Musical Notes - May 2012
Aarrrgghh!
By Charlotte Bohn
Jake and the Never Land Pirates
www.DisneyJunior.com
Ever since Captain Jack Sparrow made his screen debut in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl in 2003,
pirates have gained in popularity. Before Captain Jack though, there was
Captain Hook who was always making trouble for Peter Pan and the Lost Boys.
Disney Junior’s musical animated show, Jake
and the Never Land Pirates, based on the ever-popular and beloved Peter Pan, is the Disney cable’s #1 series
among boys 2-5. In each episode, the show’s crew of kid pirates —leader
Jake and pals Izzy and Cubby—take viewers on a musical treasure hunt,
while Captain Hook and sidekick Smee try to ruin their plans.
My 4- year-old son delights in this show and has become, not surprisingly,
attached to the pirate rock music on Disney Juniors’ Jake and the Never Land Pirates soundtrack. The 18 tracks including
the recognizable show theme song, “Jake and the Never Land Pirates,” as well as
the funny “Hot Lava,” “Aw, Coconuts,” and “Pirate Password,” all have that
unmistakable rollicking pirate feel and are fun enough even for grownups to
listen to
Kidz Bop 21
www.kidzbop.com
Full disclosure here: I am not a fan of the Kidz Bop compilation CDs. But as I
was considering tearing this CD apart, I tried to listen to it a little
differently, with a little more of an open mind and ear. Having decided to get
out of my comfort zone and allow myself to try to hear what young kids between
the ages of 5 and 12 might appreciate in this drivel—(Ooops—I let
that one slip. Habits are hard to break, I guess.)—I listened to the beat
and the rhythms. Yet, the more intently I have listened, the more I have to
stick with my initial gut reaction to this one: Kidz Bop 21 is a bad CD, and
the lyrics are, well, you decide. Here’s a sample from the song “The One That
Got Away”:
Summer right before school
when we first met we'd listen every day to Radio Head
And when it was my birthday you bought me some balloons
Used to eat your favorite ice cream and hang by the
pool, talk about our future like we had a clue/
Never planned on one day I’d be losing you
In another life I would be your girl, we'd keep all our
promises be us against the world
In another life I would make you stay so I don't have to say you were the one that got away the one that got away.
Is it just
me, or does anyone else find these lyrics a bit odd for 5-12 year-olds? The
record label describes Kidz Bop 21 as, “Favorite hit tunes - sung by
kids for kids! Includes Party Rock Anthem, The Edge of Glory, and Moves Like
Jagger!” Yes, those songs are on the CD and they are ok—fun to dance to
and I can certainly see there might be a lot of bopping around to the beats.
But the lyrics to some of these songs are just not appropriate for young
children.
I’m proud of myself that I tried to think outside the box on this one, but
sadly the box broke apart and all that was left was a bad CD.
Fairy Tale Songs
www.disneymusic.com
Little girls will always love Disney princesses. There is something magical
about them and the music from the Disney movies is magical as well. Disney’s Fairy Tale Songs is a sweet collection
of some of those favorites that we all know and love, such as “Part of Your
World,” “Reflection,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “I Wonder,” and “A Dream Is a
Wish Your Heart Makes.” This is a timeless collection that the princesses and
princes in your house will love. BC
© Baltimore’s Child Inc. May 2012
