Music Review: Kit Kittredge: An American Girl Soundtrack
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this is the soundtrack to the
first feature film based on the immensely popular American Girl
book series and stars kid actress Abigail Breslin. The movie
takes place during the Depression and has songs from that era
and new songs from current artists with an overall theme of
optimism and "finding the silver lining." The lyrics and
content are all-American, clean, and suitable for all ages.
Families can talk about the enduring and ever-growing
popularity of the American Girl books and dolls. Do you think
the success will carry on onto the big screen? Does the fact
that big stars are involved in the movie make you want to see
it even more, or would you see it regardless of who was in
it?
tells the story of a bright, imaginative 10-year-old girl growing up in Cincinnati during the Great Depression. While trying to be a reporter, she shares incredible adventures with her friends. The star-filled cast includes Abigail Breslin, Chris O'Donnell, Joan Cusack, Stanley Tucci, and Julia Ormond. The KIT KITTREDGE: AMERICAN GIRL SOUNDTRACK features classic songs from the 1930s plus new recordings from current artists.
For the first feature film from the American Girl company comes Kit, the witty, ever-optimist, doing remarkable deeds in an ordinary, but depressed life. The soundtrack is fitting and feisty with content made light by upbeat melodies and lyrics. The classic period pieces are sung by both old revered favorites like Billie Holiday, Cliff Edwards, and Spike Jones, and new artists such as The Puppini sisters, country crooner Josh Harris, and the ubiquitous background singer Bridgette Bryant.
The music is simple and humble, but insatiably optimistic, much like the period it sings about. It has lots of racing piano, horns, and string bass typical of the Jazzy era, and gets creative using cowbells, whistles, and ukeleles. "It's Only a Paper Moon" is sung by the vaudevillian Cliff Edwards ("Ukelele Ike") best known for lending his voice as Jiminy Cricket in Disney's Pinocchio, and legends Billie Holliday ("When You?re Smiling") and Spike Jones ("Pack Up Your Troubles") make any song worth listening to. "Bye Bye Blackbird" is a welcomed favorite, and Renee Olstead's version of "Ain't We Got Fun" is just that. In typical American Girl fashion, there's a lesson to be learned about American history, and the soundtrack answers with its own lesson; a little taste of the great music from the Great Depression.
Meet Kit: An American Girl 1934Samantha: An American Girl Holiday
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