I don’t know if people are necessarily looking for “happy” entertainment these days, but I do suspect that people are looking to increase the percentage of “uplifting” stuff as part of their family’s entertainment diet. (That diet is probably larger than it used to be.)

May I suggest a recommended daily allowance of Okee Dokee Brothers music? I doubt the FDA would give it its stamp of government approval, but you know I’m right. And also singing. Singing daily is also highly recommended. Pete Seeger would tell you that straight out.

Singing Okee Dokee Brothers songs? Doubly recommended. The Minnesota duo had planned to release their double album Songs for Singin’ in the middle of summer, but taking a look at the weird new world they (and we) find themselves in now, they’re going to release this album full of singalong originals two months early, on May 1. (Two disks! That’s a lot of music!)

The Okee Dokee Brothers playing banjo and guitar

You can hear one of the songs early right here, today.. “If You Want a Song” is rousing singalong that, OK, it’s a little bit about singing, but it’s a lot about other stuff too. But it sounds great whether you blast out the lyrics all on your own or engage in a little call-and-response with whoever happens to be where you are right now.

About the album itself, Joe and Justin say that they got to see Pete Seeger perform live a few years before he passed away and the performance “always stuck with them as an example of how a strong song and a dedicated songleader can get a room full of people singing with spirit.” If you hear echoes of social and political engagement, that’s not an accident. “Life is a conversation,” they say, “a back and forth, a call and response.”

So I’m tickled to be premiering this song today. Whether you’re the songleader or follower, I hope you’ll sing along with this at least once.