Children’s musicians Erin Lee and Marci bring us the next of their regular posts with thematic recommendations for kid-friendly music, plus activities to make the songs an interactive experience for the whole family. Look for Erin Lee and Marci here on the first Monday of each month, or visit their homepage, www.gottaplay.org.
I’ve created links to Amazon for the full albums (click the album image or name), plus links to iTunes for those who want only the singles.
April Showers bring…MUD PUDDLES! Forget about those May flowers and get out your rubber boots! Here are some of our favorite songs about rain.
“Puddle Of Mud” (Ralph’s World, Happy Lemons)
We love this lament. A child yearns for a sunny day, forgetting how much fun he can experience if he just gets his umbrella and boots and goes outside in the rain. The sound is a little reminiscent of the Beatles, a little reminiscent of Peter Gabriel, and guaranteed to not drive parents up the wall!
“When the Rain Comes Down” (Sue Ribaudo, Earth Celebration)
We met New Yorker Sue Ribaudo through the Children’s Music Network, and fell in love with her inclusive approach to children’s music. This song has a lovely message, a beautiful musical arrangement, is easy to sing along to, and even easier to make up your own verses! While you’re at it, check out the jazzy “Rainy Day Drive” on the same CD.
(No iTunes)
And our song for April?
“Mud Music” (Erin Lee & Marci, Snowdance
Our narrator attempts to justify her very muddy appearance after her shiny new shoes and favorite jeans are caked brown with what can only be…mud. The siren song of the mud puddles has gotten her in trouble — again! If only her mom would understand that the puddles are actually singing to her, she’d realize that staying clean in the rainy season is sometimes a lost cause.
Here’s an activity to get this song off the iPod and into daily life:
Draw the puddles as people! What do they look like? What are they doing?
