Review and Giveaway: Groovy Ruby “Strong, Lovin’, and Fun” CD
October 15, 2008 by Deb
Filed under Recent Reviews, music
My girls and I love to listen to music. Almost every time we’re going anywhere in our van, there’s music playing, and often I’ll put on a CD for the girls to dance to in the evenings when everyone’s home. Our music selection leaves a lot to be desired though – at least for everyone in the house above the age of two. The same old cartoon-driven songs aren’t just cutting it anymore – and there aren’t a lot of radio stations that I trust to play music that’s appropriate for young kids.
One of the CDs that we’ve really been listening to and enjoying a lot lately is Strong Lovin’ & Fun
What it is:
The five members of Groovy Ruby range in age from eleven to thirteen years old. Formed in 2005, the group has released two CDs and performs their upbeat music (and kid-safe lyrics) during live shows (mostly in and around New Jersey) as well.
From the band’s website:
Think Beatles meet the Go-Go’s…in grade school. Maybe a little Jackson 5, Doo-Wop, and some Ramones thrown in there too. Or how about a cross between Hannah Montana and the Jonas Brothers? That might be Groovy Ruby.
This all original band sings up on your feet, hooky, catchy, feel good tunes that get kids up and dancing. Led by five tween girls, the band’s songs contain messages of friendship, perseverance, and encouragement, amongst other positive themes.
Here’s my our take on it:
The five members of the group may not be able to legally drink, vote or even drive yet, but they certainly can sing! I would never have guessed how young these girls are just from listening to their songs. They are all truly talented – and together they have an amazing sound. To me, they are kind of like a cross between the Go-Go’s and Hannah Montana – upbeat, fresh pop music that’s fun to listen to and gets you wanting to jump right up and dance along. Which is what my girls do pretty much every time we turn any of the songs on.
My oldest loves pretty much any kind of music, but it’s my 5-year-old who’s already becoming quite the connoisseur of the tween music scene. So once she gives something the ‘thumbs up’, then I know it’ll be a hit – at least in our house. For most of us anyway – my toddler is still pretty attached to her cartoon CDs. But now that we’ve got some other great options like Groovy Ruby, hopefully she’ll come around as well. 
I found a description of each of the songs on the band’s website (and you can click on the song titles to hear each of them as well). With themes from friendship, having goals and dreams, love (strictly G-rated), and accepting people for who they are, I definitely feel that the girls are getting something other than just a pure enjoyment of the music out of listening to Groovy Ruby. Hearing about topics like these – especially sung by other girls like themselves, I think can go a long way toward helping kids truly understand these important values.
The bottom line:
Groovy Ruby is made up of a group of amazingly talented young singers who, I think, will have a lot of opportunities to go wherever they want life to take them. But for now, I’m glad that they’re creating music like this – fresh, exciting and fun for kids to listen to, and giving parents a peace of mind that’s hard to find nowadays where commercially-available music is concerned.
Where can you find it?:
The Strong Lovin’ & Fun
Would you like to try it?:
I have the opportunity to offer a copy of the Groovy Ruby Strong Lovin’ & Fun
- Enter by checking out the Groovy Ruby website and tell me what your favorite song from the CD is (hint – you can listen to them here). Please don’t just say ‘choose me’, or your entry will be discarded.
- The contest will run until Saturday, October 25th at 11:59 pm EST. The winner will be selected through random drawing, contacted by e-mail, listed on this post and also submitted to PRIZEY.Fetch. US entries only, please.
- Please leave a valid e-mail address or other way to contact you! If you don’t wish to leave your e-mail address, please make sure that you leave a unique name and check back with PRIZEYWinners to see if you won. If the winner hasn’t responded within 3 days, an alternate winner will be chosen by random drawing.
- If you’d like an extra entry or two, you can either subscribe to my RSS feed (click on the orange icon in the upper right sidebar), or mention this contest on your blog with a link back to this post – or both. Please leave an extra comment on this post for each of the extra entry options that you choose, letting me know – for a total of 3 comments if you do both extra entry options.
Good luck! 
THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED – the random number generator has chosen comment #32 as the winner:
Congratulations to kerri (no blog) who said, “these girls are so good they are so upbeat and i love the music i like the song you“! I will be e-mailing you shortly to work out the details.
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I love the ‘Too Cool for School’ song. Great giveaway, thanks!
Blogged ya:
http://mommyland512.blogspot.com/2008/10/groovy-ruby-cd-giveaway-at-just-moms.html
Thanks again!
“It’s Okay ” is my favourite. I love the raw talent.
“Too Cool for School” is so cute. I think my nine year old would enjoy this cd.
smalltownbeatnik at gmail
I subscribed to your feed!
“Too cool for school” sounds fun
I have your button on my blog.
Valentine is a fun one!
I’m subscribed too.
its okay sounds cool
subscribed
Too Cool For School is a super cute song!! What talented youngins!!
Thanks so much!!
Michele R.(CA)
luvkittysmeowmail@gmail.com
I’m a subscriber!!
Thanks so much!!
Michele R.(CA)
luvkittysmeowmail@gmail.com
Too Cool For School is a cute song.
jen
I am subscribed through email
jen
I like DON’T FORGET ABOUT ME
It’s Okay is my fave!
Don’t forget about me!
Too Cool for School
[...] copy of the Strong Lovin’ & Fun CD by Groovy Ruby (enter by 11:59 pm EST on October [...]
[...] copy of the Strong Lovin’ & Fun CD by Groovy Ruby (enter by 11:59 pm EST on October [...]
My kids would love this. I like the song “too cool for school”!
I think Valentine was a very catchy song. Thank you!
i’m subscribed.
i like too school for school!
I like I’ve Got Time.
Deidre
deidre_durance@hotmail.com
ok, I like Quite Alright. My daughter is 8 and a worrier. I think this would be right up her alley as a music freak!
new subscriber
[...] Love” Triple Wish Hoop Necklace (Contest ends October 29 @ 11:59pm EST.) Then head on over here to enter to win a copy of the CD “Groovy Ruby Strong Lovin’ and Fun” (Contst ends [...]
i like the Day by day – all the songs have a wonderful message.
I like the song “A Better Me”. What a great CD for young girls!! m_huston(at)hotmail(dot)com
My favorite song is Day by Day and this is an awesome cd for girls like my 11 year old daughter!
I love the ‘Too Cool for School’ song. Thanks!!!
quite alright is the cutest song
[...] copy of the Strong Lovin’ & Fun CD by Groovy Ruby (enter by 11:59 pm EST on October [...]
[...] copy of the Strong Lovin’ & Fun CD by Groovy Ruby (enter by 11:59 pm EST on October [...]
these girls are so good they are so upbeat and i love the music i like the song you
im a subscriber
[...] was sent from Groovy Ruby – the all-girl, kid band whose “Strong, Lovin’ and Fun” CD I’ve reviewed and given away here this [...]