Laurie Berkner takes her time recording and releasing music, so new music from her is worth noting. New music from Laurie Berkner for free for a good cause is definitely worth noting.
Starting today and through February 28, the Pajama Program will be offering visitors to their website a chance to download "Open Your Heart," a new song recorded by Berkner especially for the organization, which provides new, warm sleepwear and books to children in need. (Berkner played several "Pajama Party" concerts in 2009 where she asked fans to bring pajamas and books for the program.) It's jaunty, sweet, and should have a shelf life beyond the month of February.
And there are hand motions, apparently. Berkner's going to sing the song on her Valentine's Day webcast, with daughter Lucy doing the hand motions.
If you want your chance to be in a Laurie Berkner video (in a manner of speaking), you can also film your kids dancing to the song and send those videos to the Pajama Program by February 22 -- they'll be compiled into a single video that the program will use to promote itself. It's not quite fame and fortune, but perhaps it's a small part of a good deed, which is enough for a Monday, no?
Anyway, go here to download the track.
Monday Morning Smile: "Hey Hey You Say" - Papas Fritas
An early, as-yet-unrevealed formative video experience for Michael Rachap?
Who knows, but this is pretty much a guaranteed grin. Not kids music, but bring 'em round the computer.
Papas Fritas - "Hey Hey You Say" [YouTube]
Why I'm Going to Kindiefest 2010
When I mentioned previously that registration for Kindiefest was open, I wasn't 100% sure that I was going myself. I mean, I had lots of fun last year, and this year promises to be even better (more panels, a keynote, a chance to hear 14 different artists playing live). But it's a really long flight from Phoenix, and a weekend away from the family essentially working.
Having said all that, I'm going. And now the panel I was asked to moderate is starting to take shape, I might've been willing to go to Brooklyn for that experience alone. The panel "Old School Meets New School," will talk about the generations of family musicians -- those who've been doing it for 3 years and those who've been doing it for 30 -- and their perspectives on making music for families in today's world. At the moment, the panel includes Elizabeth Mitchell, Suni Paz, and Bill Harley. Not to mention Kids Corner's Kathy O'Connell. (And I don't think the panel's quite complete.)
Yeah. You read that right. My chief goal in being moderator will be shutting up and not getting in the way.
Anyway, earlybird registration for the conference ends next Monday, so if you haven't seen the burgeoning list of speakers and artists, I encourage you to do so. See you in Brooklyn.
Listen To This: "Crayon Man" - Roy Handy and the Moonshot
Bill played "Space Kitty" on this morning's Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child, so I thought it'd be worth directing you to the other track from Roy Handy and the Moonshot, "Crayon Man" -- if Roy G. Biv is your (or your kid's) best friend, this song is for you. Also, if you (or your kid) like a good power-pop rockin' tune, this song is for you. If you (or your kid) like meowing, this song is not for you.
I've heard more of Handy's music, and I think the full-length, when complete, is gonna have a lot of fans...Yo Gabba Gabba Goes To The Super Bowl
Yo Gabba Gabba's Muno (the tall red one) is co-starring in a Super Bowl ad for Kia. I could make the serious tsk-tsk noises about how this proves that the show is targeted at least in part at adults because why else would the ad agency use a character from a show whose most popular song encourages kids to eat everything on their plates.
Instead, I'll just note that whatever swelled head Muno might get compared to his (unseen) YGG co-stars would be wiped out by the fact that that Paul Frank monkey gets most of the good scenes (the tattoo was particularly amusing).
Share: "All About Bob" - Ralph's World
One of my favorite tracks from the upcoming Ralph's World disk All Around Ralph's World is "All About Bob."
Want to share it amongst your family and friends to see if they agree with me? OK -- Bar/None Records is offering a free download of the track -- go here to download the mp3.
Tres catchy.
