Lullabies and Dreams: An Interview with Laurie Berkner

Today we’re talking with the Queen of Children’s Music, Laurie Berkner.  Laurie has been a professional musician since 1992, but found her niche when she began writing songs for children.  After years of birthday parties, establishment of a home-based record label (Two Tomatoes) and three independent albums, Berkner exploded into the national consciousness in 2001 with an appearance on Good Morning America.  She has been one of the top-selling children’s artists ever since.

Berkner, who is based out of New York City, has upcoming shows in Michigan, Pennsylvania, California, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey.  She also has a new album in the works entitled Lullabies, with a KickStarter campaign to fund the making of the album.  

WW   Laurie, thank you for taking the time to sit down and talk with our readers today.  Can you tell us how the idea for the Lullabies album came to be?

LB    I've been thinking about making one for years.  It's actually been the most requested theme for an album from fans for a long time, and I always thought it would be a beautiful project to work on. But I never felt like it was quite the right time for me. Having sung lullabies to my own daughter for some time now, I finally felt ready to record these songs myself.  I really want to make something special for that incredibly special time - just before falling asleep.

WW   You have a KickStarter campaign going on with 11 days to go.  How is that going so far?

LB    It's been amazing!  I can't believe how excited people have been to be a part of getting this album made.  I get wonderful ideas from fans and it has been the inspiration for me to start filming a weekly Video Journal to catalog the making of the album and share the process.

WW   What sort of benefits do fans receive fo contributing to the KickStarter campaign?

LB   Everyone who donates, even if it's only $1 gets access to the Video Journal (which I am having so much fun making - and getting great feedback that families are really enjoying!). There are many different kinds of rewards: being able to download the album before it's released, signed CDs and posters, a chance for a child to make some of the artwork on the album cover, or actually sing on the album itself!  I'm also offering visits in person (or by Skype) to people's homes or schools and personalized videos for families!

WW   The goal set for the KickStarter campaign is $35,000.00.  This might seem like a lot of money to folks reading at home who have never made an album.  Can you tell our readers what sort of expenses this will cover?

LB    It covers weeks of full days in the studio paying for the engineer, the use of the space and the equipment, rental of instruments, paying the band members for their recording time and many hours of rehearsal.  It also pays for the photographer, the illustrator and the graphic designer to make the album cover; the couple of weeks of mixing the tracks in the studio and the final mastering of the album to make it ready to release.  It still does NOT cover marketing, publicity, manufacturing of the albums themselves or distributing them to stores, online etc. or making any videos to accompany the songs.  It can be quite an involved and costly process.  

WW   And what happens to the nearly $20,000.00 already pledged if you don’t ultimately make your goal?

LB    We don't get any of it.  The people who have pledged so far will never have their credit cards charged.  That's why it's so important for us to meet our goal by October 28th!

WW   I notice you’re doing some shows in various spots across the country this fall (including the fabulous show in Ithaca, NY this past weekend).  Will there be more of a formal tour once the Lullabies album is released?

LB   Yes, but we're still in the planning stages.

WW   Is there anything else new and interesting on the horizon for you and the band?

LB   Keep an eye out for more of me on the Sprout network!  I'll be making a bunch more appearances before the year is over.

WW   Thank you for taking the time to speak with us today!

LB   Thank you so much! I'm really excited to be making this album.  I hope that it becomes a special group of songs that parents want to sing to their kids over and over and that kids want to sing themselves.  I'd love it to feel like a warm blanket for them as they listen and fall asleep.

Laurie Berkner’s KickStarter campaign runs through Monday, October 28, 2013 at 2:00 PM EDT.  Even a $1 pledge will help, but she’s offered some great inducements to contribute.  Please check out her campaign and consider supporting great independent children’s music! To see upcoming concert dates, check out Berkner’s concert schedule.

Review: Laurie Berkner – Live at the State Theatre of Ithaca, Ithaca, New York – October 12, 2013

 

Laurie Berkner – Live at the State Theatre of Ithaca, Ithaca, New York – October 12, 2013

There is a reason that People Magazine once dubbed Laurie Berkner “The Queen of Children’s Music”.  When Berkner took the stage promptly at 12:00 PM, she did so without airs.  It took about five seconds into her first song, “Victor Vito”, for Berkner to connect with every one of the approximately 900 people in attendance, kids and parents alike.  Fast or slow, sentimental or fun, Berkner captivated the crowd during her one hour set.  Kids were dancing in the aisles and singing along as if their lives depended on it. 

Once into her set, Berkner was alight with boundless energy, dancing, bouncing and running in place throughout an energetic collection of songs that span her career.  In spite of her frenetic stage presence, Berkner managed to sing with a voice that was entirely recognizable from her recordings.  No small feat, that, and particularly unusual in this day and age.  Playing without her usual band in a rare solo performance, Berkner was set free from the usual structure of her show and was therefore free to commune with the crowd. 

Aside from Victor Vito, Berkner ran through songs such as “Five Days Old”, “Pig On Her Head”, “The Goldfish” and “I’m Gonna Catch You” with the flair of a veteran performer.  She knew her audience and they knew her; all pretenses washed away and the air was of a party of close friends.  Children bobbed, jumped, weaved, spun and danced with joy.  Their energy crossed the stage to Berkner, who gave it right back to her adoring fans.  By the time Berkner began to wind down with “Moon Moon Moon”, the younger kids in the crowd were starting to run out of gas.  That gentle lullaby was the breather everyone needed to recover for the closing stomp, “We Are The Dinosaurs”. 

There are hosts of children’s performers out there with varying levels of song quality, on-stage execution and persona.  Berkner is head and shoulders above the rest in all three.  In spite of being elevated on the stage, she never sings down to her fans, and this the reason why you saw in the crowd some kids as old as their early teens.  Berkner is real and honest in her songwriting and in her love of the crowds that gather for her.  Kids know a phony when they see one, often before adults do, and there isn’t a phony bone in Berkner’s body.  She is a singer, songwriter and entertainer of the highest order, and a Laurie Berkner show is money well spent.  You could tell standing outside of the Ithaca State theater yesterday by all of the smiles on parent and children’s faces alike.

Laurie Berkner has upcoming dates in Connecticut, California, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey throughout the remainder of 2013. Check out her concert calendar for dates, times and locations.  For more information on Laurie Berkner and her recordings, visit www.laurieberkner.com.  You can also support the KickStarter campaign for her upcoming album Lullabies

Set List
Victor Vito
Five Days Old
Rocketship Run
Bumblebee (Buzz, Buzz)
Pig On Her Head
Shake Your Body Down
The Goldfish
My Family
Mouse In My Toolbox (Facebook Request)
Medley: I Really Love To Dance, I’m Not Perfect, I Know A Chicken, I’m A Mess, Back The Cat Came Back, Boots, My Energy
Party Day
I’m Gonna Catch You
Under A Shady Tree
Moon Moon Moon
We Are The Dinosaurs

Glenn Colton - Mr. Ducky Wucky - The Wonderful Secret

Glenn Colton - Mr. Ducky Wucky - The Wonderful Secret
2006, Glenn Colton

Glenn Colton is a singer/songwriter/educator living in Orchard Park, NY who has made a name for himself in Western New York for his work on behalf of and with children, earning induction into the Buffalo Music Hall Of Fame in 2009. Originally a folk/rock musician who wanted to be everything from the next Jimmy Buffet to the next Harry Chapin, Colton became an elementary school teacher by day and a rocker by night. A member of local Buffalo legends The Dooleys, Colton left to combine his passions of education and music, forming Glenn Colton Shows in 1993 and turned to performing 300 shows per year for elementary school kids and younger. These days The Glenn Colton show is eagerly anticipated by kids and families wherever Colton manages to play. While Colton may have made a choice to focus on changing his own corner of the world, the effects of his music and brand of character-based education are far reaching. Colton's best known song is Mr. Ducky Wucky, a somewhat autobiographical water fowl who teaches children about following their dreams, doing their best and making the most out of life's experiences. Colton wrote a book, illustrated by John Arnold, and sixteen songs related to or inspired by the story entitled Mr. Ducky Wucky - The Wonderful Secret.

In the book, Mr. Ducky Wucky learns important life lessons while chasing his dreams of learning to play guitar and maybe someday having a career that involves his passion. The title song, Mr. Ducky Wucky's Wonderful Secret is a simple rhyming tune that is charming in its simplicity and camp factor, but also because it’s written from such an obligingly honest perspective that even the most cynical parent will crack a smile. Colton has a touch for breaking up the more serious material with fun dance songs, showing a deft understanding for the attention span of his audiences. "Conga Line Fever" is a concert favorite, with children (and no few adults) regularly bouncing along to the beat. Colton also has a knack for non-threatening feel good songs. "Everybody Needs A Hug" teaches the value of simple contact as a way to tell someone you like them.

Colton goes honky-tonk on "Lucky", a reminder that luck is bred by hard work. Perhaps the greatest key to Colton's success as a children's/family music songwriter is illustrated here. With a straight-forward, good-natured style, Colton brings out messages that are universally applicable to both children and parents. He delivers each song with a distinct musicality and sense of melody, and in his live shows he has an almost vaudevillian performing style peppered with bad puns, cornball humor and the sort of innate goodness of heart that can't be faked. On stage or in conversation before or after the show Colton resonates with the light-hearted wholesomeness that illuminates his songs.

Colton espouses school and life schools with songs such as "Readers Are Winners", "If It's Meant To Be It's Up To Me", "The More You Put Into It, The More You Get Out Of It" and "What To Be". Most of these songs are staples in his family shows, and many fit into the scheme of his school-based shows as well. "Another Brand New Day" is another fan favorite on Mr. Ducky Wucky - The Wonderful Secret, a regular sing-along at shows with fan participation all done up in Caribbean style. "Mr. Ducky Wucky's Dance Party" will get kids and parents moving; an emblem of the balance that Colton teaches in his act that leads into "The Wonderful Secret", a keyboard based ballad that serves as one last word of encouragement to chart a course for your dreams. Colton not only encourages but reinforces with statements of belief, "I believe in you and I believe you're on your way, I can see that you are getting better every day". Once again, there is a positive message here for the children, but Colton also models for parents the sort of approach that can make a difference between dreams unrealized and dreams come true.

Glenn Colton is a treasure. With a simple story-teller's style, Colton imparts love, knowledge and wisdom to his hoards of fans in a fashion that's hard to find fault with. Mr. Ducky Wucky - The Wonderful Secret is a rarity in this day and age. Colton manages to educate, entertain and show chops as a serious songwriter in one fell swoop. Kids and parents alike with fall in love with Mr. Ducky Wucky and Glenn Colton's affable singing/story-telling style. We here at Wildy's World occasionally award Desert Island status to deserving recordings. While none of us wishes such exile on children anywhere, if such there be the stay would be much easier with Mr. Ducky Wucky - The Wonderful Secret along. We'll call it a Wildy's World Certified Junior Desert Island Disc/Book.

Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Glenn Colton at http://www.glenncolton.com/.  Mr. Ducky Wuckey - The Wonderful Secret can be purchased directly from Glenn Colton's website.  If it's just the songs you're looking for, you can purchase the album from Amazon.com: MP3, CDBaby or iTunes. 

Glenn Colton – Browser The Mouse/The Cyber Safety Collection

Glenn Colton – Browser The Mouse/The Cyber Safety Collection
2010, Glenn Colton

At the beginning of 2010 YouthLight, Inc. published a book entitled Browser The Mouse, written by Constance Hanel, Linda Shields and Barbara Trolley, with illustrations by Brian Caleb Dumm. Browser The Mouse is a story and educational program that helps parents teach kids about safe use of the internet, covering everything from safe behavior, protecting oneself from outside influences and even practicing balance with the use of technology. Glenn Colton was asked to write songs in support of the project, and a five-song CD of Colton penned/performed material accompanies the book. That CD is also available separately under the title The Cyber Safety Collection.

From an educational perspective the book is age appropriate and effective; making what is essentially dry but important material within the framework of Browser's story. Colton's soundtrack is a solid complement to the story, reinforcing the lessons the book teaches with enjoyable songs. "Made A Plan" is done in a gentle pop arrangement and teaches safe practices while using the internet. It's a catchy and informative number. "Ownership - It Belongs To Me" reinforces a sense of responsibility and safety. Colton's crafted a nice, memorable melody here in a sweet ballad-style song. "Use Technology Wisely" is a hip and funky lesson plan that gets jiggy with the bass line; even parents will be bopping along to this one. "Stop, Save & Share" has a Jimmy Buffet feel and provides ample reminder to ensure you don't lose any valuable information. It's a fun tune with a children's chorus helping out at the end. "Everybody Needs Balance" closes out with a 1980's pop song and a message about striking a balance between the use of technology and the other activities of life.

As always Colton is affable and provides an educational and entertaining performance on Browser The Mouse. The book itself is an invaluable resource for parents introducing their kids to the internet, and Colton's songs help make the lesson points more accessible to young children. Both Colton and the authors should be commended for tackling a subject that's vital to the healthy development of children in this day and age while keeping the project both entertaining and educational.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Glenn Colton at http://www.glenncolton.com/.  Browser The Mouse is available from Amazon.com or from YouthLight.com and comes with a CD of five songs.  If you just want the music you can purchase Colton's The Cyber Safety Collection digitally from Amazon.com, CDBaby or iTunes.

Glenn Colton - Songs, Smiles & Surprises

Glenn Colton - Songs, Smiles & Surprises
2005/2009, Glenn Colton

Songs, Smiles & Surprises isn't Glenn Colton's greatest hits package, but it certainly comes close. Mr. Ducky Wucky makes an appearance in "Mr. Ducky Wucky's Vacation", and fan favorites such as "Another Brand New Day", "Conga Line Fever", and "Everybody Needs A Hug" are in abundance. Colton also tackles some classic children's songs along the way ("I've Been Working On The Railroad", "Michael Row The Boat Ashore") while continuing to help children relate to the world around them. "Building Bridges" is all about finding ways to overcome the differences between people and learning to live together; a positive life lesson in a comfortable arrangement that the whole family will enjoy.

"The Truth" is a song that teaches about appropriate choices with a little story that shows how the truth can deflate potential conflict. It's a cute setup that places the issue in accessible terms for children but will also be entertaining for the children-at-heart in the audience. "The Three R's" addresses respect, responsibility and really good manners in a fun arrangement that's danceable and very accessible to young listeners. "Down On Grampa's Farm" matches animal names with their sounds in entertaining fashion, while "Welcome To The Show" plays with different musical styles in a number guaranteed to get little (and big) feet moving. As an extra treat, Colton includes two songs here that might a bit more adult oriented. "The Man From Ketchikan" is the heartwarming story of a small-town Alaskan man and the kindness he extended to a stranger while sharing his personal history and that of his town. The song serves as a reminder that small sometimes have the greatest impact. "The Man From Ketchikan" also illustrates that Colton can write serious songs that dwell beyond the realm of children's music. Colton reinforces this knowledge with "Coventry City", the story of a young man who returns home to find that things have changed, and not for the better.

Songs, Smiles & Surprises is vintage Glenn Colton, at his most congenial best across the eighteen songs presented here. The simplicity of arrangement on his songs written for children can't be mistaken for a lack of depth. In fact it is much harder to know when simplicity should reign in music than it is to go all out with each song. Glenn Colton displays both the melodic deftness and quiet confidence in arrangement that marks a great artist. The reactions of kids to his music is proof positive of his ability to convey a message to his audience, and the reactions of the adults in the audience will convince you that this multi-talented performer is doing exactly what he was meant to do: Making the world a brighter place.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Glenn Colton at http://www.glenncolton.com/.  Songs, Smiles & Suprises is available from multiple sources:  Amazon: CD, Amazon: MP3, CDBaby and iTunes. 

Review: Bryant Oden – Songdrops: 30 Songs For Kids

Bryant Oden – Songdrops: 30 Songs For Kids
2009, Bryant Oden

Bryant Oden followed the path many Indie musicians take; where music is a love, a hobby while careers are pursued; but sooner or later the artist must follow his muse. Oden has been writing songs since his teens both comical and serious. A native of Oklahoma, Oden moved to Denver after college to be closer to the mountains; his inspiration. With a Masters in Education Psychology, Oden has worked as a counselor, an ESL teacher in a high school and as an entrepreneur. Over the years he has entertained family and friends (and occasionally strangers) with his comical children’s songs. After hearing for the umpteenth time that he should record them, Oden set out to do just that in 2008. It appears that Oden has struck a chord. His The Duck Song has over 3.5 million streams on various media sites, while several other songs have over 100,000 streams each. On November 1, 2009, Oden releases his first album, Songdrops: 30 Songs For Kids. Kids love The Duck Song. Parents love The Duck Song. Will Songdrops deliver on its promise?

There are children’s albums for children; children’s albums for adults, and the best kind: albums so masterfully written that children and adults get them on different levels and both enjoy them. Listening to a group like Trout Fishing In America will give you an example of the latter. Such bands/albums are rarities as even the folks capable of writing them don’t nail them all the time. In his masterful and humorous creation, The Duck Song, Bryant Oden gets there for a shining moment. The album born from that inspiration, Songdrops, never quite gets there again. That’s not to say it’s a bad collection of songs, but Oden never quite hits that same level of divine inspiration on the other 29 songs presented on Songdrops. Ultimately, this is a children’s album full of songs that adults will think kids will think are fun or funny funny, but may have a hard time gaining much traction with the kiddos.

Oden opens with The Duck Song, a fine and funny song with a classic vaudevillian twist at the end; enjoyable for everyone. I Got A Pea is a cute song built around an age-appropriate double-entendre that will have the kids cracking up and will even bring a smile on the parents faces. Perhaps the biggest drawback to the album overall, a conceit, if you will, is the use of Chipmunks style vocal mixing on the album. It sounds as if Oden has sped up his vocal lines to raise the pitch of his voice, creating an Oden-on-helium sound with rapid-fire vibrato mixed in. It may amuse the younger set at first, but it becomes grating quite quickly and doesn’t really seem to serve any purpose in the long run. This shows through clearly for the first time on Songdrops, which is cute buy annoying because of the vocal thing.

I enjoyed Bob The Snail, an ode to an unusual pet, and I Love U (It’s My Favorite Letter) will get little feet moving, but it just doesn’t have that quality that will have your toddlers walking around singing it at the top of their lungs a few hours or days later (a mixed blessing). The Unfinished Song will bring you back to your Scholastic Book Club days with Madlibs set to music, but the song may well be over the head of the younger kids. Oden hits his best “serious” moment on Sing You A Rainbow, seeming to summon the spirits of Raffi and John Denver in a sweet moment that will appeal to the sentimentality of the Moms listening (and a few of the Dads). Oden may go over the line a tad for some parents on I Don’t Like Tomatoes; getting very close to something some folks may consider a hot-button word for your toddlers. That’s not to say there’s anything wrong with it, but there are some parents out there that won’t appreciate the humor on this one.

Oden is a humorous guy. He enjoys writing and playing for kids, and the songs are honest and well-intended. The quality is very much hit-or-miss throughout the album. The Duck Song is a classic, and there are a couple of other entries here that are very well done, but on the whole Songdrops leaves a lot to be desired as a children’s album. In the end I wouldn’t play it for my own kids, as after listening to folks such as Laurie Berkner, Trout Fishing In America, Elizabeth Mitchell and even The Smudge Fundaes, Songdrops just wouldn’t hold their attention.

Rating: 2 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Bryant Oden at http://www.songdrops.com/ or on Facebook. Songdrops will be released on November 1, 2009. Expect availability on iTunes. For information on CD available keep checking Oden’s website. You can listen to the tracks on his site, or watch videos on YouTube.

Review: Janyse - The Magic Of Think

Janyse - The Magic Of Think
Magical Voice Productions
Canadian singer/songwriter and voiceover artist Janyse is not just a pop star but also a first-rate children’s artist and one of the top voiceover artists in the world. Janyse has voiced characters in projects such as Hulk Vs. Thor, Hulk Vs. Wolverine, Gene Roddenberry’s Andromeda, Batman: Black & White, My Little Pony, and Ed, Edd n Eddy. We previously reviewed Janyse’s singles Dreamers and This Day Is Mine, but today we’re taking a listen to her Children’s project, The Magic Of Think.

Opening with Boots, a song about the courage to be yourself, Janyse affects a persona that's part Arthur and part cowboy. Boots is very catchy and will keep the little ones moving to the beat while delivering a positive message. Boogie Oogie Man is a comedic song about things that go bump in the night that you can jitterbug to and makes the dark a little less scary. Janyse goes for big daydreams on Hero, looking to save the day. It's a decent song although a bit cliché. Shoulda Woulda Coulda returns to the early Rock N Roll of Les Paul for a rockin' good time. It's amazing listening to the songs on The Magic Of Think and hearing all of the voices that Janyce Jaud manages to inhabit in the course of about 40 minutes.

Why is a song all about self-esteem and learning to like yourself. It's a strongly positive message delivered in a cute musical package that the kiddos will love. Janyse revisits Boots thematically in Stomp, a how-fast-can-you go hoedown that will have the kids and you in stitches before you're done. I Won't Worry is an upbeat, positive message in song that is as positive for the adults as it is the kids; the characters and tune are, as throughout The Magic Of Think, magically alive and full of energy. Janyse includes her pop tune, This Day Is Mine, which we previously reviewed as a single and closes out with If I Believe, the theme song of The Magic Of Think. This is, in fact, the best song on the disc, sounding like an Alan Menken/Tim Rice concoction from a Disney movie.

Janyse seems to spin gold with whatever she touches. Her voice talents (as both a voice artist and a singer) are prodigious. Janyse breathes life into what can at times be a tired children's genre with songs full of heart and belief in the magic of childhood. The Magic Of Think is definitely a worthwhile investment if you have little ones. Janyse is up there with folks like Elizabeth Mitchell, Trout Fishing In America and Laurie Berkner as a Children's Artist creating music accessible to kids but with a musicality and intelligence that will also appeal strongly to adults.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Janyce at http://www.magicalvoice.com/ or http://www.janyse.com/. You can order The Magic Of Think as a CD or download through CDBaby.com.

CD Review: The Laurie Berkner Band - Rocketship Run

The Laurie Berkner Band - Rocketship Run

2008, Two Tomatoes Records

Laurie Berkner is the most popular children's artist in the United States for one reason: she's real. Berkner has an ability to speak to children in her music without condescending to them, all while making music that parents enjoy as well. The Laurie Berkner Band's 2006 DVD (We Are...The Laurie Berkner Band) sold 4 million copies if you need a gauge of success. Laurie Berkner released Rocketship Run in August, 2008, her first CD of new material in six years. The disc contains 20 songs developed with Adam Bernstein and Susie Lampert (The Laurie Berkner Band), and should maintain Berkner's status as the Madonna of the kindergarten set.

Laurie Berkner started out as an elementary school who moonlighted as an alt-rocker. Putting her two diverging professional paths together turns out to have been sheer genius as she has achieved success far beyond what she might have imagined at the beginning. Rocketship Run mixes folk, rock, ska, blues, conga, samba and even an Irish jig to create a musical stew that is vibrant and varied. The kiddies will be able to sing along with this disc in no time (as is usually true with Berkner CDs), and you'll soon know the album front to back from continuous replays.

Highlights include the title track, Rocketship Run, which has already been featured in a Noggin video. Other great tracks include Mouse In My Toolbox, Jump and Fly, Pigbasket, Winter Lullaby and Fast And Slow (The Rabbit And The Turtle). As always Berkner's voice is pleasant and full of light. Rocketship Run continues Berkner's very appealing and intelligent children's albums. Our kids love her, yours will too.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Laurie Berkner at http://www.laurieberkner.com/. You can purchase Rocketship Run through a link of Berkner’s website, or at major music retailers such as WalMart, Barnes and Noble and Target.