Some adults get stuffier and stuffier with age. But, sometimes you come across that special someone with a certain je ne sais quois who has the ability to glimpse this wondrous world through the lens of the child within. Two such adults are Roger Day and Jeff Warren. Each produce witty, intelligent and completely fun kids’ music that will entertain even the stuffiest of adults.
Roger Day
Many in middle Tennessee are familiar with Roger Day, as he lives in Franklin. In fact, he is responsible for one of my favorite blog posts written during last May’s devastating Floods: Teenage Gangs in My Neighborhood – A Flood Story.
Images from Roger Day’s blog on the Nashville Flood.
My girls were first introduced to Roger Day when my friend Mary took them to a concert at the Brentwood Library. I kept hearing this song about “open up the coconut” and I thought, “Wow, this guy really made an impression.” When I asked them what CD they wanted for a car trip to the beach, they both insisted on Roger Day.
Roger Day
He was only selling online at the time, so I sent him an email begging for a location to buy his CD. As luck would have it, he replied back that he lived just down Hillsboro Road in Franklin, so off we went to HIS HOUSE to buy the CD. He gave me a couple others for my troubles and threw in a DVD, as well. My girls were as stunned to meet Roger as I would be meeting Bruce Springsteen. To them, he truly was The Boss. Check out these reviews:
Impressive reviews for Roger Day. Click for more reviews.
Over the years, my family’s love affair with Roger’s music continued, and my son –just a baby when we got all these CD’s– has grown up listening to his tunes. His favorite DVD? You guessed it. Roger Day. And, believe it or not, my son Charlie’s first word was actually “Rogerday.” I mean before “mama.” I’m slowly getting over it. Really, I am.
Jeff Warren
So, how does this all relate to Jeff Warren? Well, I’ve known Jeff for 15 years. He is constantly making up songs for adults and kids alike that are full of humor and witty combinations. It’s the alternate side of his Geology PhD mind, which somehow connects the funniest of dots. A few years ago Jeff started writing children’s music, which simply added form and function to what he had already been doing for years. I insisted that he needed to meet this guy, Roger Day. Just like I always knew would happen (do you feel me being all fine with myself?), these two hit it off like long lost brothers. Roger has even included Jeff in some of his concerts and stayed at the Warren home in North Carolina.
Young at heart: Roger Day on the left and Jeff Warren on the right.
Jeff has released his own CD, Synonym Toast (click here).
The new CD
It’s hysterical and my kids love it. If you are looking to run away from Rafii (whom I also love, although some don’t) or nursery rhyme misery, check out these two singers. Or, if your kids are older, remember these guys the next time you need to buy a baby gift or present for a younger child. It’s kid music that won’t leave you feeling the need to bang your head against a wall. (And for any moms across America who, some day, find that they feel just a teensy bit bitter upon hearing their kids say “Jeffwarren” before they say “mama,” I get it.)
