Music Review: Free to Be You and Me
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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this is a remastered CD of the
original 1972 recording, which broke new ground by introducing
a dialogue between parents and kids about gender roles in
America.
Families can talk about a wide range of topics that will have
real relevance in their kids' lives, from gender stereotyping
and friendship to bullying and expressing one's feelings.
Socially conscious and seriously entertaining (and often quite lovely), this array of stories and songs are masterfully performed by Alan Alda, Mel Brooks, Diana Ross, Dick Cavett, Kris Kristofferson, and Harry Belafonte -- all singing their bleeding hearts out. Even a young Michael Jackson (ironically) sings about self acceptance, and not changing a thing about himself. While some parents may assume that FREE TO BE YOU AND ME is a dated bit of 1970s-era feminism, anyone with young children knows they are still working out what is and isn't acceptable behavior for girls and boys -- right down to what color clothing they wear. Songs, poetry, sketch comedy, and storytelling teach by example, and show kids that people shouldn't be put into boxes.
Most of the songs stand up to the test of time, using humor, rhyme, compelling narrative, and funky 70s grooves to gently teach tolerance and foster open-mindedness, kindness, and mutual respect. A few of the songs, like the macabre carnivalesque "Girl Land" are a little heavy-handed. Likewise, "Ladies First" is a Marlo Thomas-narrated cautionary tale about a goody two-shoes who meets a violent end -- all because of her expectation that ladies get special treatment. This sort of unyielding feminism flies in the face of the album's premise -- that we should be free to be ourselves -- whoever that might be.
The Johnny Cash Children's Album
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