A couple years ago -- exactly two years ago, April 1, 2012, I shared one of my favorite all-time posts here on the site, the world premiere of "Felt Around the World," which was "We Are the World" for a new (puppet) generation.
Last year I shared how the song had generated hundreds of dollars for St. Jude's Children's Hospital. Now, I'm happy to report that the world's greatest song performed by Fabricated Americans has generated thousands of dollars for St. Jude's. That's right, thanks to album sales and radio plays, we (that is, me and the folks at Recess Monkey, who coordinated the video and the musical contributions from our puppet friends) have now contributed more than $2,200 to St. Jude's.
Contributions keep trickling in, and you can still purchase the track at CD Baby, iTunes, and Amazon. Thanks again to everyone who produced, purchased, or listened to the song. Enjoy -- I still smile when I watch and listen today.
Deep into the summer, it's time to post another Spotify update for new music (see the June playlist here). As always, it's limited in that if an artist hasn't chosen to post a song on Spotify, I can't put it on the list, nor can I feature songs from as-yet-unreleased albums. But I'm always keeping stuff in reserve for the next Spotify playlist.
You'll notice that it's a little bit shorter than prior lists. There's a story, actually, about how a few kindie artists are choosing to not include their music on Spotify. But that's a story for another time.
Check out the list here or go right here if you're in Spotify.
**** New Music July 2013 (July 2013 Kindie Playlist) ****
The Verve Pipe – Scavenger Hunt
Princess Katie & Racer Steve – Come On Out!
Groove Kid Nation – Kalimba
The Que Pastas – Sunglasses
Karen K and the Jitterbugs – (I Woke Up in A) Fire Truck
Joanie Leeds and the Nightlights – Are We There Yet?
JumpinJazz Kids – Hubert Hummingbird
Juvenile By Decree – The Muskrat and Alien
So, huzzah to all the participants and all the fans who voted over these past three weeks. Huzzah to all my fellow kindie website operators who hosted matchups over these past three weeks. And huzzah to Princess Katie and Racer Steve, Champions of KidVid Tournament 2012!
Princess Katie & Racer Steve - "Sand in My Sandwich" [YouTube]
For the final time I will reiterate that this is a silly little internet contest and not worth getting upset over. [Yes, peope get upset over these things.] So, watch both videos below -- even if (especially if) you came here intending to vote for a specific video. One vote per family (the software checks for these sorts of things) by 8:30 PM West Coast time tonight. Most importantly, have fun!
Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band - "Blue Bear" [YouTube]
Princess Katie & Racer Steve - "Sand in My Sandwich" [YouTube]
Felt Around the World coverBig news in the kindie world today as more than a dozen kindie puppets officially released a new song, "Felt Around the World," designed to raise awareness of puppet rights. Accompanied by a video and a brand new organization -- Hand Aid -- the song is designed to make listeners aware of the inherent dignity of sock-, felt-, and cotton-based puppets both inside and outside the kindie music world.
The song is the brainchild of puppet songwriter Marion Aeder, who's written for such puppet music luminaries as Kermit the Frog, the Von Trapp Family puppets, and the version of Punch and Judy currently being performed by Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas. "I was tired of seeing my puppet friends treated like mere toys," and wanted to give voice to the feelings all puppets have," says Aeder.
So he contacted his friend, the puppet impressario Mayor Monkey. MayMo is best known, perhaps, as the excitable hand puppet band manager of Seattle kids music band Recess Monkey, but he also has served stints as a Public Interest Research Group organizer, and it turns out MayMo had been hearing many of the same concerns Aeder had.
West Ginger Liberty
The two puppets banded together -- Aeder providing the music and lyrics, and Mayor Monkey contacting his many compatriots in the kindie world. For example, Socrates Monk, sock puppet manager of Australian-American kindie band The Mudcakes, was happy to join in. Likewise, West Ginger Liberty, Princess Katie's right hand-er, puppet, also immediately said yes -- her performance on "Felt Around the World" is her first on-record singing performance.
Aeder and MayMo -- like Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, or Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, and Quincy Jones before them -- merged an anthemic song with a cast of stars. Unlike "Do They Know It's Christmas?" or "We Are the World," however, they didn't need to all gather in one place. Technological advances of the past 25 years meant that they could all record in the comfort of their own... homes, and send their work into Mayor Monkey, who by this time had also managed to corral (hound? badger?) Recess Monkey into playing backup and Jarrett J. Krosoczka into contributing album art.
Enthusiasm among the kindie puppets ran high for the project, with many new kindie puppets joining in, sometimes for very personal reasons. "Felt" participants Macho Nacho and Mouth Trumpet from Musical Stew met after being placed in Time Out after a peaceful 2004 demonstration in Medford, Oregon as the "Puppet Movement" was gaining momentum. Others, like Yosi's super-exuberant Eugene (he of the instantly memorable adlibs during the song's bridge) or Todd McHatton's Marvy had no personal tie to the project, but found themselves instantly drawn in. (Marvy is rumored to be working on a solo record, in fact.) And clearly it gave some puppets like The Wolf, best known for his demolition business, an opportunity to share skills he's honing with Debbie and Friends.
Felt Around the World co-mastermind Mayor MonkeyWhile the primary purpose of Hand Aid and "Felt Around the World" is to raise awareness of puppet rights, it's also going to raise money for St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. (All net proceeds after mixing, mastering, and Mayor Monkey's new megaphone he bought to keep everyone in line will go to St. Jude's.) Listeners got a sneak peak of the song yesterday at Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child, Ages 3 and Up!, Saturday Morning Cereal Bowl, and Hilltown Families. But you can purchase the song today at iTunes, Amazon (affiliate link), and CD Baby.
Or enjoy the video right here. Remember, folks, puppets are people, too. OK, they're puppets. But they deserve our respect.
