"Moustaches" - The Zing Zangs

Artist: The Zing Zangs

Song: "Moustaches"

Album: Blast Off!

Description: I'm not sure I can condone the Canadian spelling of mustaches in this song, the growing of mustaches (I was not a Movember participant), or the use of MS Paint or some Flash-based animation software to draw mustaches.  But the combination of the three, plus the assorted cameos, I guess I (and your kids) can live with that.

Source: YouTube

"I Want a Hippopotamus for Hanukkah" - Mr. Palindrome

Artist: Mr. Palindrome

Song: "I Want a Hippopotamus for Hanukkah"

Album: N/A

Description: A video for the first night of Hanukkah, now one for the last, as the Australian (usually) musician tweaks the 60-year-old song for the Jewish holiday.

Source: YouTube

"Chanukah O Chanukah" - Mama Doni

Artist: Mama Doni

Song: "Chanukah O Chanukah"

Album: Mama Doni's Jewish Holiday Party DVD

Description: As a non-Jew, I don't have much of a cultural background to appreciate Chanukah songs -- I am definitely not the target audience for this DVD.  I do, however, very much like the bluegrass take on one of the few traditional Jewish songs I am, in fact, familiar with shared by Mama Doni and instrumentalist Eric Lindberg.

Source: YouTube

"Tails" - Red Yarn Puppet Band

Artist: Red Yarn Puppet Band 

Song: "Tails" 

Album: N/A

Description:  Though the spacy, almost otherworldly sound Red Yarn brings to the traditional folk song would have sounded just fine on his debut album The Deep Woods , this video actually predates (and doesn't appear on) the album.  For that reason alone, it's worth mentioning.  But also: puppets.  Six puppeteers strong.  I can't be the only getting Emmett Otter flashbacks...

Source: YouTube 

"Opposite Friends" - The Little Rockers Band

Artist: The Little Rockers Band 

Song: "Opposite Friends" 

Album:  Ready for Rockin'

Description: A little bit old, but I re-watched the video recently and thought the use of the fake splitscreen and the constant (simple) costume and prop changes made what could have been a fairly standard thing into something a little more polished.  Plus I appreciated the Arizona shout-out. 

Wait.  That wasn't an Arizona shout-out? 

Source:  YouTube

"Brand New Friend" - The Jelly of the Month Club

Arist: The Jelly of the Month Club 

Song: "Brand New Friend" 

Album: Introducing, The Jelly of the Month Club 

Description:  If you had told me that there'd be a new kindie band featuring, among others, a couple folks from Sublime, the musical bits in my mind would not have sounded anything like this song, which is a jazzy bit of roots and an infectious "wawa-wawa-wawa" chorus in parts.  And the video features green screen technology and animated animals, which can sometimes be a warning sign, but here is just charming.

Source: YouTube 

"Smiley Face Sticker" - Mr. Palindrome

Artist: Mr. Palindrome

Song: "Smiley Face Sticker" 

Album: Smiley Face Sticker 

Description:  The title track from bi-hemispherical singer Mr. Palindrome (he's based out of Australia, but has spent time here in the States) is soulful in an Elton John sort-of-way; the video's chief allure is the inventive re-purposing of daily objects (e.g., the swim noodle microphone, the anthropomorphized hair dryers).

Source: Vimeo