A Veteran’s Day Salute
I’m the great-niece of men who served in WWII and Korea. The daughter and daughter-in-law of men who served in Vietnam. I’m the cousin to several who served around the world. I’m the co-worker to those who’ve had loved ones in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait. I hold so much respect and admiration for our veterans and their families. I will never know or fully understand all that they go through so the least I can do is honor them. Which brings me to today, Veteran’s Day. Today, I’m happy to be able to salute a veteran who has taken a rough return to civilian life and healed through the unexpected power of creating children’s music.
Derek McGee, one of the founders of the band Funkinships, served two tours in Iraq. After that much time living a high tension way of life, returning back home proved to be difficult. So Derek quit his Wall Street job and took a job that allowed him to live and work aboard the Mystic Whaler on the Hudson River, where he taught environmental education to children. It was during his time on the Mystic Whaler that he met musician Charlie Chamberlain and Funkinships was born.
Along with a band of merry music makers, they created their first album, Post Folk Absurdist. This album is filled with fun, wacky, weird songs that will tickle careful listeners. The genres of music switch back and forth and blend throughout the songs, preventing the overall sound from being defined. At first listen, the songs may feel disconnected because of the lack of melodic cohesiveness, but it is in the lyrics where the glue of the album becomes evident. It’s in those words that children will learn that it’s ok if you’re a little weird or different, and who cares what others think. The song titles alone, like “The Platypus and Steve Buscemi,” “Chicken Flap Fly” and “Nightmare on the Kids Menu” will draw children and adults in to find out, “what’s that all about?”
McGee has said of his introduction to creating music, “I had finally stumbled upon the thing missing from my life. I realized that much of the restlessness and angst I felt after returning home from war was a result of being a man without a band.” Well, Derek, I’m glad you found that band. Thank you for your service and for making music that kids will find comfort and joy in.
Boston based Vanessa Trien and her band the Jumping Monkeys return with an album that will delight and engage young listeners. Known for an acoustic folk-pop style all her own, Trien crafts songs that tell stories backed by melodies that cross many genres. Beginning with the jazzy title song, “Wonderful You” and continuing on through “All Together Now,” and “Circle of Friends,” this collection of tunes celebrates friends, family and YOU, the listener. Many of the songs, like “Fireworks,” have choruses that are so irresistible, you can’t help but sing along with them. After one stanza, I bet you can’t stop yourself from joining in on Pow pow sizzle sizzle pow pow zoom/Pow pow sizzle sizzle bim bam boom.
Justin Roberts’s 13th album for families was released today and it’s another great one. The twelve all new, acoustic songs cover such familiar topics to children as waiting and waiting to be the right height to ride all the rides at the amusement park, being willing to do anything to get out of playing dodgeball, and the simple joy of taking time out from the day to roll down a hill. The title song “Lemonade” as well as “Me and My Kangaroo” and “This is How We Bring in the Sun” invite listeners to sing along with catchy choruses and delightful melodies. Students will love “Valentine (I don’t wanna be yours)” a tale of kids being made to go through the ritual of handing out valentines even though I don’t wanna be yours/And you don’t wanna be mine. The song “Eight-Legged Octopus” about an octopus who is kept as a pet, but is ultimately returned to the deep blue sea will draw children in and have them counting along with the chorus. This song could easily be adapted into a flannel board to use during storytime. Roberts’s view of the world through a child’s eyes combines with a creative mix of instruments from cardboard boxes and paint cans to cello and ukulele in order to create a collection of songs that children will instantly identify with. Several of the songs could be used in programs where participants are dancing or using musical instruments. The subject matter and top-notch musicianship will make this an album that children AND parents won’t mind listening to again and again.
Returning with their first album in five years, the Deedle Deedle Dees created another great collection of songs that are not only fun to listen to, but also teach something along the way. The 16 original songs in this collection span a variety of musical genres while celebrating real-life heroes. These heroes include Houdini, Ada Lovelace – the world’s first computer programmer, and swimmer Diana Nyad, as well as Charles Darwin and the early human, Lucy. Joining in on the fun is an ode to 3.14 in “Pi,” a fun sing-a-long honoring female astronauts in “The Rocket Went Up!,” and a rap battle for the ages in “Tesla v. Edison.” The songs on this album could easily be used as conversation starters, writing prompts or an introduction to the subject matters.
While the focus of The Deedle Deedle Dees album is real-life heroes, The Whizpops! concentrate on songs filled with facts about some of the endangered wildlife of North America. Known for their science based music, The Whizpops! put their songwriting skills to work on 11 original songs that highlight animals such as the California condor, bison, the bull trout and the polar bear. Each song tells the story of a different animal, such as “Everything’s Better with a Mustache (Walrus Song),” with clever lyrics that weave facts about the animal’s habitat, life cycle and eating habits in in a way that feels like fun exploration. Adding to the revelry are several musical genres including a Bee Gee’s vibe on “Black Footed Ferret” and the reggae sounds detailing the life cycle of the “Monarch.” While this album is chock-full of facts and doesn’t shy from using words like carrion, metamorphosis and chrysalis, it never feels the least bit didactic. This collection would be a lively, informative addition to classroom units about animals.
It has been eight years since Laurie Berkner released an album of all new music, but it was certainly worth the wait. Superhero is packed with 21 brand new songs that will delight and engage young listeners. The overarching theme of self-empowerment is evident in tunes like the title song, “Superhero” and “I’ve Got So Much To Give” while emphasis on using your imagination is featured in “Bubbles” and “Tea Party.” Special guests, Ziggy Marley, Brady Rymer, and Kira Willey add to the fun.