For the Kids

Various Artists (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 5, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nettwerk Records
• ASIN: B00006L7QX
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (89 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #549 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
An all-star cast has joined forces to produce a wonderful CD and, if that weren't exciting enough, a portion of the proceeds will help restore music education in the U.S. public school system through the VHI Save the Music Foundation. Clever new renditions of familiar Muppets and Sesame Street tunes abound, but Semisonic's Dan Wilson, ex-Del Fuego artist Dan Zanes, Toad the Wet Sprocket's Glen Phillips, and Bleu wrote songs for this album, and Tom Waits's lullaby "Bend Down the Branches," originally recorded for a short film, makes its debut on this CD. No offense, Kermit, but the frog's 1979-vintage "The Rainbow Connection" never sounded so sultry as Sarah McLachlan's version here. Another favorite is "The Hoppity Song," a rock & roll ode to Five for Fighting frontman John Ondrasik's son Johnny. Make no mistake--this isn't one of those CDs that is more for adults than kids--songs about hygiene, the alphabet, and crying ("It's All Right to Cry" originally from Marlo Thomas's Free to Be You and Me) are truly "for the kids." That said, adults will enjoy hearing their favorite artists switch gears in this gentle (mostly, not Bleu's energetic "Snow Day!"), upbeat compilation, which combines just the right blend of familiar sing-along songs and exciting new material. The booklet doubles as a foldout coloring book, with illustrations for each song. A fun and noble effort for a fun and noble cause. --Karin Snelson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a wonderous CD for kids!, November 10, 2002

By	fair_deal_guy "BB" (Prior Lake, MN USA) - See all my reviews

This CD is an exceptional effort. My kids, 5 and 7, love it and is it any wonder why? The best track on the CD is by Dan Zanes, called Wonderwheel. It is possibly the best kids' song I've ever heard--magical and heartbreaking at the same moment. The rest of the CD is superb, especially the efforts from Sarah McLachlan, Billy Bragg, Sixpence None The Richer and the always-classy Dan Wilson.

If you have kids, treat them to this magnificent CD. It will enrich them, and give them many hours of listening fun.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Takes me back, November 15, 2002

By	"zashburn" (The Lion City) - See all my reviews

Frankly, there isn't a bad track here, all are really good. Contrary to the title, it's not just "for the kids", adults will also have a good time listening to these delightful songs covered/penned by some of today's successful contemporary folk rock/pop artists.

The album begins with Cake's "Mahna Mahna" which, save for some groovy guitar work, is slightly repetitive but has a feel-good vibe to it. You'll definitely remember the Mahna Mahna character. Then comes my favorite track, BNL's "La La La La Lemon"; Steven Page and Ed Robertson are natural comedians, bringing a humorous take on the Bert and Ernie classic. Then comes the transcendence: Sarah McLachlan is able to take any song and imbue it with such beauty and earthy passion that it takes your breath away. Playing the piano, electric guitar and bass, Sarah sings a version of "The Rainbow Connection" worthy of her froggy predecessor.

Another favorite is Guster's melodic "I've Got To Be Clean"; even kids' hygiene is covered in song here. Former Del Fuegos singer-turned-kids' artist Dan Zanes then takes the album to a folky turn with the utterly charming "Wonderwheel", followed by the even more charming "Have A Little Fun With Me" by Glen Phillips. "The Hoppity Song" by Five For Fighting's John Ondrasik deserves to be a classic sing-a-long song for both kids and parents, it even features a child's vocals (possibly his son's). Billy Bragg and Wilco's interpretation of Woody Guthrie's "My Flying Saucer" is also very good, as is Darius Rucker's poignant piano ballad "It's All Right To Cry".

Ivy's "Sing" has a refreshing Bossa Nova retro feel to it while Remy Zero's take on Garfunkel's "Bright Eyes" is a calm soother. I particularly liked Dan Wilson's "Willie The King" for its poignant lyrics on childhood innocence. Bleu then takes it into a rock mode with the infectious "Snow Day"; you can just imagine you kids singing along to the chorus. While I don't care much for OLP's Raine Maida's singing, his duet (with wife Chantal Kreviazuk) of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" is servicable though just a tad droll. They did manage to add a few lyrics, turning the simple ditty into a traveller-gazing-at-the-stars sort of song.

Sixpence None The Richer's contribution "Goodnight Children Everywhere", a World War II composition originally sung by British crooner Vera Lynne, is especially affecting, with haunting rock guitars weaving the melodies around Leigh Nash's angelic vocals. Who better to close this outstanding compilation than the great Tom Waits? His gruff yet melodic voice on "Bend Down The Branches" is a graceful goodnight lullaby for all kids to go to sleep.

Overall, I highly recommend getting this album. Even if you don't have kids, it's an album for rekindling fond memories of your childhood, whether it's Bert & Ernie or just a good old-fashioned song that first got you hooked to music. The great thing about this album is that it retains just the right balance; never too sweet or cutesy to turn off the adults, and never too serious to turn off the kids.

27 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cute album, July 26, 2003

By	Erica Anderson (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I primarily wanted "For the Kids" because of Sarah McLachlan's rendition of Kermit the Frog's "The Rainbow Connection" from the eternal classic "The Muppet Movie". I struck gold today at my favorite record store today when I came across a used copy of the cd. Although the songs are certainly geared towards children, the songs can be enjoyed by any person of any age. I may not be wild about bands like Cake or Barenaked Ladies but their contributions to the compilation were quite cuke. Cake's "Mahna Mahna" has a surf feel to the song. "La La La La Lemon" is simply too cute. I absolutely love Sarah's version of "The Rainbow Connection". I haven't heard the song in years but after hearing Sarah's breathtaking cover of the classic Muppets song, the song lyrically surprisingly enough still sounds fresh as I heard it back in the late '70s (yeah, I know I am dating myself). As I listened to the lyrics for the first time in over a decade, there is still an innocence to the song that I really don't hear in today's music. Now I need to find the original version sung by Kermit the Frog. I almost forgot how much I loved this song as a kid. I also loved Ivy's "Sing". I remember singing along to that song on my Sesame Street soundtrack as a child. Kinda weird (in a good way) to hear a childhood favorite sung in a more stylishly hip fashion (very kitschy ala The Carpenters). Raine Maida and Chantal Kraviazuk's version of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" is also very stirring. The only song I didn't care for on this cd was "Bend Down the Branches" but that is because I can't stand Tom Waits' vocals. His singing style is an acquired taste. All proceeds to this album goes to two different organizations geared to protecting music and art programs in the schools when nowadays school budgets are being cut no thanks to bureacracy.