Reggae may not be your musical genre of choice when considering music for children, but it just might become so after you witness how kids connect with the unique beats and sound of Reggae Playground.  Reggae originated when Jamaicans blended American R&B with native rhythms to create ska, and then slowed it down. Although Reggae is most commonly associated with Jamaica, there are other island sounds that blended with Reggae form new musical styles. For example, the song Ying Yang is a blend of reggae and sega, the traditional music of Reunion, a tropical island in the Indian Ocean off the eastern coast of Africa. The songs on Reggae Playground also showcase many different languages. Harambe, sung by Bob Marley's wife, Rita, is a Swahili word meaning, "Let's all come together as one"; As Meninas dos Meus Olhos is Portugese for "The Girls of My Eyes"; Pat Gulipat is sung in Bahasa Indonesia, the official language of Indonesia; and  Mon Petit Bonhomme is French for "My little fellow," and includes an impressive saxophone solo.

Parents and grandparents will also have fun with the songs, as they will recognize some of the reggae covers of classic American songs. For instance, the John Denver song Country Roads still features the catchy chorus of "Country roads, take me home," but the famous reggae and ska singer Toots puts it to an island beat and changes one line from referencing the roads of West Virginia to referencing Jamaica.  Toots also adds hand claps to the beat at the end, which listeners can join in on. The Beatles classic Here Comes the Sun easily lends itself to the attitude and message of most reggae songs with its positive message that no matter how bad things seem at one time, there are better times on the horizon. This is a great message for discussion with your child. The story of the song Rootsman Dread is explained within the cover booklet and would be fun to share with your little one; the song opens with children calling out the magical Rootsman Dread, who brings positive vibrations to people with his reggae music. The music has a very magical quality and sound to it. Turning World also includes a child's voice singing the first verse, as well as a positive message about spending your time having fun and loving your family instead of worrying too much.

My five-year-old friend Hanna says her favorite song on this album is Mouse in the House. This song is about a little boy who is afraid of a mouse in the attic and wants to get rid of it, but he eventually changes his mind and decides it is cute and can stay. Hanna has a pet hamster and said she was afraid of it at first too, but now she loves him very much. I talked with her about the deeper message of the song - facing your fears and realizing they aren't as scary when you understand them better. She thought about what I said for a minute and then asked, "My little brother is afraid of me, but I don't want him to get over it because then he won't pick up my toys….I better not let him listen to this song."

 

--Audra