Kids might be scared of the boogeyman, but they will be partying and feeling freaky fun in the Halloween-soon-to-be-classic, “The Boogey Woogey Man” from celebrated children’s music artist, Marla Lewis. Lewis, a Parent’s Choice Gold Winner, is on the top of her game with the loose and flashy tune. Crackling the funny bone a few times and giving the listener an easy path to singing along, “The Boogey Woogey Man” is a big-band style, tap-along adventure.
Genuine and endearing, Lewis has the voice sculpted just for children’s ears. Honestly, though, she can sing just about anything and fans of any age will dig her voice. Encapsulated in her rousing voice are sprinkles of pop flavoring, with a bit of Broadway or Great American Songbook featurettes and of course, jazz leading-lady sparkle. The cadence in her voice is charming – it’s quite clear that maybe in another life she was Mary Poppins or your revered kindergarten teacher. This song is straight-forward enough – it’s about a dancing skeleton that wears a black top-hat, but Lewis really makes you believe. When she sings the Boogey Woogey Man’s put a spell on your shoes, you actually buy into it. That suspension of disbelief is just what the doctor ordered.
Shadowy and a bit more off in the distance, the answering male voice – The Boogey Woogey Man is lurch-like and surreal. He’s not up for the games, but he’s a participant, nonetheless. I had to laugh at his blasé attitude and pictured a curmudgeon of a skeleton dancing away. Lewis’ character in the song is just the right opponent to offset his crabbiness. The song keeps its eye on the prize though – not even the Boogey Woogey himself can escape music’s grasp. He falls to the rhythm and the world seems balanced again. Where her flair for the joy and the hilarity of it all, is set flush against him, it makes for a great listening experience.
Lewis is a New Jersey-born singer/songwriter and was an elementary school teacher for 20 years. Her discography includes “Leap of Faith” co-written with Nancy Schimmel. The song is included in the Grammy Award Winning children’s album, All About Bullies…Big and Small. Her other works include the albums, We All Laugh In The Same Language (2007) and
I Love To Talk To Plants (2009). Lewis worked with Grammy Award Winning producer and engineer Bob Stander on both projects.
Cozy and sweet don’t often come up when you think of Halloween music but leave the Edgar Allen Poe’s and the H.P. Lovecraft’s of the world for their own subgenre. Creepy crawlers and things that go bump in the night can get their limelight in other songs – this one is all about the dance and the jazzy get-ups. The delightful Marla Lewis gives an almost joyful performance in the catchy and spooky-ish tune. It’s a breath of fresh air and testament to Lewis’ talents that she can deliver a universally-loved song for tricksters of any age. “The Boogey Woogey Man” is a sure fire hit!
Chadwick Easton
The music of Marla Lewis has been heard all over the world in partnership with the radio plugging services offered by Musik and Film Radio Promotions Division. Learn more https://musikandfilm.com