Press For Moey

Off Broadway Raves!

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Bridgehampton - The Children’s Museum of the East End (CMEE) in Bridgehampton will conclude its 2008 Whirligig Wednesday “Summer Picnic and Performance Series” on Wednesday, Aug. 20, with two top bands in children’s entertainment - Laughing Pizza (6:30 p.m., ages 2-9) and Moey’s Music Party (4:30 p.m., ages 2-5), plus, a special ‘intermission’ act by resident artists, “Cirque du Jour” a professional circus-training troupe.

Award-winning Off-Broadway songwriter turned ‘Mommy Rocker,’ Melissa Levis, has garnered legions of adoring fans among the toddler set with her kid-rock-band Moey’s Music Party. Her upbeat, funny songs address all things familiar to a pre-schooler’s world, from manners, sharing, parents, sneezing, getting dressed and being a kid. Levis turns tots into rock stars as she hands out maracas, pompoms and inflatable guitars to all the children. Kids and parents are invited to sing and dance along to urbane hits like “I’m a New York City Kid” from the Moey’s Music Party CD.

Melissa Levis, "Moey," is a music teacher/writer/producer/performer whose listed credits range from award-winning theatrical productions to writing songs for celebrities including Governor Bill Richardson and the Prime Minister of Canada. The current album, Moey's Music Party, is a compilation of children's songs she wrote during her son's early years.
Teachers of pre-school children will find here a welcome grab bag of simple, funny songs with strong kid appeal. Songs are often lyrically repetitious while nicely varied in musical style and feel. Making the album itself an inspiration is Moey's expressiveness--itself a lesson on how to communicate with young children.
Many songs provide obvious opportunities for kid participation. In her "Daddy" song, one can picture acting out both the dad's activities ("I gotta shave, shower, and go to work!") and the kids' ("We're gonna kick, kick, kick the ball." etc). "In the Fall" when the leaves come down children can "catch, catch, catch a whole batch," "crunch, crunch, crunch a bunch" etc. She also has a cute call-and-answer "Getting Dressed" song. It would be interesting to know how she handles what she refers to as her #1 hit, "I Gotta Go Potty.") "New York City Kid" and "Sushi Symphony" are a reminder that, unlike many of us, Moey travels in affluent, East Coast circles. But most of her songs could be used in classrooms everywhere.
The album ends with a catchy song including the phrases "Hasta luego, where did our day go?," "Sayonara, see you tomorra"--a goodbye song that alone is worth the price of the album.--Author: Fran Landt; Skip Landt

PreS-K–Off-Broadway songwriter Melissa Levis has released her first children’s recording, inspired by her own son’s milestones. Accompanied by guitar, keyboard, and percussion, Levis (a.k.a “Moey”) rollicks her way through songs that include simple themes like sneezing, going potty, getting one’s hair washed, and getting dressed. Her lively lyrics and clear voice inspire movement, dance, and singing along. The performer’s Manhattan neighborhood serves as the backdrop for “New York City Kid,” a song that counts its way through the Big Apple. “I Sit When I Eat” is a fast-paced tune that recognizes youngsters’ continual movement while enticing them to sit still when they eat... This title will be useful for general listening collections.–School Library Journal

"Children and adults alike enjoy this lively recording. Moey's Music Party gets everyone on their feet and guarantees a rocking-good time."

"The only kids CD I've found to date that I can enjoy after the 100th listen."
- Northshire Bookstore

Moey's Music Party

by Phoebe Assenza
You washed your hair! You went potty! You got dressed! Our most mundane activities are cause for celebration when it comes to our grand-toddlers. Inspired by all the little milestones in her son’s first three years of life, Moey (known to adults as off-Broadway songwriter, Melissa Levis), recorded “Moey’s Music Party,” an album of rollicking, rock-tinged anthems, all dedicated to the bathing, sneezing and eating that punctuate our days--regardless of age. Each track sounds like The Bangles playing a block party on Sesame Street, inspiring jubilant sing-alongs in grandkids, but still catering to grandparents’ more refined musical palates. Giddy odes to things like sushi and autumn leaves can quickly narrow any generation gaps as long as you join in the chorus, too.
Posted: Oct 12, 2007

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