Pop! Classic #6

I've always had a big soft spot for The Smittens from Burlington, Vermont, and I think a video like this one should make it clear why. They're sweet and fun, and most often very child friendly too. A long, long time ago (well, two years) I interviewed this band on my other blog, so if you're interested after watching this, go check it out.

This quote from that interview says a lot, I think: "Sometimes we will all be in the same room with whomever's singing or playing and we remind each other to sing with a love thought in our hearts - kind of like answering the telephone with a smile - to get the most sweet feeling into each track."



Libraries, books, cats and kids! What's not to like?

Pop! Classic #5

Fishboy is one of those bands that don't really play kid's music, but most of their music is definitely as fun for kids as it is for us, the adults. And indeed, when I wrote Eric Fishboy about this project he said "I have always gravitated towards making my music open to all ages and would say that about 95% of my songs are accessible to everyone." The below song - Parachute (Using The Ghost Of Buddy Holly As A) - is one of my favourite Fishboy songs, and it's got a fun video as well.



You can download this song for free from here.

Fishboy have a new album out this month called Classic creeps, which you can buy here and here.

Pop! Classic #4

The Alphabet Song has been done by countless artists in all kinds of versions, quite some of which are probably better than this one here. But it's Tilly & the Wall! How could I possibly not post their version on this blog that's all about pop with a capital P?



They do attempt to turn it into a real Tilly & the Wall song of course, with the tapdancing, the shouting, the boys and the girls. It all nice, and the ABC Song is a classic in every language anyway (at least I know it in Dutch, English and German), no matter who sings it.

Pop! Classic #3

While we're waiting for some new exclusive TP!FKP-contributions to come in, let's have a look at another classic for some inspiration. I promise new songs will appear here soon, but these things do take time! The first three kind contributors just worked amazingly fast.

I don't believe that this below song is really filled with drug references as some people still claim. To me, it's only a sweet and pretty song about the lost innocence of childhood. A bit sad it is, isn't it ("A dragon lives forever, but not so little boys. Painted wings and giant rings make way for other toys...")? But the melody is so lovely, and it always works very well to create a peaceful, quiet mood.



One of the things I love best about being a parent, is that it allows me to go back without any reservations to that almost forgotten fantasy world, be it Honah Lee or any other.

Pop! Classic #2

This R.E.M. video is so lame and cute at the same time that it never fails to warm my heart. Oh, and how awesome is that Kate Pierson Muppet (from the B-52s)? Quite, I'd say.

I realise it's a bit of a stretch to call this a 'classic', but to me it's a prime example of how an often too serious grown-up band can easily transform into a group of happy, enjoyable and entertaing guys once they embrace the idea of FUN. And isn't that what most great kid's music is all about?



"Come on monsters: you don't have to cry, we can be happy!"

Pop! Classic #1

In between the original MP3 contribtions for this blog I thought it would be nice to post some videos by the artists that inspired me to start this project.

Where else to start than with They Might Be Giants?



John Linnell from They Might Be Giants is quoted in a 2006 article in The Guardian:

"You can tell by listening to the vast majority of children's music that the people who are making it don't really feel like they have to hold themselves to a very high standard," says Linnell. If this assessment seems diplomatic to the point of being charitable, it's probably worth noting that he is resident in America and has therefore never seen either Hi Five or Tiny Pop. "As a result, you get this appalling stuff that parents have to sit through. And of course," he adds darkly, "children like to listen to stuff over and over again."

And this is exactly what we want to change here.