Now That's What I Call Christmas Music (Now 100 Hits Christmas & Now 100 Hits Sing-A-Long)

Gifts wrapped, festive menu planned, shopping done, anything else to tick off the list of things to do? What about music? When you're decorating a Christmas tree or planning a party, only Christmas music would do.
Sing your way to a very merry Christmas with Now 100 Hits Christmas and Sing-A-Long!

Now That's What I Call Christmas Music/Now 100 Hits Christmas (RRP £10.99) is the seventh best-selling album of all time in the UK with 4.5 million units sold, isn't that impressive?!
NOW's 100 Hits series is very popular, and their Christmas music selection is one great belter after another.

From golden classics like Bing Crosby's It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, Tony Bennett's Winter Wonderland, Eartha Kitt's Santa Baby, Frank Sinatra's Jingle Bells etc to the best modern festive songs like Justin Bieber's Mistletoe or Pentatonix's version of Mary, Did You Know? this album "will get everyone from Rudolph to Frosty to the big man Father Christmas himself in the festive spirit and counting down the days until 25th December".

This year, NOW has released a cracker of a compilation with more tracks than ever before. Whether you're enjoying a mug of hot chocolate, snuggled on the sofa, or are busy wrapping presents for your family and friends, adding more booze to your Christmas cake or getting the office ready for the big party, NOW has you covered, with 100 Christmas hits to suit all tastes.

Elves from NOW were spotted interviewing the Christmas HQ to find out what they think about this album.

According to Santa, Now 100 Hits Christmas is "cooler than Mrs C's ice lollies".
Mrs Claus said: "Aside from Christmas cheer and spirit, it's the only thing that gets Mr Claus out of bed on these cold mornings (and sherry)."
Rudolph said: "Every year I like to see if I can get some PBs dashing around the world to give the kids their presents - so NOW! Christmas is perfect for the stretching and warm up first thing, the heavy cardio when we're flying, and the warm down when we land back in the North Pole. It's essential listening for such an intense workout!"
Dasher said: "Santa's always jingling his bells to this one".
Santa's Little Helper (second in command) said: "We play this compilation in our workshop every day, there's something for every elf, some of the younger elves prefer to bop around to Justin Bieber's track Mistletoe but I'm a big fan of Nat King Cole and the crooners, it's very relaxing when we're gearing up to the big day".
Santa's Little Helper (anonymous) said: "It's packed full of more bangers than Santa's sack" (Boom-Boom, that's as far as I dare to venture with the risqué jokes).
Frosty the Snowman said: "My favourite is Peter Auty's Walking in the Air, which was actually written about my Great Grandad - The Snowman. It brings back some real memories, that one!".

Bad jokes aside, this album was a trip down the memory lane for me as well.
Boney M and their catchy tune Mary's Boy Child/Oh My Lord first blazed through our TV screens in the late 1970s. And the hearts of the Soviet people were conquered.
In those days the new year's eve TV schedule was progressing the following way: first it was all the Soviet-style singers, then in the early hours of the night there would be a long slot dedicated to the Soviet bloc performers (Bulgaria, Poland, Czechoslovakia, East Germany etc), and only then when you were half-asleep, around 4-5am, they would show the "Western" music, which of course, was also heavily censored.
Boney M visited Moscow and Leningrad in 1979. This was one of a few rare occasions when the Western group was invited to the Soviet Union officially. Their music blasted at the discos across the country. Boney M became one of the symbols of the Western freedom.
I was only a child then, but I remember the first time I watched Mary's Boy Child on TV, and how much I loved that song. It's still one of my favourite festive tunes.

To keep the party going, there is another 5 CD box set - Now 100 Hits Sing-A-Long.
It has tracks to please all generations and ages, from the classics of the 1970s (Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive, ABBA's Mamma Mia, Blondie's Sunday Girl, etc) to 1980s and 1990s hits of my childhood and youth (Billy Joel's Uptown Girl, Bonnie Tyler's Total Eclipse of the Heart, Karma Chameleon by Culture Club, etc) to the latest songs (Justin Timberlake's Can't Stop the feeling, Pharrell Williams' Happy and One Direction's Story of My Life).
You will sing along and dance (a good exercise after all those seasonal calories).

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by one and only Cyndi Lauper never ceases to bring a smile to my face. I've been known to sing along (rather quietly though) in the shops whenever this catchy tune is played. It brings back so many lovely memories, one of them, dancing in the deserted bus stop with a German student who was visiting England, while we were waiting for the bus and feeling quite cold. It's one of those happy memories I keep tucked in my heart and mind. I was young, carefree and enjoying myself.

Listening to Now 100 Hits Christmas and Now 100 Hits Sing-A-Long is made easier with the NOW Music app, where subscribers can access all the NOW compilations plus even more playlists and music for only £4.99 a month with no contract or adverts.
The NOW Music App is the easiest and most enjoyable way to access music on your devices.

These CDs will make a perfect Christmas stocking filler. Santa, take note!

Disclosure: We received two CDs for the purposes of reviewing. All opinions are our own.

Kazoops! album: Just Imagine - Volume 1

If there is a pre-schooler or a primary age child in your family, I'm sure you have heard of Kazoops! animation show from CBeebies. It's a fun entertaining programme about a 6-year-old boy called Monty and his best friend Jimmy Jones who happens to be a pig (as in oink-oink, not because he has no manners). They have imaginative adventures together and travel to different times and places. Each episode comes with a unique song.
The styles and genres of music in the show vary from episode to episode.

On October 28th the music from this popular TV series was released worldwide on several download providers. The songs reflect the power of imagination and would appeal to both children and grown-ups.



From several music videos that Eddie and I watched together, he liked the Dino Saurus Games song the best. Dinos seem to be irresistible for the younger audience.
I loved the Matching Socks song, as it addresses the eternal question as to whether the socks should really match (and where do all the matching socks disappear?) or not.
Every song tells a different story, and each one is an inspiration.
There are 20 songs in the first Kazoops series. They are included in the first album titled "Just Imagine - Volume 1".
You have an opportunity to buy either the whole album or individual songs on different platforms like iTunes, Amazon (£7.99), Spotify, Pandora etc.

The songs are gentle, kind, humorous and have catchy tunes.

Buy Kazoops! album Just Imagine - Volume 1 on Amazon for £7.99

The Phantom Listeners by Lydia Kakabadse (review + giveaway c/d 9 February 2015)

When I was a young girl, I used to listen to a lot of records with musical stories, a mix of a storytelling with music and songs. I would sit and listen, mesmerised and spellbound, lost in the world of fairy tales and classic fiction for children. I have re-visited my childhood memories recently, listening to The Phantom Listeners album by Lydia Kakabadse.
This creative album is also a mix of a narrative and music, very much influenced by the Russian and Middle Eastern traditions.
Lydia Kakabadse is a British composer, of Georgian/Russian and Greek/Austrian parentage. This rich cultural heritage has influenced her creative writing.

The Mermaid is a composition based on a fairy tale written by Lydia Kakabadse. It is a combination of the narration, piano, strings and mezzo-soprano.
Mermaid Persephone is much loved by the sea creatures known as "cherubs of the sea". She is captured by the pirates, and sings from the boat, calling to her friends. The cherubs of the sea come to her rescue. The drama is represented by the musical score in its beautiful variety which stirs your imagination.
This is a very theatrical performance, and I can just see it on stage.

My favourite piece from the album was Russian Tableaux. Most beautiful, haunting melodies made me think of Russia with its incredible cultural heritage and turbulent, often tragic history.
I. Mother Volga: The river Volga, often called Matushka Volga (Mother Volga), has a symbolic meaning in Russian culture. This river has been a source of inspiration for many folk songs, tales and poems. It can be serene or stormy, always powerful. Kakabadse's work pays homage to the majestic river with the most accomplished score. The main theme is poetic and brings to mind the images of the Volga river.

  Photo Credit: Katve. via Compfight cc 

II. "1917" Mention 1917 to a Russian, and you know you will uncover a plethora of emotions and opinions. Whichever side you take, this was the most crucial year which has changed the Russian history dramatically. The music is full of desolation, with the double bass marking the magnitude of the anguish and anxiety.

III. Dance of the Matryoshka Dolls is a lively tune with a fast-changing tempo. This is a dance melody of the Russian dolls, of all sizes.

Photo Credit: Pale Amber via Compfight cc 

I was very impressed to read that Lydia  started composing in her early teens. One of the songs in the album, The Song of the Shirt, was composed by Lydia when she was 15. She was inspired by the pensive poem of Thomas Hood, which tells the story of a poor woman dressed in rags, who has to sew endlessly. This is a melancholic plaintive composition.

With fingers weary and worn,
With eyelids heavy and red,
A woman sat in unwomanly rags,
Plying her needle and thread –
Stitch! Stitch! Stitch!
In poverty, hunger, and dirt,
And still with a voice of dolorous pitch
She sang ‘The Song of the Shirt!’

Jean-Francois Millet, Woman Sewing by Lamplight

Arabian Rhapsody Suite is scored for string quartet (violin, viola, cello, double bass). It was composed in 2007-2008. The composer captured the rich folk traditions of the Orient, with its mystique, throbbing energy and distinctive melodies. There are 3 chapters: Marrakesh, Reverie and Sultan's Feast. Each is scored for string quartet (violin, viola, cello and double bass).

For soprano, mezzo-soprano, baritone, narrator, church pipe organ, percussion, and strings, The Phantom Listeners was created in 2005-2007. This musical piece was based on Walter de la Mare's poem The Listeners. The story is told in 6 chapters: The Traveller's Message, Secrets of the House, The Traveller Returns, The House Rages, Reunited and Epilogue. It is a dark and quite sinister narrative, with themes of death, spells, shadowy world, and the musical mood is often mournful and darkly complex.

This passionate and inspirational album is a modern classic.

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I have two copies of The Phantom Listeners to give away to my blog readers.
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When I was a Lad: Megson CD

If you have been enduring the Yakki song for too long, there is a breath of fresh air in the music for kids market, an album that has an eternal appeal to music lovers of all ages - When I was a Lad: Megson - a real treat to ears.

"The most original husband-and-wife duo on the British folk scene.Wisely, they have recorded an album that will also appeal to parents, thanks to the harmonies and gently driving instrumental work, and the inclusion of love songs and the exquisite lullaby Bee-0, along with an unexpected treatment of children's favourites"

The Guardian

 

What is Megson? It is the husband and wife duo - Stu and Debbie Hanna, who were nominated in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards three times. They have won the 2011 Spiral Earth Awards. What makes them stand out is their Teesside heritage, great vocals and intelligent lyrics.

A mix of vocals is simply superb, and they are not afraid to change the well known lyrics, add to them, like the true bards of the North they are.

The new album has been recorded in their home studio. It was created after the couple took a break from music in 2011, when their baby girl Lola Wren was born.

In a true folk tradition each song tells a story. What I found especially endearing and praiseworthy, this collection of songs doesn't dumb down its audience like many albums for children, but raises them to their intelligent level and encourages them to listen to the words.

 

The Riddle Song, which dates back to the 15C, is very moving and philosophical. I have never heard it before, it was a revelation, very pure, beautiful and a bit mournful.

All the Shops Have Fallen Down has a different rhythm and makes your feet dance, as it is performed with vigour and energy.

Some of the songs are familiar like Oats & Beans & Barley-O or Dance to Your Daddy, and are a pleasure to listen to in a new interpretation.

 

     Eddie dancing to the music of Megson (don't ask me where he got his dance moves from)


Megson will be performing some exclusive Family shows across the UK. The first two will be:

 

14/03/13 - The Sage Gateshead, Tyneside. 0191 443 4661 - 1:30pm

21/04/13 - The Junction, Cambridge. 01223 511 511 - 11:30am

When I was a Lad

is available to buy from the Megson Shop at £10.00

Track Listing
 

1. Bee-O (Traditional)

A Yorkshire lullaby, where "go to bee'o's" means "go to sleep"...

2. All The Shops Have Fallen Down (Hanna/Hanna)

This started life as an educational song - it was meant to list all the different shops on the high street and what could be bought there. But songs should reflect the times they are written in...

3. Jenny Jenkins (Traditional)

One of our favourite song books is 104 FOLK SONGS (as recorded on folkways records) compiled by Moses Asch, 1964. The copy we have was rescued from a house clearance by Debs's dad and has become well worn over the years. It has given us some great songs including this, Jenny Jenkins, a courtship songs from America.

4. Oats & Beans & Barley-o (Traditional)

A play song collected by a Miss Burne of Shropshire and published in a lovely illustrated book from 1894 entitled "Children's Singing Games". The game involves the children standing in a ring whilst taking turns to act out the actions.

5. The Riddle Song (Traditional)

We found this popular song in Sharp & Karpeles 80 English Folk Songs. But The earliest version of this was published around 1430 under the title of " I have a yong suster" in the Sloane Manuscript 2593, a valuable manuscript of 15th century carols and lyrics currently held in the British Library.

6. Me Fathers Farm (Traditional)

Collected from Mr Thorton of the valley of Lothersdale, Yorkshire by Alison McMorland and presented in her fantastic collection of songs, rhymes and games for children entitled "The Funny Family" (Ward Lock Educational).

7. Dance To Your Daddy (based on the original by W. Watson)

Popularised by TV adverts and Theme Tunes, the earliest published version of this (entitled Dance To Thy Daddy) was attributed to to a W.Watson in W & T Fordye's Newcastle Songster of 1840.

8. Baby And The Band (Hanna/Hanna)

We have never seen a baby play a banjo & wouldn't advise trying it due to the highly tense strings.

9. Leatherwing Bat (Traditional)

Also known as The Bird's Courting Song or The Hawk & The Crow, this ballads tells the stories of various birds in their courting expeditions and how they have succeeded and failed.

10. A Frog He Would A Woo-ing Go (Traditional)

Based on the 1883 version published by Randolph Caldecott - we would love to know what a frog would look like wearing an Opera Hat….its just a shame about the tragic end.

11. Five Little Ducks (Traditional)

What can we say - we're just glad they all made it home safely...



This album is a lovely change from the Yakki-yakki-yogi-doo-doo-doo, and we both love it.

When I was a Lad: Megson comes highly recommended by Eddie and I.

The Land of Sometimes: a mysterious magical musical journey

As someone brought up on musical stories like Peter and the Wolf, I'm all in favour of cultivating musical tastes of children from a very early age. "The Land of Sometimes" has taken me back to my childhood, when I was listening to music stories like "Alice in Wonderland" and others, sitting by the family record player and being totally enchanted.
The Land of Sometimes will take you on a long journey to the mysterious magical world.
The first thing you notice about this CD is the CD case: it is beautifully designed. The illustrations were created by artist Howard McWilliam who is well known and much loved for his front covers of The Week. His style is very distinct and imaginative. Turn the pages slowly and marvel at the tiny whimsical details. The illustrations alone tell a story and entice you to put the CD on and listen.

What is the story about? Twins Alfie and Elise start a magical journey, exploring the Land of Sometimes. In one day they travel through four seasons and meet a whole collection of curious and eccentric characters who perform their original songs.

There is the River Slouch who just wants to make friends.

There is a cute mischievous fairy Little Twink (who made me think of my 5-year-old niece Sonia and her passion for fairies and all things pink).

"Little twink, little twink

I have your stuff upside down in a blink

Little twink, little twink

I’m a disco devious

Mischievous pink

Little Twink!"
 (I'd say that sums up my niece perfectly)

Mrs Blip makes you slip. Eddie found her very amusing, now we sing with him

"I’m Mrs Blip and I’m slippery

I slip and I slide

I live in a bucket

With bubbles and slime"

There is Mr Smaller and the Chameleon Catcher and the Man with the Flying Feet.
Aren't you intrigued yet?

Songs are very catchy, with amusing lyrics that will make you smile. And each song is different from the previous one. As for the styles and genres, you get a mix of Irish folk and New Orleans jazz, reggae and disco.
Francesca Longrigg, a singer and songwriter, created all concepts, words and lyrics for The Land of Sometimes. Chicky Reeves wrote the music, and together they brought the project to life.
We loved the voice of the narrator (Nicholas Jones), it links the story  and the songs with a natural ease and artistry.
 

 

The recommended age group for the CD is 2-99 years (I loved this specification). At 2 years and  a bit, Eddie is a bit too young to appreciate the story in full. In fact we listened to it in parts for several days, and I think he enjoyed music more than the story.

This CD will make an excellent stocking filler for children who enjoy music and stories.

This is a kind of CD which will make your kids leave their laptops and ipads, switch off the DVD player and let their imaginations carry them away on the wings of fantasy.

The Land of Sometimes has a great website which has downloadable colouring pictures and details on all the characters.  You even download a map, how cool is that.

They have a Facebook page  and are on Twitter too.

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And the latest news:

Two School Children From Oxfordshire Are Set For Chart Battle For The Christmas Number One Spot!

"Ladbrokes have just announced that two unknown school children from Oxfordshire are now in the chart battle for the coveted Christmas Number One Spot with odds of 10/1 with their charity single ‘Dare Make A Wish’.

400 other children also from the Oxford area came together to record the song, with the two youngsters, which will see all proceeds being donated to the Dyslexia Action charity.

Francesca Longrigg, writer and creator of The Land of Sometimes CD from which the single is taken from has said

“This single is by children for children. In the music industry particularly with the likes of X Factor and Novelty singles competing for the top spot we wanted to remember what the heart of Christmas is all about – the children and give them a chance to shine and have their special moment.”

Ladbrokes have put the children in front of the likes of Kylie Minogue, Girls Aloud and Olly Murs with only the X Factor hopefuls Jermaine Douglas, James Arthur and the Hillsborough charity single in front of them.

The Land of Sometimes will be joining forces with the charity Dyslexia Action to release a charity single on December 9^th, which will be a version of one of the album tracks ‘Dare Make A Wish’.

The musical director for the single is the wonderful Mo Westworth, who is director of the Unison Rock Academy and the i-Stage Academy in Oxfordshire.

The proceeds will go to the charity ‘Dyslexia Action’, the biggest dyslexia charity in the UK. We believe in the tremendous power of music in helping to transform learning difficulties, and indeed the Land of sometimes very own Isadora, who plays Elise on the album, who felt that her involvement in recording The Land Of Sometimes boosted her confidence and helped her overcome learning difficulties from her dyslexia enormously.
 

Libby Griffiths who will sing the lead part of Elise is also Dyslexic, which the panel had no idea of until after she had won the part!

“Dyslexia Action are so grateful for being the partner charity of the single made by all at the ‘Land of Sometimes’. We are very keen to have enthusiastic fundraisers such as LOS on this team, supporting the charity. It is both such a lovely and unique idea and we are glad to be a part of it. The money raised from this single will be used to help change many lives and help to break down the barriers in education that those living with dyslexia face. On behalf of Dyslexia Action, I’d like to thank all those involved in making this wonderful piece of music and to all those who purchase it and therefore support this very worthy cause”

 (Danielle Perrin, Supporter Relationship Team)

The single will be available on iTunes from Sunday December 9th

and will be titled

The Land of Sometimes voices of the big sing!

 

 

Watch and sing along with The Shape Song Swingalong

We first discovered Barefoot Books a few years ago, when Sasha's teachers mentioned how much Sasha enjoyed dancing to the musical CDs that come with the Barefoot Books publications. Since then we have acquired quite a collection of these superb editions, and now it is Eddie's turn to enjoy the music and books. I have signed in for reviewing the Barefoot books recently and kept my fngers crossed that we'd be selected to read and test the new publications. We were delighted to discover The Shape Song Singalong as our assigned task.

Like all Barefoot books that come with the CDs, it is a very bright cheerful edition, with a huge appeal to both mainstream kids and children with special needs. This book is illustrated by the talented David Sim. The illustrations are simple but imaginative. As you read the book, you learn about different shapes. The images remind me of the patchwork quilts. I can easily see them transferred into the fabric appliques.

Music is written and sung by Stevesongs. The song describes the creative process of drawing, using many shapes to assemble a whole world full of wonders: a beachside waterslide or a party in the park.

The tune is very catchy, my little man has been dancing to the music and repeating Line, line, Circle, circle...

The CD is actually a CD-ROM, so you can watch it on a PC. This singalong CD is a fab way to develop the listening and singing skills.

And it's not just shapes. Eddie was delighted to see all the animals, he was especially excited to find a big roaring lion. He kept saying "Yayon, yayon" (he hasn't mastered his Ls and Rs yet).
This book is a fab addition to our collection of Barefoot books.

And once you listened to it, I'd challenge you not to hum to yourself: Line, line, circle, circle...

Justin Fletcher's new single

I haven't been so excited by the release of a new single since my teens. Justin Fletcher is a big part of our lives. Even now, as I write, Eddie is watching Justin Fletcher's Let's Sing Nursery Rhymes. We first discovered Justin aka Mr Tumble a few years ago.
Sasha loves watching Mr Tumble DVDs and playing Mr Tumble matching games on CBeebies.
Something Special and Mr Tumble were created as a programme for special needs children, and it is indeed a very special programme that caters for children with special needs as well as the mainstream children. It is caring, educational and both inspired and inspirational. A Triple Hurrah for Mr Tumble!

Now the most lovable cheeky Justin is going to release a new single "Hands Up" on 20 November.

Justin has a brand new album out on 26th March 2012. The album features 20 classic children’s songs along with a few brand new songs – covering everything from The Teddy Bear’s Picnic, The Laughing Policeman to the brand new single Hands Up.

You can preview the video on Youtube.
http://youtu.be/gtlxZiRprtY

(Shhh, don't tell anyone but Mummy thinks he is a hottie)

A great video that Eddie and I just watched together and were dancing to the rhythm.

You can follow Justin Fletcher on Facebook and Twitter.

For further information please contact Louise@rockandrollbabyworld.co.uk