It's been a couple years since I last tackled the kids music video world. After years of organizing KidVid Tournaments, I think I just needed a break. Plus I was organizing a talk on great kids music videos and my video curation energies went there last spring.
That doesn't mean, however, that I've lost interest in finding great videos to share with your family, friends, and strangers in line at the grocery store. In fact, I went back and looked -- across the site, I featured nearly 100 new videos.
It's a new year now and with that I have a little extra energy to give you a brand new list -- my favorite kids music videos of 2013 (-ish). Let's define the video year as I have in the past -- new videos featured on the site between March 1 of the prior year and February 28 of the current year. (So, March 1, 2013 through February 1, 2014.) Let's also say only one video per artist (though there were a handful of artists I considered breaking that rule for). As always, I'm interested in visual creativity, a decent level of post-production values (which doesn't necessarily mean expensive), and a really good song.
PS: Miss the KidVid Tournament? Then I might just have something up my sleeve for you. Stay tuned.
Without further ado, then, in alphabetical order by artist, my 25 favorite kids music videos of 2013. Whether this is the first time you've seen some or all of these, or the tenth, please enjoy.
"Similes and Metaphors" - The Bazillions
"Stump Hotel" - Caspar Babypants
"Thingamajig" - Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band
(Oddly enough, removed from YouTube for violating its Terms of Service. I've had similar problems with YouTube regarding videos I've had specific permission to upload. I can imagine how frustrating it is for an artist.)
"Bunny in the Moon" - DidiPop
"Palindrome" - Dog on Fleas / Readeez
"Brussels Sprout Shout" - Duke Otherwise
"Midnight Sun" - Elska
"Day You Were Born" - Frances England
"Cakenstein" - Gustafer Yellowgold
"How Big" - Eric Herman
"Dinosaur" - Lori Henriques
"From You" - Charlie Hope
"Firetruck" - Karen K and the Jitterbugs
"End of a Summer Storm" - Alison Krauss (via Sandra Boynton)
"Bandwagon" - Joanie Leeds and the Nighlights
"Spicy Kid" - Lunch Money
"Cocodrilo" - Mister G
"When I Get Bald" - Alastair Moock
"Snow Day" - Zak Morgan
"Skateboard" - The Not-Its
"Tambourine Submarine" - Recess Monkey
"Recess" - Justin Roberts
"Boo!" - Trout Fishing in America
"Bigga Bagga" - Key Wilde & Mr. Clarke
"Turn! Turn! Turn!" - Dan Zanes & Elizabeth Mitchell