Maggie G.

Consuela Bernardi-May 12-2009

My son Matteo has a new musical crush.  She goes by the name Maggie G. 
Maggie who? Maggie G.
Maggie G [aka Margot Glatt] is the Toronto singing mummy behind the fantastic children's CD 'Around the House'.  Maggie has worked in the music biz as a record producer and as a music writer for kid's TV shows but now she's focusing her great talents to improving the musical landscape for the kiddie set.  
The CD arrived at our house a few days ago and it's never left the CD player since...and in this house, with my 3 year old musical snob that's saying a lot.
Even before we listened to CD the first thing that caught my son's attention was the packaging...it's designed with vibrant colours and filled with kiddie geared graphics.  And the thing I loved was the fact that there was no plastic CD case...good for the environment and good for mummy's hardwood floors [my son enjoys scratching the floors drawing on the floors].
But the true test was the music itself and you know what? It totally rocks.  When it comes to the kiddie music scene there is a fine line between cute/fun/catchy and nauseating but Maggie has the magic touch.  The CD and its 18 original songs with real musicians playing real instruments, are as entertaining for the kids as it is for the mummies.  You'll be singing and dancing around before you know it.
The theme of the CD, like the title suggests, is things that take place around the house...everything from vacuuming [Do The Hoover Manoeuver], making lunch [Pizza Party], baking [Let's Make Cookies] and cleaning up [When We Work Together] is covered. 
This mummy's favourite track is the last one, The Nap Song, ahhh yes this mummy loves napping children.
And if you are looking for that perfect esteem building track for the preschooler in your house, you will love the song Why I'm Proud Of Me.  After listening to that track the first time, Matteo tuned to me and said, 'I'm proud of me Mummy, are you proud of me?'  Cue heart melting and cuddle session.
Maggie G has an energy about her that is perfect for singing children's music...she is totally a welcomed addition to the genre.  'Around the House' gets two big thumbs up from this music loving mummy and Matteo, my music critic in training.
The CD is available for download from http://cdbaby.com/cd/maggieg and iTunes.  Mastermind Educational stores also carries the CD and as does mymusic.ca.  And sealing the deal for me is that the CD is 100% Canadian.
If you live in the GTA, you're in luck...Maggie G will be performing in concert at Indigo Bayview Village on May 16th at 11:00 AM, May 17th at Indigo Yorkdale at 2:00 PM and Indigo Eglinton on May 23rd at 11:00 AM.
This is one CD that I look forward to listening and singing along to...come on mummies a song that makes vacuuming fun? I am so down with that.


  - Yummy Mummy Club

.......the record is packed with 18 original songs exploring all you cando - and learn- in everyday life. The third track is a song called “Dance, Dance” and frankly that’s what you could do the entire record. Tunes like “pizza Party” and “what To do, What To Do” all have a lively beat - and it doesn’t hurt that they and all the songs are backed up by real usicians playing drums, bass, keyboards, violin, ukelele, guitar and mandolin. Although glatt puts some educational essages into some of her songs, and the CD is dotted with suggestions about cleaning up your messes and wearing a hat when it’s cold, her emotional reminders on songs like “Friends Like You” and Why I’m Proud of Me” have the real resonance.”

Diane Peters
January 2009

“Maggie G. is a fun, energetic, and welcome new voice in the world of danceable kids’ music.” - City Parent Toronto

I don’t know Maggie G. but this disc works because she sure sounds like a
Mom. Not a perfect voice…but an extremely lively disc that serves all the music groups, offering a richly inventive approach to kids’ music that
remains fun, if not funky, for adults, too. “Do The Hoover Maneuvre” offers
a cross between Pee Wee Herman and Los Lobos, singing about Saturday’s vacuum action – to vibrant accompaniment. “Dance Dance” is an old-time,
piano-driven boogie that’ll have them twistin’ by the pool; “Wear A Hat” teaches a lesson about the harshness of the sun – without it being a lecture. The musical accompaniment throughout is top-notch, sweetening each
composition. With 18 tracks to choose from, there’s lots to like but a
favourite would be the feel-good “Friends Like You” – a tasteful message if there ever was one. The sped-up reggae flavour of “The Banana Banana Song” might be the ultimate ‘get ready for school’ song - they’ll be out the door in less than 30 seconds. From cowboy songs to “Teddy Bears and Dinosaurs”,
this is the perfect solution to “What to do, What to do?”. Valuable lessons
like ‘how to work together’ give way to the nonsensical (a klezmer-inspired tribute to a fly?). Even the yummy act of “Let’s Bake Cookies” gets a Western Swing treatment that’s good enough to eat. Maggie G. rides the fine-line between actually singing her songs with great conviction, sometimes slipping into kid-friendly “talk-singing”, yet this entire disc
makes for a great time – from the rec room to the back seat of the car.

–
Eric Thom
- Eric Thom