Monica Lee serenades the Coucou and Mr. Moon in her sweet new kids’ single — premiering exclusively on Tinnitist.
The opening number from the Vancouver singer-songwriter’s upcoming family-friendly album You, Me And The Moon, Coucou (Mr. Moon) is a lovely acoustic-guitar lullaby that comes by its timeless sound and innocent sentiments honestly — it combines a centuries-old melody by an Italian composer with a lyrical round from a 1970s Girl Guides songbook. And she first heard it more than a decade ago, thanks to her hometown library.
“When I had my first child in 2009, the Vancouver Public Library still had a book-bag program,” Lee recalls. “Each child born was given a book bag containing one board book. Mine was a beautiful Mother Goose collection with … a children’s music CD. On the CD there was a version of Mr. Moon.
“According to Mama Lisa’s World – International Music and Culture, the original melody to this song was composed by Giacomo Gotifredo Ferrari (1763 – 1842), an Italian composer and teacher. The song was called Il Cucù — Sorgete O Pastorelli (The Cuckoo — Get Up, O Shepherd Boys). Versions of this melody are found sung in Bahasa Indonesia, French, Norwegian and Polish. In Spain, the melody is found in two songs with different lyrics.”
That attention to detail is nothing new from Lee, who has crafted a remarkable career with her powerful voice, her sense of whimsy, musicality and her poetic lyricism. All of those traits and more are present on You, Me And The Moon, her first children’s album. Produced, mixed, and mastered by Marc Atkinson at The Barn Studio on Hornby Island, the album is a testament to the love of parents for their kids. The empowering messages in the music, encouraging children to be kind, curious, and creative, are designed to inspire little ones to explore the world, connect with nature and embrace their unique qualities.
“The album takes us through the motions of life with our little ones, playing outside in the forest listening to the birds, the story of the love of their mother watching them grow, singing about the family pet, magical moments — even humanizing potty training,” says Lee, a mother of two. “Each song can stand alone, but together they feel like a love letter from a parent to their child, inviting, tender and silly.”
A multidisciplinary artist for over 20 years, Lee is known for performing in the roots, jazz and country traditions as well as being a charismatic children’s educator in her program, Jump Into Music. A chanteuse in both French and English, her voice is flexible and sweet on this new LP, moving between original songs and familiar classics like Gershwin’s Summertime. “The record touches on several genres: Swing, blues, roots, folk and jazz, sophisticated enough for adults to enjoy while keeping the kids bopping along,” she says.
Whether she’s performing at a local venue or in a festival setting, Monica’s energy and enthusiasm are contagious. Her music has become a beloved part of many Vancouver families’ lives, inspiring creativity and building confidence in children as they explore and add their authentic voices to the world.
Listen to Coucou (Mr. Moon), hear more from Monica Lee below, and keep up with her at her website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
