04/04/09

African Cream Music is proud to announce that Singalong Kidz has won the SAMA 2009 (South African Music Award) for Best English Children's Album.

Crafted by famed singer/songwriter Wendy Oldfield, Singalong Kidz is a very special collection of original children's songs which provide enjoyment, entertainment and variation from traditional children's fare.

Written for the children between the ages 0-5 years of age who are singing as part of their language development and as a social game, topics like animals, nature and of course...mud, can easily be related to by African children and children around the world. The result is a wonderful original set of fresh and joyful songs that all children will relate to-- sung by children and conveying the glee and excitement in the way that only children can.

"I'm always inspired to write children's songs as I am a mother, songwriter and a singer. There are just not enough fresh, original and interesting children's songs. We seem to get replays of all the old traditional songs which sometimes have very little to do with what our children can identify with," explains Wendy. So, she "tested" her kids to identify which songs grabbed their attention, which ones they had the most fun with and which ones they started singing themselves. Then the next step was to take them to a nursery school to gauge a wider reaction. Wendy was thrilled to discover that her songs were a resounding success wherever she played them.

When it came to recording, Wendy kept the backing music very simple, to create a straightforward listening experience for children, where the music would not overpower the words and the singing. Children from her village near Knysna between the ages of 3 and 9 went into the studio and created a fun and enjoyable atmosphere in which they could express themselves. The result is a wonderful original set of fresh and joyful songs that all children will relate to-- sung by children and conveying the glee and excitement in the way that only children can.  It's no wonder that Singalong Kidz is South Africa's favourite kid's album of 2009.