Monday Morning Smile: "Alphabet of Nations" - They Might Be Giants

Everybody's all World Cup this and USMNT that -- including me -- so I thought I'd make this particular Monday Morning Smile... well, not quite soccer/football related, but at least pretty global. How many 2010 World Cup squads are mentioned in this song? (Answer after the jump.) They Might Be Giants - "Alphabet of Nations" [YouTube]

Video: "Inchworm" (Live) - The Leisure Society

The folks at Sing Me To Sleep are having a record release benefit this Sunday (June 13th) at Joe's Pub in New York City, featuring Tanya Donelly, Jenny Owen Youngs, and Julie Peel. This follows up the UK release benefit last month, which featured the Leisure Society. Their track on the benefit album is "Inchworm" and while the recorded version is a bit too sprightly for the lullaby album, it's a great cover nonetheless. Here they are performing it live in London at the release benefit. The Leisure Society - "Inchworm" (Live) -[YouTube] A couple more Leisure Society tracks after the jump...

Video: "Night Owl" - Dan Zanes and Friends

Dan Zanes has been posting a bunch of clips from his 2009 DVD The Fine Friends Are Here to his YouTube channel recently. The only new video on the disk was for "Night Owl." It's a sweet and pretty video, so I thought I'd share. Dan Zanes and Friends - "Night Owl" [YouTube] Aw, what the hey, the awesome live version of "Cape Cod Girls" after the jump.

Video: "Space Elevator Music" - Recess Monkey

I am definitely not a skit fan, but I've always thought that Recess Monkey's were better than most. This by far has the funniest line (to me, anyway) in a Recess Monkey skit ever, but is amusing even if you're not that dialed in to the kids music scene. "Space Elevator Music" is from The Final Funktier, out next week. Recess Monkey - "Space Elevator Music" [YouTube]

Video: "Major Deegan" - Lloyd Miller (The Deedle Deedle Dees)

First the Deedle Deedle Dees' Lloyd Miller breaks down the financial life of a kids musician, and then he starts up not one but two YouTube channels. (He's so busy he's apparently auditioning for the role of the next Dan Zanes.) One channel, titled The Lloyd Lloyd Lloyd (ha!), features songs he's co-written with students in his wife's class, but it's the other that's really of interest here, and that's Sing Along with Lloyd. It showcases Miller singing tunes from his weekly sing-alongs. It's 75% Dees-less, and it's just him, his guitar, and a Flip camcorder (hey, those things are great), but it's nice to hear his interpretations of Dees classics and traditional tunes. For parents or early education professionals who might wonder how to spice up songs you might have sung (or heard) dozens of times, Miller's got some fun ideas. And he's not averse to spur of the moment changes of plans -- see the video after the jump for proof. More is coming, Miller promises. Anyway, I have always loved this song, even though I've never been caught in any of the traffic he sings of. So I have to post it. Lloyd Miller (The Deedle Deedle Dees) - "Major Deegan" [YouTube] A more traditional tune or two after the jump.

Video: "My Magic Trick" - Ralph's World

I think it's a sign of the rapid maturation of the kids music video genre that this video for "My Magic Trick" from the Ralph's World album All Around Ralph's World is nothing special. Don't get me wrong -- I like it and think it captures Ralph and the song very well. But it would've stood out production-wise a couple years ago and it doesn't now. (Am I the only one who kept expecting a big giant foot to squash Ralph at the end?) Ralph's World - "My Magic Trick" [YouTube]