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]
Video: "Say What?" - Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band (World Premiere)
I think all kids should get a chance to -- among other things -- a) ride a train, and b) scat. Now, if those kids start scatting while on the train as they do in this brand new (world premiere!) video from Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band, then I guess I'm cool with that.
The lovely artwork's by Micah Player and features Lily and Zeborah, characters in Lately Lily, the apparel line Player helps produce. Player did the album art for both Diaz albums, including Oh Lucky Day!, the album this song, "Say What?," is from. The visual pleasures are quiet ones -- rather than featuring lots of action, this video mostly consists small changes you and your kids will have sit quietly and watch to notice.
And, just like the last time I world-premiered a Lucky Diaz video, the video release comes closer to the release of his next album than the one the song is from. That's right, Diaz's next album, A Bit A Luck! will be out in less than 4 months, on May 8. Reportedly it features a horn section, which, in my experience, is never a bad thing.
Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band - "Say What?" [YouTube]
Video: "I Think I'm a Bunny" - Todd McHatton
I'm not sure there was a song this year that everybody I know who listened to it immediately said, "Oh, that's a winner" as much as "I Think I'm a Bunny" by Todd McHatton. It's the last track on his most recent album Galactic Champions of Joy, and it's just so darn cute and ear-wormy that it's impossible not to be captivated by the tale of an identity-challenged monster and his wise, young friend.
This new video for the song is almost as cute as the song itself. The puppets go a long, long way...
Todd McHatton - "I Think I'm a Bunny" [YouTube]
Video: "I've Got a Goat" - The Not-Its
Not much in the way of videos for awhile, and now they come in clumps. First Recess Monkey with a sentimental video, now their Seattle Kindiependent buddies The Not-Its release a video for "I've Got a Goat" off their fine Tag, You're It! album. (And I'll have another one for ya tomorrow.)
If you ever needed to see animated animals give their own "devil horns" rock salute, you're in luck. Also: I think if Laurie Berkner ever wanted to cover a song written by a fellow kindie artist, she could much, much worse than picking this one.
The Not-Its - "I've Got a Goat" [YouTube]
Video: "Flying (Reprise)" - Recess Monkey
With FLYING!, Recess Monkey put together the best kids' album of 2011, at least according to one august group of folks. The band liked the title track so much, they put it on the album twice, once at the beginning and once at the end. Now, truth be told, the album closer is wistful and more for the parents than the kids. So, yeah, the video for the reprised version is likely to elicit one or two "Awwwwwwwww...."s.
Recess Monkey - "Flying (Reprise)" [YouTube]
Video: "Tomboy in a Princess Dress" - Suzi Shelton
Suzi Shelton's new EP Tomboy in a Princess Dress has been out for a couple weeks now, but it officially gets a big kickoff this afternoon as Shelton releases her video for the title track. Even a couple boys in the video, so it's not totally for the pre-tween girls.
Suzi Shelton - "Tomboy in a Princess Dress" [Vimeo]
By the way you can listen to the whole EP here. The EP was produced by Baze and his Silly Friends' Marc Bazerman and also features Little Miss Ann on "Pony Boy."
Tomboy In A Princess Dress by SuziShelton
