Celeste Sings, Kids Dance

By Romantic Realist Records
Price $14.98
Age 3+

This compact disc packs an awful lot of fun into 15 deliciously danceable songs, putting its own indelible spin on a number of timeless children's favorites, pop songs, and even classical (an enlivened version of Pachelbel's Canon rocks). This collection of toe-tapping tunes delivers a wide range of tempos, beats, and styles. The album's bouncy opener, The Hug Song, with its insistent, upbeat refrain of "I want a hug," lets you know right off the bat you're in for a good time. Listeners of all stripes are sure to be enamored of Waltzing With Bears, a lighthearted song whose triple meter and natural instrumentation conjure the image and feel of hill country. The Jazz Age version of Rubber Duckie and a jazzy, Satchmo-esque Zip a Dee Doo Dah are two standouts that swing in an entirely different way, while the whirlwind lyrics of James, James, Morrison Morrison are sure to leave you breathless. Beatles fans will find Celeste's version of Octopus's Garden irresistible. The musicianship and production values are top-notch throughout, but what really stands out are the vocals, both lead and background. The singers' pitch-perfect clarity, exuberance, and knack for expertly capturing the feel of every song make this CD a favorite of parents and kids alike.