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European Playground
Putumayo Kids Presents
European Playground
Genres: International Music, Pop, Children's Music
 
  •  Track Listings (15) - Disc #1

European Playground, the newest release in Putumayo Kids' acclaimed Playground series of CDs, is a collection of 15 songs that takes families on a fun-filled cross-genre musical tour around the continent. Europe is a favo...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Putumayo Kids Presents
Title: European Playground
Members Wishing: 2
Total Copies: 0
Label: Putumayo World Music
Original Release Date: 1/1/2009
Re-Release Date: 5/19/2009
Genres: International Music, Pop, Children's Music
Style:
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 790248029122

Synopsis

Album Description
European Playground, the newest release in Putumayo Kids' acclaimed Playground series of CDs, is a collection of 15 songs that takes families on a fun-filled cross-genre musical tour around the continent. Europe is a favorite destination for travelers who marvel at the continent's rich cultural variety. Europe is home to almost 50 countries, each with its own unique culture, history, traditions, food and music. European Playground features a lively and engaging selection of family-friendly music from contemporary artists from these very diverse regions. The multilingual songs are easy to sing and dance along to, no matter what language you speak. As with all Putumayo Kids releases, European Playground showcases the ways in which musical styles become global phenomena. The universal appeal of Caribbean musical styles is evident in tunes from artists working in the Netherlands, Greece and Denmark. Similarly, the mutual influence that Scottish and Irish music and North American folk music share can be heard in songs by Scotland's Ian Benzie and Ireland's Sharon Shannon. Adding to the educational experience, European Playground includes liner notes in four languages - English, Spanish, French and German.A portion of of Putumayo's proceeds from the sale of this CD will be donated to the European Federation for Street Children (EFSC), a Brussels-based non-profit organization committed to the improvement of the rights and situations of street children in Europe and beyond. A division of Putumayo World Music, Putumayo Kids is committed to introducing children to the world through fun, upbeat collections of music. Other CDs in the Playground series include best-sellers World Playground and Animal Playground.

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CD Reviews

Another fun Putumayo Kids CD that won't drive parents crazy
Steven I. Ramm | Phila, PA USA | 05/19/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Putumayo record label is unlike any other. Not only have they introduced "World Music" to many folks who wouldn't hear it - by marketing their CDs to gift shops (they are a lot better than new age music which often permeates the air in these shops), but they produce some wonderful CDs for kids with songs that their parents will like as well.



While this still isn't my favorite in the "Playground" series - it's hard to top their initial release, "World Playground" for that - there are some catchy songs here that the whole family will enjoy. "En Voici, En Voila" (from France) is a great swing tune! And the lead-off track, "Trampolin", even has a trampoline rhythm to it.



When the second track comes on you'll immediately realize that Bonjour Tout Va Bien" may have been recorded in French in Belgium, but its roots are a long way away. It's Ausssie Rolf Harris' big hit "Tie Me Kangaroo Down". And the producers mix up cultures again with track 7 - "Den Kanei Krio" from Greece. It's really a reggae song.



One of the tracks - "Sandy River Belle" - an American Folk Tune here listed under Ireland - is an instrumental. All the rest have vocals. And all last less than three minutes, with the Hungarian entry running a really brief 1:20.



As with ALL Putumayo releases, there is a paragraph about heach country and one about the included recording provided in four different languages. And a portion of the proceeds goes to a charity, in this case the European Federation for Street Children.



Steve Ramm

"Anything Phonograpic"













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Good music, but toddlers not really into it ...
JohnnyC | Alexandria, VA (USA) | 07/31/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of the best "Playground" collections. Each song, perhaps with the exception of #3, stands on its own, and is a catchy representative of its nation. My particular favs are the tunes from Belgium, Hungary, and Greece, very catchy and singable (well, if you don't mind mangling the words!).



My only "complaint," or knock, if you will, is that the music seems more geared to parents than to kids. I don't know if older kids would be into this music, since my frames of reference are a 3.5 year old and a 2 year old, but our kids aren't just that "in" to these songs. They don't object, but they still prefer "The Wheels on the Bus." (to our detriment -- we're working on them!)



So all in all, a solid Putumayo collection. If your older kids are established world music'ers, this disc will likelyy go over well. But I'd say use a little judgement in buying for toddlers. They'll probably listen to it if you have it on, but won't be clamoring for it the way they might for more "traditional" kiddie music.



Happy listening!"
Enthusiastically recommended for public library children's c
Midwest Book Review | Oregon, WI USA | 06/15/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)

"European Playground is a delightful, family-friendly music CD of fun songs, each by a different artist with roots in nations all over Europe. Liner notes in English, Spanish, French and German round out this playful, multicultural music adventure, enthusiastically recommended for public library children's collections. Highly recommended; adults are sure to enjoy the catchy, cheerful themes too! The nations represented by each track are Finland/Sweden (2:16); Belgium (2:17); England (3:29); Denmark (2:15); Hungary (1:20); France (2:29); Greece (2:12); Portugal (2:23); Germany (2:43); Scotland (2:25); Netherlands (2:13); Spain (1:44); Switzerland (2:28); Italy (1:53) and Ireland (2:07).

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