JAMIE BARNETT: Just Look at You

Jamie Barnett

Just Look at You

© 2004 Jamie Barnett (829429101125)

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A Parents' Choice Gold Award Winner ----- Features "381 Days" which tells the story about the Montgomery bus boycott.

notes

"After his treasured debut 'I Love to Ride My Bike,' Barnett scores again with this second effort...songs with tuneful empathy, celebrating children as thoughtful, sensitive individuals."
Los Angeles Times, January 6, 2005


Pictured in the photograph on the cover of this CD is my wife Kathryn. I didn't know her as a child but I see in this photograph the person that I know today. In our home we have a wall with a photograph of each of us taken at about 4 or 5 years of age, our three sons and ourselves. When I see a child for a moment, living in that moment, these are the words that my mind says, "Just look at you."

So often we view childhood as a kind of larval stage of humanhood. We see children as potential adults whose "real" lives will begin sometime in the future. As a teacher and as a parent I often get caught up in that way of thinking. After all, our job is to help children learn and grow. Each day though there are moments when I see a child for who he/she is, right here and right now, and I rediscover that children are whole and complete just the way they are.
Some years ago, at our elementary school, we had a child who had a respiratory disease that would prevent him from reaching adulthood. He spent his days like all the others learning to read and write and playing with friends only he did it with 30 feet of tubing attached to an oxygen tank. He even played kickball. As expected, he didn't make it out of elementary school. He died in the third grade. The experience forced us to reevaluate our role as teachers and our relationship to the students. Although we are preparing children for the future, first we are living life together, today, right here, right now. Just look at you.

"381 days" is the length of time the Montgomery, Alabama bus boycott lasted. It is a story about courage and perseverance. It is about doing what is right in a world that is wrong. It is both history and metaphor. The law of the land was unjust and Rosa Parks literally wouldn't stand for it. A single act of courageous resistance gave strength to thousands of ordinary people to remain faithful to a collective act of non-violent resistance for over a year. In this song I am just trying to tell the story.
When we describe to children the rules of segregation, about drinking fountains, restrooms, playgrounds, and buses, their jaws drop in disbelief. We look back and wonder how people could be so blind to the injustices of their day but, in truth, people will look back at the years in which we live and wonder how we could be so blind to the injustices of our day. This is a story that asks us to open up our eyes.

My wife Kathryn, my sister Sue, and I are kindergarten teachers. I wanted them to sing with me on this CD so we could call ourselves "the three kinders" (like the three tenors). Thanks Sue and Kathryn for singing so beautifully. My son Nicolas and his friend Chris Thompson played baritone horn and trombone on "381 days". They also sang on that tune as did my nephew Andrew Barnett. Thanks guys. My son Sean and his friend Kevin Horton played bass and drums on "Hey Daddy," "Laughter," and "Who do You Listen to." Thank you, thank you. My friend Jay Stewart (Stewart Music Production Studio - Lake Elsinore, CA) played bass on "381days" and "I'm so Tired." Jay also engineered the CD. Thanks Jay. My niece Alyssa Nicola bravely and beautifully sang solo on "The Sun Shines" and "Colours." Wow! Thanks Alyssa. A whole crew of kids showed up at my house one Saturday morning to lend their voices and enthusiasm to the CD. They are: Hailey Barnett, Cameron Barnett, Gracie Barnett, Lucas Barnett, Danielle Oakley, Emily Oakley, Alyssa Nicola, Shelby Schultz, Jami Schultz, Madison DeMott, Savanna Demott, Nicole Olson, Madison Olson, Ashley Thompson, and Danny Thompson. Thanks kids. The picture on the back of the CD was painted by Madison and Nicole's dad Jason Olson. Thanks Jason.

reviews

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  • love it!
    author: Lynn

    my daughter listens to this every night when she goes to bed. i can't tell you how fun it is to hear my very own 3 year old "goldilocks" (who is NOT a bad person!) sing about Rosa Parks!! i'm definitely buying more of jamie barnett.

  • a must have CD for your child's collection
    author: Sofia

    My children and I have sang, laughed and smiled together while listening to the songs on this CD. The songs are fun, inspiring and thought provoking. Both young and old will enjoy listening to this music anytime of the day. I like to play it while the kids are in school...it always puts me in a positive and upbeat mood!

  • Great CD!
    author: Ted

    This CD is great... I especially liked "381 Days" about Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott. It's a good song in music terms and also great to reinforce social justice and acceptance/tolerance at an early age.

  • great to listen to at any age
    author: Debby

    I really enjoyed listening to "just look at you". It make you see what special gifts our children are every single day. Thank you

  • Inspiring music for the whole family
    author: Kristine Townsend

    The whole family loves Jamie Barnett's CD's. It's nice to have children's CD's that the adults enjoy too. The kids know all the words and love to sing along. I put it on when they are playing or doing crafts and it sets a very peaceful tone to the day. We enjoy them very much.

  • Worth listening to; enjoyable for all ages.
    author: Karen Briski

    Just like great comedians help us to appreciate life by making us look at common things in an uncommon way, Barnett's songs give us a new enthusiasm for childhood as we fondly recall the true wonder and joy of an "ordinary" day. My favorite song has got to be Goldilocks--it makes me laugh every time I hear it!

  • Great music for the whole family!
    author: Sean

    Fun album! Will make the entire family sing along! Jamie Barnett's contagious melodies and lyrics are both thought provoking and fun at the same time. Great for young children, but don’t be surprised if you find yourself listening to it after you put the kids to bed!

  • You have to have this CD for home and school.
    author: Kathy Nicola

    Have you ever heard a song that keeps running through your head and it won't go away? Usually it's a bad thing, but with Jamie Barnett's "Just Look at You" it's a very, very good thing. Educators of all ages need this CD in their classrooms. I use it. Parents need this CD at home and in the car. We have it. Grandparents need this CD when the grandkids sleep over. Our grandma has it. I love the songs about fun, Rosa Parks and the amazing love for a child. If you have "I Love to Ride My Bike", you need "Just Look at You". Buy it.

  • Just Look At You... What A gem!
    author: Steve Downs

    This second cd is a classic already. Full of supple diddy's the entire family can sing along with. Every song is inpiring and they all glow like the sun shines.

  • Another amazing and joyful soundtrack in our lives
    author: Michele Smith

    Once again Jamie has added music to our lives in such a fun filled and thought provoking way. My children start their day with the music piping in from the play room and sun streaming in the windows and it's a great way to face the world. The CD "Just Look at You" is playful with songs like "I fold my clothes", "I love pancakes" and "Hey Daddy". Then there are songs like "Step outside" and "Goldilocks" that remind us that not everyday or everybody is perfect and that's OK, we can live with that. I had to stop and wonder what "381 Days" could be about till my own Kindergarten graduate reminded me about Rosa Parks and I knew he learned so much more in school than the 3R's because of music like Jamie Barnett's. I know I'll be sharing this CD with many of our friends with children, no matter what age.

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