YouTube’s not just for teenagers and office workers as Eric Herman proved when he posted a video of “The Elephant Song.” The musical dad’s first kid music composition -- written with his wife -- is at 6 million views and climbing. While the pachydermal tune is a viral success, Herman’s songwriting ingenuity has been healthy enough to craft his fifth CD for families.
What a Ride zooms around playfully through a universe of kid-centric topics with memory-sticking poetry and a pop-rock beat. “Come Play” rises and shines as a duet (with Gwendolyn Sanford of Gwendolyn and the Good Time Gang) about kids rallying family members to have fun. “Heartbeat” takes the classic stethoscope toy and provides such on-the-mark lines as “I put my stethoscope up to his sock and listened to his foot beat.” Herman gets bluesy to give advice on “How to Move a Monster” and has guitar-infused hints on “Building a Rocket.” And only an experienced parent could write a country rock tune like “Carseat Snack.”
Herman makes his music with the help of his family (wife Roseann and daughters Becca and Evee) and a gaggle of kindie rock stars (the aforementioned Gwendolyn Sanford, Robbi K, Chris Wiser of the Sugar Free Allstars and Jim Dague of Scribblemonster), who all sound like they’re having as good a time playing songs as you’ll have listening to them.
