While I think that the Asylum Street Spankers’ Mommy Says No! was definitely one of the best dozen or so CDs from last year, there’s no doubt that it was definitely on the edge as kids’ CDs go — it’s not for everyone, and some families won’t like it at all.
On top of that, one song — “You Only Love Me For My Lunchbox” — has achieved what I believe to be a singular achievement in the kids’ music genre. It is, to my knowledge, the only kids’ song — recorded specifically for kids — to be edited for language. That’s right, XM Radio is playing the song, but without the last part of the tongue-twister breakdown.
Why?
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Tags: asylum street spankers, kids music, Video
Filed under NSFK (Not Safe For Kids), Video.
Tyler Stewart was the last of the founding members of the rock group Barenaked Ladies, which means he’s only been with the band for 18 of its 20 years of existence. He’s been the band’s drummer ever since. Stewart chatted by phone last week about what his kids listen to (Neil Young and High School Musical, just to begin with); his views on the relative merits of Barney, Sesame Street, and Beethoven; the genesis of their first kids’ CD Snacktime; and what’s to come for the band. (Photo courtesy Wikipedia.)
Zooglobble: I’m going to start the with the question I always ask whenever I interview someone and that is — what were your musical influences growing up?
Tyler Stewart: Well, my parents are pretty young so they were into popular and good music. My dad was a big fan of British rock bands like the Who, Led Zeppelin, and the Rolling Stones, and my mom was really into Motown music and soul. There was always good music playing in my house.
Specifically, what do you listen to with your kids?
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Tags: barenaked ladies, bnl, interview, snacktime, tyler stewart
Filed under Interviews.
Andy Blackman Hurwitz, mastermind of the ever-expanding Baby Loves Music empire, recently released the first CD from his Baby Loves Hip-Hop brand, Baby Loves Hip-Hop Presents The Dino-5. With hip-hop producing legend Prince Paul on board, along with a whole host of well-known names from the hip-hop world telling the story of five hip-hop dinosaurs, the expectations for the project were pretty high.
The end result? Well, it’s a mixed bag…
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Tags: baby loves hip-hop, Dino-5, dinosaurs, kids music, prince paul, Reviews, the roots
Filed under Reviews.
Newly-shorn concert/potluck promoter Bill Childs recently wrote of his appreciation for the Replacements.
That discussion, along with comments in this Justin Roberts Pop Fly review about how people have “linked” me with Justin Roberts, made me think about musical antecedents and current influences. Who would be the most important musicians (of any genre) throughout your entire life — the ones, even if you don’t listen to them on a regular basis now, who profoundly affect who you listen to now and, heck, who you are, period? And who are the kids’ musicians who have done the same?
My answers are after the jump — hopefully yours will be in the comments.
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Tags: influences, kids music, tmbg
Filed under Meanderings.
After going over-the-top for their first two videos (”Do The Elephant” and “Spanimals”), New York’s Jimmies do what all artists do for their third release — go power-ballad.
OK, it’s not really a power ballad (there is no poofed hair), but “Taddy” is one of the few sweet and tender songs off Make Your Own Someday, and now it has a video to match, one in which the band members sit around and don’t even lip-synch a word.
But it’s awesome in its own way.
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Tags: jimmies, kids music, tadpoles, Video
Filed under Video.
Folks, it’s time to wrap up KidVid Tournament 2008 (and get back to, you know, reviewing CDs and making the occasional sarcastic comment). Head on over here and cast your vote to determine the year’s most popular kids music video: Mr. Richard’s “Cheese” or They Might Be Giants’ “Seven Days of the Week (Never Go To Work).”
Tags: kids music, kidvid, music, Video
Filed under KidVid Tournament 2008, Video.
While yesterday’s matchup was a live-action affair, the 2nd semifinal in KidVid 2008 is an all-animation competition. Renee & Jeremy offer “It’s A Big World,” a soft lullaby from their It’s A Big World disk (review). They Might Be Giants counter with “The Seven Days of the Week (Never Go To Work),” a zippy anti-work/pro-trumpet practice tune from Here Come the 123s (review).
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Tags: kids music, kidvid, march madness, music, Video
Filed under KidVid Tournament 2008.
Moving on into the semifinals of KidVid Tournament 2008, we have a matchup between two popular videos thus far in the competition. The first video, The Jimmies’ Latin-tinged (of course) “Spanimals,” is off the Jimmies’ 2007 debut CD, Make Your Own Someday (review). Its competition will Mr. Richard’s Italian-tinged “Cheese,” which is from his late-2007 release Polka Dot Puzzle (review).
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Tags: kids music, kidvid, music, Video
Filed under KidVid Tournament 2008, Video.
One of the most exciting things about Offsprung joining the Nabisco family is the opportunity to use the incredible reach of Nabisco to get great kids and family music out to many, many more families.
As a result, I’m proud to announce that I’m going to be the producer of Snack Songs: Music For Nabisco Families, a forthcoming CD that will compile old favorites as well as reinterpretations of well-known kids’ songs by superstars past and present. What’s on the CD?…
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Tags: kids music, Nabisco, snacks
Filed under Uncategorized.
Today’s contest is from the Pete Seeger Region, in which the #1 seed Gustafer Yellowgold and “Pinecone Lovely” (off the Have You Never Been Yellow? CD/DVD) goes up against the #3 seed Mr. Richard and “Cheese” (from Polka Dot Puzzle). Kinda ironic, given Gustafer’s well-known dislike of cheese, no?
Anyway, the by-now-familiar rules: Vote in the comments below, once per family, and by 9 PM West Coast time tonight (Thursday). Play fair, y’all…
Oh, and vote on They Might Be Giants against David Tobocman here…
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Tags: kids music, kidvid, march madness, music, Video
Filed under Uncategorized, Video.
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