Fern - Hopping Into Easter with Fern

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Fern – Hopping IntoEaster With Fern
2012, Fern’s Music/Fern Forest EnterprisesFern is a musician, songwriter and educator who writes andplays songs for children ages 0 to 7. Long recognized for the quality and energy in her songwriting, Fern’swork has been trumpeted by Boston radio stations WERS and USA Today.  Fern has six children’s albums under herbelt, and entertains children all throughout New England.  Fern’s latest effort, Hopping Into Easter With Fern, brings the usual blend ofsentimentality, intelligence and snappy songwriting that has characterizedFern’s recording career thus far. Together with her sidekick, Charlie the six foot tall chipmunk, Fernenchants her listeners with a personable style and a sense of childishwonder.  Fern kicks things off with a song about the Easter Bunny andhow he gets all over the world on Easter Eve. The speculative folk-country number lists through many of the travel optionsof the hallowed hare, ultimately settling on magic as the means.  At just under two minutes this is a lightsnack that kiddos will enjoy.  “PowderPuff Bunny” is a funny little tune that celebrates the multi-colored eggs theEaster Bunny leaves on Easter number.  It’sa catchy number that will have the pediatric set dancing about, and will likelydrive parents bonkers by the third listen. Fern digs into a jazzy version of “Peter Cottontail”, complete withfinger snaps and some pretty snazzy piano work.It’s off to the islands for “The Chocolate Bunny”, with Fernspinning the tale of one piece of Easter booty to a reggae beat.  Fern deconstructs her chocolate bunny rightbefore our very ears, ending up with the inevitable tummy ache.  It’s a cute number that kids willappreciate.    “The Easter Duck’s Parade”has romper room cadence of the sort that has pervaded children’s albums for thelast three or four decades.  The bouncyfeel will keep little ones interested, and the real live duck sounds add someamusement.  “Little Peter Rabbit” goesfor a repetitive build, repeating key phrases while exploring new actions forthe song’s subject.  This one is aimed atthe younger portion of Fern’s audience, and the older kids will be gettingantsy before the song is half over.  “Here Comes Spring” is done in classic folk song style withperhaps just a touch of Appalachian flavor. The repetitive nature of the song may wear on some listeners, but from afolk song perspective this is fairly standard. “Pretty Flowers – Just For You” is a sweet little children’s ballad, andis perfectly written for Fern’s audience. There’s an air of lullaby here, and Fern’s builds in some great atmospherein the dual piano/synthesizer arrangement. “Eggbert, The Easter Egg” takes on a vaudevillian style in thearrangement, while sounding like the sort of cutesy novelty children’s tunethat Dr. Demento might have played in his prime.  It’s a cute little number that sounds like itshould accompany a Rankin & Rankin television special.  Fern closes out her celebration of Easterwith “The Egg Hunt”, speculating on whether all the eggs have been found.  It’s a catchy closer that the kids willappreciate.Fern, along with her friend Charlie the Chipmunk, gets heraudience.  That’s a fact that’s veryapparent on Hopping Into Easter with Fern.  She displays that enigmatic je ne said quoithat makes a local or regional children’s favorite what they are.  At the same time, Fern’s voice could be atough sell, to a wider audience.  Thepersonality and charisma that Fern displays on Hopping Into Easter With Fern is unmistakable, but her tone andpitch both have their rough spots, and vocal purists just won’t be able to lastlong here.  The kids will love the music,of course, and just like artists such as Raffi and Sharon, Lois and Bram beforehere, the songs will occasionally drive parents out of their minds.  But Fern is the real deal, and she survivesand thrives among the toughest music connoisseurs for one reason – she’s real.There’s nothing fake or contrived here. In this way, Fern finds her own moments of musical beauty.Rating:  3.5 Stars (Out of 5)Learn more about Fern at www.fernsmusicforkids.com.