Charlie Hope

OWTK KID'S MUSIC REVIEWS — BY JEFF ON FEBRUARY 23, 2010 AT 9:45 AM
This isn’t a proper record review, but I want to at least acknowledge my comfy seat on the Charlie Hope bandwagon. As a late-comer, a few of you needed to scooch down a bit to make room. I appreciate that very much.
Charlie Hope’s “I’m Me” is not unlike either of Frances England’s two discs – airy music, filled with sunshine and flowery smells, that children ages 2-6 will likely find enchanting. Her voice is a steady, soothing instrument – whether it’s being used to convey nursery school staples “Mr. Sun” and “Two Little Blackbirds” or to delivery her own delicate tunes like “New Baby” and “Naptime” (which could easily have been recorded 2 decades ago by The Sundays)
There are little bits of magic woven into the songs on “I’m Me”, laying in wait for the listener to discover. Of the 20 tracks, many feature nothing more than field sounds and Hope’s voice sounding as if she’s sitting right next to you, casually singing you to sleep. The girls are in love with “Frog Song”, “New Baby” (no Bear, you’re not getting a baby brother but my offer of a boy baby doll stands) and the animal-themed title track.
Since “I’m Me”, Hope has gone on to release “World of Dreams”, an equally delightful album of originals geared even more towards the quiet times. Listen to songs from both albums right here.
The snow is finally melting and Charlie Hope is helping us usher in a new season filled with longer days, warmer sun and the return of the backyard birds and streamside ducks. - OWTK Kid's Music Reviews

This delightful new album features a silky-voiced and up-beat young woman with enjoyable and comforting songs that are truly a delight to listen to! With songs ranging from the well known "Mr. Sun," to great new ditty's such as "I'm Me," this album deserves a great deal of attention! All around it is an incredibly well made and produced album that is absolutely a new favorite on The Playground!

- By Sweet D
- WERS 88.9 The Playground DJ Sweet D

This delightful new album features a silky-voiced and up-beat young woman with enjoyable and comforting songs that are truly a delight to listen to! With songs ranging from the well known "Mr. Sun," to great new ditty's such as "I'm Me," this album deserves a great deal of attention! All around it is an incredibly well made and produced album that is absolutely a new favorite on The Playground!

- By Sweet D
- WERS 88.9 The Playground DJ Sweet D

Charlie Hope’s debut CD is a charming collection of sweet songs for children and their parents; her folksy style is complemented by her skillful presentation.Hope’s voice is warm and clear; lyrics are easy to understand and fun to repeat. The a cappella songs ("Spring" and "Roll Over" as examples) are as sing-able as those with instrumental backup. Each song, original or traditional, is buoyed by her impressive use of voice and vocal sound effects. Hope’s "editorial" decisions and musical craftsmanship forge this fresh and alluring album.
Parents' Choice ©2009 Parents' Choice
- Parents' Choice Children's Media & Toy Reviews

On World of Dreams: Soothing Songs and Lullabies, Charlie Hope’s languid, lilting voice, together with her slowly strummed guitar and reverberating synth, make for an album that earns its title, pulling listeners into an ethereal soundscape that evokes clouds, balloons, and other objects that tend to float away. These tunes may be crafted for kids, but the sophisticated songwriting will make them very appealing to adults, too. (Charlie Hope, 2010; http://www.charliehopemusic.com) —Melissa Chianta
- Mothering Magazine

When you hear my kids identifying a song from System of a Down, you get a pretty good idea of the the type of music I lean toward: Loud, fast and hard. But, that doesn't mean I can't appreciate the polar opposite of hand-banging, and I offer up my love of the Charlie Hope's I'm Me! kids' music CD as proof.

With her clear-as-glass, pitch-perfect voice which calls to mind Frances England with a dash of Elizabeth Mitchell, Charlie Hope has put together a collection of songs that are written, without a doubt, for young kids, but are sung so beautifully and with so much charm that even my pre-tween and I agree this is a winner.

Starting with the happy-pop title song, Charlie sings and strums her guitar to songs about things little kids care about, like trains, frogs and that new baby that is about to come into the family. Slipping between folksy pop, a capella and narrative, this CD speaks directly to kids, sometimes quite literally, as in The Frog Song in which kids interrupt the silly lyrics to correct her. The fact that I also want to listen to a song about frogs and interrupting kids should be proof enough that this kids' CD rocks, so to speak. -Christina - Christina at CoolMomPicks.com

When I first heard this CD, I thought, “Wow! Five stars!” Which of course gave me the idea to add star ratings to the site, but I’m still looking for a good widget.

In the meantime, just imagine FIVE stars next to Charlie’s CD!

Charlie’s voice is light and sweet. Her original songs are very catchy and easy to sing along to (always a plus for kids’ songs).

We absolutely love I’m Me! and Frog Song (how can you not love a song with a frog eating edamame?). These are great songs to sing with your kids when you’re just playing or hanging out.

Charlie also includes a lot of classic children’s songs on this CD. I honestly think her version of Mr. Sun is the best I’ve ever heard, and songs like Fire Truck and Pop Goes the Weasel appeal to younger kids while the more complicated songs appeal to adults and older kids.

We got to see Charlie perform at Stellbella Toys this past Saturday and the turn out was great! Charlie really engaged the kids with her sweet personality and even sang a version of Two Little Blackbirds where she replaced the names of the blackbirds with names of the kids in the room. Lots of fun! - Amber at BostonChildrensMusic.com