TV Show Tunes Deliver
by Kathy O’Connell
A couple of CDs with television crossover connections crossed over my desk this month, along with music from Disney. The preschool set is well served this month with offerings of music from The Wiggles and Dragon Tales television programs. Younger kids will be delighted by Dragon Tales: More Dragon Tunes and The Wiggles Live Hot Potatoes!
Breezy Diversity
More Dragon Tunes emerges from the popular PBS cartoon series for preschoolers. The series’ latest season emphasizes cultural diversity and introduces Enrique, a newcomer to the U.S. from Columbia. He joins Emmy, Max, and their dragon friends Cassie, Ord and Wheezie as they embark on adventures together.
The CD matches the TV series in its upbeat, breezy approach to entertaining young ones. African-inspired percussion, reggae rhythms, American folk music and Hispanic musical themes blend together to create a CD that entertains the youngest listeners without setting the older folks’ teeth on edge.
You might not expect that a song about a two-headed dinosaur can teach lessons about getting along, but “Zak and Wheezie” shares its obvious “two heads are better than one” message with an infectious beat. “Hola” is danceable with a Spanish flavor.
“Flip Flop” uses a Huey Lewis-type pop beat (think “Heart of Rock & Roll”) to teach a lesson about accepting different points of view. This is a terrific album that never dips into sappy slush like a certain large purple dinosaur. More Dragon Tunes includes remixes of “Shake Your Dragon Tail” and “Dance” from earlier seasons of the television program.
This 14-track CD from Kid Rhino is an excellent choice for preschool youngsters and the adults who are captive
listeners of their kids’ music. Find it at www.kidrhino.com.
Quantity and Quality
If numbers of tracks alone indicated CD quality, The Wiggles’ Live Hot Potatoes! would find its way to everyone’s Top Ten list. As it is, this 39-track treasure is chock full of the pop fun mentality that’s made The Wiggles “the world’s #1 preschool band.”
While I originally wanted to hate them, I admit a fondness for these four brightly dressed Australian lads whose earlier albums have introduced American kids to the concept of surfing at Christmas.
This CD collects the best-known Wiggles’ tunes on one loud, bright, happy disc.
One listen will leave “Toot Toot Chugga Chugga Big Red Car” burned into your memory. This isn’t music aimed at you and me; it’s music that targets and hits its preschool audience.
The Wiggles are bright and fun and loud and make silly challenges such as “Can You (Point Your Fingers and Do the Twist?).” They sing about “D.O.R.O.T.H.Y (My Favorite Dinosaur)” and encourage kids to join the fun.
Most importantly, The Wiggles introduce little kids to a wide variety of musical instruments, and make the experience of making music as natural as having fun. The Wiggles and their new CD are easy to find at www.thewiggles.com. I’ll wager you’ll be able to find Live Hot Potatoes at most CD stores.
Disneymania 3 is a fun dip into Walt’s vaults of music as today’s artists (Raven-Symone, Jesse McCartney) put a new spin on Disney favorites. Raven’s bubbly “Under the Sea” starts the CD nicely, and the hits keep coming through the voices of Nick and Jessica, Clay Aiken and Lalaine (“Cruella De Vil”). Disneymania 3 is a treasure. From www.disneyrecords.com.
Kathy O’Connell is a contributing writer to MetroKids and host of the Peabody-award-winning Kid’s Corner weekdays 7-8pm on WXPN 88.5 FM.