Search - Melinda Caroll :: Girl Scouts Greatest Hits Vol. 5 "Camp Songs for Every Girl, Everywhere!"

For camping and other Girl Scout activities

C. Court | http://adorio.blogspot.com/ | 04/15/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is supposed to be an album of camping songs, but I remember singing some of these songs at rallies and Girl Scout Get-togethers. This is a collection of fun songs, some I have not have heard in the 60's to 80's so they may be new. I do remember learning De Colores at a Spanish language class in high school, so this is one famous international song since I sang it one day and a few of my neighbors (men and women)joined me in the chorus. This album has the famous Lu-La-Le song. To this day, I still do not know what it means. This version has Melinda Carroll saying the names of some states like New York, California and Hawaii and the chorus of Girl Scouts modulating their voices as they continue to sing Lu-La-Le. This is truly a tongue twister and a melody that pops into your brain for no apparent reason, just as I found myself yesterday singing it outside our corporate offices while waiting for a friend. A lot of Girl Scout songs have the same effect. Unlike popular or classical music that one may hum unconsciously, one could not hum a GS song without thinking of scouting days. This album has the vocal and karaoke version and they come with printed lyrics.



To date there are six volumes in this series all worth owning. This is a great series. I could not think of anybody else singing these songs other than Melinda Carroll and the hundreds of Girl Scouts who accompanied her in the albums, well, maybe another Girl Scout professional singer someday but right now it is a joy to listen to the GSUSA National Songleader of 2000.



If Amazon.com makes the price of the CDs comparable to other websites, they may find more customers, especially if they offer a good price for the entire set."

Wonderful Melinda Carroll & Girls Blend Harmonies

Dannis Cole | Cuthbert, GA USA | 09/12/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was a Girl Scout leader for 5 years and would've loved to have had these quality recordings! I bought the only national GS cassette they had, and the one locally produced one, from the GS Store. We had Service Unit Meetings where we eagerly swapped song lyrics and motions and recorded all of them on tapes. By the time my younger daughter came along, I could not be her leader because of health, but I got her vol 1-3 of these songs and accompanying songbooks so we could learn some together. What fun! When we found vol. 4 and 5, we bought those too. I still enjoy the music!! My favorites on this album are:

Princess Pat, my troops' all time favorite, with fun motions [which unfortunately were not in the CD notes] This is a funny one!

One new to me, Walk Shepherdess Walk, which is beautiful! The arrangement brough tears to my eyes.

These albums are the price of a regular CD, but worth every penny! I recommend them to all Girl Scout leaders everywhere. You leaders can probably budget some cookie money for these :)

Music is a major part of the GS program, and frequently neglected by leaders who think they 'can't sing'. When I became a leader and went to my first Leader Weekend, I met Nanette [in her 90's!], who told us that we should choose quality songs, and not too many of the silly or gross ones. The choices Melinda Carroll made for these albums reflects what I learned about how to introduce my girls to memerable music to bring good memories. Music with clean lyrics that reflect the service-oriented spirit of Girl Scouting influence the girls' behavior in the troop. And, when I browsed GSU Library's Music section for books to teach me how to teach music to my girls, I learned this: people tend to decide they 'can sing' or 'can't sing' by age 6 because of some comment someone close to them made to support either opinion. I was very careful to support my Brownies whenever they tried to sing. It's not talent, it's a skill, just like learning to write. Because I collected songs like these, I was able to teach them to other leaders, and my girls. Leaders, don't be afraid to sing!

It's all about fun, and Melinda Carroll's magic is another tool in your arsenal to insulate your girls against the storms of life. Girl Scouting is another safe haven for these precious girls, and the music sticks with them. There are enough new songs [Like Every Girl Everywhere] to get your troop singing and swinging, as well as a mix of songs for vespers, for quiet times, and for getting the wiggles out.

Don't forget, your girls will do what you do, and if you can get brave and sing with them you're more likely to have more of them singing. And, if you get brave enough to add your voice, that shy girl who kind of stands apart watching might get brave enough to sing for her first time. Music can be the ultimate icebreaker for girls with low self-esteem. Melinda Carroll's enthusiasm is catching, and this album is my favorite of the five I have!"