The Strawberry Band

 

The Strawberry Band. Performed by The Story Pirates. CD. Approx. 43 min. Face Cake Records. 2021. CD: $13.99; Digital: $9.49. Grades K – 5

             On this fourth album, the Story Pirates continue to perform songs inspired by the ideas contributed by various children. The 12 songs are performed in various styles of rock and roll, pop, and jazz. The album features top Broadway talents including Lilli Cooper (“Tootsie”), Eddie Cooper “Little Shop of Horrors”), Alysha Deslorieux (“Hamilton”), and Stephanie Hsu (“Be More Chill”); and excellent backup musicians. A band of humans turn into strawberries whenever they play music. This band sounds suspiciously like the Beatles, including the style of rock and the voices. After the first song, “The Strawberry Band,” the band members discuss creating a concept album. In “The Case of the Musical Cinnamon Buns,” a monster from the sea sneezes magic onto a bunch of bakery buns; they come to life and hypnotize people, so two detectives decide they have to break the trance. If you need a change come on down to the “Fun Crazy Weird Hair Store,” where robots serve as the hairdressers. Two new students, the “Weird Sisters,” named Weird and Weirder put on clothes backwards and speak gibberish. In “Hedgie & the Cloud Kingdom,” a hedgehog floats up to a magical cloud kingdom in a magical balloon. In “Glowy & the Friend Adventure,” the whale Glowy lives in a whale-sized cave and realizes he needs a friend, so he decides to search the sea for one. Next the Strawberry Band members talk about creating a music video. They all speak in Beatles’ accents, with one female speaking in a Cockney accent. When some sinister Jaws-type music begins, their discussion segues into a song about being eaten by a shark. “The Fairy Without Wings” also has no confidence until she meets a water fairy and is invited to play. When Mom turns one daughter’s room into an exercise room, it is “The Night I Started Sharing a Room with My Sister,” who snores. On a “Blue Night”—a night with a blue moon—everyone celebrates with blue fireworks, confetti, balloons, and fondue. After a reprise of the first song, the album ends with “I Have a Cookie,” which is a cookie so huge that it took the narrator years to eat. The crazy creativeness of the songs will appeal to young listeners. 

Website: storypirates.com

1 4 3

 

1 4 3. Performed by Andy Z. Approx. 3 min. 2021. Label: Andyland Music. Grades K – 6

            Multi-award winning Andreas Zamenes (aka Andy Z) based his song on Mr. Rogers’ symbolizing “I love you” by the numbers 1 4 3. In the song he asks listeners to “show someone you care just because they’re there.” The background instrumentation has a rich and full sound with guitars, brass, drums, percussion, and more in a pop rock style. The music video (on YouTube) features Andy Z, sometimes with his guitar and sometimes using ASL, against an animated background of sun, moon, rainbows, flowers, musical instruments and more. For some reason, when I viewed the video, there were a couple of fuzzy, blurry spots, but most of it was quite clear. The song was released in time to celebrate May 23 (the 143^rd day of the year) as a day honoring Mr. Rogers, “1 4 3,” and kindness. A lovely song and a great tribute to Mr. Rogers’ memory. Available on streaming platforms. 

Website: andyz.com