Video: "Pop Fly" - Justin Roberts

While people are furiously voting in the KidVid Tournament 2008 (and if you're one of those, move on to the next post -- don't vote here), we're already collecting videos to determine the most popular kids music video in 2009. One of those possible participants? Justin Roberts' "Pop Fly" video, which was released today. It's a fun, lo-fi cut-out effort, accompanied by the title track from his upcoming album, a track that I like more and more every time I hear it. (I also like the Cubs/Willy the Whale logo on Roberts' jersey.) Video after the jump.

KidVid Tournament 2008: The Jimmies vs. Mr. Richard

Moving on into the semifinals of KidVid Tournament 2008, we have a matchup between two popular videos thus far in the competition. The first video, The Jimmies' Latin-tinged (of course) "Spanimals," is off the Jimmies' 2007 debut CD, Make Your Own Someday (review). Its competition will Mr. Richard's Italian-tinged "Cheese," which is from his late-2007 release Polka Dot Puzzle (review). Please read these voting rules carefully... 1. Vote in the comments below. 2. One vote per family. 3. Vote by 9 PM West Coast time tonight (Wednesday). 4. Please vote nicely. Anything that smacks too much of, well, talking smack won't be counted as a vote. It's OK to say how wonderful your favorite is. It's not OK to say how awful the other is. 5. Just as a reminder, comments aren't posted immediately -- for spam-prevention purposes they need my OK before being posted. So if your vote doesn't show up immediately, don't worry -- it will get posted eventually. OK, so on to the videos (which you should watch both of, even if you already know who you're voting for.) The Jimmies - "Spanimals" Mr. Richard - "Cheese"

New Ralph's World Album -- The Rhyming Circus -- Due May 20th

Well, we've known about the title of the first Ralph's World album of all-new material for Disney Sound -- The Rhyming Circus -- for awhile now. But now we have a date -- May 20th -- which, given that Dan Zanes is also releasing his new album on that date, makes it like the kids' music equivalent of Kanye and 50 Cent. Except I hope neither of them stops recording. (And I was just reminded that Frances England's new album drops that day, too. ) Anyway, the album will feature "rhymes such as wooly mammoth and sandwich, or squish and Lillian Gish." I also like a line mentioned from "Do The Math" -- “a new girl in class/Polly Hedron, a non-Euclidean lass”). Tracklist after the jump.

Yet Another Kind of March Madness

For those of you going through (temporary) KidVid Tournament 2008 withdrawals (fear not -- more matchups will follow soon...), Jeff from Out With the Kids is running his own tournament, the OWTK NCAA Kid's Music Tournament, featuring 12 recent releases battling it out for Spring '08 review supremacy. It looks like the Final Four is almost set, but that's when the voting really counts, right?...

Baseball Songs (Again)

I'm traditionalist in not too many things, but the idea that baseball's opening day should be, well, in the day, and, well, in North America (as long as all the teams are, you know, based here) is something I firmly believe in. So for once I am timely with this updated list of baseball songs. (Read last year's list here.) Enjoy, and may all your teams have a great season. (Yes, I realize that's a statistical impossibility. Doesn't matter -- it's the first day of baseball...) ********* There are very few sports-related children's songs that come to mind. I can understand why, as sports like football and hockey require a lot of equipment and are typically for older kids (this is especially the case for football). Basketball and baseball are easier to play, perhaps -- less equipment, introduced at an earlier age. Since the major sports typically become mostly a spectator sport as we grow up, perhaps it's good that there isn't much children's music about sports since a song about watching other people do something is kinda depressing as a kids' song. (It does make me think that the genre of children's soccer songs is a niche waiting to be filled.) Here goes: