Review of "Theme Song of Marky the Magnificent Fairy" by Studio Story Monster, Zachary Simpson, Erin Rementer

Score: 93/100 (9.3 out of 10)

This charming song opens with the comforting, uplifting sounds of birds chirping in the forested woods. It then transitions into the melodic strumming of an acoustic guitar by Zachary Simpson, leading right into the cheerful vocals performed by Erin Rementer. This is probably Simpson and Rementer's best song since the Story Monsters Theme itself, which is very tough to top!

You know a children’s theme song has done its job when it’s not only catchy but also feels like a hug you can hum! Theme Song of Marky the Magnificent Fairy nails that unique feeling.

It's bright enough to make kids want to sway and dance. All the while, it's warm enough to effectively deliver its core message of courage, kindness, and self-acceptance.

Based on Cynthia Kern O’Brien’s touching book about a fairy born with a small wing, the song leans heavily into empowerment while keeping things playful.

Simpson’s lyrics are simple but purposeful. Each line is a little nudge toward self-belief, and Erin Rementer’s vocals sparkle with sincerity (you can practically hear her smiling). The melody is upbeat but not frantic, with just enough whimsical lift to fit a fairy’s world without turning into a sugar rush.

This song actually has a very sing-songy, calm, and mellow flow/vibe, almost like a butterfly (or, perhaps more accurately, a fairy) fluttering from one side of the tree line to the other.

It does a good job at forwarding the message that Marky isn't just a remarkable person, but that she's also a familiar and relatable person. One of our favorite lines in this song is:

"She has a small wing
That won't stop her today
'I can do anything' is what she would say

Her hopes and her dreams
Are not different from you
Everyone has hopes and dreams too"

What this essentially tells the listener is that she isn't defined or limited by her disability. She is more than capable of doing great things. Furthermore—and perhaps even more importantly—she is a lot more similar than she is different. She has hopes, thoughts, feelings, emotions, and dreams just like "normal" or uninhibited people.

Another great aspect of this song is how it gets the reader excited for adventure and exploration, which you would expect from a story about fairies. For example:

"...where will you go? What will you do?"

It's almost as if the narrative is challenging Marky and the listener/reader with the prospect of infinite possibilities.

Now, there is a brief part near the end of this song in which it really seemed like it lost some momentum. It almost seems as if they used up all their good material in two minutes and ran out of things to sing about. The repeated refrain gradually gets softer and softer. You could argue that this is a musical landing, but... you're supposed to stick the landing, right? The song built up so much momentum, then it seemed to meander and get lost in some "oohs" and "whoos." But even that is a bit interesting considering that the story takes place in the woods, a place where people notoriously get lost and have to find their way back.

So, for the song to end as it began (with the chirping of birds in the trees)... that's a pretty fitting ending. It's almost as if the singer, singing through the character, found their way back through the woods and into the clearing.

Speaking of epiphanies we had... this song also made us realize that "Marky" might actually be a pun or a homonym for "marquee" (as in being premium or very important), which is important considering that Marky is disabled, having a smaller wing. However, we're told in the song that Marky is "everything wonderful, happy, and good." In other words, she an incredible (and magnificent) person—she's both Marky and marquee.

This isn’t just a theme song, it’s a tiny, tuneful pep talk that tells children (and maybe a few adults) that their uniqueness is their magic. And that’s a tune worth putting on repeat.

Check it out on Apple Music!