Meet the nominees at this year’s Grammys for Best Childrens Album!

New family tunes for the new year!

LOS FABULOSOS – Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band

One of my favorite nominees in this category has to be the latest from LA’s leading family rockstars Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band. As always, they have such a ring to families of exquisite musical taste with a perfect blend of silliness, sense, and sensationalism. And two of my favorite tunes capture the very essence of the group: “Me Gusta” shows the groups rather chill soft rock vibes that makes it perfect for long trips or vacation vlogs and “Ridiculous”, expressing the comedic side of the group with vestiges of Weird Al and other comedic artists.

This album may be a short one but hey, it's got something for everyone!

INTO THE LITTLE BLUE HOUSE - Wendy and DB

With blues being under tapped in the field of family music, Wendy and DB put their heads together to create the ultimate family blues album inspired by the blues anthems that have driven Chicagoland for many decades.

Blending messages of love, reassurance, and community with a dash of zippy humor and a lot of good heart, it is a celebration of the genre that has brought emotion, community, hope and expression to many African-American communities in its darkest moments and introducing a new generation of families to the wonders of the blues.

Every single song here is filled with heart and reassurance, especially the title track in this album, as it sings out the values of humanity that have been important to many Americans during 2020, a time of social, political, and national reckoning and values that are important to pass on to this generation faced with tons of social changes and challenges.

One favorite of mine has to be "Women of the Blues" featuring blues powerhouse Ivy Ford, as it tells the story of all the many ladies who have become major blues superstars and shattered all the glass ceilings along the way , and another certainly has to be "Time To Shine" as it is such a sentimental and very endearing message to young listeners and it harkens back to the days when blues were king.

Every minute of this album is without a doubt, full of love and care.

THE MOVEMENT - Alphabet Rockers

The latest from music makers, activists, and changemakers Alphabet Rockers had given them their 3rd Grammy nod for Best Children's Album, and it is very easy to see why.

First of all, they had a vision: A vision to create an album that celebrates the importance of community and its role in building fair and just environments where everyone is given a chance to change the world.

Second, they really outdid themselves with this album, after having come from a period of social and political turmoil in America, they set out to send out a message of unity by reassuring us that the youth have such a powerful role in uplifting those who have been marginalized and creating a world where everything is equal and fair. And it is with that vital message that this whole album is centered around. With that mission, they wrapped it all up in an album that is spattered with uplifting, positive, and get-you-going hip-hop anthems that encourages kids and families to move, groove, and unite towards a world without borders.

All these factors have lead to what could be the biggest and best Rockers album ever, garnering them their third straight Grammy nomination, a huge step towards adding more colors to children's music giving diversity and variety to the genre.

Ready, Set, Go! - Divinity Roxx

If you've never heard of Divinity Roxx, I can tell you she had the best musical life ever, travelling the world playing to sold out stadiums as the bassist for Beyoncé, and now she is flying solo bringing good vibes to the world of children's music in her debut album, Ready, Set, Go!

Every song in this album is a delight for kids young and old to enjoy as they carry positive, reassuring, and heartfelt messages, encouraging kids to discover their individuality and the joy they can bring to the world around them. The title track is the perfect way to start your family's day, and "Be Yourself" is a dance jam that can get kids jumping to their own beats. Add to that collaborations with 123 Andres, FYUTCH, and the Alphabet Rockers, this is the ultimate feel good family album.

If you are ever tired of too much Kidz Bop, this is the perfect album for you.

Space Cadet - Justin Roberts

For decades, Justin Roberts has led the kindie rock revolution with his albums that bring exciting rocking tunes for the under 5s. And this year, he is kicking it up a notch with his latest album, "Space Cadet".

With Roberts' signature style of sensibility (and in some cases nonsensiblity), this album brings together the best of his talents all those years along with the experiences of his 3 year old son and turned them into songs that are full of great energy.

"I Have Been A Unicorn" is perhaps the standout in this album, bringing elements of fantasy, adventure, comedy, and 90s alt-rock into a son that rocks out the the beats of individuality and "Whole Lotta Love In This World", originally a lullaby for his son Eli, definitely has all the feels. In a world where things can become very cynical and can be full of people wanting to bring you down, this tune is a very heartfelt reminder of how much potential we have to see all the love that world can give and can restore your faith in humanity. This album has everything you'll ever need in a wholesome family music album.

Repertory Philippines' CAROUSEL: A whirlwind ride of emotions

Experience this Rodgers and Hammerstein classic like never before in this innovative "deconstructed" production from Toff De Venezia!

After nearly three years away from the stages of Manila, Repertory Philippines makes its triumphant return to live performances with one of Rogers & Hammerstein's most beloved pieces, the energetic, emotional, and stirring classic Carousel. Originally slated to become the hallmark of their 2020 season, the pandemic caused the whole theater industry to come to a long dramatic pause, so it never materialized. However, many things had happened in the last two years including sex scandals, the Me Too movement and the Depp vs. Heard case sparking conversations about domestic abuses, as well as the effects of long isolations under lockdown restrictions as well as the aftermath of a chaotic Philippine presidential elections, the musical's message of never walking alone and wanting to get another chance in life is ever so timely and fitting as we enter the holiday season and the onset of 2023.

And not only is this musical timely and relevant, but also the show's director Toff De Venezia enhanced the Carousel experience even further to help connect it to millenial and Gen Z theatergoers by adding unique elements that reflect the emotions of abuse in the post-MeToo society and how making known its effects can spark conversations and bring light and help to people affected by this. The musical emotion is leveled even further by bringing the show to a much smaller stage and condensing the orchestra down to only two pianos as well as reducing the whole ensemble, bringing attention the the struggles and shortcomings of the primary characters. However the overall message of this show (and never will get old despite how this show was altered) is that "You will never walk alone". Despite how bad things in the world will become, there will always be hope of starting again and working to become better people and live to understand how to ease the pain of life.

In the midst of all the drama that had unfolded in this next-gen production of a Rodgers and Hammerstein classic is the fact that two of the country's prime TV and music talent are at the helm of this cutting edge production, namely Karylle Tatlonghari, well-known recording artist, and Gian Magdangal, who has had numerous starring roles on TV and the stage. The chemistry between Karylle and Gian as Julie Jordan and Billy Bigelow respectively is, in my honest opinion, a very thoughtful choice for the two lead characters because of the way they can truly bring justice to the delivery of roles that have become iconic in the musical theater canon. I could speak for hours about Gian's portrayal of Billy Bigelow , because the simple truth is that he never chose the role, rather, the role of Billy chose him. And that is evident enough in how much emotion and devotion that he gave to the role, how much he wanted to spend his time with Julie Jordan, and after his suicide, how much he wanted to make amends to Julie and give her another chance in life. He is absolutely phenomenal in this role and it surely hits him very well.

Karylle on the other hand, is very darling in this presentation. The role of Julie Jordan brings out all the best she could ever be, whether it be belting out high notes or reaching her low point in the death of Billy Bigelow as well as finding a new passion in life when raising her daughter Louise, she brings her grace to the stage and never drops an ounce of spirit in bringing such an iconic character to life. Top that all off with razor sharp dance moves then you get a emotional rollercoaster ride that takes you to the depths and heights of humanity in an unforgettable thrill ride of a musical.

The emotions of the story, the weight and relevance of the show's themes, and how Toff brought the show to a whole new level just by deconstructing it, it is such a perfect combination for the comeback of one of the country's most respected performing arts organizations. No wonder tickets are selling out faster than a spinning carousel.

Make sure you catch this ride while you can, the last show on Sunday December 17 is completely sold out and all other subsequent shows before that are close to selling out, so if you can, never miss this chance to experience this beloved tale reimagined and remastered for modern theatergoers.

Tickets are available through TicketWorld at 8911-9999 or at the CCP Box Office.

The reeasuring children's album the world certainly needs

Linda Yapp brings important social values and the legacy of Fred Rogers together in this album that aims to enchant and empower.

With many social events that have shaken up the planet this past year, the place is once again divided and searching for someone to look up to who can not only inspire them and show them where to go, but also provide words of reassurance, encourage, and hope, and be like a person that you can turn to when the world has you down and someone you can share your hopes and dreams with. That person, without a doubt, has to be Linda Yapp.

Having been released in March of this year, at the onset of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict and in the midst of political turmoil in the United States and the deaths of influential leaders, this is perhaps the most relevant and inspiring children's music album to ever come out. The reasons are very clear once you give it a very close listen.

Centered around themes of social, racial, and environmental justice, as well as embracing diversity and individuality, Linda takes listeners back to the good old days when Mister Rogers was a friend that many children across generations, providing love, care, and reassurance. In fact the entirety of this rather splendiferous album is full of songs that I'm certain Fred Rogers himself would be very proud of, as Linda wholeheartedly crafted a selection of lullabies that reassure and inspire children of all ages and their families to have a big caring heart, embrace people's inner talents, and work together to create a peaceful loving world.

Every single song in this album and every single detail in it, from titles right down to the lyrics have been created from a very loving heart and is very thoughtfully crafted to ensure that families can not only listen, but also learn and embody the values seen in this album. Even the cover art was a labor of love, and is very reminiscent of some well-loved children's storybooks from the likes of E. B. White and Beatrix Potter, and just like a well-loved fairy tale, it beckons you to explore the wonderful world contained in this album and imagine a world where all are one.

This really has to be the year's best and most touching children's music album, for all the many reasons that I have listed it and more.