The latest (as yet unreleased) Yo Gabba Gabba song is from Ladytron, who lend their electronica stylings to a little ditty I have named "Use Your Mind." That's a(n) (educated) guess of the title, because all the band says on their YouTube page is, "No it's not our song..." as if they wanted to wipe their hands of the thing. While it's not an instant classic, it's not half bad, either. As a dance-inspiring video, though, it's no Beyonce. [Update: That video was taken down, and posted on Nettwerk's page. No disparagement any more, but confirmation of the title.]
Ladytron - "Use Your Mind" [?] from Yo Gabba Gabba! - [YouTube]
Yo Gabba Gabba! Gabba!: Season Two Ends Oct. 12th-16th
In advance of the Yo Gabba Gabba! album being released on Oct. 20th comes word that Season Three the last episodes of Season Two of the TV show will debut the week of October 12th. Musical guests that week include the Roots (yes! "Lovely, Love My Family" finally gets airtime in an actual episode), MGMT, Renee Oliver, Lady Tigra, and Little Ones. And of course Biz Markie and Mark Mothersbaugh return.
Beyond that, you've got Andy Samberg doing whatever it is he does. Gufffaws will ensue. Presumably.
A list of episodes (all episodes are at 1 PM Eastern time) and a behind-the-scenes video featuring MGMT after the jump.
Video: "The Ballad of Daykitty" - Lou Barlow (Pancake Mountain)
It is now possible for folks to promote their album for adults by appearing on a show for kids. Exhibit A: Lou Barlow, who's got a new album, Goodnight Unknown, coming out October 6 and a bunch of videos on the cutely-titled LooTube. (Wonder how many hits they get from folks looking for bathrooms in England?)
But he also recently made an appearance on the venerable (if scrappy and underground) TV show Pancake Mountain and while this song is miles away from the bouncier, dancier stuff you normally hear on the show, the song, "The Ballad of Daykitty," from his album Emoh, works awesome for the young'uns. Rufus dug it, too.
Lou Barlow - "The Ballad of Daykitty" (Pancake Mountain) [YouTube]
Yo Gabba Gabba on CD Is Awesome (Album Due Oct. 20)
We can have a long debate over the merits of Yo Gabba Gabba the TV show, but there's little doubt that it's exposed a bunch of preschoolers to a lot of artists that normally would have little exposure to a bunch of preschoolers. The Shins, Yo Gabba Gabba, Mates of State -- the list is long (and kinda cool). Now comes word (via Pitchfork) that Filter US will be releasing a Yo Gabba Gabba compilation entitled Music Is Awesome on October 20. It'll be both a CD and iTunes release. To some extent, it overlaps with the iTunes exclusive compilation released last year. But at 21 tracks in length, including stuff from Chromeo, Of Montreal, and the Shins that weren't on that release, there's a fair amount of new material. Track listing after the jump.
Kids Music Fights H1N1 Flu
That's right, folks, nothing like the onset of the cold and flu season as an excuse to watch two excellent kids music videos.
The first is "Nice 'N' Clean," and it's from Chromeo, a band that you will not typically listen to with your kids. But Yo Gabba Gabba has a way of getting folks to do all sorts of songs you wouldn't expect. This song is all about washing your hands, and has a funky synthesized video to go along with the funky synthesizers. There's no embedding, but it's worth going here and watching it with the kiddos.
And then, yeah, you have to do the elephant.
The Jimmies - "Do The Elephant" [YouTube, also on the forthcoming Trying Funny Stuff DVD]
Hey Nice Lady, Have You Seen Dan Zanes?
Dan Zanes will be on this year's Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon. 5:30 Eastern time on Monday. That's some sort of barrier broken, to be sure, regarding kids music in pop culture.