Potato prints a little reminiscent of Ed Emberley. Birds that can and can't whistle. Animation courtesy of a co-production between Trunk Animation in London and Dansk Tegnefilm in Denmark
But you had me at "potato prints."
Monday Morning Smile: "Me and Paul Revere" - Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers
Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers originally released "Me and Paul Revere" as a single for the 4th of July 2011 -- an apropos date given the song's subject -- Paul Revere's ride told from the perspective of his horse. The song is a model of historical storytelling through song. This video from Rolling Stone feels a little odd, watching Brooklyn twenty-somethings nod appreciatively as Martin and the band hurtle appropriately through the story, but there's a definite energy to the performance that makes it worth watching.
Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers - "Me and Paul Revere" [Rolling Stone]
Monday Morning Smile: "Violet" - Jeremy Messersmith
Take one longtime fan of Twin Cities musician Jeremy Messersmith, mix in a video featuring kids having a snowball fight, and what you get is a "Monday Morning Smile."
The video's for "Violet," one of several great tracks off his great 2010 album The Reluctant Graveyard. And, yeah, a snowball fight is actually kinda thematically appropriate. Keep the video in mind for this year's "Storm of the Century."
Jeremy Messersmith - "Violet" [Vimeo]
Monday Morning Smile: "When Will You Die?" - They Might Be Giants
A meditation on mortality from They Might Be Giants.
Also, a kick-butt rock tune (it's from their fine 2011 "adult" album Join Us).
And a celebration of life.
All of that in a two-and-a-half-minute video. Unless you think the phrase "when will you die?" will prompt questions from your kids that you just don't want to deal with (and, hey, I'm not judging) totally appropriate for the kiddos.
They Might Be Giants - "When Will You Die?" [YouTube]
Monday Morning Smile: MLK, Jr., Readeez-Style
I couldn't say much -- anything, really -- that would improve upon the speech that Readeez creator Michael Rachap chose to give the Readeez treatment. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s speech on the Washington Mall in 1963 is a classic -- here's the powerful last ninety seconds.
