Search - Michael Doucet :: Le Hoogie Boogie: Louisiana French Music For Children

Lots of fun but some knowledge of French language helps

Elizabeth | Virginia (U.S.A.) | 12/23/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"My 2 year old rec'd this as a gift and it has become his and my favorite. The songs are all in French but the written lyrics are provided in French w/ an English translation. I have a working knowledge of French, which helps with the pronunciation. But as we've listened to it over and over in the car over the past few months, I'm beginning to hear my son singing the songs... in French! Songs like the ABC song and the Hokey Pokey ("Hoogie Boogie" in Cajun French) are the tunes we all know, which makes it easier to follow along. My son now sings his ABC's in English & French--very cute. Other songs are silly and fun and occasionally tender. The goodnight song at the end is so sweet. The music itself is very upbeat. If you like Zydeco, you'll love this. All-in-all, a winner if you have even a tiny bit of experience with French and enjoy fun music, regardless of whether or not you have kids!"

Lively and adventurous journey

UltraBreytenBreytenbach | Germany | 08/30/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I am German, and if I wouldn't have a general interest in Cajun and Zydeco, I'd never heared about this album, since you won't find anything about it in the German media or Google's (and probably other search engines) German results.

I have hardly heared something with such a good spirit and enthusiasm, and though Rounder is certainly not an, err, avantgarde label, this album is very unique when compared to the usual releases and touching. The songs are short, and Michael Doucet, his family and friends really go for a lot of variety which makes the music very entertaining. It has a jaunty balance of the professionalism of Beausoleil and a more amateurish, but very committed, side.

It's conservative in the best sense, trying to show it's worth to preserve a tradition that still unites people who believe in its values, but also not ignoring what is going around and integrating it for the fun of it.

This recording has an inevitable slight home recording feel, but friends of the music will understand the circumstances - they will be happy that this recording has been released anyway."