Very, very helpful songs!May 22nd, 2008 @ 8:19 am
Who else must have music playing in the car when the kids are in tow and there are errands to run OR a long drive to a vacation spot? (Hand raised here.) And who agrees that, if music is going to play in the car for an hour or more, it CAN NOT STINK? (Hand raised here again.)
And maybe there’s also another family out there who ALWAYS has music playing in their household, day in, day out….at breakfast, lunch, and dinner (and in between)? (All family of four hands raised here!)
Hooray for music! And great music, at that! Music helps us, doesn’t it? It helps calm a fretting baby….livens up a ho-hum cloudy day…..helps cleaning seem a little bit more fun to do…. and just makes the house feel, well, like home.
So when I stumbled across David Tobocman’s CD, what caught my eye first was, “Very Helpful Songs.” What’s so helpful about these songs? I had to know.
The rest of the title is “I Count to Ten.” This is not about learning to count (although this skill can be sharpened by listening to this tune), but instead about counting to ten when you’re angry or frustrated. We’ve all been there. And it’s true…by the time you get to 10, you can hardly remember why you’re mad at all. Cute title. I still wanted to know more.
When we received the CD, I immediately ran straight for the CD player. The kids soon stood around me, wide-eyed, Rainey already in her standing/dancing pose, hands clapping, ready to jam.
What came out surprised me. It wasn’t satiny nursery rhymes….or semi-tacky electric guitar riffs….but instead, a cool, super-smooth, toe-tapping jazz that erupted from the stereo speakers. Now this I liked. The kids did, too. How do I know? It played on repeat the rest of the afternoon….and has been played many times this week since then. It’s an album you don’t mind hearing over and over….and that’s a good thing when it comes to very repeatable kids’ music!
It’s not just jazzy jingles on this winning album. It’s a little bit of folk, a little bit of piano, a little bit of jiving semi-rapping beats suitable for dancing. It’s a well-rounded album for kids (and adults) who like a varied mix…who have all kinds of musical tastebuds. There are songs that are silly and fun to memorize and sing-along with. And then there’s the very cozy song, “Home,” which I have to say is my personal favorite.
AND I HAVE TO SHARE WHY IT IS MY FAVORITE, FRIENDS. (Let me have a moment.) It’s all about what a child sees, hears, feels in his/her own home. How I remember the peace and comfort I felt as a child in my home, knowing everyone who loved me most were right there with me! And the verse just melts my heart when he sings: “Lying in my bed, hearing all the noises — The music of the voices tells me that I’m home.” I have memories of falling to sleep while hearing my dad’s voice and my mom’s piano notes sounding. That, folks, is home. And that is what I want my kids to carry with them, too…that security and that feeling of fitting in here. And that, folks, is good music for kids. It speaks their language. I knew I was smitten at song #4.
And you know? Tobocman says it best on the little sticker on the album’s shrink-wrap.
I can’t do it justice. Go ahead and head over to David’s website to hear samples for yourself….you’ll see what I mean. He even has a streaming music video to “Home” for viewing online.
The album is available for purchase right from his page (via PayPal), and also via Amazon.
But wait….for one of you lucky people, David has generously offered to give away one of his gotta-have albums! Is this great or what?!
All you have to do is browse his website, listen to the songs, and tell me which title is your favorite and WHY (in the comment section below). That’s it! This contest will run until next Thursday night (May 29, 2008) at 11pm EST. I’ll pick a winner randomly and announce him/her on Friday morning the 29th! Easy peasy!
(*Sorry; only open to US entries. Leave one and only one comment.)
Good luck, guys!
Giveaways · rants, raves and recommendations
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Kayla
said,
May 22, 2008 at 10:45 am
I love the Jammies Song! All the songs are a riot. But I have to narrow it down to jammies, because, really? Who doesn’t love their jammies? I love mine, LOL!!!
LaDonna
said,
May 22, 2008 at 1:31 pm
I think my favorite song would be To Love You. What a great song to listen to while snuggling on the couch with my little ones.
Sheila at Dodging Raindrops
said,
May 22, 2008 at 1:47 pm
WOW! I love the song Count to Ten!
Good find!
Vanessa
said,
May 22, 2008 at 5:17 pm
What a great CD. I like all the songs but I guess my favorite will have to be To Love You. Thanks for sharing this great find.
Julie
said,
May 22, 2008 at 11:08 pm
Jammies Song - Mr. Intensity loves wearing jammies!
Julie Mead
said,
May 23, 2008 at 10:51 pm
The ‘favorite son’ song is so sweet it brought tears to my eyes.
Michelle T
said,
May 24, 2008 at 12:46 am
Count to 10. These songs are great!
Mary @ Adventures in Mommyland
said,
May 24, 2008 at 12:54 am
I love the ‘brush your teeth’ song. great giveaway, thanks!
Danielle
said,
May 24, 2008 at 1:03 am
COUNT TO TWN IS GREAT! FANTASTIC IDEA
misty w.
said,
May 24, 2008 at 1:28 am
I love the song ‘count to ten’ because my daughter is just learning to count to ten. lol. Thanks so much for the opportunity.
Shannon
said,
May 24, 2008 at 8:32 am
“To Love You” is my pick.
Having my son Tristan in my life is the greatest gift God ever gave me.
Read about him on my blog. So this song is my pick.
palmersf(at)bellsouth(dot)net
Carly
said,
May 24, 2008 at 11:03 am
Jammies all the way!!! I’m in mine right now and so is my little one! What a fun collection of songs!
Jodi B
said,
May 24, 2008 at 11:16 am
Love the song “Count to 10″….we are counting everything in our house right now, so this would be perfect!
Dianna K. Ball
said,
May 24, 2008 at 11:20 am
I like many of them, but I think my favorite is “To love you.” It has a nice melody and the words are beautiful. My second fav is the counting one and I like Home too - great lyrics, like you said.
Jean
said,
May 24, 2008 at 12:06 pm
I imagine I’d like the I count to 10 song, or the Brush your Teeth song, but the speakers on my PC are kaput! =\
Cindi
said,
May 24, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Greetings! What a nice, simple voice with wonderful lyrics. I found my toe tapping as I listened to the songs! The “Jammies Song” is my favorite. As an adult, I love to have my pajamas on. Sometimes, I have to ask my sons if they are having friends over just so I can be in my pajamas earlier in the evening. The lyrics “my jammies are soft and warm” are so honest. Please enter me in your delightful drawing. Many thanks,Cindi
emily e.
said,
May 24, 2008 at 2:34 pm
I like th Brush Your Teeth song b/c it also talks about washing your hands! Good things to get ingrained in kids’ heads!
Genevieve
said,
May 24, 2008 at 2:39 pm
I must admit I didn’t listen to the songs–I can’t on my home computer–but I did read all the lyrics and from that, my favorite is My Rainbow. Color is such a joy, and I love the simple delight in the song!
Jennifer of Jackaroos Boutique
said,
May 24, 2008 at 3:38 pm
I love Dreamin’ the Dream, because it has such a great message for all of us.
Reiza
said,
May 24, 2008 at 5:07 pm
I like “Gigi My Pet Giraffe” because my kids are all about giraffes (as am I). My oldest has a stuffed giraffe that she sleeps with at night, so she would definitely get a kick out of that song.
Elizabeth M.
said,
May 24, 2008 at 7:03 pm
I like Count to Ten the best because it has sort of a “swing” feel to it and that’s one of my favorites. Plus the beat of it is good and the kids would like to count along. Buttons and Bows is second because it’s fun to say that and my kids have a funny poem that they made up about buttons.
Lisa
said,
May 24, 2008 at 8:35 pm
my favorite is to love you, because I feel so much love for my family
Ellie
said,
May 24, 2008 at 10:51 pm
I love the Jammies Song! I just know it would get repeated all the time and help with the transition to bedtime.
5 Minutes Around the Blogosphere - Week 35
said,
May 25, 2008 at 2:21 am
[...] Megret - “I Count to Ten and Other Very Helpful Songs” CD by David Tobocman (May 29th) [...]
chris
said,
May 25, 2008 at 3:46 pm
this would be great for my three year old — he was a late speaker and songs are good for him!!
Giveaways Around The Blogosphere « Multitasking Mama
said,
May 25, 2008 at 9:40 pm
[...] I Count To Ten And Other Very Helpful Songs CD from David Tobocman – Deadline: May 29, 2008 [...]
Jawan
said,
May 26, 2008 at 12:30 am
I LOVE the song My Favorite Son (Everyday)….it kind of reminds me of The Flight of the Conchords. I can just envision my little boys in the backseat bobbing their heads to the beat. So cute!
Shaun Wallner
said,
May 26, 2008 at 9:09 am
I really enjoy My Favorite Son, its got a great melody.
Chrysa
said,
May 26, 2008 at 11:18 am
I like “Count to 10″ - great for learning to count!
lorides
said,
May 26, 2008 at 12:45 pm
looks cute
Kelly
said,
May 26, 2008 at 12:48 pm
I love Home - it brought tears to my eyes!
Linda Pinto
said,
May 26, 2008 at 1:39 pm
I liked Home. It is touching and something that will be long remembered by a listener. What a great site.
Shay
said,
May 26, 2008 at 2:06 pm
My favorite song would be count to ten. My two year old can already count to 20 plus, but she would love the lyrics and get a kick out of the other songs.
Suzanne B
said,
May 27, 2008 at 12:18 am
I love this.. It brought tears to my eyes to listen to… here is my list of favorites.
Home: I want my children to always have the memory of home like this one! It’s a touching heart warming song, perfect for cold winter nights, or cuddles before nap time.
Gigi the giraffe: Now, I’m going to go out and buy a giraffe for both of my little ones, just so they can dance with it when listening to this song.
To love you: I still have tears in my eyes hearing this one. I want to go wake them up and sing it to them.
Dreaming the dream: I love this one as well. There is a Dr. Seuss book called “Oh the places you will go. ” This song reminds me of it. A reminder that you can conquer the world, and you will have ups and downs, but you will succeed, if you believe!
Aubrey
said,
May 27, 2008 at 12:41 am
Definitely Count to Ten - my little boy is learning how to do this right now!
Jodi
said,
May 27, 2008 at 8:39 am
I really like Dreamin’ the Dream - something about the sound of it just really clicked with me. Definitely lots of goodies on that cd!
Belinda A.
said,
May 27, 2008 at 4:23 pm
‘Brush Your Teeth’ is great, I always make up really lame songs to get my little one to keep on brushing, this one is much better and it incorporates hand washing too!
Nicki
said,
May 27, 2008 at 6:31 pm
My favorite is “To Love You.” Its a slow one, and reminds me of a James Taylor song sort of. I can picture being in the car and driving home from some fun adventure, with the kids peacefully asleep in the back seat, and this song playing.
Natoshia Locklear
said,
May 28, 2008 at 1:51 am
I think Count to ten is my favorite.
Kathy Conley
said,
May 28, 2008 at 9:02 am
I like the Jammie Song - one of our favorite things to do!
philip halter
said,
May 28, 2008 at 5:00 pm
great contest
William Sims
said,
May 28, 2008 at 9:28 pm
I want to win
Pamela White
said,
May 28, 2008 at 9:46 pm
I like the song “My Rainbow” because it teaches the colors and relates the color to objects.
Jason Fiske
said,
May 29, 2008 at 7:07 am
Count To Ten. I am teaching my kids to count right now. (5 year old twins) and this song really makes me smile to think of them learning.
Christy @ Multitasking Mama
said,
May 29, 2008 at 9:25 am
Count to ten… I’ve been saying ABCs and 123s to him… we are working on it. We’d love this CD. THanks!!
Brooke
said,
May 29, 2008 at 9:36 am
I really like I Count to Ten. What a great way for them to get a grip on their feelings!
Becca
said,
May 29, 2008 at 9:07 pm
My daughter and I are both tall and skinny, so we have an affinity for giraffes. Gigi, My Pet Giraffe would be our favorite.
Rickey Moham Jr.
said,
May 29, 2008 at 10:12 pm
WIN WIN WIN!!!
Crystal
said,
May 29, 2008 at 10:31 pm
I am a preschool teacher. Buttons and bows describes my life. The kids aren’t taking off their clothes but they aren’t getting them buttoned and tied! It would be a fun song for them to learn.
Timothy Sternberg
said,
June 4, 2008 at 11:14 pm
I love the Jammies Song!
Megret » » Monday’s List o’ Links
said,
June 30, 2008 at 7:21 am
[...] has extended the sale on his “I Count to Ten and Other Very Helpful Songs” CD (go read the review of this music here) for any of you readers who’d still like a copy of this great music! [...]