Monday Morning Smile: "Let It Go" - Jimmy Fallon, Idina Menzel and the Roots

As with the last time I posted a clip of Jimmy Fallon and the Roots tackling a pop culture hit, I suspect that many of you reading this have already seen this (or at least had a half-dozen friends recommend it to you via social media).  But it's still great.

This clip from The Tonight Show of Jimmy Fallon, The Roots, and Idina Menzel singing the big hit from Disney's Frozen, "Let It Go," aired the night after the song won the Oscar for Best Original Song.  I actually was never a huge fan of the song in the movie -- for a song about letting it all go, it never seemed to actually… let go.  No problem with that in this version -- I like the arrangement better (though that has nothing to do with the toy instruments) and Menzel gets to show off her voice even more.  Big smile.

Jimmy Fallon, Idina Menzel, and the Roots - "Let It Go" (from Frozen) [YouTube] 

Video: "Colonel Purple Turtle" - Rocknoceros

Yes, the song is more than a couple years old, but the title track to Rocknoceros' Colonel Purple Turtle album is particularly earworm-y, and now it has a fun-to-watch video to match.  The band goes through the (stop-)motions for the song -- I'm a big fan just of the rotating band members.

Rocknoceros - "Colonel Purple Turtle" [YouTube]

Video: "The Beatles (When Ringo Shook His Mop)" (Live) - Walter Martin

I already mentioned the oh-so-lovely Walter Martin - Karen O duet "Sing To Me," and now there's a new video for another song off Martin's forthcoming family album We're All Young Together.  It's for the mid-tempo stroll down memory lane "The Beatles (When Ringo Shook His Mop)," and it's every bit as genial as the titular subject -- Martin in the foreground, playing keyboards, the rest of the band in the background.  Not much happens, but the song's so great, I don't care.  Unfortunately, toy xylophones introduced (or noticed) in the first act are apparently unplayed in the third.

Walter Martin - "The Beatles (When Ringo Shook His Mop)" (Live) [YouTube]

Video: "Monkey Pilot" - Cat and a Bird

It has been far too long since we've heard from Cat and a Bird, whose self-titled album featuring gypsy/electronic pop with a swirl of faunal-based lyrics set the kindie world alight back in 2011.  But they've got a new song called "Monkey Pilot," and while the video for the jazzy song breaks no visual production ground, I encourage you and your family to stick with it -- the last 90 seconds or so are pretty cool to see.

Cat and a Bird - "Monkey Pilot" [YouTube]

Video: "Palindrome" - Dog on Fleas (Readeez-Style World Premiere)

I'm a big fan of Dog on Fleas.  I'm a big fan of Readeez.

Combine the two?  SOLD.

That's right, the merry band of brothers (metaphorically speaking) from upstate New York get help from Michael Rachap on their latest video.  Why wouldn't you when the video's for "Palindrome," one of the tracks of the Fleas' upcoming album Buy One Get One Flea?  This isn't the first time kindie's gone readee -- there are a number of 'em -- but this is the first you get to hear about (and see) the llama mall.  (That's Flea John P. Hughes, by the way, on vocals, giving Dean Jones a break -- perhaps he's thinking of more palindromes.)

Dog on Fleas - "Palindrome" (Readeez-Style) [YouTube]

Video: "Throw Me Something Mista" - Jazzy Ash (feat. Mista Cookie Jar)

Mardi Gras 2014 doesn't start for nearly a month, but Jazzy Ash is making sure you have plenty time to get your beads ready.  Her leadoff single from her brand new album Home (out this week) is "Throw Me Something Mista," a second-line inspired tribute to the New Orleans tradition of Mardi Gras parades and trinkets flung from floats.  The song and video feature fellow Southern California kindie musician Mista Cookie Jar.  Playing the role of the second-line band in the video: a bunch of kids strutting and hamming it up.  Fun.

Jazzy Ash featuring Mista Cookie Jar - "Throw Me Something Mista" [YouTube]