Peter Alsop
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Peter Alsop is an American children's musician whose songs try to help kids deal with life. He covers a broad range of subjects: fear of sleep, dealing with loss, dealing with invasion of privacy, being called 'gay' for showing emotion, gender differences, individual tastes, dealing with disabilities, respect for others, etc.
Alsop's lyrics are strikingly open about even taboo subjects (It's Only a Wee-Wee, So What's the Big Deal?; It's My Penis; Hopelessly Heterosexual; Don't Stick Your Hand Down My Pants Just 'Cause We're in Love). This kind of open communication, together with the often joking, sometimes defiant mood, can help kids to talk about things that trouble them without fear of being censored.
He lives in Topanga, California with his wife Ellen Geer (daughter of Will Geer). They have two daughters, Megan and Willow.
Albums
Peter and Bill in the Hospital
Teaming up with Bill Harley, Alsop made an album to help children deal with hospital stays. The songs range from silly to annoyed to hopeful to empowering.Song Titles (and relevant theme):
- If It Doesn't Have Me (separation from family and friends)
- A Friend Like Me (emotional support)
- Let's Face It! (the reality of physical disabilities)
- My Little Clock (asking for respect)
- Inspection! (invasion of privacy)
- Samit And the Dragon (using imagery to heal)
- Needle-ee, Noodle-ee (if kids ran the hospital!)
- New Ground (loss from a different perspective)
- While I'm Sleepin' (for children afraid to go to sleep)
- Take A Step (big jobs start with one small step)
- The Quadrapus Story (about an octopus with four legs)
- The Castle Story
Wha'd Ya Want to Do?
- Bored, Bored, Bored!
- Wha'd'ya Wanna Do?
- I Wanna Be A Dog
- Charlie Douglas
- Slap Hands (to beat shyness)
- Sandwiches
- My Brother Threw-up On My Stuffed Toy Bunny (losing a best friend) (originally composed and recorded by Barry Louis Polisar)
- Yecch! (a gross scream-along)
- I Am A Pizza
- No One Knows For Sure (hope when things look dark)
- Don't Trick Your Dad!
- Be Gentle Robin! (how parents learn from kids)
- My Body (abuse & adduction prevention)
- You Get A Little Extra When You Watch T.V.! (about hidden messages on T.V.)
Stayin' Over
- Stayin' Over
- Bigger, Bigger, Bigger (respecting smaller folks)
- I Wanna Try It!
- Dear Mr. President
- Us Kids Brush Our Teeth
- If You Love A Hippopotamus (good friends come in all sizes!)
- You're Okay! (we all have differences)
- I Cried (divorce through a child's eyes)
- Juice (filling each other up with "love" so we can pass it on)
- No Excuse T'Use Booze! (problems get worse when you use booze)
- Aaargh! (let it all out song for perfectionists)
- Rachel And The Moon (parents accidentally squash kids feelings)
- Where Will I Go? (kids need to talk about losses)
- Go To Sleep You Little Creep (passive aggressive lullaby!)
Take Me With You
- Take Me With You! (being left behind)
- Irish Seatbelt Jig (seatbelt buckling song)
- Let's Go! (riding on things that move!)
- Gnarly Dude (figuring out the teacher)
- Hey Ev'rybody! (it feels great to master something)
- It's No Fun When You Gotta Eat An Onion (different tastes for different people)
- Animal Crackers
- Chickens For Peace
- Let 'Em Laugh (courage to go on when others laugh at us)
- Little Cookie (disabilities)
- Letter To Mr. Brown (children need to be touched appropriately)
- He Eats Asparagus, Why Can't You Be That Way?
- Logical (why grown-ups actually use logic)
- Kid's Peace Song
Pluggin' Away
- If I Was In Charge
- I Can If I Wanna (ignoring the negative voice inside)
- Costume Party
- Hyperactive (the questionable virtues of sugar)
- No One's Normal
- Heal The Bay (anthem for a cleaner environment)
- That's My Thang!
- Safari (through your sister's nose)
- Gotta Lotta Livin' To Do (about AIDS)
- What If? (when fears take over)
- Under The Rainbow
- New Games (where everyone wins)
- High Standards (you don't need an "A")
- Pluggin' Away (the secret to getting things done)
External links
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