I’m always looking for new ways to keep my daughter’s Asian heritage alive in our bicultural family. One way we keep our heritage present is to listen to CDs related to Asian culture while driving in the car. That’s why I was thrilled to have the opportunity to review Rabbit Days and Dumplings, a collection of reinterpreted and rearranged folk and children’s song from China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Tibet.
The debut album from New York based Elena Moon Park and Festival Five Records (home of Grammy
award winner Dan Zanes and Friends) launched today, September
25, 2012. The compilation features songs that use traditional Asian and
western instruments to create a modern and unique sound.
The tunes included children’s songs
(such as the Korean San Toki), traditional folk songs specific to a region (Soran Bushi, a popular sea shanty from Northern Japan),
traditional songs like the story of the rainy season and an eel (Taiwanese song Ti Oh Oh) and more.
Some songs are sung entirely in native languages while
others blended in English. Elena revealed, “I believe
that music, like food, has a unique ability to reach across borders, cultures,
languages, ages, and backgrounds in a profound way.”
Her statement rung true -- I found myself humming to the
melodies even though I may not have understood the words. That’s the universal
sign of good music. Some of my favorites included the catchy Sol Nal and Diu Diu Deng. Overall I enjoyed the songs on Rabbit Days and Dumplings and valued the
album’s appreciation of Asian culture.
Rabbit Days and
Dumplings Tracks:
1. Sol Nal (설날 )
2. Diu Diu Deng (丟丟銅)
3. Doraji (도라지)
4. Tum Tum Chuen (氹氹轉)
5. Sisi Sima
6. Soran Bushi (ソーラン節)
7. Poong Nyun Ga (풍년가)
8. Akatombo (赤とんぼ)
9. Zui Zui Zukkorobashi (ずいずいずっころばし)
10. Diu Shou Juan (丢手绢)
11. San Toki (산토끼)
12. Picking Flowers (采花)
13. Summer is Here
14. Ti Oh Oh (天黑黑)
15. Anta Gata Doko Sa (あんたがたどこさ)
16. Tinsagunu Hana (てぃんさぐぬ花)
1. Sol Nal (설날 )
2. Diu Diu Deng (丟丟銅)
3. Doraji (도라지)
4. Tum Tum Chuen (氹氹轉)
5. Sisi Sima
6. Soran Bushi (ソーラン節)
7. Poong Nyun Ga (풍년가)
8. Akatombo (赤とんぼ)
9. Zui Zui Zukkorobashi (ずいずいずっころばし)
10. Diu Shou Juan (丢手绢)
11. San Toki (산토끼)
12. Picking Flowers (采花)
13. Summer is Here
14. Ti Oh Oh (天黑黑)
15. Anta Gata Doko Sa (あんたがたどこさ)
16. Tinsagunu Hana (てぃんさぐぬ花)
Listen to a sampling of songs here: http://rabbitdays.com/music/
Read Song Lyrics here: http://rabbitdays.com/songs
Purchase Rabbit
Days and Dumplings at:
About Elena Moon Park
Elena Moon Park is a musician and educator living in Brooklyn, NY. A Korean-American whose parents immigrated to this country from South Korea in their early 20s, Park was born and raised in East Tennessee, and through much of her life says she felt much more like a Southerner than a South Korean. Her experiences as a touring musician inspired her to reflect on her experience as an Asian-American. She currently divides her time between playing music, most often with the Brooklyn-based family music band Dan Zanes and Friends, and tackling issues of community development, the arts, social justice and policy.
Elena Moon Park is a musician and educator living in Brooklyn, NY. A Korean-American whose parents immigrated to this country from South Korea in their early 20s, Park was born and raised in East Tennessee, and through much of her life says she felt much more like a Southerner than a South Korean. Her experiences as a touring musician inspired her to reflect on her experience as an Asian-American. She currently divides her time between playing music, most often with the Brooklyn-based family music band Dan Zanes and Friends, and tackling issues of community development, the arts, social justice and policy.
For more information, please visit rabbitdays.com.
Disclosure: I received a sample of the CD for the purpose of this review. All opinions expressed are solely mine.
Disclosure: I received a sample of the CD for the purpose of this review. All opinions expressed are solely mine.
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