If you have kids, treat them to this magnificent CD. It will enrich them, and give them many hours of listening fun.


Cute album   July 26, 2003
 27 out of 32 found this review helpful

I primarily wanted "For the Kids" because of Sarah McLachlan's rendition of Kermit the Frog's "The Rainbow Connection" from the eternal classic "The Muppet Movie". I struck gold today at my favorite record store today when I came across a used copy of the cd. Although the songs are certainly geared towards children, the songs can be enjoyed by any person of any age. I may not be wild about bands like Cake or Barenaked Ladies but their contributions to the compilation were quite cuke. Cake's "Mahna Mahna" has a surf feel to the song. "La La La La Lemon" is simply too cute. I absolutely love Sarah's version of "The Rainbow Connection". I haven't heard the song in years but after hearing Sarah's breathtaking cover of the classic Muppets song, the song lyrically surprisingly enough still sounds fresh as I heard it back in the late '70s (yeah, I know I am dating myself). As I listened to the lyrics for the first time in over a decade, there is still an innocence to the song that I really don't hear in today's music. Now I need to find the original version sung by Kermit the Frog. I almost forgot how much I loved this song as a kid. I also loved Ivy's "Sing". I remember singing along to that song on my Sesame Street soundtrack as a child. Kinda weird (in a good way) to hear a childhood favorite sung in a more stylishly hip fashion (very kitschy ala The Carpenters). Raine Maida and Chantal Kraviazuk's version of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" is also very stirring. The only song I didn't care for on this cd was "Bend Down the Branches" but that is because I can't stand Tom Waits' vocals. His singing style is an acquired taste. All proceeds to this album goes to two different organizations geared to protecting music and art programs in the schools when nowadays school budgets are being cut no thanks to bureacracy.


Takes me back   November 15, 2002
 19 out of 21 found this review helpful

Frankly, there isn't a bad track here, all are really good. Contrary to the title, it's not just "for the kids", adults will also have a good time listening to these delightful songs covered/penned by some of today's successful contemporary folk rock/pop artists.

The album begins with Cake's "Mahna Mahna" which, save for some groovy guitar work, is slightly repetitive but has a feel-good vibe to it. You'll definitely remember the Mahna Mahna character. Then comes my favorite track, BNL's "La La La La Lemon"; Steven Page and Ed Robertson are natural comedians, bringing a humorous take on the Bert and Ernie classic. Then comes the transcendence: Sarah McLachlan is able to take any song and imbue it with such beauty and earthy passion that it takes your breath away. Playing the piano, electric guitar and bass, Sarah sings a version of "The Rainbow Connection" worthy of her froggy predecessor.

Another favorite is Guster's melodic "I've Got To Be Clean"; even kids' hygiene is covered in song here. Former Del Fuegos singer-turned-kids' artist Dan Zanes then takes the album to a folky turn with the utterly charming "Wonderwheel", followed by the even more charming "Have A Little Fun With Me" by Glen Phillips. "The Hoppity Song" by Five For Fighting's John Ondrasik deserves to be a classic sing-a-long song for both kids and parents, it even features a child's vocals (possibly his son's). Billy Bragg and Wilco's interpretation of Woody Guthrie's "My Flying Saucer" is also very good, as is Darius Rucker's poignant piano ballad "It's All Right To Cry".

Ivy's "Sing" has a refreshing Bossa Nova retro feel to it while Remy Zero's take on Garfunkel's "Bright Eyes" is a calm soother. I particularly liked Dan Wilson's "Willie The King" for its poignant lyrics on childhood innocence. Bleu then takes it into a rock mode with the infectious "Snow Day"; you can just imagine you kids singing along to the chorus. While I don't care much for OLP's Raine Maida's singing, his duet (with wife Chantal Kreviazuk) of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" is servicable though just a tad droll. They did manage to add a few lyrics, turning the simple ditty into a traveller-gazing-at-the-stars sort of song.

Sixpence None The Richer's contribution "Goodnight Children Everywhere", a World War II composition originally sung by British crooner Vera Lynne, is especially affecting, with haunting rock guitars weaving the melodies around Leigh Nash's angelic vocals. Who better to close this outstanding compilation than the great Tom Waits? His gruff yet melodic voice on "Bend Down The Branches" is a graceful goodnight lullaby for all kids to go to sleep.

Overall, I highly recommend getting this album. Even if you don't have kids, it's an album for rekindling fond memories of your childhood, whether it's Bert & Ernie or just a good old-fashioned song that first got you hooked to music. The great thing about this album is that it retains just the right balance; never too sweet or cutesy to turn off the adults, and never too serious to turn off the kids.


A real disappointment   February 20, 2005
 14 out of 27 found this review helpful

I've purchased several kids disks by adult artists for our daughter. This one was really bad. It had two good songs on it; the rest she always asks me to skip over. Sarah McLachlin's entry "The Rainbow Connection" isn't good enough to be called whiney, it is simply pathetic. Ivy's version of "sing" is if anything worse than the saccharin original.

Barenaked Ladies LA LA LA Lemon was alright; Five for Fighting's "Hoppity Song" was really good. That's it. I love Tom Waits; he doesn't belong on a kiddie disk. At least, not with the song he had on this one.

Go with Garcia and Grisman's "Not for Kids Only," or They Might Be Giants "NO," both of which are excellent. Skip this one.


Definitely worth a La La La Listen!   November 10, 2002
 13 out of 15 found this review helpful

I bought this album primarily because it had a new Barenaked Ladies track on it (and since they haven't been touring this year I am STARVED for new BNL tracks) - but also because I am one of the "Sesame Street" generation & thought it would be fun to have a cd with some classic kids tunes sung by some of my favorite artists from today.

I was not disappointed!

The tracks on this cd are funny, sweet, nostalgic and even poignant (especially Sarah McLachlan doing a truly beautiful rendition of Kermit's "Rainbow Connection"). There is also a wonderfully diverse range of musical artists on this album... Cake, Tom Waits, Wilco, BNL, Dan Wilson. If you weren't a fan of any/all of these artists *before* hearing the tasty tunes provided on this album, you may well be before you've finished listening to the last track.

This would be a fun & even useful gift for friends or family who have young children, but I think it's going to be even more fun for those of us who grew up with Sesame Street and The Muppets. Who can resist singing "Mahna Mahna" or "The Hoppity Song" at the top of their lungs? I sure can't!

Better yet, the proceeds from this album go to two great causes; VH1's "Save the Music Foundation" in the U.S. and "The Sarah McLachlan Music Outreach" program in Canada. Being a former Band Geek myself, I know how important music was in shaping my character and my life. Other kids should have that same opportunity. And that alone is reason enough to buy this album IMO.

La La La.... lovely!