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So much has been made of the music for babies and children to sleep, eat, and have their brains grow optimally that a collection of lullabies might seem a little suspect. But when the folks at Ellipsis Arts take up the task of creating a lullaby collection, the results are bound to be fruitful. Sure, the emphasis in this collection of 19 songs is on gentleness, but this music is so seldom heard that it's endlessly enticing. The Celtic lullabies range from three-part Welsh carols to the overtone-tinted wooden flute of Chris Norman on "Now I Am Asleep" to several showings for acoustic harp that highlight vocals by singers such as Jill Rogoff and Ann Mayo Muir. The unfortunate trend of globetrotting CDs that lose all their geographic specificity is easily bucked here with songs sung in Manx Gaelic and the more familiar Irish. The set even takes into account the farthest reaches of the Celtic diaspora by including a religious Nova Scotian melody with mother Mary singing to the baby Jesus, "Tha mi 'g altrum Righ na Mòrachd" ("I am nursing the Almighty King," for all you non-Gaelic speakers). The blurred edges throughout this selection move toward sonic dreaminess, made more warmly vaporous by the pillowing effect of the instrumental accompaniments.--Andrew Bartlett ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Poor transitions make the album hard to listen to
I bought this cd for our daughter when she was just born and play it once in a while, but frankly, she just doesn't like it. The music is very inconsistant from song to song and while one is very calming and she'll fall right asleep, the next song will have a voice with a sort of a piercing cry that rouses her into a matching cry herself. The wailing voices of some Celtic music are beautiful to listen to, but don't seem to offer much comfort to our baby. This may be because she had colic and is very sensitive to sounds, but in any case, I also find the album on a whole disconcerting in its rough transitions from song to song.

From Crying to Sleeping in 2 tracks or less.....
I bought this CD out of sheer desperation while at a "baby fair". This is the one and only CD I can really count on to calm my son down. Even at 2+ years old, he relaxes when he hears the calm voice saying "Night night...sleep tight...don't let the bugs bite...if they do, squeeeeeze them tight...", etc. on the first track.

Every other "lullaby" album I've had has irritating instruments/parts/songs on it, or worse...fast-paced music somewhere in the middle (Hello? Someone get these people a clue!). I don't consider a loud "Jack and Jill" song to be a "lullaby", especially in the middle of the tape. Sheesh.

The info inside is interesting...and the lyrics (although some's in a different language for most of us) are in there if you want to try to sing along.

If you get one lullaby CD, truly, this one will work. A sleeping baby/toddler is a wonderful thing. :) I think I'll [...] buy this as a baby shower gift...it's well worth it!

Disappointed
I just ordered this CD and was really disappointed. The whole CD starts out with this really creepy sounding "Night night sleep tight don't let the bed bugs bite and if they do, squeeze them tight so they won't come another night". That put me off, right there. Gross.
The CD is lacking and there are much better Irish songs.
Annoying to spend the money and get this.

Suantrai (sleep music). Not just for babies.
I listened to this CD of Celtic lullabies twenty or thirty times before reading the liner notes. Although I couldn't understand most of the songs--they are sung in Gaelic, Scottish dialect, Cymric, and Manx Gaelic as well as a few words in English--I found the music cheerful and gently soothing.

Then I read the liner notes.

Scratch cheerful.

I suppose it was too much to expect the Celts to be cheerful. Many of these lullabies also double as laments. The last track of the CD, "Darling Gregor" is a wife's lament for her executed husband, chief of the Clan MacGregor of Glenstrae. The last verse your baby will hear as he or she falls asleep is "My sweet-spiced apple/ Lies with the back of his head to the ground." Luckily, your baby probably doesn't understand Scottish Gaelic.

Various singers and instrumentalists recorded these lullabies, all of them specialists in their particular branch of Celtic music. Scottish folk singer, Jean Redpath might be the best-known artist on this CD. She sings "Hishie Ba" unaccompanied, which is ruefully perfect for this Lowlands lullaby since it expresses the viewpoint of an unwed mother.

Most of the songs have minimal accompaniment on instruments such as guitars, lap harps, mandolins, flutes, whistles, and small pipes. "Morag's Cradle Song/ Water Kilpie" and "Now I am Asleep" are instrumental pieces for harp and wooden flute, respectively.

The voices range from a pleasant, but nasal baritone, a husky alto who sounds consistently flat to an ear unaccustomed to Celtic music, a softly blurred soprano, to a Welsh choral group called Plethyn, who sing eerie, four-part harmonies. Some of the solo voices double up upon themselves through the miracle of modern recording techniques. Other than this, none of the singers go in for complicated vocal techniques. All sing in a tender, disarmingly simple fashion.

Although somewhat difficult to read because of eccentric fonts and several misspellings, the liner notes are well worth perusing as a brief introduction to the magic of Celtic lullabies. I was especially taken by the warning: "Be wary of translations that rhyme, especially---they often completely misrepresent the original!"

Don't buy this CD just for baby. It has a fine sampling from various Celtic traditions, from a Manx slumber song to a beautiful little Cymric lullaby, "Si Hei Lwli" with only four repeated notes.

Good compilation
I am not sure about my baby, but I love this CD ! Actually baby loves it too but probably not to that great extent. :-) ... Read more

Reviews (5)

awesome CD
i'm 15 years old and i lovvvveee this cd. we used it in dance class one day (jazz class) and my teacher got everyone hooked. its so fun to dance to even if u are older than a preschooler!

update of past review
I decided to write this because this info wasn't listed and some may want to know the origin of each song.
Artist -origin (song title)
1. Baka Beyond-UK/Africa(Aduku)
2. Xtatik-Trinadad(Music Farm)
3. Barachois-Canada(La Marmotteuse)
4. La Senorita Dinamita-Columbia(A Mover La Colita)
5. Toots & The Maytals-Jamiaca(Freedom Train)
6. Maixa Ta Ixiar-Spain/Bosque(Zuhaitzarena)
7. Djamel Allam-Algeria(Nezha)
8. Claudia Martinez-Mexico(Nichum Vuil)
9. Lucky Ali-India(Teri Yaadein)
10. Miriam Makeba-South Africa(Pata Pata)

Also included in the liner notes are the lyrics and a brief synopsis of the music/artist/country.

multicultural must - have!
I received this as a gift recently. I have never heard of any of the artists on it, but I will tell you it is excellent. The tone of the songs has that "get your blood pumpin'" feeling. All of the songs seem very original to me. They are very heavy on the percussion (some primative) instruments.

1. It would be an excellent CD to showcase different cultures in a music class setting, with a discussion.
2. It would be an excellent CD to listen to, while children use instruments- say for circletime.
3. A creative movement class for children
4. It is also very good for listening to at home with your child.

Listen to each song, then find where it came from on a globe with your children. Some of the songs are in English, but it doesn't really matter what they are saying because each song sounds great. Music brings the world closer together, and this CD really proves that.

Our favorite
This is definately my 19-month-old daughter's favorite album. We play it in the car whenever she gets fussy and she quiets right down. I have to admit that I enjoy it enough myself that I occasionally listen to it when I am in the car alone.

Fun and upbeat
I bought this CD for my nephew (who is only 2) and he loves it. He claps his hands and starts dancing whenever the CD is on. It is fun and upbeat. You'll want it for yourself! It's a refreshing change from the usual lullaby or nursery rhyme CDs, and it exposes children to a whole new world of music. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Granddaughter Loves it!
We buy many videos and CD's for our granddaughter. She loved this one and never tires of it! Excellent!

Very Warm Music!!
I love this CD for my child! She is only 5 mos old but when I sing to her it seems to calm her so I bought this CD for in the car and at home and she loves it! She coos at it and smiles! I think she loves hearing the children's voices! It has a great selection of songs, it reminds me of when I was a kid at Sunday School! ... Read more

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Ellen Kushner's award-winning National Public Radio program Sound and Spirit celebrates the contrasts and connections of diverse world cultures, exploring traditions and themes that define the human experience. None transcends the language barriers better than the push and pull of family, especially the birth of a child. This album, a collection of songs from one of Kushner's most requested shows, highlights the rituals of childbirth and the joys and frustrations of baby's first year. From Serbo-Croatian and Nepalese lullabies, to a Navajo chant, to an American song about adoption, and finally a Baka nursery rhyme, these various baby-related meditations are brought to life by such artists as Sweet Honey in the Rock, Sally Rogers, and Woody Guthrie. The artists share the beauty of the miracle of birth, the heroism of women in labor, and the comforting sense of global unity in life's daily struggle. Best of all, they bring succor to that most neglected of nurturers, the exhausted young mother.--Alanna Nash ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Wonderful, soothing, uplifting, centering music
We've enjoyed listening to this CD with our 5 year old daughter and our new son, whom we have nicknamed "Little Potato" because of the song of the same name on this wonderful CD. It has become our gift-of-choice to celebrate the births or adoptions of children of friends and colleagues.

Soothing, Inspiring, Life-affirming!
This is the rare album you listen to and find that you like song after song after song - nothing falls flat! A wonderful compilation of joyous music from around the globe, celebrating children - lullabies, paeans to motherhood, songs of love for your children. I first listened to it yesterday, played it again as soon as it was finished, and have been humming some of the songs all day today. The songs range from exotic (Baka forest people, a nursery chant) to playful [Little Potato, a joyful and fun song written for a baby, highlighting our use of food-based nicknames (sweetie pie, etc.)]. Some songs make you bounce in your chair; some bring tears to your eyes. I will listen to it myself, as well as play it for my nieces and nephews. I even like the liner notes. This album makes me want to have children!

This is the one you want!
We registered for this CD and received it as a gift and it is really great. It is fun for adult listening as well as for babies and kids. We received several other cds as well, but this is by far the best, if you only get one, this should be it!

I love this :)
I don't have any kids (yet.. not quite the age). You'd laugh, but I got this CD just for me, and I love it. I feel most like myself when I find bits of my childhood that wander back into my character, and what better way to bring back the wonderous, imaginative attitudes than a bit of sweet music. If there's one thing I miss most about being a child, it's to be sung a lullaby to sleep. A song is one of the greatest ways a person can give the gift of love.

Made for adults as much as for kids!
I have a 5-month-old and we both love this CD. Some of the songs are more instantly accessible than others, but after multiple listens I find myself loving all of them. This album is for those who want to expose their children to the sounds of the music and languages of other cultures, for parents who want to explore the universalities of parenthood, and for both parents and kids who just want to listen to fun music that really sticks in your head! ... Read more

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All too often the notion of creating webs of gentle sounds to help ease babies, toddlers, even children into sleep leads to overly synthetic musical concoctions. Mediterranean Lullaby (like its sibling Cuban, Brazilian, Celtic, Latin, African, and Guitar lullaby collections) takes a very different, more organic approach. Here you have singers and music from Mediterranean regions, including Greece, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, and Spain. The music is so unadorned that you can't miss the heartfelt reverence for children, the respect for their ears, and the overall commitment to gentle sweetness. Guitar and vocals are the main fare, but there are mandolins, sentirs, nay flutes, and more--all played as if the musicians were able to show up in your child's room to soothe them after a day at play. --Andrew Bartlett ... Read more

Reviews (10)

enchanting and peaceful
I was looking for a lullaby cd that wasn't "kid's music" and that would reflect my baby's Meditteranean heritage. This cd is so beautiful some of the songs bring tears to my eyes. I listen to it every night, and will do so when my baby arrives. I can't recommend this cd enough.

very soothing
What a lovely CD. We listen to it during quiet time, or just when we want to slow things down a bit. We like it because, quite simply, it's just beautiful music.

Very soothing and peaceful CD
I bought this CD for my daughter to help her relax when I lay her down. And so far it has done the job. I especially like the mix of music from around the mediterranean, the songs come from a variety of countries including Greece, France, Italy, Spain, Morocco, Lebanon, Israel, and Catalonia. All the songs are beautiful and calming. Basically a wonderful CD.

The CD I listen the most without getting bored
This is a wonderful CD, my baby enjoys it as much as I do. The songs are soothing and melodic. The selection of songs from countries around the Meditterranean is great. I memorised some of them even though I don't know the language, I sing them to my little one when we are not home or simply when I want a peaceful and intimate moment with her. I recommend this CD very much.

Gorgeous!
I'm so glad I registered for this CD! Its SO beautiful! ... Read more

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No fat cigar, not even Cuba's gorgeous sunsets, can register close on the sublimity scale to the country's lush, commercially unsullied music, something lots of folks discovered a few years back when a subtle loosening of regulatory strings let the brilliant, boundary-busting Buena Vista Social Club cross the shore. On Cuban Lullaby, another of Ellipsis Arts' impressively packaged, carefully annotated, and sweet-smelling Lullaby series (the scent of lavender, said to promote heavy-liddedness, comes wafting out once the protective plastic is removed), the tradition-steeped African and Spanish elements that fused the Cuban sound fall in for a 16-track close-up--intimacy, after all, is what lullabies are all about. The music moves from lilting piano ("Drume Negrita," "Berceuse a Jessie," "Drume Mobila") to elegant guitar (a different rendition of "Drume Negrita," "Suenos de Colores") to tribal-sounding bata drums ("Oguere"). The set is by turns sweepingly beautiful, twinkly sweet, and rhythmically soothing--no surprise, considering this record's artist roster. Grammy-winning pianist Chucho Valdes, immortal entertainer Bola de Nieve, and Buena Vista Social Club singer Omara Portuondo raise the talent bar to a dizzying level, the right altitude, it turns out, for drifting off to dreamland. If your little one is the lucky intended dozer, leave the light on and read the liner notes. The English translations of these songs, like "El Amor de Caracol y Lombriz," about a snail-worm romance, and "Nana Animalera," describing a late-night all-animal hootenanny, crack a window on Cuban culture, causing, without intending to, sharp regrets that it's been sealed away for so long. --Tammy La Gorce ... Read more

Reviews (17)

What A Find !!!
Being the only non Cuban member(by marriage) of a Cuban household,I've heard several of the songs on this cd sung over the years,mostly by my mother in law. I found them amusingly rich,beautifully depicting the love of mother to child in it's own unique way. Sifting thru the latin music racks, I came upon this cd and what a find !! Cuban music is rich in diversity and these lullabuys are beautifully recorded by great Cuban artists. To the person who thought these folks are cashing in on The Buena Vista craze,you're so wrong. This selection stands on it's own and I would strongly recommend it to anyone interested in Cuban music, for it's beauty and insight. It would be great for lullabuys, too but my kids are 18 and 16 now... Standout cuts are "Drume Negrita"(the opening cut), the 2 versions of "Lacho", the beautifully classical "El amor de Caracol & Lombriz" and my personal favorite, "Arrrurru". which brought a smile and a tear from my mother in law when she heard the wonderful acoustic version by Pablo Melendez (along with an off key singalong!!!)Whether it lulls you or your child to sleep or brings a smile to your face and soul,it is a must buy for anyone who enjoys sweet wonderful music!

This is an AMAZING CD!!
I bought this Lullaby collection on a recommendation of a friend to help put my two year old daughter to sleep. She has been keeping us awake every night. Not only did this WONDERFUL collection of Cuban Lullabies help my daughter to sleep, but it has become my favorite CD as well. The music is beautiful and a welcome relief from the "itsy bitsy spider" and other popular American children lullabies. I would recommend this CD highly to any parent. This would make a great gift for anyone with kids for the holiday season.

Rare Gem
I am Cuban-American and found two rare gems this year. This CD, CUBAN LULLABY and the Cuban-American bilingual children's picturebook set in Cuban Miami's Little Havana Calle Ocho Festival, DRUM, CHAVI, DRUM!/TOCA, CHAVI, TOCA! The characters, author and illustrator are Cuban. These two recommendations are for children, but if you're Cuban-American or Latina/o you will relish in these two items no matter how old you are.

10 stars to both items!

Songs from my Familia
It is so wonderful to hear this album together with my child. I am looking forward to sharing this album with my new baby as well. My family is from Cuba and although my Abuela (grandmother) and Papi (father) are no longer with us, this album captures the songs they would share with my children. It is hard though, to listen to songs like Drueme Negrita, a favorite that my Dad would sing to me when I was young without shedding a tear. Hearing these special songs reminds me that my family and heritage are always with me. For anyone else it is enrichment for the child to hear songs in other languages with a different tempo and style. I highly recommend this for adults and kids alike.

What a surprise! What a delight!
Just when you think you know what a genre is like, something comes along and redefines it for you. I expected it to be good, because I love latin music, but it is like taking a trip to a romantic Cuban vacation to the romanctic period of the 40s and 50s. You can feel the family joy and pride in every track. Some are vocal, some instrumental, all are wonderful. Not just for baby. Put it on while you make dinner or share a candlelit supper. I bought this and the wonderful Brazilian one. ... Read more

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Radio Disney is a nationally syndicated children's program, and Radio Disney: Kid Jams pulls together 17 of the show's "greatest hits."It's a cornucopia of high-energy, parent-approved pop and classics from The Lion King and Mulan. Represented are teen idols (the Backtsreet Boys, Hanson), hip-hop (Technotronic, MC Hammer, and a Mickey-ized version of Tag Team's "Whoomp! (There it Went)"), dancefloor (2 Unlimited, "Macarena"), silly favorites (Weird Al Yankovic, I-8-Paste), and even James Brown. There's a lot to like about a compilation that draws no divisions between Yankovic's "Yoda" (a takeoff on the Kinks' "Lola"), Sponge's take on the Speed Racer theme, Steve Vai's cover of "Wipeout," and the Hardest Working Man in Show Business (Brown).The only complaint here is that some parents may resent getting "Macarena" stuck in their heads again.--Randy Silver ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Kids 5 to 10 agree it's great
I work in a before and after school progream and we own all the the Radio Disney Cd's. My 1st - 5th graders love it. They know the songs from radio and the disney channel, and I don't have to worry about inappropriate lyrics.

this is the best radio disney cd out
in my opinion this is the best cd radio disney put out. there are a few songs that i could do without but the majority of them are great. the kids love it and the parents enjoy it also. nice up beat songs that will get you and the kids moving! ENJOY!

kids listen to it a lot.
The kids are always listen to the radio disney cd's. We have 3 out of the 4 that are available. They seem to really enjoy the variety of music on it. A lot of it is really fun to dance to. My Daughters especially enjoy the dancing. The boys like the humor in some of the songs.

Not a bad CD
OK, I must admit that I do like some of the songs on here but not all of them. Some of my favorites are "Quit Playing Games with my Heart", "River", "Yoda", "Go Speed Racer, Go!", "Macarena", "Let's Get Together", and "I'll Be There For You". The others on here are just OK. So if your kids like to listen to Radio Disney, then it's a good start to buy this album.

HANSON jams on Radio Disney Kid Jams
I purchased Radio Disney Kid Jams only because Hanson's song River is on it!! I only gave it one star because there's only 1 Hanson song on it and there should be more! Maybe you think I'm being unfair, maybe you think that I'm a diehard fan, well, 1. I'm not being unfair because Hanson is the best band in the world and 2. I AM a diehard fan!! YEAH! Okay, BYE! ... Read more

Reviews (14)

A collection for all occasions...
Save the Kenny G track, this album contains a wonderful mix of jazz music of all different styles and offers excellent renditions of the most popular "Charlie Brown" songs. I would highly recommend this album especially for people who enjoy the other Charlie Brown collections.

For the fan of Charlie Brown
This CD is for the true fan of Charlie Brown. The music is "soft jazz". If you like David Benoit, Dave Brubeck, Patti Austin, Kenny G., you will like this CD. You will reconize most of the tunes from them various TV specials. It's hard to believe that Charlie Brown has been around for 50 years.

My personal favorite album in the whole world!
Seriously folks, this album is at the top of my list - and I'm not really a jazz enthusiast! I love all genres of music about the same actually, but for some reason this album is my favorite. It has it all - fast paced grooves, sit-back-and-relax tunes, and bit of humor to boot! It is and has been since it came out in 1989, my all time favorite!

The traditional songs, with a few jazz lite touches
My major problem with this CD is the combination of the traditional, wonderful jazz sounds (from such artists as Chick Corea and Dave Grusin) with jazz lite moments, such as the contribution from Kenny G. For Charlie Brown fans, this is a must-have--all of the songs that you know and love from the specials are here. If you're a jazz fan looking for a "pure" jazz album, this is probably not for you.

Like the strip, this one brings lots of smiles
In light of the recent passing of Charles Schulz and the "death" of the beloved "Peanuts" strip, the musical collage is a welcome collection of memories. Featuring stellar performances from some of the greats of pop/jazz, such as B.B.King, Chick Corea, Joe Williams, Patti Austin, and others, "Happy Anniversary, Charlie Brown" rises like THE GREAT PUMPKIN.

Although the strip is no more, repeat airings of the television programs and repeat listenings of this disc will keep it alive for decades to come.

Buy this one! ... Read more

Album Description

World Music For Little Ears Authentic Lullabies From Around the World

Our children will live their lives in a world where people from around the globe share each other’s beauty and culture.

This collection of lullabies from around the world will ease your little ones to sleep with gentle lyrics sung in the native tongues of Ireland, Brazil, Wales, Africa, Nova Scotia, Cuba and more.

A musical welcome to a world in which the sweetness of a parent’s love is universal.

The notes include original lyrics and English translations. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

The BEST Lullaby Collection!
We have a nice-size collection of lullaby CD's and WORLD MUSIC FOR LITTLE EARS is by far my son's favorite. He's been listening to it since before he was born and now at 4 1/2 months it's the one that soothes him the best, especially the first wonderful song on the album, an incredibly sweet and poignant Brazilian lullaby sung by a father to his baby in the middle of the night. Our baby boy will stop in mid-cry and become silent when I play "his song" if he gets fussy in the car. There's also an endearing rendition of the Celtic lullaby "Suo Gan" which is also on the Susie Tallman CD, LULLABIES FOR SLEEPY EYES, which I highly recommend. My husband and I both love this CD and have recommended it to friends with small children who love it too. All the songs are sweet (but not overly so), melodic, soothing and interesting enough for adults to enjoy. We never get tired of listening to it! After such a good find I tried other compilations of lullabies from around the world and was kind of disappointed - none are as good as this collection. I cannot recommend it enough!!

Not just for little ears...
I bought this CD when I was pregnant & played it almost every night for my son in utero & then after he was born. It's always had the power to soothe him to sleep or at least calm him, & it works wonders for my mood as well! It's a CD I can listen to while driving, too, without becoming too drowsy or hypnotized. It's the most beautiful compliation I have found so far & I highly recommend it as baby's first introduction to world music. Peace!

excellent cd
I agree with the other reviewers. This is the best CD I own. My daughter's (5 months) favorite is the Brazilian one about the seven dwarfs. It calms her right down every time. On long car trips my husband and I keep listening to it long after she's drifted off -- true testiment to its listenability for adult ears!

Two Thumbs Way Up!
We got this CD as a shower gift before my daughter was born. She is now almost 18 months months old and has listened to numerous CDs of all genres. This is far and away her favorite. In fact, we have a hard time getting through a meal without her insisting that we play it. While I'm not sure the music is best described as lullaby--it's a little more upbeat than I would expect for lullaby music--it is without a doubt outstanding, clearly not your typical kid music. The muscians on it are just that, muscians, not childrens' entertainers.

My advice to anyone with young children considering the purchase of this CD is buy it. You won't be disappointed. Cheers!

Buy Lullaby: A Collection Instead
My wife and I have owned LULLABY: A COLLECTION by Music for Little People since our son was born (he is now 3 and a half). I've listened to that CD more than 700 times and have not gotten tired of it. Now my brother and his wife are having their first child, and my wife and I went to the music store to buy that CD. They didn't have it, so we bought WORLD MUSIC FOR LITTLE EARS instead because it won the 2000 Parents Choice Award. We were going to mail it to my brother, but at the last minute my wife decided she should listen to it before she sent it. She did, and when I came home from work she told me we couldn't send it; it just wasn't good enough. I had a listen myself, and I couldn't agree more: compared to LULLABY: A COLLECTION, this CD is dull, unmelodic, and not particularly soothing; what's more, many of the songs don't even sound like lullabies. We decided we had to buy them LULLABY: A COLLECTION from Amazon.com even if we had to wait weeks for it to be delivered (in fact, the baby will be born before they get it). It is just so much better for rocking little ones to sleep. Since we're due to have our second son in August, we'll probably keep this one and listen to it occasionally just for variety, but you can bet the LULLABY CD will still be in heavy rotation. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Hokey Pokey, Chicken Dance
I bought this for my 3-year-old who loves to do the hokey pokey and the chicken dance. I was really disappointed with the hokey pokey. It is VERY fast and hard to keep up with. I was looking for a CD with the songs you dance to at weddings. The other songs aren't catching for a 3-year-old. I did like the name game. It has a fun beat and my kids love dancing around the house to it. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Daughter loves it. Cleans up some lyrics for the kids.
Needless to say, "Why Don't We Get Drunk and Screw" is not included in this collection of Jimmy's songs sung by kids. I personally found the voices a bit annoying, but my 4-year-old daughter and her cousin both love it. Great for parrotheads who are raising little Buffett fans, but don't want their children hearing some of the more adult lyrics. Worth the money for Buffett fans with families

Fins up for this one!
A lot of reviews have said how disappointing this cd is. Well, its not for adults, its for the children. I love to sit with my daughter and listen to the songs sung very well by these other children. It's very well done and allows us both to listen to something we like, and get her started into the parrothead life at a young age. This is a great present to buy yourself and your child or if you know a parrothead with children. What a fabulous idea to have kids sing these songs, it's excellent.

A Sweet CD for kids
My 3 year old daughter loves this CD and I find myself singing along with her. She puts on her Hula skirt and dances away to the songs sung by other kids. We highly reccomend this CD to all of you out there with kids or a perfect gift for a child as well. We're going to buy this CD and give it to kids at her 4th Birthday Party.

Well I think it is great.
With all due respect to those adults writing negative reviews, give me a break! This is a children's CD. My daughter Emily 8, loves "Delaney Talks To Statues." And by the way every adult I know who has listened to it has enjoyed it also. These songs are sung by children with lyrics sensitively change where appropriate for children. I think it is very well done and the children sound magnificent! It's refreshing and one of life's real joys to hear children sing - and these kids can sing! Nice work.

NO....NO!!!
There is no way I'd get this - my two sons heard this in the background and wanted to throw this out as much as I did.."that is just messed up Buffett!". I agree with the reviewer who suggested just knowing when to re-adjust the volume briefly. My two year old was very confused when she heard this version of Little Miss Magic. Just explain to the kids that Buffett is way old enough to use language that they just can't use, be able to reach the volume button, and stick to the real thing. ... Read more

Amazon.com

If you've never tuned in to Radio Disney, you're probably living with yaks someplace on a mountainside. The kids' radio station grownups love to dislike, even while allowing it to play in the car and house (and inside their minds), relies heavily on an extremely tight play list. It's not true that Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys, and Christina Aguilera secretly own the station; it just seems that they do, given all the spins they get. Radio Disney Jams, Vol. 2 picks up where last hour's programming left off, with some modified lyrics from Lou Bega on "Disney Mambo No. 5," substituting the name of leading Disney cartoon characters for the women he fancies in his original mambo superhit. Of course, there's Weird Al Yankovic spoofing Star Wars and "American Pie" (not the Madonna version) with "The Saga Begins." Queen's "We Will Rock You" and"We Are the Champions" are two eminently familiar anthems, thanks in part to their crossing over into every imaginable sport from hockey to bowling. Will Smith, Stevie Wonder, and 98 Degrees are all here. And those disco diehards, the Village People and Sister Sledge, will remind older parents how long ago the '70s really were. New artists, including Steps, Jason Raize, and Aaron Carter also fill out this 18-track tribute to the power of Disney brandcasting. --Martin Keller ... Read more

Reviews (13)

A good CD for kids of all ages
This Radio Disney CD has a lot of good songs on here and I must say that it's better than the first CD in this collection. My favorite songs on here are "I'll Never Break Your Heart", I'll Be Your Everything", "The Saga Begins", "We Will Rock You", "We Are the Champions, "Boom Da Boom", and "Girl You Shine". Originally, my sister brought this album and I liked it so I made a copy of it on the computer. So if you like Radio Disney, then go out and buy this CD!

The best dancing, singing, upbeat CD anywhere
This CD has some of the most fun to dance to and listen to songs ever. My kids have been listening to it for 3 years now and still are not tired of it. My (picky) son (now 6) and daughter (now 5) will both dance to it. Actually, it's a whole family event.

The night before my husband deployed to Bosnia, the whole family was depressed and down. Trying to liven things up so we wouldn't always remember the depressing last few moments with my husband, I put in this CD. Talk about brightening things up! We were all singing and dancing with everyone smiling. I still enjoy remembering that evening. It's all thanks to Radio Disney.

This is without a doubt a "Disney Wholesome" CD with no explicit lyrics. This is definitely our family favorite. It could be yours too!

Great CD
Of course it's from Disney so it's most always likely gonna be great. This is a great selection of songs for anyone with the kid in us. I listen to it over and over.

Great CD for All Ages
I bought this CD out of curiosity a couple of years ago and have found a whole new avenue of music. This CD is jammed with songs that I never get tired of listening to. My kids, 13 and 6, both beg to hear it every time we get in the car. I recommend it for all ages, young and young-at-heart! Since this first purchase, I have bought other Disney CD's and have never been disappointed!

Whoop Whoop!
This money makin package hits yah like a thud to ya chest. It really did get in my head and stick there like grip tape! it never stops rockin the bombshell tracks till the whole wiggedy wack sound is track back in your head like E=MC 2, yah know! IT's that booty! If you like groups like coal chamber, saliva, soulfly, static x, slipknot, and uncle johns band that's great. but if you wanna go deap and get no sleep bust in the premEARS and bust it out like another vietnam! yeeh. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

This Music is a Spoonful of Sugar for all!
Every child should have this CD if not for it's content (it's grrreat!) then for its "historical" value in exposing them to some of the musicals their parents grew up with. I wish there were more CDs like this - I would own them all. The only down-side is there are no accompanying lyrics but at least there's an address you can use to request them (free). Excellent!

A Child's Celebration of Show Tunes
My 4year old daughter loves it! She plays it over and over. I must admit, it is fun to hear her singing the songs from musicals I grew up with. It is something that we can enjoy together and that she enjoys by herself as well.

One CD that's still fun the 100th time you hear it
My toddler loves music and this is OUR favorite CD. I love show tunes and these are great selections for kids. I appreciate the fact that the songs are sung by the broadway casts. I know that kids like to hear other kids sing, but sometimes mom needs a break from those cheerful, slightly off-key kids choruses.

Still a Favorite After Several Years
We have owned this CD for several years and purchased similar. This is still a favorite, my girls (6 & 7) still ove after 5 years and when they see the movies, they also become favorites. I only wish there were more compilations like this!! Far better than your average kid CD, and just see how you feel after singing Raffi or traditional children's songs a million times.

My kids love this CD
My two older boys love this CD, especially the songs from Oliver. My 4 year old sings along with the Oliver songs, even the accent. I love show tunes and love that my kids enjoy them too. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Children Just Love Many Songs. Very Silly and Good for Kids
I give this 4 1/2 stars, so I will round up. It's better than most children's music CD's.

My children love many of the songs on this CD, like "Old Dan Tucker" and Shortnin' Bread." We own many children's CD's and this one ranks among one of their favorite ones. I don't know why. They do skip some songs, so I wouldn't rank it as the best childrens music CD.

The song selection is a little different, which supplements other children's CD's. Overall, it seems to appeal to young children, and the content is decent - imaginative and generally good for kids.

In summary, it's one of the better childrens music CD's available. A child will probably consider it one of his or her favorites.

Imaginative and unique
This album is different from the other children's albums our family owns, and it inspires the imagination. The songs are grouped in themes and have an authentic sound, with high production value.

The first two tunes are nautical, and "Sailing, Sailing" sounds like a "sea shanty" that pirates are singing. We all enjoy the hoedown feel of the next set, with a rousing rendition of "She'll Be Coming Around the Mountain", and "Old Dan Tucker" and "Clementine" are tied together nicely, with a few sobs for darling Clementine.

Our least favorite songs come next, with an off-putting version of "Old King Cole" in which the king does a lot of talking. He talks in "Sing a Song of Sixpence" as well, and when I listen to his haughty voice, I want to lead a revolution to overthrow his monarchy.

The album gets better once you get past the British royalty songs. The steel drums of "Matilda" (not to be confused with "Waltzing Matilda") add a Carribean flair, and "If You're Happy and You Know It" is a lot of fun. The album winds up with a New Orleans/Mardi Gras theme, complete with horns and saxophones, again with more talking in between the songs, but it's pleasing this time. Probably our favorite song on the album is "Shortnin' Bread", which is sung exactly as it should be, Southern-style.

This album comes with all the bells and whistles, in the form of wonderful sound effects. While the selection of songs may not appeal to everyone, we are glad to have something a little different. I haven't been able to determine what our two-year-old thinks of it, but I'm certain most young children would like the upbeat songs. I'm not sure, however, if children would like the grizzled-sounding pirate on "Sailing, Sailing" and that simpering Old King Cole, the ninny. We greatly prefer "Toddler Favorites", which was produced by the same company and has universal appeal.

Not our favorite
I bought this tape for my daughter, who is 23 months old. I purchased Toddler Favorites and one of the Disney classics at the same time. She prefers the Toddler Favorites to all the others. This tape (Children's Favorites) has an odd musical selection. Some of the songs are unfamiliar and rather outdated. I think we were looking for something a bit more cutesy and upbeat. Still, we do listen to it and a couple of the songs are cute.

Children's songs.
This is an excellent compilation. Each song has its own individually tailored production, with different sound effects, and yet the entire compilation has a uniform style. Each song sounds as though it were taken from the soundtrack from a movie, because of the high quality of the production, and also because of the sound effects (boat toots, animal squawks, ocean waves, and various American dialects/accents). Especially engaging was the use of children's voices (spoken and singing) along with adult voices. I liked especially Shortnin' Bread (it would have been fine if the singer on Shortnin' Bread had been featured on every number). Another fine effect, found on Hokey Pokey, was the sound of cheering and shouting children's voices. One critical word: the song titled "Walzing Matilda" is not Walzing Matilda. It is actually the song that goes ". . . she take me money and run Venezuela." The voices might be, perhaps, considered a tad less polished than those found on the exquisite series of Disney Children's Favorites, produced by Jymn Magon with Betty Joyce as the choral director.

Songs for children to grow up with
This is an excellent collection of songs. It was great to find all MY old favorites in one CD. My 11 month old son actually dances and does hand motions to the music. He cant wait to hear the song "If your happy and you know it", one of his favorites. It is a great CD for him to grow up with. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Beatles for Babies
I thought Beatles for Babies was an excellent idea as a gift. I recieved it when my son was about one month old. It soothed him as well as me. If you like the Beatles this is a perfect way to listen to adult music, songs that you would recognize, in a lullaby tone. I highly recomend this product for the days you are not getting sleep. It will sooth baby and you. I would also listen to it in the car, sometimes the baby would be fussy in the car and I would turn on the cd and WOW, it would calm us both down!!! If you do not like the Beatles then there is others like it, like the Elvis for babies. Same idea.

Music both my 2-year-old and I can hear repeatedly.
Some of the most melodic Beatles tunes are put to the sounds of harps, chimes, bells, violins and the music box, fortunately without any vocals. The result is calming, happy music that brings back memories of the original Beatles records from when I was little more than a baby. I am crazy about this CD and so is my 2-year-old son! The harmonies and arrangements are well done. Besides being paletteable to the ear, I think it must be as good as Mozart for baby's brain development; babies seem to like the higher pitches. This is a great CD to have from pregnancy and on. My brother-in-law even enjoys listening to it (amazing), and Beatles fans I know get a kick out of it.

Revolutionary
How do these guys expect to be taken seriously by calling this thing BEATLES FOR BABIES and then leaving off a version of 'Revolution #9'? It isn't as if there wasn't enough room, for crying out loud.

Yuck!!!!
Yet another desicration of Beatles music to line Micheal Jackson's pockets. Why can't they just hire someone to write little songs for babies? It's not like the kid came and said why I think that I would like to listen to a crappy remake of the Beatles this evening.
Kids should stick to Raffi, leave the greatest band of all time's music alone!!

Bad gift idea
I bought this CD for my sister's kid. She was so pissed off that she threatened to shove the CD up my wazoo! OUCH! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

My daughter loves this CD!
My seven year old is quickly progressing at piano and is playing simple pieces of Bach. She had previously only appreciated Bach (with a Bach children's tape) but now is true to Mozart. Plays every morning on our way to school--what a way to start the day!

This music sets the mood.
I play this music for my art classes. I teach Kindergarten through 6th grade art at an elementary school in Connecticut. All classes respond to this music. It seems to be calming and helps them to focus on their art work. I explain that the music will make them more creative. One third grade boy said "This really works." ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Great entertainment for in the car.
Whenever we get in the car the first thing that I hear is a request to hear "Puff The Magic Dragon". My 3 year old son loves this CD, I was really amazed at how quickly kids pick up the words even though there is a reggae accent.

I haven't heard past the 6th track because my son always wants to go back to track 1, "Puff the Magic Dragon".

They songs may not be exactly like the ones you remember from your childhood. For instance Yellowman has changed all of the words to This Old Man. For instance the lyrics are now "Yellowman he played one, he played ....", and "Yellowman he played two...". I was thinking how humorous it will be when if a teacher trys to teach the "This Old Man" song to my kids, and they will already know the Reggae version. I prefer this version over the original.

I liked this one so much that I have also ordered "More Reggae For Kids" which if it is anything like this CD will be outstanding.

If you have young kids this is a great CD to get for them to listen to in the car.

My Boy loves this CD
My 2-3 year old son loves this CD, he learned how to sing "over the rainbow". It's reggae value is questionable but I can stand to listen to this over and over.

AVOID this bland, offensively inauthentic disk!!!
I procured this CD with great expectations & excitement (I mean, it has "Puff the
Magic Dragon" for God's sake!). To my horror, this album was produced by people
with no love, & no respect for Reggae (or musical performance in general). This
music will disappoint (or even offend) people who truly know and/or love Reggae
music...

In "Reggae for Kids" the Reggae rhythms are [just] rock beats (none of
the polyrhythms inherent in Reggae/No One-Drop), and the (all identical sounding)
backing tracks are programmed... , and out-of place
smooth-jazz-esque sax solos?!?!? The vocalists are talented enough, but on this
recording, their contributions sound forced, uninspired, & unconvincing.

The ONLY Reggae-like characteristic of this recording is the (light) Jamaican accents of the vocalists. Yellowman's version of "This Old Man" ("Ye-llow-man") is the most compelling of these ... tracks .... The rest are monotonous & cheesy.

If you want to expose your kids to Reggae, do them (& yourself) a favor- start with the authentic(but approachable) classics: Black Uhuru (Ultimate Collection) or Bob Marley compilation (Natural Mystic/Legend)! For African music try Youssou N'Dour ("Immigres", "Set", or "Guide") or Salif Keita ("Best of: Golden Voice" or Soro).

Reggea For Kids
This is a Great CD for children and parents to sing along with. It brings back memories of my own childhood.

Great expectations, dashed
After reading the reviews, I anticipated a rollicking good time but was left sorely disappointed. Now I'm not a reggaephile, college being 15 yrs ago, but the arrangements here are thin, lifeless, and sound as if they were mixed with a 1985 Casio Mix-Master. If you're thinking "Great, Legend for Kids", think again.

Here's my advice: Leave this fellow to the side and go with Garcia/Grisman Not For Kids Only, Doc Watson's Songs for Little Pickers, Gemini (Anything) or any of the Woody Guthrie children's CDs.

My other piece of advice to establish my bona fides with other parents: Aquaphor. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

The entire CD is great!!!
You don't even have to be a fan of country music to love this CD, just a fan of Disney! Some of the best country artists provide great new renditions of Disney Classics. Great album, 5 stars all the way!

super music :)
If you like both Disney and country music, it's the one you got to have!!

The Best of Both Worlds
This CD has everything. If you love country, it has twelve songs sung by different country singers and groups. If you love Disney, it has some of the best known Disney songs ever. The singers picked to sing each song are phenomenal! A different review pointed out that you don't need to be a lover of Disney AND country to love this, because you can truly appreciate this CD for what it is, some of the most beautifully sung Disney music out there. Oh, and if you feel that you've heard these songs too many times anyway, you should also know this. Some songs, especially SOME DAY MY PRINCE WILL COME, have been redone completely. I'd actually have to say in that case it was an improvement;) But don't just take my word for it. Listen and enjoy!

An unlikely combination far better than I expected
The nineties yielded many tribute albums by country artists. I bought several of them, but I avoided this one for many years. No way could I imagine that this album would be for me, until I discovered this site and read some of the reviews. On the basis of some of those reviews, I bought this album and discovered that it is a masterpiece. It is ostensibly a children's album, but none of the songs are obvious children's songs. All the songs would comfortably take their place on standard albums by the relevant artists.

It is hard to pick out favorites, but Tanya Tucker is in her element singing Someday my prince will come, while the pairing of Hal Ketchum and Shelby Lynne on If I never knew you is inspired. Faith Hill's performance on Part of your world is flawless. Bryan White closes the set with a magnificent rendition of When you wish upon a star.

The songs are all from Disney movies. There are two each from Pocahontas and The little mermaid, plus one each from Beauty and the beast, Snow white and the seven dwarfs, Dumbo, Aladdin, Toy story, The lion king and Pinocchio.

This collection caused me to revise my attitude to children's music. Sure, there is a lot of it that is definitely unappealing to adults, but there are some really great albums out there which will appeal to everybody. This is definitely one of them. Oh - and if you don't like country, don't worry. This is a well-crafted album that should appeal to country and non-country fans alike.

Country Disney
Love it! Love it! Love It! Best Disney tape. My grandchildren listen to it all the time in my car and they are age 7,13, 15, and 23. We all sing along for hours playing it over and over and over again. ... Read more