What do you do if your last viral video was an incredibly simple (if well-thought-out) dance routine on treadmills. You go all super-complex. Rube-Goldberg-like, even. The internet exploded today because of this, and for darn good reason. (More behind-the-scenes stuff here.) This isn't a kids song (there's a low-grade curse word I completely missed until reading the lyrics), but I think kids are gonna go nuts for this. I kinda did, too, in my own little way. (I also love the way they comment on "Here We Go Again.")
OK Go - "This Too Shall Pass" [YouTube]
Monday Morning Smile: "MLK" (U2, arr. Bob Chilcott) - "Vox Laci Youth Choir"
The last time I did this, the smile was more of a grin. Well, after hearing the Phoenix Chorale do a fabulous version of U2's "MLK" as arranged by Bob Chilcott at their sold-out "Darkness and Light" concert on Saturday, I knew I wanted to share this lullaby. I preferred the Chorale's version to anything I could find online, but I think you'll get the point. A bit of calm for the week ahead.
Vox Laci Youth Choir - "MLK" (U2, arr. Bob Chilcott) [YouTube]
Monday Morning Smile: "Hey Hey You Say" - Papas Fritas
An early, as-yet-unrevealed formative video experience for Michael Rachap?
Who knows, but this is pretty much a guaranteed grin. Not kids music, but bring 'em round the computer.
Papas Fritas - "Hey Hey You Say" [YouTube]
Dan Zanes: Movie Star and Cultural Icon
OK, I'm overstating it, but there's no question that Dan Zanes is reaching some level of cultural saturation that might even go beyond Laurie Berkner and the Wiggles.
No, it has nothing to do with Wonderful World, a new movie starring Matthew Broderick. Zanes announced last month that he'd written some songs for, and had a small on-screen role in, the movie, which is about an ex-children's music singer who's looking for a new direction in his life and that he'd written some songs for the movie. (More details on Zanes' role in the movie can be found here -- interestingly enough, director/writer Josh Goldin said he "loosely based [the lead character's] back story on the children's music heavyweight Raffi -- specifically his unsuccessful attempt to make records for adults.")
No, what I want to mention is this Dan Zanes shout-out -- of sorts -- in Greenberg, an upcoming movie from Noah Baumbach, which stars Ben Stiller as... some other guy who's looking for a new direction in his life. (Hat tip: Mr. Richard.) It comes at the very end of the trailer (the money shot, as it were) and the quote from Stiller's character makes no sense -- he's suggesting to a bunch of apparently college-age kids that they grew up on Dan Zanes, which, considering that Zanes' only been releasing kids music for literally 10 years, seems, well, wrong.
But I'm more interested in the fact that Baumbach threw Zanes' name into the script and that the trailer creators thought Zanes' name was enough of a marker that it'd signal a particular attitude to a particular audience -- an audience, for example, who would recognize LCD Soundsystem's so incredible "All My Friends" (James Murphy does this soundtrack) as the background music.
If only Hollywood Squares were still on the air, I think Zanes would be set...
How Much Would You Pay for the New Key Wilde & Mr. Clarke EP? How About a Buck?
Over the last 3 years or so, I'm not sure there's anyone who's been as big a fan of Key Wilde & Mr. Clarke as I. Go ahead -- look at the archives here, dating all the way back to April 2007, where I extolled the song "Favorite Names" and talked about sharing great kids music like that of the duo's with the world. I dig this band.
So when I was asked last week by Little Monster Records if I'd be interested in an exclusive offering of the new Key Wilde & Mr. Clarke EP Hello, Our Name Is Key Wilde & Mr. Clarke to you, my readers, at a super-low-are-they-crazy? price it didn't take me long to agree...
Really, the song "Favorite Names" is worth a dollar in and of itself, but, wait, there's more! (I've always wanted to say that and mean it.) If you click that "Get it Now" button you'll be able to buy that song, plus two more fun songs that aren't on their January 5th full album Rise & Shine plus the video for "I Had a Little Dog" plus the digital liner notes which include coloring pages.
For. A. Buck.
Now the only reason I thought about declining the offer is because I don't want to make it seem like my editorial integrity is being compromised. But I think I've made it clear over time how much I like the band. It seemed to me that trying this was an opportunity for experimentation regarding new distribution channels for kids music that I'd like to see more of. And you are welcome to stream the songs and video without buying. In any case, I won't make a single dime from doing this, either upfront or based on sales. All the money -- which won't be dramatic, because it's just $1, people! -- will go directly to Key Wilde & Mr. Clarke and Little Monster. Just click on "Get it Now" and you'll be able to purchase it in mere seconds. Instant gratification.
One final caveat -- this offer is only good through January 1, 2010. After that, the offer (and the digital EP and this stream) will disappear. Ed: And so it has...You Are My Great Deal: Elizabeth Mitchell's Sunshine Just $2.99. Such A Deal.
Tomorrow, Elizabeth Mitchell's fabulous You Are My Sunshine goes where only Dan Zanes has gone before, kids-music-wise (I think), and that's Amazon's mp3 Deal of the Day. That's right, on Wednesday, December 10, you can download the entire mp3 album for just $2.99. Here's my original review (posted 4+ years ago, and written well before that, so forgive me the phrase "one of those albums you may find yourself putting on even when your kids aren't around." Even though it's still true.)
So if you don't have the album, hop to it. Tomorrow, anyway.
