The lullabies are derived from Indonesia, Brazil, Senegal, Belgium, Algeria, Israel, Cameroon, Occitania, Canada, Germany, Seychelles, Italy, and the United States. With only one song in English, the majority of a listener's experience will be the tempo, beat, and sounds. The library of instruments used is vast; the more commonly heard instruments are the electric, acoustic, and classical guitar, bass, upright bass, ukulele, mandolin, accordion, chimes, cow bells, flute, piano, bongo, and maracas. The newer sounds are offered from the flute-like ocarina, a type of tambourine called a pander djembe, a hollowed gord instrument from Cuba called a guiro, and drums from Brazil, the Middle East, and Argentina (rebolo, dumbek, and bombo, respectfully). The kalimba, considered a percussion instrument, is a soundbox with keys played with the thumbs; the berimbau is a sing-stringed percussion instrument; the anklung is a bamboo instrument popular in Southeast Asia; and the Kora resembles a harp in sound. Although the instruments vary greatly song-to-song, they all share a generally adagio tempo, happy but tender and relaxing. We Are the Boat begins and ends with the soothing sounds of waves, C'est La nuit mon petit ange creates a light and happy mood through voices singing staccato notes in French in the background, while Brecairola per la nena sounds slow and mysterious. Nade gau and O Sey'a are as upbeat of a lullaby you are going to hear.
Children have in impeccable ability to pick up on sounds and tempos, so don't be surprised to see your little one swaying his or her head to the beat or looking to you whenever they hear a new sound, wondering what caused it. With so many new cultural instruments being introduced, they will certainly not lose interest. The songs have repeating melodies, and often either begin with the title or repeat the title in the chorus, so you can sing a few words or at least hum along while you rock your little one to sleep. I noticed this particularly in the Israeli song, Tumbalalaika; the fun-to-say title repeats many times throughout the adagio song featuring piano, accordion, and children's voices singing in choir quality.
Song titles:
1. Nade gau
2. Acalanto
3. Diarabi
4. Fais nanan m'tchou
5. Atas Atas Amimmi
6. Tumbalalaika
7. O Sey'a
8. Brecairola per la nena
9. C'eset la nuit mon petit ange
10. Die blumeleine sie schlafen
11. Dodo pti baba
12. 'Ndormenzete popin
13. We are the boat (Somos el barco)