There is no shortage of songs from kids' musicians celebrating the Christmas season this year. I expect a few Hanukkah songs, maybe even a Kwanzaa song or two, before December is through. (Still waiting on Festivus kids music, though.) I'm titling this "Part I" fully expecting there will be at least another part or two this year. So let's get to it.
I doubt you're gonna find another Christmas kids music video this year as hyper -- and, frankly, as awesome -- as this new video from Mista Cookie Jar. It's for a new track called "Robot for Xmas," which you can download for free here. But, really, it's the video that makes it.
Mista Cookie Jar and the Chocolate Chips - Robot for Xmas [YouTube]
You think I'm stopping here? Oh, no, there's plenty more...
Video: "It Makes You Feel Good" - Renee & Jeremy
It's getting cold, even here in Arizona, so this new video from Renee & Jeremy (who are otherwise promoting their poppy "Sunny Christmas" single) will probably serve as a welcome respite from Old Man Winter (or at least his grumpy Brother Late Fall). It's for "It Makes You Feel Good" off their album C'mon and it's filled with images of pools, beaches, and jumping on beds. Good vibrations all the way 'round.
Renee & Jeremy - "It Makes You Feel Good" [YouTube]
Video: "Electric Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" - They Might Be Giants
So a couple months after I post a video for "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" from They Might Be Giants, the band decides to release another version of the song and a video to match. It's "Electronic Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" and as you might expect, there are enough bleeps and bloops for an entire season of Bobby Knight basketball and major league baseball. I think I prefer the original song (and video), but this one's got its own zip.
(And, yes, I'm still singing the song to Miss Mary Mack.)
They Might Be Giants - "Electric Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" [YouTube]
Video: "To the Moon" - The Mighty Buzzniks
A gorgeous new video from Australian band The Mighty Buzzniks. It's for "To the Moon," from their recent release Bug Out. Directed and animated by Kate Cawley, who appears to be in line to draw the moon when Harold and his purple crayon actually find it. A driving rock song for preschoolers with a fun video to match.
The Mighty Buzzniks - "To the Moon" [Vimeo]
Video: "Forget You" (Cee-Lo Green) - Camilla and the Chickens
The Muppets, the latest entry in the Muppets film canon, premieres Wednesday (and the soundtrack tomorrow), so we're getting close to seeing the whole thing, but obviously the songs are starting to hit the interwebs. Said webs got thrown into a tizzy when the Muppet Barbershop Quartet cover of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" went public (it was pulled for awhile, but now it's back). Now you can also hear Camilla and the Chickens cover Cee-Lo Green's massive hit "Forget You." Well, it was known as something different mostly, so we'll just call it "Cluck You." [Note: I swear, I thought of that line all by myself. I know, others probably did before me. But I'm proud of it.]
Camilla and the Chickens - "Forget You" (Cee-Lo Green) [YouTube]
Share: "Oh, How You've Grown" - Frances England
Frances England has written me a song.
OK, she's written you a song.
You, there in the back with the Danish? Song for you, too.
Explanation? England's written "Oh, How You've Grown" and offered the tender song on her website for free as part of her Holiday Family Creative Challenge. Not only can you download the mp3, you (that is, the non-commercial you) can use it as the soundtrack to your own family holiday scrapbook -- she's calling at an "end-of-the-year visual postcard." You can see England's own video here -- sepia makes everything more nostalgic.
Frances England - "Oh, How You've Grown" [YouTube]
