Customer Reviews

Still the Same Me

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was so surprised by the way my children were absolutly mezmerized by the beutiful, pure sounds of this great album. Full of good messages and inspiring improvization, this album is a welcome change from the droning violence of video games and television. The music is soulful and makes my children get up and dance (not to metion me) everytime I put it on. For a breath of adolecent fresh air, treat yourself to Sweet Honey In The Rock.

I'm always skeptical about music billed "especially for kids." It can either be so banal it drives adults insane (you know who you are, Barney) or it is so healthy/wholesome/correct and over produced that parents just KNOW their kids SHOULD love it...but they don't. Fortunately, this extraordinary collection of soulful, uplifting and entertaining songs for children is the real deal, with Sweet Honey using only their voices and percussion instruments to create an amazing and compelling sound. I especially like the four segments of "Improv Time!" which encourage kids (and adults) to make their own music. In fact, the whole CD is participatory. The liner notes provide background information about the music, but also personal interviews with the artists,who answered questions about their childhood ranging from "Do you remember your favorite hairstyle?" to "Have you had an experience that was a disaster (embarrassing, painful, etc) that you feel is all right for you to share?" The cover art is a special treat for any Sweet Honey fan...it features childhood photos of the six performers on front, mirrored by contemporary photos on the back. If I had such a list, I'd rank this in my Top Ten of the year, for adults or kids.

This album is a breath of fresh air in an age when so many parents buy records for their kids based on the brand name (Barney, Sesame Street) or perceived educational value (Baby Mozart). It teaches values and self-esteem, lessons that are good for any age (particularly in "Still the Same Me"). It even encourages listeners (children and adults) to pick up their things to a neat Caribbean swing ("Oh My Goodness, Look at This Mess!").

If you are buying this album for children, it would be best to listen to the album with them a few times. That way you can encourage them to clap along with the singing ("Tuwe Tuwe"), or even improvise their own rhythms along with the group (tracks 4, 6, 9, 11, 13, 16). Songs such as "We Shall Not Be Moved" may also turn into a valuable history lesson.

Songs such as "Nature Song" capture the wonder of childhood, and are great to listen to on sunny mornings. With or without children, this album is a good listen.

I just came from my first SHIR show, where I bought this CD, intending to give it to my son's daycare. ("Oh my goodness, look at this mess" is a terrific clean-up time song!) While listening to it at home, I had to buy a copy for myself and check out some more of their music. Their ability to mix Calypso and African rhythms with incredible vocals is stunning. Makes you want to get up and move!

We got this CD as a gift, and are a "white bread" family. The songs are fun, much different than traditional kids music, have very positive messages from a child-raising perspective as well as from the perspective of being a child. Adults will enjoy this as much as children. I would love to take my 3 year old son to a Sweet Honey concert!

Catchy tunes, GREAT lyrics, I really really really love this CD! I find myself singing these songs over and over in my head, all day long, and because they're such great songs, this is just fine!

We've been fans of Sweet Honey in the Rock for years. Now we have a child and as multi-racial same-gender couple raising a multi-racial child we want to find a music CD that can teach our child the fun of music and all the progressive values of affirming and respecting oneself and others. This CD is it. It has all the beautiful harmony Sweet Honey in the Rock is known for. The songs are so well written with great melody, rhythm and messages. We've done many "jam sessions" with our child playing this CD and he really enjoys them. We can't wait for him to understand the meaning of the lyrics when he grows up.

This is the first SHIR CD i have gotten, but I have always loved them singing that song from the "Down in the Delta" CD. "A Patchwork Quilt" I believe it is called. On this CD, I love the Laughter Song, "We Shall Not Be Moved", and "Oh My GOodness, look at this mess", and "Goodnight". These ladies are singing without the benefit of instruments, and they are to truly be commended for it. It is very few people that can do that in this day and age. These ladies ought to be more popular and they are not. But I highly recommend this CD for those who have kids, as well for the kid in all of us. peace.