Songs Of Summer Magic
July 27, 2012
Posted by Jennifer Finch
Camp News
Camp memories can strike you in the most unlikely ways. Visions of Pinnacle or the Waterfront hit you during Algebra class or the taste of watermelon and hotdogs overwhelm you and you yearn for the crunch of white and grey gravel underfoot. Yet nothing holds memories quite like music….. Services, Camp cheers, Zimriah, Color War and Maccabiah all have words, tunes and individual meaning for each of us. Hearing them can transport us and revive our camp senses and emotions.
Every couple of years since 1963, Blue Star has released an album of camp songs and cheers for campers and alumni to enjoy at home. This year, that tradition has been brought into the most modern of formats. Camp alumni, and current recording artist, Mark Aaron James, (Mark Widerman, to those of us who went to camp with him) has, over the past year, collected and converted vintage camp classics and alumni recordings into MP3s. Mark has also been on-site in 2012, recording all of camp’s musical moments. Besides vintage albums and Camp specific and event titles, the website also contains Blue Star alumni; former staff & campers who have made professional recordings. Not to forget “Singing with Penny White and Blue Star Campers” among other tiltles.
The purpose behind all this work is to assemble everything on a private iTunes-like website; specifically for campers, families, staff and alumni, to stream camp music. It will provide the ability to download songs in several formats, compatible with all digital players and the ability for it to be continually upgraded with the most current Blue Star music. Now your daughter’s or son’s ringtone can be their cabin Zimriah song, or their iPod can contain this year’s color war anthem. Give “Blue Star Bandcamp” a listen at www.bluestarcamps.bandcamp.com and let those memories both old and new creep back in.
