Really Rosie — Carole King

Ode

Heh, heh. Chuckle. Snort. What a peculiar one this is. I don't really know how to look at it. For originality of lyrics? They are not written by Ms King so one can't analyse them in relation to her and her previous work. What about the singing? Well yeah its good, familiar. The music? Again its typical Carole King - plenty of that edgy light-hearted piano, underlining the voice and what is being sung.

But no, this album really has very little to do with the above. Though Maruice Sendak could have chosen very few other composers and singers to interpret his delightful kids book. And that's what "Really Rosie" is all about. Its a beautifully illustrated kids book, adapted for TV, this album being the soundtracks (and yes, the lyrics are the simple imaginative poetry weavers that are the keynote of good children'sbooks).

"I'm really Rosie

And I'm Rosie Real

You better believe me

I'm a great big Deal Believe Me!"

"One was Johnny", Alligators All Around (a alphabet song); Pierre (about a boy named Pierre who didn't care: "The moral of Pierre is — Care!'); the Ballad of Chicken Soup. How can you argue with those (I certainly can't). What really is the mind-warper is to see such things on the cover of an album apparently aimed at teenage or adult C.King fans. Despite the excellence of this ladies vocal chords and music, the star of the show is or at least should have been, Maurice Sendak. Its his visual and lyric conception.

Its such a contrast. I'm more used to the sensitivity of the Tapestry album. Which in strict face-to-face confrontation with the songs on Really Rosie make the latter appear absolutely banal. Though doubtless the use of Ms King, in purely 'cynical and financial terms, has guaranteed at least moderate success for this album.

Carole King's fans, however, may be disappointed with an album which obstensibly features her in the usual role in "True Star", rather than merely as interpreter of another fantasy world.

Having got all of that little critique out, I'd just like to contradict myself completely and say that I like "Really Rosie". Innocent and naive it is, but that I think is what I like most about children (and most disturbing when I see that innocence withering). However I feel my attempt at reviewing it is irrelevant. A child should have been given this record to listen to and comment on.

— Graham Simpson