saulpaul – Kids Rhythm and Rock

2021 Children’s Music Roundup

January 4, 2022 Veronica Librarians, Parents, Teachers, Uncategorized

Welcome to Kids Rhythm and Rock’s fourth annual Children’s Music Roundup! For those of you new to the blog, each year rather than doing a best of list, instead, I compile a list of my favorite albums.

2021 was an amazing year for children’s music with innumerable new artists making their way into the spotlight while more established acts continued to create incredible music and forged new musical partnerships with those they met along the way. Let’s say hello to 2022 by taking a look back at “the year that was” in children’s music. Don’t see your favorites listed below? Add them in the comments!

Be Mindful, Be Kind

Music to guide our everyday lives.

A Mind of Your Own performed by The Bright Siders
Maybe by Next Year performed by Kid Pan Alley
Frogs and Birds performed by Lindsay Munroe with Raffi
Yoga Dreamland performed by Putamayo

Beautiful Beats

Fun, fantastic tunes to brighten any day.

A Colorful World performed by Falu
You Are Magic performed by Allison Faith Levy
28 Days performed by Little Miss Ann
Make it Happen! performed by Stacey Peasley
I Am performed by Shine and the Moonbeams

Potpourri

This was always my favorite Jeopardy! category. In this case, it’s a fun way to group the jazziest jazz, the quirkiest tunes, and songs on some popular topics together.

Seconds performed by Ben Tatar and the Tatar Tots
It’s for You performed by Flula Borg and Go Banana Go!
What Kind of World? performed by Lucy Kalantari and the Jazz Cats
Planetary Promenade performed by Billy Kelly
From My Head to My Toes performed by Music with Mandy
Ponderosa Bunchgrass & the Golden Rule performed by The Oot N’ Oots

Regional Superstars You Should Know

It’s easy to forget that our talented local performers aren’t well known all across the country. Here’s some from the past year everyone should give a try.

All Together Now performed by Esther Crow (New York)
Music Makes Me Happy performed by Katie Dwyer (New York)
The Grumpytime Club performed by Carrie Ferguson (Massachusetts)
Sing Your Song Performed by The Harmonica Pocket (Washington)
All Together performed by Kathryn the Grape (California)

Rockin’ Rhythms

I dare you to try and sit still while listening to these albums!

Crayon Kids performed by Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band
Ready, Set, Go! performed by Divinity Roxx
Invisible performed by Father Goose
Family Tree performed by Fyütch
Slow Clap performed by Koo Koo Kangaroo

Unique Musical Stylings

There was nothing else quite like these albums this year.

Young Maestros, Vol. 1 performed by Tracy Bonham (these could be showtunes)
Black to the Future performed by Pierce Freelon (Afrofuturism)
Folk for Little Folk, Vol.1 performed by Gordie MacKeeman (award-winning fiddling)
Okay to Be Different performed by SaulPaul (rap)
The Beat Bach Symphonies performed by Secret Agent 23 Skidoo (rap with a symphony orchestra)
The Strawberry Band performed by The Story Pirates (music based on children’s stories)

Visiting with Old Friends

Let’s Go! performed by Laurie Berkner
Love Me for Who I Am: The Remix performed by Brady Rymer
Sharon, Lois & Bram Best of the Best Live performed by Sharon, Lois & Bram
We’re All Fruit Salad performed by The Wiggles

Wide World of Music

These albums feature music in Spanish, Spanish and English, and music from as far away as New Zealand.

Activate performed by 123 Andrés
Pachamama performed by Flor Bromley
Danilo & Chapis, Vol 1 performed by Danilo & Chapis
Esperanza performed by Sonia De Los Santos
Sing Through the Year performed by Claudia Robin Gunn
A Mi Me Gusta Ser Yo *It’s Ok To Be Me performed by Twinkle Time

With a Little Help From My Friends

2021 was a year of amazing partnerships and collaborations.

All One Tribe performed by 1 Tribe Collective
Let It Out! performed by Mil’s Trills
Let Love Be Your Guide performed by Dan & Claudia Zanes

Leave a comment 1 tribe collective, 123 andres, allison faith levy, ben tatar and the tatar tots, billy kelly, brady rymer, carrie ferguson, claudia robin gunn, dan and claudia zanes, danilo and chapis, divinity roxx, esther crow, falu, father goose, flor bromley, fyutch, go banana go, gordie mackeeman, kathryn the grape, katie dwyer, kid pan alley, koo koo kangaroo, laurie berkner, lindsay munroe, little miss ann, lucky diaz and the family jam band, lucy kalantari, mils trills, music roundup, music with mandy, pierce freelon, putamayo, saulpaul, secret agent 23 skidoo, sharon lois and bram, shine & the moonbeams, sonia de los santos, stacey peasley, the bright siders, the harmonica pocket, the oot n oots, the story pirates, the wiggles, tracy bonham, twinkle time

It’s Your Graduation! Let’s Celebrate!!

May 27, 2021 Veronica Librarians, Parents, Teachers, Uncategorized

It’s been quite the year for students across the nation. Throughout the myriad of challenges – remote learning, hybrid learning, in-person learning, in school all day with very little movement from the classroom, wearing masks all day, not seeing friends, not seeing loved ones – our kids have shown an amazing amount of resiliency. Not only did they adapt, but with all that was going on, they still managed to participate, learn, and have some fun while “in school.” I’m in awe of the kids I see everyday. Yes, many have struggled, but many have also found ways to thrive and they are coming back stronger than ever before because they saw things this year. They experienced things this year. They hurt and they found joy. But most importantly, they made it. From the preschooler to the high school senior, it’s time to celebrate all those kids (and the families behind them!) who reached that life milestone of graduation.

Let’s start things off with “Ace It” from SaulPaul‘s recently released album OK to Be Different. “Ace It” recognizes the challenges that students face both at school and at home, as well as the reward when all that hard work pays off with graduation. One of my favorite phrases is “Life is a test…Ace It. Show up. Show out. Shine. Repeat.”

With graduation season having already started in some places, but running through the middle of June in others, let’s cap things off with a dance party from Fyütch with SaulPaul. “Graduation Bop” will have students moving and grooving across the stage to lyrics filled with praise. “You did it, you’re moving on up. Today we’re celebrating, we gon’ turn it up. You made it. What an accomplishment. Put on your cap and gown and get ready. It’s your graduation.” Congratulations to ALL of the 2021 graduates. This was a year for the books and as the song says, “you made it.” Celebrate!

Leave a comment fyutch, graduation, saulpaul

2020 Children’s Music Roundup

January 5, 2021 Veronica Librarians, Parents, Teachers, Uncategorized

Welcome to Kids Rhythm and Rock’s third annual Children’s Music Roundup! For those of you new to the blog, each year I compile a list of my favorite albums, then organize them by categories that change from year-to-year. Normally I would have had this list up by the middle of December, but 2020 being 2020, it threw a last minute curveball that delayed things a bit.

The past year was a time filled with incredible challenges for children’s music. The pandemic found performers having to completely redefine how they brought their music to the masses, racial and social justice came to the forefront, and the GRAMMY controversy spurred the children’s community to action. Through it all though, one constant remained – children’s music continued to grow in ways that left listeners enthralled, enriched, and entertained. So let’s say hello to 2021 by taking a look back at the year that was in Children’s music. Don’t see your favorites in the list below? Add them in the comments!

Note: There has been a lot of discussion in the past few weeks regarding albums by BIPOC performers. I have denoted those albums with an (**).