Beautiful Blackbird

This lyrical and meaningful tale is adapted from the Ila-speaking people of Zambia. Blackbird's solid black coat glows in the African sunshine, making all of the other birds that surround him envious. They too want a touch of black on their too colorful plumes. Narrator Myra Lucretia Taylor imbues this rhythmic story with her gorgeous voice, distinctive enunciation, and bird sounds. When the birds unanimously declare Blackbird the most beautiful of all, they chant, "Black is beautiful, uh-huh . . ." Young listeners will be exposed to the many possibilities raised by the simple symbolism. The tale is also perfect for participation. It invites singing, chanting, and imitation of the bird interactions. S.G.B. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

November 18, 2002
Storyteller Bryan's (What a Wonderful World) singular voice provides rhythm and sound effects throughout this musical adaptation of a Zambian tale. When gray Ringdove calls the other monotone birds together and asks, "Who of all is the most beautiful?" they all reply, "Blackbird." They then encircle Blackbird, dancing and singing, "Beak to beak, peck, peck, peck,/ Spread your wings, stretch your neck./ Black is beautiful, uh-huh!/ Black is beautiful, uh-huh!" At the birds' request, Blackbird agrees to paint black markings on them (with the blackening brew in his medicine gourd), but he warns Ringdove that it's not the color black that will make them beautiful. "Color on the outside is not what's on the inside..... Whatever I do/ I'll be me and you'll be you." The message about inner beauty and identity becomes somewhat diluted by the closing song, in which the birds triumphantly sing, "Our colors sport a brand-new look,/ A touch of black was all it took./ Oh beautiful black, uh-huh, uh-huh/ Black is beautiful, UH-HUH!" But if the ending creates a bit of confusion, Bryan's collages make up for it with their exhibition of colorful splendor and composition. Scenes of the rainbow of wings are outdone only by a lakeside view of their colors intricately "mirrored in the waters." And Bryan's lilting and magical language is infectious. Ages 3-7.