You probably don't need much more than general Irish music to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with your kids. The adults would prefer an adult libation or two, and I can't help you with that. But in case you're looking for something ever-so-slightly more kids-focused, here's a free mp3 from Irish band The Speks. "Saint Patrick's Day" is an original song which, according to the band, is "based on a section of the traditional Irish figure dance called the High Caul Cap. For the song's finale we play a traditional Irish reel called Captain Kelly's." I dig the end the most, but it's a fun tune that I also think would be of interest and use to early childhood educators. Stream (or download the mp3 for the price of an e-mail address) below...
Also: their debut album Sing-Along Songs from Glasses Island - Volume 1 is on sale digitally for just $1.99 here. If you're at all interested in Irish music appropriate for kids, it's definitely worth it at that price.
Video: "Rock Paper Scissors" - Dean Jones
Your lesson for today, courtesy of Dean Jones, the title track from his excellent Rock Paper Scissors disk. (Bugs me, though, that only four of the six possible outcomes are shown on that blackboard.)
Dean Jones - "Rock Paper Scissors" [YouTube]
Video: "Itsy Bitsy Spider" (Live) - The Boogers
There is nothing complicated about this live rendition of "Itsy Bitsy Spider" from the Chicago-area band The Boogers.
Unless you count the 360-degree horizontal spin of the camera near the end. Could make you throw up if you watch this on IMAX, I suppose.
Ralph Covert describes this song as being about "existentialism" -- Crusty B (Paul, the lead singer and guitarist) prefers the phrase "de-termination and perserverance." Which I guess means the same thing, no?
The Boogers - "Itsy Bity Spider" (Live) - [YouTube]
Video: "This Too Shall Pass" - OK Go
What do you do if your last viral video was an incredibly simple (if well-thought-out) dance routine on treadmills. You go all super-complex. Rube-Goldberg-like, even. The internet exploded today because of this, and for darn good reason. (More behind-the-scenes stuff here.) This isn't a kids song (there's a low-grade curse word I completely missed until reading the lyrics), but I think kids are gonna go nuts for this. I kinda did, too, in my own little way. (I also love the way they comment on "Here We Go Again.")
OK Go - "This Too Shall Pass" [YouTube]
Stupid Big Continent
That's all I can say. Because, really, if the 2nd annual Meltdown, the show put together by Bill Childs of Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child were less than, you know, a 72-hour-drive, I'd seriously consider going. And since I'm already going to Austin for SXSW in March and Brooklyn for Kindiefest in April/May, springing for a cheap airfare is out of the question. (Not to mention I like spending time with my family, too.)
But if your distance (or budgetary) constraints are looser than mine, I highly recommend a trip out to Northampton on Saturday, March 27. Bill's put together a heckuva lineup -- Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem, Elizabeth Mitchell, Uncle Rock, Dog on Fleas, Keith Munslow, and lots, lots more. The lineup's even more impressive when you consider it's free free FREE! (Say that in a booming voice. I do.)
So, yeah, those of you residing in the population-dense East Coast should definitely consider a trip out to Massachusetts later this month. With lots of video cameras and a YouTube account to make the rest of us jealous.Monday Morning Smile: "MLK" (U2, arr. Bob Chilcott) - "Vox Laci Youth Choir"
The last time I did this, the smile was more of a grin. Well, after hearing the Phoenix Chorale do a fabulous version of U2's "MLK" as arranged by Bob Chilcott at their sold-out "Darkness and Light" concert on Saturday, I knew I wanted to share this lullaby. I preferred the Chorale's version to anything I could find online, but I think you'll get the point. A bit of calm for the week ahead.
Vox Laci Youth Choir - "MLK" (U2, arr. Bob Chilcott) [YouTube]
