENEATH THE CHERRY TREE, which is mostly what one would conjure – Kare's poetry about nature and plenty of Josh's Grammy-nominated fiddle playing.
BENEATH THE CHERRY TREE is wistful, imaginative, and perfect for the Celtic family that lives near you. There isn't a rocking guitar and rap verse anywhere on this CD, and if that spells musical heaven for you, then grab this collection from Kare and Josh's website, Amazon, or Apple Music.
If you're Jewish and you want to become a music educator, what other path is there to follow but to put out a Spanish-English children's music CD? That's the course that Brooklyn's Jesse Goldman has followed, taking his Moozika! program and shifting it sideways and putting it on disc. Jesse seeks to create an age-appropriate space for his curriculum, and if your little ones are indeed that – little ones – then Moozika could be something for you to consider. The program is highly ranked and listed as one of New York magazine's top three music classes for children.
The debut CD, MOOVE TO THE MOOZIKA! (available October 25 from his website and Soundcloud) is 14 tracks of (mostly) English and (some) basic Spanish words, on tracks such as "Burro," "Uno, Dos, Tres, Cuatro," and "Limpia." Ozomatli's much funkier track. In the meantimes, viva la Goldman for his consistency and hasta luego for now, muchachos. Hailing itself as city-based adventure songs, the CD covers elements of urban dwelling with "Brooklyn Baby" and "Roly-Poly Train." Then again, I haven't seen a "Moose on the Loose" in these parts.
All cultures and religions have their own rituals, celebrations, and holidays. Longtime children's musician Katherine Dines and her Hunk-Ta Bunk-Ta Band honor life's traditions with their latest release, “HUNK-TA-BUNK-TA HOLIDAYS: Stories and Songs that Celebrate Global Light.”
The album's concept goes deeper than a Christmas song here, and a Kwanzaa song there. Katherine and crew give a little background before every song, with surprise, mostly original material, some adapted from other sources (all credited in the liner notes and booklet). Katherine has traveled around the world and has listened to traditional music wherever she's been. The 13 tracks on HUNK-TA-BUNK-TA HOLIDAYS present an atlas through children's music.
"Light Rises Over Darkness (Diwali)" gives insight into the celebrations of the Hindu culture. "Stars" and "Eight Little Candles in a Window" tell the story of Hanukkah. "The Friendly Beasts" is all about the animals in the manger as well as the ones who traveled to Bethlehem with gifts for the newborn Jesus. "The Sun Will Rise" discusses the Muslim tradition of Ramadan, with no eating from dawn to dusk. "Kwanzaa!" is about buying used cars. Wait a second – it's about what else? The song describes many of the terms behind the African-American holiday, such as "KiSawahili," for family, community, and history.
I'm just giving brush strokes here, but also a caution. If you want to save some songs from “HUNK-TA-BUNK-TA HOLIDAYS” without the introductions, you're going to need to editing software to snip those segments – they are embedded into each track. Otherwise, hunker down in your home and have a heaping helping of holiday cheer with the Hunk-Ta Bunk-Ta Band.
A man who wears many hats, Danny plays bass for They Might Be Giants, who themselves put out a fistful of children's music CDs. Danny's tracks from those releases piqued his interest in furthering a sideline as a kids' recording artist. That brings us to DINOSAURS AND METAPHORS, with its 15 songs delivering direct messages. For instance, the moral of "Don't Want a Haircut" is "hey that wasn't bad." Similarly, "A Song That Makes Me Happy" is so infectious to the point that my kids were joining in by the second chorus. Which is the point. Of the song.
