It's the first day of KidVid Tournament 2010 matchups, and it features matchups from the Ella Jenkins Region . In this contest we have the top seed, They Might Be Giants' "Meet The Elements" from their Here Comes Science CD/DVD set matched up against "Shoo Fly Pie" from the Johnny Bregar's Dragonfly album.
Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments below, but the official results are based on the poll at the bottom of the page. One vote per person, please. Votes due by midnight tonight (Tuesday) East Coast time. And, as always, play nice!
They Might Be Giants - "Meet the Elements" [YouTube]
Johnny Bregar - "Shoo Fly Pie" [YouTube]
KidVid Tournament 2010: The Brackets!
First, I told you about my favorite kids music videos of the year. Then I asked you to vote for some of your favorites.
Now I have the results of the readers' poll to influence my own seedings (note: it was Tim and the Space Cadets' "Superhero" which I gave my tourney director's exemption). With that, it's time to announce the brackets for KidVid Tournament 2010. Mano a mano (except when it's a female artist, or an entire band), it pits 16 of the year's best kids music videos against each other in a single-elimination tournament, with readers picking the winners in each round. The tournament starts tomorrow, but here's the entire bracket. Come back tomorrow for the first 2 matchups...
Ella Jenkins Region
They Might Be Giants - "Meet the Elements" (1) vs. Johnny Bregar - "Shoo Fly Pie" (4)
Debbie and Friends - "Willy Won't (2) vs. Randy Kaplan - "The Ladybug Without Spots" (3)
Pete Seeger Region
Rocknoceros - "Pink" (1) vs. Dan Zanes - "Pollito Chicken" (4)
Caspar Babypants - "Itsy Bitsy Spider" (2) vs. Eric Herman - "Ants in Your Pants #99" (3)
Leadbelly Region
Recess Monkey - "Marshmallow Farm" (1) vs. The Hipwaders - "Field Trip" (4)
Billy Kelly - "People Really Like Milk" (2) vs. The Not-Its - "Come Play At Our House" (3)
Woody Guthrie Region
Robbert Bobbert and the Bubble Machine - "We R Super Heroes" (1) vs. Readeez - "Counting For Pleasure" (4)
Brian Vogan - "That's How a Pumpkin Grows" (2) vs. Tim and the Space Cadets - "Superhero" (3)
Kids Music (Not) at SXSW
Well, there's some but you have to look hard. Although there are a number of artists here who have a kids' album under their belt (I'm listening to Tom Freund right now), this isn't a kids
music friendly conference. Which is fine.
I've got my kids music panel with Tor Hyams, Karen Rappaport McHugh, Matt Pryor, and more. 2 PM, don't miss it if you're here.
And if you need a kids music fix and want to brave the crowds at Auditorium Shores, Walter T and the Rated G's, Big Don, and Daddy-A-Go-Go isn't a bad set of music. Starts at noon.
But really, this isn't about the kids. First day in the books - eight artists. I'll have to tell you about it. When it's not 1:30 AM.
Winners Announced in the Create the Best Fake Children's Music Album of All Time Contest
Whew. That's a mouthful.
Last month I partnered with the cool website Figment ("All Bands, No Music") for a contest that challenged Figment's users to create the best fake children's music album of all time.
Well, the time is at hand to announce the winners. It wasn't easy, because how exactly do you judge it? Sure, quality of album cover is a key component, but trying to create a backstory and set of song titles that paid homage to the kids music genre without going over the edge, now that's hard.
The winner and two runners-up are below, with top prize going to the self-titled debut from Mac & Cheese -- somebody needs to steal the phrase "Funshine Records." Click on the album cover to find out more about each album. (Warning: the Strum Pets album, as you might expect from that album title, was created with a tongue planted firmly in cheek and elsewhere on the body. Do not click if anyone has ever said you lack a sense of humor.) Thanks to everyone who entered -- choosing between 'em all was not an easy task. And thanks to Eric and Larry for letting me play along.
Monday Morning Smile: "Danny Boy" - The Muppets
Yeah, I know, 48 hours late. But how appropriate would this have been Monday morning? Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone! (Three gifted singers, indeed.)
The Muppets - "Danny Boy" [YouTube]
Justin Roberts' Jungle Gym: Sarajo Frieden's Album Art
I've been trying not to publish album art and tracklists unless it's a really big deal.
Well, a new album -- Jungle Gym -- from Justin Roberts is a really big deal. I know, Jeff already published the tracklist (which you see also there to the left), but I also wanted to be able to share some album art, which Roberts was kind enough to do. The lovely cover art (as always) from Sarajo Frieden, along with a story from Justin about recording one of the tracks, follows...
