Lisa Loeb's Songs for Movin' and Shakin'

I feel like I'm forever saying things like "I've never heard of...." Once again I am expanding my horizons, having been recently introduced to Lisa Loeb.

I was asked if I'd like to participate in a blog tour for Lisa Loeb's Songs for Movin' and Shakin' and I said yes because my kids like music as I do, and it's always fun to have an opportunity to check out something new.

The book and CD arrived and we immediately popped it into our CD player for a listen. Many songs in this collection are relatively familiar: Father Abraham, Miss Mary Mack, and Do Your Ears Hang Low. Then there are original songs such as: Turn it Down! (The Air Band Song), Monster Stomp and Going Away. Although the song titles may ring a bell for you, Loeb performs them in her own style, changing up some of the words or the rhythm, in order to make it her own. The music is designed to get you "movin' and shakin'" and it is definitely peppy and enthusiastic.

Truthfully, I didn't really care for her style though. Her voice is kind of raspy to me and the songs didn't really have a comfortable flow between them. (That might have just been me though.) The CD as a whole felt kind of jolting and slightly chaotic. I think it also bugs me that it seems like she goes back and forth from singing to using a sing-songy voice. It's just not smooth and continuous and that gets to me. But again, that's me and it might not bother another person half as much.

This particular song ("Going Away") is on the album and it gives you an idea of what her voice and style is like:

One notable thing in this song is that there is a line about writing their "name on their underwear." My boys snickered every time she sang that which only furthered my dislike of the CD. I gather the point of singing that line was to produce some laughter and it worked but it's not the type of humor I feel led to develop in any of my children. Let's step it up a notch instead of succumbing to the urge to make jokes about body functions and underwear. (Not that it's evil, mind you, I just think society could stand to be a little politer than it is most of the time and if we start out by teaching our kids that singing about underwear is funny when they are young then in which direction shall we continue to develop their humor?)

All that to say, unfortunately Lisa Loeb's Songs for Movin' and Shakin' was just not my cup of tea. My children didn't express a whole lot of enthusiasm so I think this one is going to be shuffled off somewhere where we'll not see or hear it again.

 I AM glad for the chance to check it out and I appreciate Sterling Children's Books sending a copy my direction in exchange for my honest thoughts. My honest thoughts have definitely been given.