You want to know why I keep posting these videos from They Might Be Giants' Podcast for Kids? It's because they're all awesome.
And if you're afraid that somehow they're just posting the only good videos from Here Come the 123s... they're not.
They Might Be Giants - "The Seven Days of the Week (I Never Go To Work)"
Yo Gabba Gabba Yo Gabba Gabba
The weeks of Christmas and New Year's are typically slow, news-wise, but a couple weeks ago, Nick Jr. announced that it was picking up Yo Gabba Gabba! for a second season. Production on 20 more shows starts in spring 2008.
I've been kinda torn about the show. On one hand, the collection of musical acts and guest stars has been pretty diverse. On the other hand, I can't help but think that without those guests and Mark Mothersbaugh's doodles, some people would be slamming the show for being super-obvious stuff for toddlers. I mean, really, "Party in my Tummy?" If it was anybody besides members of the Aquabats singing that, it'd probably be run out of cool town on a rail. Even though it's probably pretty age-appropriate.
So are you happy that, say, Low recorded a song and did a music video for them?
[Note: decent song, but that "Family Tree" is awfully undiverse for the 21st century, no? Doesn't look quite like mine...]
Or do you say, man, the Pointer Sisters recorded a song for Sesame Street 30 years ago and it was way cool.
Video: "Apartment 4" - They Might Be Giants
What better way to end 2007 with a great video from one of 2008's most anticipated CDs -- They Might Be Giants' Here Come the 123s.
"Apartment 4" hit the band's "Podcast for Kids" at iTunes a couple weeks ago and now it's hit YouTube. As nice as "High Five" was, this track is way awesome. Drums, goofy animated characters, and the drawing out of the word "apartment" into 4 syllables.
"Follow the sound," indeed. You won't be disappointed.
And Happy New Year's, y'all...
CD Titles for Ralph's World and Eric Herman Albums Announced
At one point more than a year Eric Herman interviewed Ralph Covert (listen here). It is solely on the basis on this connection that I'm combining these two bits of news.
First, Covert has announced that the title of his upcoming Disney Sound Ralph's World CD will be called The Rhyming Circus. Hmmm... wonder what rhymes with "elephant"...
And speaking of elephants, this is a little old, but Herman's announced that the name of his 2008 release (due out in the fall) will be What A Ride. If waiting, oh, 10 months or so is a bit too much for you, feel free to check out his latest video, for "Dance Like an Animal." Rudimentary, perhaps, but can your five-year-old animate a video like Eric's did? (Or, more to the point perhaps, can you?)
Video: "Once In A Lifetime" - Kermit the Frog
Yes, you read that correctly. I assure you, two minutes that won't be wasted.
Not really the same as it ever was, but in a way, it sorta is.
(Via Pitchfork via The Daily Swarm.)
Something Else!
Not really. In fact, I posted something about this a month ago, but hey, now it's on YouTube with a little extra content.
They Might Be Giants are doing video podcasts -- "Podcast For Kids!" -- to plug their upcoming Here Come the 123s, and the first one, with "High Five," is up. If all it was was the video, I wouldn't have bothered, but the podcast also includes "bumpers" from the John and John sock puppets. It includes this classic line at the end of the piece -- "Come back next week for another song... about letters... or numbers... or something else... waaaaaahhh."
Trust me, coming from the mouths of sock puppets, it's pretty funny. As for the videos on the band's site promised by the album's PR materials, well, they're still not there.
