Monday Morning Smile: "There's a Platypus Controlling Me" (from Phineas & Ferb)

The show Phineas & Ferb is the secret musical weapon of kids' TV.  Oh, sure, Yo Gabba Gabba! and The Wiggles (and others) are musically-oriented, but the Disney Channel show sneaks in musical bits that are as tuneful (and usually funnier) as anything airing on the youngster channels.  Creators Dan Povenmire and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh write in many different styles, composer Danny Jacob brings it all together production-wise, and the result is, well, something like this.

I've told you about my secret appreciation for all things platypus, right?

Dr. Doofenshmirtz - "There's a Platypus Controlling Me" (from Phineas & Ferb episode "Brain Drain") [YouTube]

Video: "Turn! Turn! Turn!" - Dan Zanes & Elizabeth Mitchell with You Are My Flower

Yesterday we posted a video appropriate for the end of the calendar, Lori Henriques' "Another Good Year," so let's continue that trend.  "Turn! Turn! Turn!" isn't specifically a new year's song in the way Henriques' is, but in its celebration of endings and beginnings, of yin and yang, the switching from one calendar to another seems an appropriate time for a video of this classic song.  This version is from Dan Zanes and Elizabeth Mitchell and You Are My Flower and is the title track from Turn Turn Turn, their fine collaboration from this past summer.

Dan Zanes & Elizabeth Mitchell with You Are My Flower - "Turn! Turn! Turn!" [YouTube]

Video: "Another Good Year" - Lori Henriques

There are always Christmas songs, even in years with scant kindie Christmas music.  But kindie new year songs?  Few and far between.

So thank you, Lori Henriques, for the fabulous send off to 2013.  (You can pick up the song on iTunes here.)  And, of course, thanks to Henriques' brother Joel, of Made By Joel, with another simple but effective video.  (Love the hands at the end.)

Lori Henriques - "Another Good Year" [YouTube]

Video: "Sing Hallelu" - Elizabeth Mitchell and You Are My Flower

As part of the promotion for Elizabeth Mitchell and You Are My Flower's wonderful holiday album The Sounding Joy, Smithsonian Folkways has released a number of very well-done videos featuring Mitchell and her many friends singing tracks off the album live in a handful of different New York locales, including "Baby Born Today," "January, February (Last Month of the Year)," and "Cradle Hymn."

My choice for this Christmas Eve night, however, is "Sing Hallelu," which features just Mitchell, her husband Daniel Littleton, and harpist Elizabeth Clark-Jerez.  I like the quiet.  Merry Christmas, everyone.

Elizabeth Mitchell and You Are My Flower - "Sing Hallelu" [YouTube]

Free Music (and New Video) from Todd McHatton

In the glass-half-empty/glass-half-full approach to looking at this, you could either say, "Stefan, it's been 48 hours since Todd McHatton made all his music free for download, and you're only telling me now? Grr!"

Or, you could be in the spirit of the season and view the glass as half-full (or more) and say, "Stefan, thanks for giving me 48 hours to download Todd McHatton's music for free!"

That's right, through Dec. 25, you can download of the California power/psychedelic popster's family-friendly music for free.  Just go to McHatton's Bandcamp page and begin.

And while you're downloading away, check out McHatton's latest self-animated video for his song "Santa Flying In Your Sleigh," a fun track from his Christmas Songs album, which he updates (almost) annually -- this year the update features a brand new "I Think I'm a Bunny" holiday remix.  Christmas joy to go around!

Todd McHatton - "Santa Flying In Your Sleigh" [YouTube]

Video: Recess Monkey's "Tambourine Submarine" Live at Teatro ZinZanni

It is easy to get spoiled in this era of instant access.  So let's just take a moment to appreciate what Recess Monkey has done.  They filmed -- with six cameras -- their latest 54-minute kids show at Seattle's Teatro ZinZanni and put it on the internet for you to watch for free.  It's from their "Tambourine Submarine" show this past summer and fall and, in addition, to their high-energy live show, the show features some clowning (beyond Jack's and Drew's and Korum's), hula-dancing, and acrobatics.  I'd put the ratio at about 80% Recess Monkey / 20% circus, but close to 100% fun.  (Also, props for the '90s and even '80s rock song shout-outs.)