A Mi Me Gusta Ser Yo = It's OK to Be Me

 

A Mi Me Gusta Ser Yo=It’s OK to Be Me. Performed by Twinkle. CD. Approx. 49 min. Twinkle Time Records. 2021. CD: $9.99; Digital: $9.99.  Ages 5—12

            Compared to Lady Gaga for kids, award-winning Alitzah Wiener Navarro (aka Twinkle) performs seven songs alternating with seven spoken interludes about being kind, loving, helpful, and other inspirational statements. The seven songs and interludes are first performed all together in English, then all the songs and interludes are repeated in Spanish. The only credited musicians perform with excellence on guitar, bass, saxophone, and drums. The musical style is an intriguing blend of pop rock, electronic dance music, and rap. Guest performers include rapper MC Magic, Izzi Def on saxophone, and Jace Blain, hip hop artist. Twinkle assures listeners that “It’s OK 2 Be Me.” Rise and shine because it’s a “Brand New Day.” Everyone stand up and “Let’s Keep it Movin’.” The “GateKeeper” keeps the key to one’s destiny. “Mask It Up” encourages listeners to wear masks and practice social distancing. “LOVE” is a magical word. “Together” we can build something that’s never been seen; includes rap interlude by MC Magic. The interludes between each song include “Be the Flamingo,” “Be Kind,” “Gotta Roll with the Punches,” “No Boxes No Labels,” “For Humanity,” “One Word,” and “Music Unites.” The Spanish song titles are “A Mi Me Gusta Ser Yo,” “Un Nuevo Dia,” “El Bailongo,” “Brilla,” “Máscara,” “LOVE (en Español),” and “Unidos.” The Spanish interlude titles are “Apreciar y Aceptar,” “Ser Amable,”  “Échale Ganas,” “No Sé Brilla Apagando a los Demás,” “Para la Humanidad,” “Una Palabra,” and “La Música Une.” This lively and energetic album will appeal to young listeners who love dancing to music.

Website: www.twinkletimeandfriends.com

Folk for Little Folk, Vol. 1

 

Folk for Little Folk, Vol. 1. Performed by Gordie MacKeeman. CD. Approx. 41 min. Music PEI. 2021. CD: $23 (Canada), $15 (USA); Digital: $10 (Canada), $7 (USA). All Ages.

    Award-winning Prince Edward Island resident Gordie MacKeeman performs with virtuosity eight traditional and nine original songs (four of which he wrote). Nicknamed “Crazy Legs” when he was 14 for his wild onstage antics, he has wowed audiences all over the world with his musicianship and engaging stage presence. He is backed up by a group of excellent musicians on fiddle, banjitar, acoustic and electric guitars, bass, mandolin, banjo, piano, accordion, drums, percussion, and bones; performing in bluegrass, Western, swing, and classic country. The eight traditional songs include “All Around the Kitchen,” “Big Rock Candy Mountain,” “Chicken Reel” (instrumental), “Mama Don’t Allow,” “Old MacDonald” (instrumental), “Hokey Pokey,” “Listen to the Mockingbird” (instrumental), and “Hop High Ladies.” The nine original songs include “Ladybugs’ Picnic” (from Sesame Street), “Get Out There and Dance,” “Snaccident,” “Dancing in the Bathtub” (a cappella), “Walking Along,” “Log Driver’s Waltz,” “Oo-De-Lally,” “Boogie Woogie Baby,” and “Dreamland.” This fantastic album will have the whole family up dancing and singing along. 

Website: www.crazylegs.ca

You Are Magic

 

You Are Magic. Performed by Alison Faith Levy. CD. Approx. 26 min. Strange Little Girl Music. 2021. CD: $12; Digital: $10. Ages 3—8 

 San Francisco singer Levy performs nine songs in folk and pop rock musical styles. With foot-tapping beats and sing-along tunes, she presents songs designed to help children define their values, to connect with others, and to use their creativity to connect with the natural world and make the world a better place. The album begins with “Roots & Branches” and rises up to the ending piece, “Leaves & Sky,” both of which are lovely folk instrumentals. “Turn Around” reminds listeners that they are changing and encourages them to be kind to their neighbors. “You Are Magic” because you can greet people with a smile, you can care for the earth, and you can make the world a better place. “Putting It Back Together” is a ballad about the narrator putting together a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle of the Earth on a snowy day. In “Draw,” a pencil and a crayon explain how they can create pictures. Written when she visited Big Sur, “Canopy” tells of a jungle or forest canopy, which protects the creatures underneath it. “The Gift” explains about different types of gifts, whether wrapped in paper or dropped at the gate. “Now Is the Moment” we’ve been waiting for because it’s our time (however, Levy does not explain what “we’ve” been waiting for). This lovely album will help listeners be mindful of other people and their environment.

Website: http://www.alisonfaithlevy.com/

All Together Now!

 

All Together Now! Performed by Jenn Cleary. CD. Approx. 32 min. 2021. CD: $12.99--$15.; Digital: $9.99. Ages 3 – 10

            Jenn Cleary performs ten songs on her upbeat album in rock, rockabilly, blues, zydeco, and pop musical styles. Accompanied by excellent performances on guitar, banjo, mandolin, cello, upright bass, organ, piano, accordion, harmonica, drums, and tambourine, Cleary also includes an enthusiastic children’s chorus on several songs. We need wild places to make us happy and feel free, so we need to take care of “Our Wild Family.” From the viewpoint of a honeybee, “My Sisters and Me” explains how they live in community together to accomplish their tasks. “Scat’s the Word for That” is the scientists’ word for animal poo. “Clean Water” encourages listeners to gather up all sorts of trash off the streets, so it doesn’t flow into storm drains. In order to “Love Right Now,” listeners should care, share, and love one another. It is fun to pop “Bubbles” and watch the wind blow them away. On the “Backyard Farm” ducks, goats, dogs, bees, horses, and birds make all sorts of sounds. One child’s imaginary best friend is her “Dinosaur Friend.” Life would be better with “Less Gravity” because one could move more easily. “Families of All Kinds” might consist of mommy and daddy, auntie, grandparents, siblings, single parents, or foster parents. This thoughtful album will encourage listeners to make their world a better place.

Website: https://jenncleary.com/

Slow Clap

Slow Clap. Performed by Koo Koo Kanga Roo. CD. Approx. 33 min. Uniroo Records. 2021. Price: CD: $15; Digital: $10.  K – Grade 5

I will be honest—I am not a fan of the hip hop musical style. Having grown up in the 1960s, I much prefer rock and roll. However, I realize that there are many much younger people who embrace this musical style, so this album is perfect for them. “Slow Clap” is anything but slow—these 11 songs are intended to be a hip hop dance party for kids, with the goal to encourage listeners to get off their backsides and get moving. Guest vocalists Murs, Sims, and Mega Ran join in on three songs. “Sticky Icky” is honey provided by bumblebees. “Ice Cold Lemonade” celebrates that cool, summery beverage. “Putt Putt Butt Butt” encourages listeners to move their “bottoms” when playing mini golf. In “Backyard Swimsuit,” children enjoy playing on the slip and slide plastic strip. A “Forklift” lifts pallets and puts them on trucks. A child goes “Sneakin’ Downstairs” when he needs a midnight drink of milk. Children play “Pranks a Lot” when they ring doorbells and run away. “Ink” tells listeners about ink-squirting squids. “Lazy Life” is when one commits oneself to a lifestyle of chilling. “200 Worms,” each one of which he has named, actually live in band member Bryan’s compost pile. Children must know the “Password” in order to gain access to the secret club. These energetic and bouncy songs will keep listeners hopping and bopping.   

Website: https://kookookangaroo.com/

 

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