Oyasumi–Goodnight
“Sakura, Sakura” that describes their beautiful (and all-too-fleeting) flowers. Listen closely, and you can hear the blossoms falling.
African Children’s Choir
That’s the African Children’s Choir with their glad spin on the ancient African saying, “It takes a village to raise a child.”
Singing Along with John Lithgow
That’s John Lithgow with the chorus for the famous Jimmy Durante number “Inka Dinka Doo.” It’s on a new CD of upbeat sing-along songs for kids and their families called The Sunny Side of the Street.
Bright Spaces 2
That’s Jerry Garcia and David Grisman with their nonsense song, “Hopalong Peter.” It’s on a new CD called Bright Spaces 2, a compilation of songs from growing artists who are redeveloping that new/old genre that’s called family music.
Lullabies for St. Patrick
You’re hearing a portion from “My Gysgi, Di Maban” sung by the Welsh choral group, Plethyn, from Celtic Lullaby, a new CD from Elipses Arts.
A Belated Musical Valentine
The two-man rock group, They Might Be Giants, has made clever, vocabulary- and imagination- expanding grooves a signature of both their music for adults and for children. Their valentine to high-energy optimism that you’ve just heard is called “Happy Doesn’t Have to Have an Ending.”
Daydreams and Lullabies
That’s a segment of Beethoven’s “8th Symphony,” from a CD called Daydreams and Lullabies, a Celebration of Poetry, Song and Classical Music.
The Witches of Venice
The gift they have brought to the King and Queen of Venice, who have not been able to have children, is a magical plant. If the King and Queen plant it, the Fairies say, it will blossom into a child.
I’m From Barcelona
I’m From Barcelona is one of those bands that just happened one day, and grew, adding toy pianos, kazoos, glockenspiels, a harp, drums, and a chorus of a dozen or so voices as it went. Its songs are often about the simple but personal things of childhood — like having a stamp collection.
“Asian Dreamland”
That’s the Japanese singer, Rikki, with part of a traditional lullabye, “Amami No Kmori Uta,” often sung to baby boys on the island of Amami in southern Japan.