A Gift for Me

Follow along with the lyrics as you listen to the accompaniment with melody guide for A Gift for Me.

Speak the words of A Gift for Me before learning the music. The repeated words make this song seem like a tongue twister.

The words will require clear diction.

Use expressive singing to tell the story.

• How will you show that you are excited?
• How will you change your presentation when you are sneaking to the tree in verse 2?
• In the final chorus, be sure the audience believes that you DON’T want underwear or socks!

The words in parenthesis are optional. If you include them, you may use a speaking voice to say them. How will you use expressive speaking to deliver those words?

If you are singing in a small group or class, you may want to choose some solo speakers to say the words that are in parenthesis.

Discuss the meaning of the word catastrophe.

• Are there any other words in the song that need to be explained?

A Gift for Me

I needed a song for my young primary students to sing in the December Christmas concert. These young students were in their first year of school in a French immersion program. They needed a song that was melodically simple and they had a limited French vocabulary after only three months in school. I wrote J’ai un cadeau, playing with the feel of repeating the word “cadeau” multiple times. The students enjoyed singing the song and their performance was well received by the audience.

I was approached by Nikki Loney at FULL VOICE Music to see if I would be interested in translating my “Cadeau” song into English. I agreed to do that and then we partnered with Tracey Ford and her sister, Andrea who also did a Spanish translation so the song could be used as a three-language study for young vocal studio students.

Like the French version, A Gift for Me plays with repetitious words, like a tongue twister of sorts and the words are fairly simple. Because direct translations don’t work well, my English version of this song ended up with a different “story line” than the French one. There is still the excitement of going to “the tree, the tree, the tree” to see lots of presents. However, there is a bit of humorous ending when the receiver of the gift hopes the gift is NOT underwear or socks!

The need for a simple French song has turned into a 3-song language study, as well as three songs that stand on their own as good repertoire for young, beginning singers to perform at their first recital or concert. It always amazes me that such simple things can turn into much larger things!

A Gift for Me / Où est le cadeau? / ¿Dónde está el regalo?  by Donna Rhodenizer with Spanish lyrics by Tracey and Andrea Ford.

This secular holiday language study celebrates the excitement and anticipation of holiday surprises. This is a great song for young singing students or choir!

Go to Full Voice Music to get this single song download. The download includes lyrics in English, French, and Spanish.

You are invited to send us your performance of A Gift for Me.

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