From infectious hip-hop and big-band songs to a mix for transgender and nonbinary children, releases during the pandemic have something for everyone.
Music for children is often dismissed as either simple and silly or simple and soporific. It doesn’t have to be. A whole world exists beyond “The Wheels on the Bus” and “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” and it has expanded during the pandemic, as musicians found themselves at home with ample recording time. One artist released an album offering a vicarious global voyage, while others undertook projects with their own housebound families.
This period’s reckoning with racial inequality has also affected the genre, though you wouldn’t know it from the Grammy Awards: In November, all five artists or groups nominated for best children’s album were white. In protest, three — Alastair Moock, the Okee Dokee Brothers and Dog on Fleas — requested to withdraw their works from competition. That means that the prize on March 14 will go to either Justin Roberts or Joanie Leeds, the lone woman nominated. (Her album “All the Ladies” deserves attention for its rousing embrace of female empowerment — and for a clip of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg speaking.)
Consider the list below a partial corrective. It includes LPs by Black and Latin artists and what may be a first: an album for transgender and nonbinary children. All albums are available on Spotify or Bandcamp. I hope these will open young minds — and not make any parents cover their ears.
SaulPaul, ‘Be the Change’
These 12 tracks are not just an invitation to dance but also a call to action. Five years ago, the rapper and songwriter SaulPaul started the Be the Change initiative, encouraging young people to “be the change in the world that you live in.” Starting with the joyous first tune, “Vibes,” which he performs with Alphabet Rockers and the reggae artist Denzil Findley, this album exhorts listeners to cultivate self-confidence and concern for others. After hearing the songs, which range from infectious hip-hop to the beautiful, classically flavored “Rise (Violin Remix),” featuring JC Stringz, families may be inspired to take SaulPaul’s Be the Change Challenge: to do 30 acts of kindness in 30 days.
123 Andrés, ‘Hola, Amigo: Songs of Friendship’
Christina Sanabria and Andrés Salguero, the married performers known as 123 Andrés, specialize in bilingual (English and Spanish) songs with plenty of Latin rhythms. But “Hola Amigo,” a 10-track digital album dedicated to bridging cultural divides, also offers standouts like “Keep It Up,” a rock anthem featuring the Sugar Free Allstars, and “Hambone,” which turns that nursery tune into a rapped Black Lives Matter plea. Performed with Cathy Fink, Uncle Devin and Lolita Walker, the song includes a litany of the names of the lost and ends with, “I can’t breathe.” You may have to explain it to your children, but so much the better.
Elena Moon Park, ‘Unhurried Journey’
At a time when travel can be difficult or impossible, the songwriter, singer and multi-instrumentalist Elena Moon Park gives children a trip around the world. In “Unhurried Journey,” featuring collaborations with numerous global partners, Park introduces and expands upon the musical traditions of countries including Mexico, Japan, China, Indonesia and Korea, the land of her ancestors. The 16-track project, which also comprises her own folk-flavored compositions, offers more than listening pleasure: Visit the album’s website for music videos, cultural background, related creative projects and the tale of a wandering fox, whose adventures, linked to each of the songs, are beautifully illustrated by Kristiana Pärn.
Ants on a Log and Friends, ‘Trans & Nonbinary Kids Mix’
Julie Be and Anya Rose, who make up the duo Ants on a Log, called on L.G.B.T.Q. performers to contribute to this project, whose 21 songs are as eclectic as the musicians’ identities. Available free on Bandcamp, the album opens with Alphabet Rockers’ jubilant rap “We Royal,” and then moves on to rock, folk, pop and country. Perhaps the most moving — and hopeful — song is “Daughter” by Ryan Cassata, a young transgender artist and songwriter who pays tribute to his father: “I’ll always be close to you, no matter what/I love you, and no doors are ever shut.” This digital compilation joyfully opens doors for all.
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra With Wynton Marsalis, ‘A Swingin’ Sesame Street Celebration’
I’ll never want to hear “Elmo’s Song” on repeat, but there’s still plenty to treasure on this album, which was recorded during a live performance in 2019. (An accompanying concert film aired on PBS.) The 13 selections, with fresh, big-band arrangements, include classics like the lyrical “I Don’t Want to Live on the Moon” and the irresistible saxophone showcase “Put Down the Duckie.” Little ones will also enjoy the verbal contributions of “Sesame Street” characters like Oscar the Grouch, Abby Cadabby and Rosita. (In a different vein, the album “Imagine That! The Sesame Street Music of Joe Raposo & Jeff Moss,” by Rena Strober and Friends, has the vibe of a beloved schoolteacher leading singalongs.)
Elliott Park, ‘Songs With My Daughters’
Don’t expect this album to sound kiddie. I could listen all day to the accomplished vocals of Elliott Park, a musician and songwriter, and his three teenage daughters. They shine in a dozen tracks that combine clever lyrics with the catchy rhythms and lovely melodies you find in the Great American Songbook. In “Follow,” a salute to nonconformity, Park wryly notes that the song has an organ but no guitar or drums: “And some people said you can’t do that/So my heart said OK let’s do that.” And in the tender ballad “Beautiful,” he offers poetic encouragement: “A ray of sun for every fear/And a smile for every tear/On the other side of this, my dear.”
Pierce Freelon, ‘D.a.D’
This album not only started from family conversations but also includes them. For years, Pierce Freelon, a songwriter, rapper and electronic musician, recorded voice memos of his interactions with his two young children, which have become both inspirations for, and components of, the 15 songs on “D.a.D.” “Tuck Me In” starts with playful bedtime wrangling and evolves into a jazz-inflected lullaby; “Tooth Bruh” gives dental care a hip-hop soundtrack. The album, which Freelon’s website describes as his journey through Black fatherhood, has a serious side, too: “My Body,” which he wrote and performs with the country artist Rissi Palmer, extols the importance of consent and respect in all physical interactions.
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January 27, 2021 at 10:00PM
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