Dance for the Sun

Dance for the Sun, Yoga Songs for Kids, is the self-released 2006 debut album by Kira Willey.[1]

Dance for the Sun
Studio album by
Kira Willey
ReleasedDecember 1st, 2006
Recorded2006
GenreChildren's music, folk Length = 71:37
LabelDiscmakers

Background

Willey initially began writing music in the forms of lullabies to her daughter. After a few years passed, she started playing the guitar, writing more often, and had begun teaching Yoga classes in New York City to children. The songs for Dance for the Sun were written with her class in mind, and after building up a collection, Willey began using these songs as a musical guide to complement her class, and received positive feedback from both her daughter and her class.[2] When recording the album, Willey enlisted the help of her brother for bass vocals, her cousin for percussion and production, and several of the children in her class to provide vocals, nicknamed the "OmGirls".[2] Dance for the Sun was released on December 1, 2006 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The album is primarily 15 tracks, the ones which appear first. The remainder are bonus tracks, which are of live recordings in her Yoga class that include children singing along and participating. The booklet contains educational illustrations of Yoga positions and poses that coincide with the bonus tracks.[3]

The song "Colors" was popularized by its use in a Dell computers commercial,[4] called "Portraits". The 31-second commercial showcased the company's laptop model, which featured casing in a variety of colors, presumably to match an aspect of the owner or their personality. This was part of a campaign that Dell ran, which asked consumers "What's your color?".

Review
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Cookie[5]

Among critics of children's music, Dance for the Sun has received positive reviews,[4] but it is said to be enjoyable by listeners of any age,[6] and in the August 2007, Cookie Magazine said that Dance for the Sun was "joyful, upbeat, and eminently danceable. Willey’s vocals have a breezy coffeehouse quality that will appeal to listeners young and old alike."[5]

Dance for the Sun has won several awards; an Independent Music Award for Best Children's Album,[7] as well as a 2008 Parent's Choice Award. The track Caterpillar Caterpillar has also won an Independent Music Award and a Children's Music Web Award for Best Song.[3]

Track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Dance For the Sun"2:48
2."Let's Go to Work"1:59
3."Black Dog in the River"1:59
4."The Shimmy"1:45
5."The Dancing Mountain"2:01
6."Midnight Moonlight"2:40
7."Caterpillar Caterpillar"2:17
8."Big Brown Bear"2:01
9."Colors"2:25
10."Surfer Mama"2:47
11."The Sound I Found"2:34
12."Making Pie"3:00
13."Namaste Song"1:34
14."Banile"1:26
15."Welcome to Fireflies"1:31
16."Dance For the Sun (yoga track)"4:33
17."Let's Go to Work (yoga track)"2:17
18."Black Dog in the River (yoga track)"2:36
19."The Shimmy (yoga track)"1:53
20."The Dancing Mountain (yoga track)"2:52
21."Midnight Moonlight (yoga track)"3:15
22."Caterpillar Caterpillar (yoga track)"2:16
23."Big Brown Bear (yoga track)"3:11
24."Colors (yoga track)"2:25
25."Surfer Mama (yoga track)"3:42
26."The Sound I Found (yoga track)"2:31
27."Making Pie (yoga track)"4:32
28."Namaste Song (yoga track)"1:32
29."Peace & Joy"1:15
Total length:71:37
Information on track listing.[8]

Personnel
  • Kira Willey - lead vocals, guitar and violin
  • Beau Lisy - drums and percussion
  • Matthew Charboneau - bass
  • Christopher Burge - saxes & flute
Information on personnel.[6]

Awards

Album
Award Category
Independent Music Awards[7] Best Children's Album (2008)

Songs
Award Category Song
Children's Music Web Awards[9] Best Song for Preschoolers (2007)
Best Recording for Preschoolers ages 3 to 5 (2007)		 "Caterpillar caterpillar"
Independent Music Awards[7] Best Children's Song (2008) "Caterpillar caterpillar"
International Songwriting Competition[10] Children's Music Finalist Nomination (2007) "Caterpillar caterpillar"
Just Plain Folks Music Organization[11] Children's Song Winners (2009) "Colors"
Parents' Choice Award[12] Winner (2007) "Colors"
Unisong International Song Contest[13] Children's Top 20 Finalists (2007) "Surfer Mama"

References
  1. New York Magazine
  2. Willey, Kira. "Story". Fireflies: Musical Yoga For Kids. Archived from the original on 29 June 2007. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
  3. "Dance for the Sun". CD Baby. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
  4. Brown, Jennifer (12 July 2010). "Simple Kids Music Review: Dance for the Sun by Kira Willey". Simple Kids: Uncomplicated parenting in a complicated World. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
  5. Cookie Magazine
  6. Bentley, Tiffany (10 August 2010). "Musikfest artist: Kira Willey and the Fireflies Band lightens the heart". LeHigh Valley Live. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
  7. "Past IMA Programs". Independent Music Awards. 2008. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
  8. "Dance for the Sun". All Music Guide. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
  9. "Winners". The Children’s Music Web Awards 2007. 2007. Archived from the original on 7 April 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
  10. Cashmere, Paul (February 6, 2007). "International Songwriting Contest Finalists Announced". Undercover. International Songwriting Competition. Archived from the original on 27 October 2009. Retrieved 24 September 2010. External link in |publisher= (help)
  11. "Music Awards Song Winners". Just Plain Folks Music Organization. 2009. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
  12. Holliston (11 December 2008). "Mom Makes Commercial Watchable! Dell Spot Captures Nation". Zimbio. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
  13. "Childrens Top 20 Finalists". Unisong International. 2007. Retrieved 17 September 2010.

Sources
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