In one adjective Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band’s new album, Fantastico!, is intelligent. The indie vibe blended with catchy and witty lyrics is exactly the type of music that will get kids singing, dancing and thinking.

Completely in Spanish, Fantastico! has classic rondas that our grandparents played to, like “La Vibora” and “La Rata Vieja,” modernized, along with danceable, lyrically rich, and musically tasteful new songs.

There is a sense of comfort in listening to a new song, specially a children’s song, and associating with classic genres like jazz, rock n’ roll, and classic rock en español. Fantastico! has a bit of everything.

While listening to “Que Dices,” I couldn’t help but feel like I was in the colorful New Orleans, listening to a  street performer, except everyone spoke Spanish and  the colors and clothes were much more in tuned with Latin America. “Tres Ratones” felt like an 80′s rock en español band reunion of Duncan Dhu crashed with the innocence of childhood imagination. And the chorus in “A Bailar” is the definition of a good pop song.

We loved Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band’s first album, Potluck, and we are extremely happy that they made an all-Spanish album amenable to repeat listenings.

For more Lucky Diaz visit their LuckyDiazMusic or visit them on Facebook and Twitter.

The Giveaway!

We are giving away one copy of the Fantastico! album to TWO lucky winners! All you have to do is visit the Lucky Diaz Music Video webpage and leave us a comment telling us which video you and your kids enjoyed most. Then enter the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The checklist to make children’s music is short: catchy, easy to follow, and danceable. Rarely does matching the checklist constitute to a good album, but in Nathalia’s debut album “from here to there” not only did she incorporate fun, catchy, and danceable songs but also educational, inspiring, and multicultural rich pieces that celebrates a bilingual identity.

Nathalia has a background in child development and musical therapy, which shines through in songs like “Kindergarten Here I Come,” and educational songs like “H-E-L-L-O” and “La Semana.”  There are also fun follow the leader type of songs like “Cray train” and “Animal Bop” along with an inspirational tune that calls to “Help the World.”

The highlights of the album are “Mi Carrito” and “Mundo de Colores” which have a very Colombian feel to them. “Mi Carrito” the musical rhythms and style that have become iconic for artists like Juanes. “Mundo de Colores” immediately reminded me of “Color Esperanza” by Diego Torres—vallanato/cumbia mixed with a positive message of friendship, love, and appreciation for the world around us. Both songs do more than just introduce South American musical styles; they allow a bridge between children’s and adult contemporary music that ultimately create children with sophisticated musical tastes.

For more on Nathalia visit Nathalia Music or visit her on Facebook and Twitter .

The Giveaway!

We are giving away one copy of Nathalia from here to there to THREE lucky winner! To enter just visit Nathalia Music and tell us which song you think your kids will enjoy the most. Then enter the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Music with Sara and friends have done it again! They’ve created the most adorable and fun-to-watch video for their catchy tune, Los Monstruos. Sara tells us that Los Monstruos is actually her most-requested song by students ever since she wrote it four years ago.

Last week we premiered the song here and today we bring you a first view of the video that will have your kids going “¡Uuuuuuuu!” {insert scary voice}. Oh, and click on the Close Caption option to read the lyrics! You can also scroll down and find them below.

“Los Monstruos”
by: Music with Sara
Artwork by: Kristine Cruz-Munda
Animation by: Emmanuel L. Munda
copyright 2012: Music with Sara and D-1 Productions

http://www.musicwithsara.com
http://www.ahappymommy.com

Download your copy of “Los Monstruos” here:
http://musicwithsara.bandcamp.com/

Lyrics:

Los monstruos todos salen en Halloween
Halloween Halloween
Los monstros todos salen en Halloween
¡uuuuuuuuuuuuu!

Un murciélago
¡Bam! Vampiro
una araña
una bruja
un monstruo feo
un fantasma
salen …. en Halloween

The monsters all come out on Halloween
Halloween Halloween
The monsters all come out on Halloween
ooohhhh

A creepy bat
Bam! Vampire
scary spider
A flying witch
A big big monster
A spooky ghost
They all come out
on Halloween

Los monstruos todos salen en Halloween
Halloween Halloween
Los monstruos todos salen en Halloween
¡uuuuuuuuuuuuu!

Un murciélago
¡Bam! Vampiro
una araña
una bruja
un monstruo feo
un fantasma
salen …. en Halloween

Los monstruos todos salen en Halloween
Halloween Halloween
Los monstruos todos salen en Halloween
¡uuuuuuuuuuuuu!