Year End Review

It has been a busy and a trying holiday season here in Miami. It should come as no surprise that, in the lead up to the several Christmas concerts I am in charge of each year, I was sidelined with a horrible cold turned stomach flu. It is something of a yearly tradition and I have started to wonder if I am slightly allergic to Christmas.

Anyway, my blog writing has fallen by the wayside as I attend to my health and the various rehearsals that prepared my preschoolers to the limelight. I felt I would be remiss if I didn't get in one final post before Tracey, Lucy and I head up to Atlanta for Christmas and then Utah for New Years.

I did a top ten song list for our 2 year anniversary this summer, and I thought it might be nice to close out 2010 with a Viral Video Edition of Singing in the Bathtub. This has been a year of many funny YouTube offerings that I think the whole family might enjoy. Let's start the ball rolling with a classic ear worm that can bring a smile to my face no matter what the world throws at me:



Next I'd like to offer this parody of an Old Spice ad done by Grover:



If you type the word "Ukulele" into a YouTube search you get two videos at the top of the list. One is of Jake Shimabukuro (arguably the greatest Uke player of all time) playing "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." The second is this kid playing "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz. Yes, he may not know all the words, but this kid owns it!


The next viral video is from a band that has both youth and talent on their side:

Ladle Fight from Jennifer M. Noll on Vimeo.

This video was featured on post a while back. Proving once again that Beyoncé's "Single Ladies" video is a classic!

Okay, so this classic video won $10,000 on America's Funniest Home Video (yep, the show is still on the air), but it's my favorite smile coaxer on a tough day!



Kid Quote of the Day: She walked into the classroom and anounced, "My cholesterol hurts!" ~Jazmine (age: 4)
I think she may have seen too many Cheerios commercials!

You are getting sleepy, very, very sleepy

Today I have a unique offering for my dear readers. The album is called Cantilena (night songs from around the world) by guitarist Hilary Field and vocalist Patrice O'Neill.

This is a lush and beautiful album of nighttime music. The orchestral arrangements and the sweet and, at times, haunting vocals featured on this CD set a calming and peaceful tone. Hilary Field's skillful classical guitar work are the perfect compliment to Patrice O'Neill's emotive performances. I appreciated the collage style artwork that is very reminiscent of picture book art by illustrators such as Lois Ehlert or Ellen Stoll Walsh. I am thankful that children's music is still a genre where physical CD's and liner artwork can compete with digital downloads.

As a collection of music from around the world the list of languages featured on the album is long, French, Swedish, Gaelic, Spanish, Romanian, Italian, Japanese, Ladino and in most songs sections of English translation. The classical guitar foundation and characteristic tone of O'Neill's voice are the threads that tie these disparate elements together. I can't speak from experience, but O'Neill's delivery seems effortless switching language to language with ease. As musicians, I think there is a strong connection with language and dialects. She pulls it off with grace.

I don't know if I would go so far as to call this an album of lullabies. There is a peaceful quality to much of the music, but there are certain moments of expressiveness that caught my ear and kept my imagination working and my mind active.

The Mike Brady Wrap-up: I have come across a few albums of kids' music that incorporate classical elements. There is always a level of musicianship and production value that can't be matched with the more poppy stuff. I know it's not for everyone, and I don't want to scare listeners off. To say this is a "classical" album would be selling it short. You won't hear electrified instruments, but you will hear some of the sweet music that helps kids around the globe have a pleasant night of sleep. I highly recommend this one!

Kid's Quote of the Day: "I saw the REAL Santa and he was really funny. He is a boy, but he had a really funny voice like a girl. And his beard came down from his face, and I said how can somebody's beard come down." ~Lucia (age: 6)

Winter in South Florida

Just a little holiday treat for friends of the Bathtub:



Kid's Quote of the Day: "You remember how to say 'Merry Christmas' en espanol?" I asked my class. "Elise blah di blah!" ~Hallie (age: 4)

Sweetbeatz

On this lovely Friday afternoon, I have a review of Meredith Wright's debut album Sweetbeatz (Soulful Songs for City Kids). Hailing from New York City, with a background in theater, Wright has created a collection of 13 songs that span many genres (funk, rock, swing, and spoken chants) with a rhythmic foundation that ties it all together.

Despite the subtitle (Soulful Songs for City Kids), I bet you'll love this one even if you live out in the country. It could be the theatrical background, or the funky vibe on this album that reminds me (musically) of the soundtrack to Hair. Bassist Jerome Harris can lay down an impressive groove with his slap-bass style (like on the songs Hairdo and Boots), but there are also quiet, sweet moments on the CD (Goodbye, Lucky and All Day Long).

The songs on Sweetbeatz tend to be longer than the typical 2 min. kids' tune. Songs like Neighborhood develop and evolve, taking the listener on a musical journey. With songs like Cookies, All Day Long, My Dancing Feet and Playdate, Wright plays with the traditional, spoken chants that I recall from preschool. Young listeners will certainly respond to the rhythmic recitations and parents may just find themselves chanting "Pick the time, pick the day, holler out you wanna play," even when there are no kids around.

The Mike Brady Wrap-up: As I mentioned before, you don't have to live in the city to enjoy Sweetbeatz. Meredith Wright's lovely voice and sweet harmonies put a smile on my face. The lyrics and imagery are perfect for the young Pre-K crowd, but the music is skillfully composed and well produced. There's a mix of the simple chants that inspire the wee ones to chant along, and the more complex songwriting from the theatrical and jazz traditions. That, plus a bunch of great dancing music, is what Sweetbeatz is all about. Give it a listen and I know you'll be singing along.

Kid Quote of the Day: "What will you eat for Thanksgiving?" I asked the students in my music class one at a time. "Shushi!" ~Luca (age: 3)

Lazy Sunday

I didn't want to let a week go by without a post, but it's been another two gig weekend and it looks like the reviews will have to wait until next time.

For today I thought I would share a classic video gem that I've been watching a lot lately. I was asked to perform this REM/Sesame Street classic at a party today. It was a lot of fun (so much so that the 2 year old boy of honor requested it twice).





Kid Quote of the Day: The class listened to a sample of a clarinet playing "twinkle twinkle little star." It stopped after four bars when one student spoke up, "What about the 'ahpah bahpah world so high' part?" she asked. ~Lucia (age: 5)

Isn't it Grand?

Today, for your listening pleasure, I have a review of The Baby Grands' sophomore album entitled "II." This duo from Georgia has a unique style that I can only describe as inspired by the "Nashville Sound."

Though they cover a lot of musical ground on this album (from funky tunes like "Hey!" to acoustic ballads like "Goodbye" or straight ahead rock tunes like "Brain Freeze"), there is an unmistakable new-country vibe that reminds me of groups like Lady Antibellum, Sugarland, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban or The Jayhawks. Thankfully there isn't too much "country-twang" to the vocals (for me at least), but the liberal use of slide guitar and harmonica on "Pounding Heart," and "Paper Airplane," conjure up images of the heartland. On "Palindrome Express," there is a classic rock-a-billy sound that fits well with the sound of an 18-wheeler rolling down the road. Though "II" is a musical slice of Americana, there is an international/multi-cultural theme to the first two tracks.

I love both the title of this album (very Led Zeppelin), and the name of the band, but I want to warn my readers not to let the "Baby" in their name fool you. The lyrics and imagery are definitely for an older crowd. This is more of a kindergarten/elementary school album than for the infant/toddler age range (though I am sure the lush arrangements and finely crafted tunes will get them moving).

The Mike Brady Wrap-up: By now I have reviewed music from all around the country. Each time I think I have a grasp on the kids' music scene, a new group comes along and expands my definition of what kids' music is these days. We as artists, are straddling two worlds, trying to please kids and parents alike. As an adult, you can take your pick of styles and genres that you enjoy and there will likely be a family act to fit the bill. With The Baby Grands offering a bit of southern rock and country, there is a whole new genre to recommend to my readers. A strong duo with great harmony, clever and educational lyrics, and a clear style, The Baby Grands have a lot to be proud of with "II."

Kid Quote of the Day: At the end of a guitar lesson my student and I met his mother and brother downstairs. I noted that the younger boy had on two different shoes. My student pointed out the crocodile printed on one and the dog printed on the other, "See Mr. Nick, Santo has a Sally Croc and a Lucy Croc [referring to the songs "Alligator Sally" and "I've got a little Dog"]." ~Jiam (age: 6)

Talk about your superfans! I've been immortalized in shoe form.

Halloween Fun!

Greetings all! I am excited to have a "video" for my brand-new Halloween song to offer my faithful readers today:



Kid Quote of the Day: "What are you going to dress up as for Halloween?" I asked. "Vampire Hannah Montana!" ~Sidney (age: 5)

(the idea of an undead Hannah Montana is one of the scariest things I can think of)