Skip to main content

Ellis Paul

Review- Baltimore's Child

It's All Good

By Charlotte Bohn

The Dragonfly Races www.ellispaul.com
I can't get over how children's music has changed and matured over the years. I would never have reviewed a CD like Ellis Paul's The Dragonfly Races years ago because it just didn't exist. Don't get me wrong. I still think children should be listening to goofy and silly kiddie stuff. But, every once in a while, a children's CD with substance is good for the kids. |
An internationally acclaimed folk singer and troubadour, Paul released his first family music CD, The Dragonfly Races, in January—and I hope it won't be his last. With a voice reminiscent of James Taylor, Paul shares his original songs that offer a fresh new take on encouraging children to be involved with their world.
With songs about dragonfly races in the meadow ("The Dragonfly Races"), chameleons marching on Washington, D.C. ("Million Chameleon March"), and going to the moon and climbing Mount Everest ("Because It's There"), Paul takes listeners on a musical journey that mixes serious concepts with whimsy and fun. "Abiola" tells the story of a young girl who becomes a heroine by ignoring rumors and the King's decree and proves to a small town that monsters aren't all bad. "The Little Red Rose" contains a message of peace: "You could take apart the bombs/ You could plant them on the farms/ Make a garden out of what do you suppose? And tend it like a little red rose." "9 Months to Fix the World" is for all the parents or parents-to-be out there—"Your momma says you're coming, I've got nine months to fix the world, seems like everything here is broken and you're as precious as a pearl."
Yes, Paul has much to say about the world we are living and raising our families in, but he doesn't shove his message in our faces. With beautiful melodies, creative lyrics, and not much more than an acoustic guitar as accompaniment, Paul takes listeners out of themselves and into the world for a little while.