Don't Take My Man

Three gals from Portland. I like their name. The Jolenes. One of the girls is named Candy.

This song is full of double entendre but who cares. Your kids don't know any better. To them it's an ode to their favorite summertime snack and on this one of the last days of summer (if you have kids, that is) that seems apropos.

The Jolenes also cover Stevie Nicks' tune "Leather and Lace" on their Get It To Go CD. It sounds just like the new Liz Phair (as opposed to the admittedly better old one) covering it. For what that's worth.

The Jolenes, "Ice Cream"

Bonus girly-song:

Dressy Bessy, "Princess"*

*They are talking about a girl being a bitch, but hey, the kids will latch on to the innocuous chorus. I guess today's theme at small ages is inappropriate tunes for your tots.

More about: The Jolenes, Dressy Bessy

I'm Not Drunk.

I only have about a million new posts / songs in my head, but alas I've been too swamped here at home to commit them to computer. But I can find a moment to post this news that was effortlessly delivered to my inbox this morning. From Bloodshot Records, a new compilation of various artists covering classic folk songs entitled, Old Town School of Folk Music, Songbook: Volume One. The idea being that they are out to teach the world, kids included, about classic folks song traditions, just like the school namechecked in the title (located in Chicago, FYI.) The CD will have a history of the genre and each song (!) included, so even if you download your favorites on the superhighway, you'll wanna pick the disk up.

The musicians include the Mekons' Jon Langford (because this is Bloodshot afterall— and I know I've been remiss in posting about his latest CD with the Wee Hairy Beastees, but that will come soon), plus Janice Bean (of Freakwater), Danny Barnes (Bad Livers), Dan Zanes (he does "Drunken Sailor"! Father Goose is here and so is Barbara Brousal!), Robbie Fulks and John Stirrat (Wilco bass player!) Plus, a bunch of the instructors from the school. The date is October 10th, and folks, that ain't that far away. What I've heard is all well done and really lovely kicking it on a porch kind of music.

John Stirrat, "Wayfaring Stranger"
Dan Zanes, "Drunken Sailor"

More about: Bloodshot Records

** short new post on superclea.com **

Who Da Chicken Wing?

I know many of you (many of you) don't enjoy the kids doing the music. You want your music more refined or maybe less exploitative. But I have to tell you, while I don't want to listen to these tracks over 'n' over, I do enjoy their value and so does my kid. They inspire her, like "Oh I can do that." And in fact, today she did bust out a bitchin' number that went back to the chorus at least 8 different times, had a few silent breaks where she rapped and then switchbacked into a Modest Mouse-esque patois. The song was about "telling your mama" stuff.

So it had been a long, long time since I hit up WFMU for any of their weird and wonderful finds. I'd missed much, including these tracks of kids making hip hop and electronica. I've picked out the "best" (hey, it's subjective) but if you wanna hear it all, a trip over to the WFMU blog will be worth your while.

This WFMU post actually covers several different and unique kid hip hop projects, but the two that spawned the best songs for me were these:

1) Da Hip Hop Rascalz. David Soldier, a noted professor and musician (who taped the original Thai Elephant Orchestra) assembled a bunch of East Harlem school kids. they're all between the ages of 5 and 10. They put together "groups," named them (the best part really, I mean Tuff Kidz, The Boys and Girls Club of the Night, 911 rock and Roll Coyotes) and then recorded some tracks they wrote.

2) The Rappers Delight Club. This is literally a club, put together by a high school teacher and his students who do this daycare "club" for kids 5-12. And he gets 'em rapping. Same sort of thing as above, really, although it appears he makes several appearances himself (or is that the high schoolers?) And it's a bit more polished, but hey, that's a relative term.

I find them funny, what can I say. I promise, no kid-rock tomorrow.

Sweetness, "Do the Lollipop"
Looneytunes, "Chicken Wing"

Rapper's Delight Club, "Hum"
Rapper's Delight Club, "Tick Tock"

There is a short new post at superclea.com

** I never link to songs on someone else's server, but I did here. If you are from WFMU and object, I will change it, I'm just really tired and while I love my daughter, she's exhausting me on this, the last week of summer. But really, I'll change it if you want me to. **

Guest Post: Deb in SF

Hey kids. One of my most favorite new blog friends is Deb in SF. She has kindly chosen three songs that I think represent. They are delightful and all new to me and they make my heart sing. Those are her cute kids to the right. Now, here you go:

I had to bust Max for some misbehavior or other the a few days ago. I can't remember what the specific offense was. Something not terribly awful, but worthy of the "stern voice" that doesn’t come out very often and some serious tears from both him and his little sister. After all was said and done, I ended up reassuring him that no matter what, I love him. Even when I don’t like his behavior. Even when I have to use the stern voice. So he says to me, "Mommy, I know one reason why you don’t love me." – My little drama boy – "There can’t possibly be a reason, Max."

"Yeah, because I stink at accordion."


Enzo Garcia – May We Go Round – A San Francisco musician. This is off of his beautiful, self-titled record. It's such a sweet, lovely song. It always warms me and my kids love it, too. It touches me on a million levels. It's this little, light song. But then it’s kinda silly, with the bird chirping and the playfulness. It's also got this cheeky, double entendre thing going on that the kids don't pick up on (maybe that’s just my late 30's hormones?) and even that's back around to really sweet and lovely. My kid's just like the doot-doot, grown man on the playground goofiness and singing along. Plus, he plays the flippin' saw!

Uni and Her Ukelele – My Favorite Letter is U – Another SF local. She's got a rad voice and puts on a great show. She sings about everything in the world, but in this song she sings about rainbows and unicorns. And, she dresses real pretty and she's sparkly, which always appeals to the littles. Her songs are really heartfelt and genuine. She's a beautiful woman, inside and out. Max loves her songs and whenever we see her, he gets really happy. He drew her a picture once of a unicorn in a rainstorm and he loves listening to her music. He wants to know what all the lyrics mean. Doesn’t even dance to it, just listens, even though it's pop at its finest!

The Honey Brothers – O Dear – Ok, These guys are not at all from San Francisco. I don't even know where they're from. New York? All I know is that this is a poppy fun song that we sing and makes me think of how much I love my littles and we listen to it in the car on these too sunny San Francisco summer days with the wind blowing through our hair. We all sing along. Uni recommended the cd to me. It's cheap, too! I don’t even really know what the lyric is. I just know the chorus. O dear, o dear, I think my heart is showing here…

And I don't even care how well you play the accordion.

Thank you, Clea, for letting me come play at your blog house. You have the best place, ever! If this is your first time here, wander, roam, check-it. Clea's my friend and she shares. And she's got rockin' great taste.

More information on: Enzo Garcia, Uni and Her Ukelele, The Honey Brothers

**
No, thank you Deb. Seriously, all new songs to me and all new super favorites. And is that the guy from Entourage in the Honey Brothers?? Lastly, fyi, I am going to try and post on my superclea.com site a few times a week, starting again today. No kids' stuff over there just musings on music, books and life... -superclea

Their zoo is so much cooler than my zoo.

So I know I posted about Tally Hall before, but last month they opened for Puffy AmiYumi! How rad is that?

Tomorrow (and I realize, it's in Chicago and it's tomorrow and it's sold out and apparently it's been raining pets there but still) is Lincoln Park's Jammin at the Zoo. Man o man, why doesn't my super giant zoo do stuff like this? The line-up is Tally Hall, the Bad Examples (aka Ralph of Ralph's World and friends) and They Might be Giants. So not fair.

Tally Hall, "Greener"
They Might Be Giants, "HotelDetectiveInTheFuture"

And my daughter covering TMBG's "Alphabet of Nations"

Tally Hall's video for "Bananaman"



And They Might Be Giants' video for "Dr. Worm"

I was so thinking of the birds and the bees back then.

The VW Rabbit was the car of choice for the popular girls in my high school. Yep, I'm old.

So the release of the new one and its subsequent commercials caught mine and the hubby's eye. The song featured is "The Birds and The Bees" by Patrick and Eugene (no, this is not The Commerical Music Blog you're reading, although this would be apropos there as well). The song has got the lovely diddley dee quality of a Real Tuesday Weld song, but not so much, by that I mean, it's just a bit subtler. So let's recap what little I know of them: they are English. Patrick (Dawes), the percussionist, has played with Groove Armada (and apparently Richie Havens, too.) Don't know what Eugene's (Bazodis) background is, although I love the name Eugene as it reminds me of my very first crush, circa 2nd grade. (Second crush was named Norman, I apparently had a thing for dorkily named boys.) The song was first used in a UK ad for Gordon's Gin so the VW people are in fact stealing and aren't as hip and inventive as you perhaps thought. You can get their whole CD "Postcard from Summerisle" (Tummy Touch, 2004) on eMusic and I have to say, it is kids' music to the umpteenth degree. All that twiddling horns and tongue in cheek drumming and their punny (not puny) vocals, it all makes for delightful light fare. They cover Kylie Minogue's "Cant Get You Out of My Head" on the CD, although the Flaming Lips version is better. Still, it's fun. I'm gonna post the VW / Gordon's Gin song and their sugar pop version of a sugar pop classic: "Feeling Groovy." Enjoy.

Patrick and Eugene, "The Birds and The Bees"
Patrick and Eugene, "Feeling Groovy"

Purchase Patrick and Eugene songs on eMusic.

Is this cheating?

Another band with a kid-friendly name.

I ask if this is cheating because I actually only heard these songs a few days ago, via a post from Taylor at Music for Kids Who Can't Read Good. But man, they're so catchy and truly awesome for the younger set too, making them the ideal band to post about here on smALL AGES. I'd seen them on other blogs before and just never taken a second look.

So, here is what I know of this Bicycle band: Lots of handclaps, the occasional horn section, boy-pop-tart vocals, um, they're Canadian, they name check Harry Nilsson and the Monkees and it's obvious why, they like to choreograph their high-fives on stage, and the name of the CD is "The Good, The Bad and The Cuddly."

The Bicycles, "B-B-Bicycles"
The Bicycles, "Paris is Mine"

Also on their website, a song called "Gotta Get Out" and it's g-g-good. Go get it. I ordered the CD. If you and yours enjoy these pop ditties, you should to.

By the way, if you check out MFKWCRG (wow) go deeper than last Friday and you'll find a hilarious post that includes the theme song to Saved by the Bell. Oh yeah.

More about: The Bicycles

Teddybears are Cute!

Their name just screams kid-friendly right?

Teddybears Sthlm (Stockholm) are from the land of Ikea and they make dance punk, an admittedly niche genre my kid loves. I believe they have dropped the Sthlm in the States.

For all I know this Mad Cobra tune has some nasty contents but I can't tell and I suspect your kids can't either. And the chorus is so dang digable. And the punk rocker song with straight-facing Iggy on vocals? Man, it don't get any mo better than that for a driving dancerific head banging tune. These are just fun. "Cobrastyle" is from last year (I think) and was used in a mess of commericals. Joakim Åhlund, guitarist of this band, is also guitarist in the Caesars, another commerical (as in television commercial) friendly band. Maybe I need to write about them on The Commerical Music Blog... hmmm.

Teddybears Sthlm with Mad Cobra, "Cobrastyle"
Teddybears Sthlm with Iggy Pop, "I'm A Punk Rocker"

Bonus Track:

The Caesars, "Jerk It Out"

Check out the shiny suits!





More about: Teddybears Sthlm

* * * *

And you probably saw this as it was on the front page of Yahoo this morning. It's good for a lark, but I do not recommend this album, just a quick viewing of one or two of the videos is all one needs if you ask me. Animated faux-U2 sings "Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes."

Random Songs iTunes Picked for Y'all

Just some random goodness that my iTunes pulled up in the last few days. No rhyme or reason to it, other than I thought, "Oh, that's a good one I haven't heard in awhile" and "I don't think I've ever posted that one."

Quick unrelated story: went to the art museum with my daughter this last Friday and had the most wonderful time. She actually picked out a painting she saw from a distance and asked if it was a Mary Cassatt! And it was! She has a book from the series titled "Getting to Know The World's Greatest Artists" by Mike Venezia on her and she recognized the style, not the actual painting which isn't in her book, but the style. T'was an awesome Mom moment. I highly recommend the books from Venezia's series-- we also have the Frida Kahlo one and she has announced she's going to be her for Halloween (or Kiki, from Kiki's Delivery Service.) Side note: The docent from the museum came over to say hello and asked my daughter what her name was. The docent didn't scrunch up her face with disbelief like so many (older) people do. No, she announced that was her very own daughter's name too! And then went on to tell us she has two more daughters: Friday and Sunday. Yep, they were all named for the day she gave birth. Wow.

Call and Response, "Rollerskate"
Mocean Worker, "Chick A Boom Boom Boom"
The Ditty Bops, "Bye Bye Love"

The Ditty Bops cover of the Everly Brothers' tune is just sweet and purty, nothing revolutionary but purty nonetheless. The Mocean Worker tune is just a fun kick up your heels groove. Oh, but that Rollerskate song, how I love thee. A favorite, it encapsulates a mood that I know and adore and wish I could return to more often. They have a couple more MP3s on their website. The gal, Simone Rubi, is now making music under The Rubies. Unfortunately, the music on that site ain't working. Poop.

More about: Call & Response; Mocean Worker; The Ditty Bops

Supermodel Tuesday Taylor

When people meet my daughter Tuesday they ask if she was born on a Tuesday. She wasn't.

A handful of people think she was named for Tuesday Weld, the actress. While I am thankful for Tuesday Weld as it gives some legitimacy to my own daughter's name (see, it is a name!) that isn't where we got the name either. My husband had a friend who had a daughter that he named Tuesday and it just stuck with him, as a name he really liked, in the back of his mind. For me, it was her:


I'm so a child of the 1970s.

It would be way too meta or postmodern if someone asked me if she was named for The Real Tuesday Weld, the band that is really Stephen Coates. I put the little goof of a song "Diddley Dee" on a CD for my daughter at least a year or two ago and she dug it. "I Love the Rain" has the lovely old-fashioned 30s feel with the modern beat thing that TRTW does so well. And my favorite (pretty much everyone's favorite) Real Tuesday Weld song is "Ugly to the Beautiful." So I'm posting it here too, even if it isn't exactly perfect for the kids.

The Real Tuesday Weld, "Diddley Dee"
The Real Tuesday Weld, "I Love the Rain"
The Real Tuesday Weld, "Ugly to the Beautiful"

More about: The Real Tuesday Weld

Powerpuff/Shonen Knife & PuffyAmi/Teen Titans

Just a few songs. Don't have any time today to write a 'real' post, but I can throw up the tunes 'o the day. They're fun, fer sure. Not much else really to say.

Shonen Knife, "Buttercup (I'm a Supergirl)"
Puffy Ami Yumi, "Teen Titan Theme"

Bonus: Speed Racer Theme Song

**
P.S. - A few days back, Tim of Contrast Podcast and The Face of Today posted Meco's Star Wars theme. Go get that. I mean, go get that. And check out all his musical goodness while you're there.

Happy Birthday Tuesday

She's five today. Wow.


















Jingle Cats, "Happy Birthday"
Freedy Johnston, "Happy Birthday"
Kermit Ruffins, "Happy Birthday"
Pete Seeger, "Spanish Folk Song (Happy Birthday)"
Pizzicato Five, "Happy Birthday" (not the traditional song, fyi)

And even though it's bloody awful...

Strawberry Shortcake, "A Berry Happy Birthday"

Harry and the Potters

So this songs may not be appropriate for kids the age of mine, but for a little older kid I think these songs are hilarious. This band, really two brothers who dress up in Potter garb, call themselves Harry and the Potters and sing exclusively about the JK Rowling series. It's freaking funny. And just freaky. And one of my favorite things about them is they are on a library tour, the "reading and rocking tour" with Draco and the Malfoys. That kills me.

The songs I've posted here are from the wonderful site, Daytrotter.com. The song-clip "This Book is So Awesome" from their website is my favorite. But alas, I don't have the full tune.

Harry and the Potters, "Platform Nine and Three Quarters"
Harry and the Potters, "The Human Horsepipe"
Harry and the Potters, "The Hogwarts Tonsil Hockey Team"

Their official website is here: http://www.eskimolabs.com/hp/
Their My Space page is here.
The Daytrotter Sessions with them can be found here.

***

Did you watch the World Cup? Remember the most awesome commercial from the games? Yes, I'm talking about the Adidas one with the two kids picking their dream teams. Well, I posted about it on the team-fueled Commerical Music Blog this weekend. It's actually a good song for the kids so head on over and check it out.

**

Heather at Fuel-Friends posted on the "Scratch" movie from a few years back. A couple of the songs she put up are awesome for the kids, especially the Shirley Ellis tune, "The Clapping Song." A favorite in our home. Go nab it and say "howdy."

I HEART Guest Posts: The Two Mirrors (or, one of them)

Without furter adieu—

So Aiden is going through a little rock phase. And by little I mean the kid just wants to rock and roll. And I’m good with that. And my little Anna just wants to dance. What I have compiled below for you (sm)all ages readers is a list of the top five songs (plus bonus sixth) that the children of the two mirrors (www.thetwomirrors.blogspot.com) (well actually only one of the mirrors) have been enjoying in the month of July.

The Go Team—Ladyflash. My little Anna loves this song. She puts her hands in the air and just dances around. It’ll make your heart melt. I think the Go Team would smile too.

The Arcade Fire—Neighborhood #3 (Power Out). Aiden has loved the Arcade Fire for some time now. It was only recently that we rediscovered out one of the best records of this decade, Funeral. Aiden has really been into this track and Wake Up, both for the rocking nature.

Mates of State—Fraud in the 80’s. I mentioned last month that the Mates are a favorite in this house. And Anna has just fallen in love with this song. Now she is only 16 months old. But whenever music is on you can just tell she is waiting for the opening notes of this song. It’s just a fun little song to dance to.

The Subways— Oh Yeah. The Subways first found their way to Aiden’s ears (and eventually his heart) via Pancake Mountain. They perform two songs on the most recent DVD release. He would watch them over and over again. If you remember the first band you ever loved, you can see that feeling in his little eyes right now. He is all about the Subways.

The Subways— Rock and Roll Queen. Anyway, now for a little description of their sound. The Subways are a pop punk trio, with a hint of the 80’s in their music. You know what they sound like. While there is not much that is extremely original about the music, it is extremely likeable, especially when your son is addicted to them. I was in Orlando this past weekend and visited a great independent record store who was giving away a free poster with the purchase of The Subways new record. As you can imagine it’s hanging on Aiden’s wall right now. Thumbtacks and all.

Bonus! Metric—Empty. While I was trying to get Aiden to listen to something other than rock (namely Voxtrot) he kept saying, “no daddy, I don’t like this song. Not this one, I want my favorite.” So I tried all the regulars (The Subways, Arcade Fire, and Ben Folds). He kept saying, “no daddy, not that song. The one where you say patience.” You see, three weeks or so ago, Aiden was into this Metric song called "Empty." And it starts off real mellow and we had to be patient until the rockin starts. He remembered that from way back and I so moved that we listened and waited for the rock. Rock on Aiden, Rock on.


Once again I want to thank Clea for having me over here and we hope to continue this little monthly feature. It’s a lot of fun for me throughout the month to talk to Aiden and Anna about what songs they want me to tell you about. Enjoy August.

My College Years

A couple of tunes from the days of giant super big gulps, oversized clothes and sleeping in. Camper Van Beethoven had a bunch of tunes that are ripe for the little ones. I've chosen just two today, off of "Telephone Free Landslide Victory," because that's where the hits were, kids. And then, the "Cheesecake Truck" used to just kill me, from King Missle. It's off the same LP as their "hit": "Jesus Was Way Cool." Regarding the latter, an arguement could be made that it's a pro-religious song, just putting the love for Jesus into terms the youngin's can relate to. Of course there is that whole thing about turning wheat into marijuana or sugar into cocaine. So, yeah, that's probably not for your kids, unless you're really REALLY open with that sort of thing. So I've just posted it here for your listening pleasure. Use at your discretion.

Camper Van Beethoven, "Take the Skinheads Bowling"
Camper Van Beethoven, "The Day That Lassie Went to the Moon"
King Missle, "Cheesecake Truck"
King Missle, "Jesus Was Way Cool"

Also, I wanted to mention I got a CD from the guys known as The Hipwaders. They're awfully nice blokes, out of the Bay Area (hey, if anyone is thinking of doing some sort of Lollapalooza for the kids in SF, I think you got the bands to do it.) The CD is family music, aimed squarely at entertaining the kids. Ideal tunes for summer Sunday afternoon BBQs in the back yard with friends and family, i.e. it's sugar coco pop. I'm throwing a tune up here for you to hear, or check out their website.

The Hipwaders, "Twitchy"

My Neighbor Totoro

A couple of months ago I read a quick blurb about a Japanese movie by famous writer/director Hayao Miyazaki called Tonari no Totoro aka My Neighbor Totoro. It sounded like something that would be appropriate for my daughter, who like most 5 year olds is a big princess fan, but fortunately cannot stand to watch the movies because she (and I) find them too scary. So I ordered this non-princess DVD on the internet, dubbed into English since she can't quite read subtitles, and a most serious love affair was born.

In case you don't know it, the movie is about two young girls living in the Japanese countryside with their Dad because Mom is in the hospital. And I know, that sounds "bad" and sadder than anything the wolves might do to Belle in the woods, but really, it's handled so well. The younger sib Mei discovers a Totoro, a lovely mythical creature. There are a couple of emotionally scary bits, not physically scary bits, but all in all, I thought really appropriate for my (almost) 5 year old. And even she knew the emotionally scary bits weren't gonna turn sour. It's gorgeous, subtle, lovely and dreamy. I cried at the end. No really I did, a good sort of cry. We've now seen it, no joke, about 16 times (I still cry.) And she loves to sing the theme song so, I had to track it down. Only thing of it is, I found it in Japanese. Yep, the original. So my kid sings along, in a cross between phonetic Japanese and her memory of the (butchered) English lyrics.

The dubbed version of the film (with Dakota Fanning) was released by Disney, but there is nothing Disney about these movies. And of course, I haven't seen (or heard) the original, but from where I sit, the dub ain't bad.

Miyazaki also made Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, Castles in the Sky, and others, but they're not good for this age group. However, his film Kiki's Delivery Service totally is. There is no violence. No scary parts. All plot turmoil is based on the main character's internal struggle to be true to herself and find her purpose. We've also seen this at least 16 times as it's tied for my daughter's favorite movie ever. I just don't have the soundtrack to that one yet. I like Totoro a tad bit better, because it's just so whimsical... I'd say its the best movie for kid's I've ever seen. Kiki is a close second.

The following tunes are from Totoro and if you haven't seen the film, they might sound a bit too Sushi-bar-video. But if you have seen it, they're awesome. I've given them random names since I don't read Japanese.

Totoro Theme
When They Bounce
The March

More about: My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service