Kids' Guide to the Globe

Translations: Ma P'tite Poupoune ("My Little Dear") - Shilvi

From the album "Ma P'tite Poupoune":

(There has been a great deal of interest in Shilvi lyrics.  In this song, Shilvi, a little French-Canadian girl, compares her gurling baby sister to a jazz scat singer.  The lyrics are full of nonsense words and slang.  To my French-speaking readers - please comment and help clear up the confusion! ~Carole)

My sister is one, and she's my baby girl
When she drinks her milk, she makes little "balloons"
Early in the morning, you can hear her in her bed
You can hear her chattering

Ma sister is one, and she's my baby girl
When she's irritable, she makes little "balloons"
Late at night, she twitters in the dark
Old jazz tunes

My sister is one, and she's my baby girl
When you tickle her, she shakes her little butt cheeks (foufounes - see below!)
My sister is one, and she's my baby girl
When she goes to sleep, she holds her little blankie (doudoune)

My sister is one, and she's my baby girl...

Notes, Thanks to Kelli Ann, my Canadian friend:

"balounes" means balloons, it just works better in the lyric than bubbles

"foufounes" means little butt cheeks.  It's cute, not rude!

"doudoune" is a play on "doudou" - a blankie or lovie

Carole Gaudet, Blogger
KidsGuideToTheGlobe.com: Contemporary Foreign Language Music For Hip Kids And Families

French Music Round-Up: Shilvi

Want more Shilvi?  Look no further...

14 Pistes Pour Debutants  (no image available)

Tour De Bebelles

Books:

Tambourin perlimpinpin - Shilvi

Get a Shilvi  doll!  And more...

Shilvi's Official Site

(click anywhere to enter, then click on "Jeux" on the top menu to play some games.  If you don't speak French, don't worry... let your kids click around.  You'll be surprised at how much they can navigate without knowing a word.  But hopefully ... they'll LEARN SOMETHING.

French Music Review: Ma P'tite Poupoune ("My little dear") - Shilvi

I'm starting with Shilvi because this was my first French album. I adore all of the Shilvi's thus far - I currently own three.  Having said that, let me say right up front:

Shilvi is an acquired taste.

Shilvi is a little French Canadian girl, singing songs full of word play and delicious flights of fancy ("When The Sky Weeps", "The Big Elephant", "The Baby Robot").  The disc includes musical styles - jazz, various Latin rhythms - that keep it fun for adults as well as kids.  Much of it has a sweet, almost classical sound, but not at all cloying.  The lyrics are so clever that they elevate the whole album.