For many of us, life can easily become busy and complicated. That is one of the reasons why children's recordings like this one are so special. Pied Piper reminds us to slow down, have a little fun, and take pleasure in the simple things in life. Scottish singer and songwriter, Donovan, is probably best known for his sixties hits like "Mellow Yellow" and "Sunshine Superman". Through this warm new recording, Donovan shares some of his musical magic with children and families.
Over the years, plenty of Donovan's songs have featured a childlike innocence and a simple vision of peace and love. Many of his recordings for adults included songs that spoke to children, and the children in all of us. The songs contained in Pied Piper feature simple pearls of wisdom, like "after every rainfall all the flowers grow" and "you can have everything if you let yourself be", that gently encourage and lift spirits.
In Pied Piper, Donovan sings about the simple joys of sunshine, the colors of the world, and furry animals. The opening track, "I Love My Shirt", is playful and fun, with lyrics like, "Do you have a shirt that you really love/One that you feel so groovy in/You don't even mind if it starts to fray/That only makes it nicer still". Other tracks include "Jackie Beanstalk", a musical retelling of the classic children's story, and "People Call me the Pied Piper", a happy and catchy story-tune. In "Sun Magic", the sun, wind, moon, and sea take on human characteristics. The line, "We sing all of our cares away", probably best sums up the overall theme of the album--Pied Piper offers families a wonderful dose of simplicity, love, and imagination.
