For years, Ms. Rachel’s songs have been designed to do more than just get stuck in a toddler’s head. They teach phonics, encourage movement, help little ones identify their emotions and give families a reason to sing along together. Now, for the first time, those songs have a life beyond the screen.
Ms. Rachel and Mr. Aron Accurso’s I’m So Happy, released Friday (Sept. 25), gathers 23 songs from the beloved children’s series, bringing together originals written for the show with familiar nursery-rhyme favorites. But this isn’t simply a collection of songs pulled from YouTube. Throughout the album, the Accursos revisit their catalog with explosive arrangements, live instrumentation, orchestration and new sections, giving familiar favorites a fuller musical life.
That distinction is noticeable on songs like “I Love a Rainbow,” which gets a new bridge and live strings, and “Caterpillar,” which grows from its more intimate piano-based presentation with more of an orchestral arrangement alongside the keys. Elsewhere, the duo can be found preserving songs that families already know, allowing their melodies and messages to remain front and center.
Of course, ranking an album made for young children comes with a different set of considerations. A song can be educational without necessarily being the most compelling listen, while a simple nursery rhyme can become one of the album’s most effective pieces thanks to a great arrangement. So, with that in mind, here is a ranking of all 23 tracks on I’m So Happy — from the songs that feel fully educational and fun to the ones that make the biggest musical impression.
