Customer Reviews

World Playground

5 star:		(44)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What a wonderful mix of rhythms and styles, languages and tunes! My 15 month old loves to dance to Fatu Yo, the song from Senegal. It is a pleasure to find a children's album that isn't sacchrine or monotonous. It is a delight!

I'm a preschool music teacher in the D.C. area, and I occasionally do in-store programs for area bookstores. One store asked me to put together a program using the Putomayo World Playground CD, since it had just been released. I had a hard time deciding what songs to feature, since my daughters (age 9 and 12) and I liked so many selections. Our favorites were Mardi Gras Mambo (which I used in preschool classes around Mardi Gras time, complete with shakers and masks!), and Boom Boom Tarara -- great rhythm for dancing and rhythm instruments. Actually, we also LOVED the slow version, in Aboriginese, of Waltzing Matilda -- we made up a dance, and our Junior Girl Scout troop used this music for an international program. Everyone loved it! The CD is packed with danceable music, and even babies and toddlers will respond to the exciting rhythms and melodies. Lots of fun, and not the same-old-thing for kids to listen to -- we LOVE World Playground!

This cd is really fun for all ages - yes, including adults! (my 7 kids are between the ages of 1 and 13)We usually listen when we are in the van - and the kids often ask for several of the songs to be repeated. I like the diversity from tune to tune and that the selections are from around the world. This is a great choice if you want a refreshing change from the usual children's selection of music.

This is a great CD to foster an interest in world music for young people at home or in the classroom. It is also good to promote an appreciation for other cultures.

The collection of songs are very diverse and are sung in an array of languages. In addition to the four songs sung in English, you'll also hear songs sung in Spanish (two of them), Mandingo, Pitjantjatjara (an Aboriginal language), Greek, Portuguese and Hebrew.

The extensive liner notes take you through each song complete with lyrics and a story behind the song. If the song is not sung in English, the lyrics are provided both in English and the original language.

The liner notes are written in plain English, so that elementary school age children can understand them. For example, "Three Little Birds," performed by blues legend Taj Mahal and Cedella Marley Booker (Bob Marley's mother) is described as "a reggae song about three birds who sing a song of hope." [Of course the same song was made popular in the 1970's by Bob Marley & the Wailers.] Unusual words include pronounciation and many songs include a glossary as well. So not only can a child sing along, but her or she can learn what a "tuckerbag" (food sack) is or learn to pronounce Pitjantjatjara (piddin-JAH-ra).

Now what about the music you say? It's all first-rate. For little kids, the best tracks are probably, "Three Little Birds" and "Bongo Bong." The latter was recorded by Manu Chao from France (but recorded in English). Older kids might appreciate "Tik Tik Tik," sung in Greek by Glykeria. It describes the nervous feeling one has when he or she becomes infatuated with someone.

What's also nice about this CD is the diversity of themes. There are light and playful songs, but there are also ones with a more somber tone. For example, "Zichronot M'Africa" (Memories of Africa), sung by Shlomo Gronich and the Sheba Choir (in Hebrew), tells the story of Ethiopian Jews who were flown in huge airlifts to Israel during 1991's "Operation Solomon."

In short, "World Playground" will entertain and inform your child about the world. Adults will also get a lot out of the CD and may learn new things as well. I certainly did. What a joy to make a discovery with a child? Seriously consider taking this musical journey.

I heard this CD on National Public Radio and it moved me to buy it as soon as I got home!

This CD is simply a great mixture of all sorts of cool stuff. It's multi-layered: kids can enjoy it on one level, adults can maybe get a little deeper in the meanings behind some of the songs.

Take "Bongo Bong," a recording by Manu Chao from France. It's an upbeat, boppy song, just asking the listener to get up and move. But the theme--listen to the words, and it's bittersweet, about a silly little monkey who comes to the big city to share his music only to find that no one appreciates it, and if he wants to continue--he has to do it for himself, for the simple love of performance. I don't know anything about Manu Chao, but WOW that song is ridiculously moving.

And also great to dance to.

With some world music productions, the music starts to sound the same to me, or starts to hit the same note--or there's something in it that makes me think that the producer is well-meaning, but doesn't really understand the artists or what they are trying to do.

This CD--it's the kind of thing you can listen to over and over again, because each time you catch a new song, or play with a new level of meaning.

A lot of fun, and I am enjoying very much sharing it with my family.

If your kids love music, this is the CD for you. My kids love all kinds of music, and, although they are only 2 and 4, have gotten way past Raffi (thank goodness) and it is CDs like this one that have helped them get that way. My older daughter loves this CD so much, she brought it for show and tell so that her whole class could dance to it. This is a great introduction to all different kinds of music for your children. I discovered that my kids love Reggae from listening to this album. The best part about it is, I like listening to this stuff. It is definitely not "kids music" a la Raffi, Sesame Street, etc. The CD is clearly aimed at kids and has a colorfol booklet with all the lyrics that kids will enjoy looking at. I would probably give it 4 1/2 stars instead of 5 because there are one or two songs that are a little jarring, but it definitely deserves more than 4.

Buy this CD and have fun with your kids, dancing to the music of the world.

I bought this album when my son was only a few months old but then we moved and I didn't get around to unpacking all my CD's. I finally put this on for him (he is 18 months old now)and this is by far his favorite CD. I have a good collection of Raffi, classical, Sesame Street (35 yrs on the street), etc. but this is the only one that ENGROSSES him completely. The other CD's he listens to in the background, this one he stops whatever he's doing and stands and listens, dances, chants and it just absorbs him. I sometimes think that kids like what they hear the most because repetition is so important to how they learn at this age, but I don't play this anymore than the others, he just is really interested in it. I'm going to get world playground 2 today!

Heard this CD on NPR. Simply a fun CD of music, fresh and light, also the booklet with words in both English and the singer's language is a bonus. Finally, Bongo Bong is so much fun, release it as a single.

Our family really enjoys all the tracks on this CD. Its a great blend of upbeat music that all ages enjoy. My 16 month old son's face lights up when I turn it on and we dance around our kitchen. I highly recommend it for times when everyone is feeling a little cranky or cooped up by this cold weather. Some songs are in languages other than English but the words to all songs are included. Another bonus for kids who like to learn lyrics to songs. This is by far one of the most loved of all our children's music.