Monday Morning Smile: "Cookie-Tin Banjo" - Benjamin Scheuer and Escapist Papers

I've previously featured "The Lion," a delightfully-animated video from Benjamin Scheuer and his band Escapist Papers, as a "Monday Morning Smile."

Now I'm featuring "Cookie-Tin Banjo," a delightfully-animated video from Benjamin Scheuer and his band Escapist Papers, as a "Monday Morning Smile."  The song is a tender ballad featuring delicate fret work on the guitar, and the animation (directed by Peter Baynton based on illustrations by Nicholas Stevenson) is of a different, fuzzier style, but the upshot -- an achingly lovely portrait of fathers and families -- is the same.  In fact, in its celebration of music through the generations, it's even more apropos for this site.

Benjamin Scheuer and Escapist Papers - "Cookie-Tin Banjo" [Vimeo]

Monday Morning Smile: "The Lion" - Benjamin Scheuer (Escapist Papers)

This is a beautiful song, the title track, as it were, from a new autobiographical stage show from Benjamin Scheuer.  Scheuer's show The Lion will get its American premiere in June, but the video for this song performed by Scheuer and his band Escapist Papers has already won awards.

I would note that the song lyrics feature murder and death and sickness amongst animals.  But so does Babar.  In spite of that, it's probably the most uplifting song you'll hear all week, and the animation from Radish Pictures is gorgeous.

Benjamin Scheuer (The Escapist Papers) - "The Lion" [Vimeo]