For the past 26 years, Bon Jovi have been a powerhouse act whose commercial success places them in the top tier of American rock bands. And now they’re primed for a new generation of fans. Rockabye Baby has transformed a dozen classic Bon Jovi songs into soothing instrumental lullabies ideal for little cradle rockers.
Ever since their anthem “Livin’ on a Prayer” hit #1 in 1986, Bon Jovi have become one of rock music’s most enduring bands. They boast worldwide sales of 130 million albums and are recent nominees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. After adding country music to their repertoire with the recent Lost Highway album, the group became the first rock act to score a #1 country hit.
Moms and dads can use this collection of Bon Jovi favorites to show their little one how they were “Born to Be My Baby.” Parents who feel like they are “Livin’ on a Prayer” when their baby is being cranky will love how these Bon Jovi hits send their wee ones off to slumberland. The lullabies are an ideal way to let tots know “I’ll Be There for You.” Featuring blanket-soft instruments such as glockenspiel, vibraphone, Mellotron, harps and bells, Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of Bon Jovi ensures the whole family will “Have a Nice Day.” Whether it’s naptime or bedtime, these instrumentals “Always” do the trick.
The Flaming Lips have announced that the will be appearing on the November 5 show of Yo Gabba Gabba! The band will perform an altered version of its song “I Can Be A Frog” from its recent album Embryonic. The song features lyrics rewritten by the Yo Gabba Gabba! staff, which is a song that probably could have been on the show in its prior form as well. The song, which originally features the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s front woman Karen O providing sound effects for each animal that is mentioned, will feature a new set of animals and of course lots of coustumes.
The band is depicted playing the song with an array of silly clothing, including two top hats on front man Wayne Coyne’s head, and various animals prancing around in the background.
Guests for the rest of the new season (#3) will be:
Fred Armisen, Erykah Badu, Band of Horses, Blitzen Trapper, Chairlift, Rob Dyrdek, The Faint, Flaming Lips, The Killers, Solange Knowles, Mix Master Mike, Angela Kinsey, The Sounds, Taking Back Sunday, Marissa Jaret Winokur, Charlyne Yi and John Francis Daley, Samm Levine and Martin Starr from “Freaks and Greeks.
Here’s a snippet of the band’s upcoming appearance on the show, and the official video for the song.
Are new baby’s cries turned up to ten? Need an alternative to the nightly riot act? When it’s you vs. them, these sweet lullaby renditions of Pearl Jam’s rock anthems are as comforting as a warm flannel blanket. Just breathe, Mom and Dad–it’s sleeptime in Seattle.
Children’s show Yo Gabba Gabba, a group that often brings indie rockers or other musicians on their show to perform and participate in various fun activities for kids, has hit the road recently. While the core group of odd animals, plants, and whatever else those characters happen to be are along for the ride, depending on the city and who’s around they’ve had some bands stop by their shows as well.
Mostly recently, Broken Social Scene stopped by to show the crowd how to do some crazy dance moves:
Check out when Snoop showed up at the LA show to show the kids how to do the same dance:
In Dallas, Erykah Badu showed up:
And so did Biz Markie:
In NYC Dinosaur Jr showed up:
In Toronto, the Aquabats showed up:
Yo Gabba Gabba is currently on a massive tour, get your tickets now:
10/02 – New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall
10/03 – New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall
10/05 – Hershey, PA @ Hershey Theater
10/06 – Cleveland, OH @ State Theatre at PlayhouseSquare
10/08 – Detroit, MI @ Fox Theatre
10/09 – Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre
10/10 – Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre
10/11 – Louisville, KY @ The Palace Theatre
10/13 – Indianapolis, IN @ Murat Theatre
10/15 – Richmond, VA @ Landmark Theater
10/16 – Greensboro, NC @ War Memorial Auditorium
10/17 – Charlotte, NC @ Ovens Auditorium
10/19 – Chattanooga, TN @ Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Auditorium
10/20 – Huntsville, AL @ Von Braun Center
10/21 – Nashville, TN @ Jackson Hall – Tennessee PAC
10/23 – Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theatre
10/24 – Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theatre
10/27 – Jacksonville, FL @ Moran Theatre at Times Union Center
10/29 – Kissimmee, FL @ Silver Spurs Arena
10/30 – Tampa, FL St. @ Pete Times Forum
10/31 – Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena
11/02 – Columbia, SC @ Township Auditorium
11/03 – Knoxville, TN @ Tennessee Theatre
11/05 – Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center
11/06 – Kansas City, MO @ The Midland
11/07 – Denver, CO @ 1st Bank Center
11/09 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The E Center
11/12 – Spokane, WA @ INB Performing Arts Center
11/13 – Seattle, WA @ Tacoma Dome
11/14 – Portland, OR @ Memorial Coliseum
11/15 – Eugene, OR @ Hult Center
11/18 – Sacramento, CA @ Memorial Auditorium
11/20 – San Francisco, CA @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
11/21 – San Francisco, CA @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
11/26 – Los Angeles, CA @ Nokia Theater
11/27 – Los Angeles, CA @ Nokia Theater
11/28 – San Diego, CA @ San Diego Sports Arena
12/04 – Phoenix, AZ @ Dodge Theater
12/05 – Phoenix, AZ @ Dodge Theater
12/07 – El Paso, TX @ Abraham Chavez Theater
12/09 – San Antonio, TX @ Freeman Coliseum
12/10 – Houston, TX @ Hobby Center
12/11 – Austin, TX @ Cedar Park Center
12/12 – Dallas, TX @ Dr Pepper Arena
Sure the eighties gave us a lot of fluffy pop songs with synthesizers but they also gave us hair bands. The glam metal genre began in Los Angeles on the Sunset Strip, and to hear Vince Neil tell it, it was started by Motley Crue. Regardless of the name, the power chord-based heavy sound is perfect for kids to jump around to, and because of the outrageous hair, most of the videos are perfect for a good laugh thirty years after the fact. Here are the must haves for the glam metal kid.
The Scorpians – Rock You Like a Hurricane
The track is off the 1984 album, Love at First Sting by the German rock band, the Scorpions. It reached number 25 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and has become a staple at sporting events. The music is enough to get your kids interested in hearing the track, but the best part is really the chorus. “Here I am, rock you like a hurricane.” It’s a silly statement that seems to sound so important because of the magnitude of the rock music behind it.
Lita Ford – Kiss Me Deadly
Lita Ford’s (formerly of The Runaways) hit would come later in the hair invasion, 1988 to be exact, but it’s a perfect glam metal song. If you think that only guys can do the hair metal look, check out Lita’s tresses on the album cover. This girl was born for this era. You might want to skip the first ten seconds of the song since there is a lewd reference.
Night Ranger – Sister Christian
The song was released by Night Ranger in 1984. It was written and sung by the band’s drummer, Kelly Keagy for his sister Christy. He was shocked at how fast she was growing up and penned this track. It’s got a great shift from a slow ballad to a full out arena rock sound.
Twisted Sister – We’re Not Gonna Take It
If there’s one song that defines hair metal glam rock, it’s this one by Twisted Sister. One look at lead singer Dee Snider and you know not to take these guys too seriously. The 1984 song also had a hit comical video. Listen to the simple lyrics and while it might sound like a rebellious song it comes off as just a fun rock song.
It’s time to raise the curtain, it’s time to light the lights…it’s time to check out the Muppets’ brand new online store at: www.amazon.com/muppets . If you count The Electric Mayhem Band as one of your favorite puppet ensembles and can appreciate Sam the Eagle’s wry sense of humor, then this is the place for you to shop. The site stocks everything Muppet you can imagine: DVDs, books, toys, even costumes—the perfect solution to your Halloween dilemma. To celebrate the site’s launch, special Gold Box DVD sets (two with two DVDs and one with five DVDs) housed inside a commemorative Muppet tin are available for purchase.
If you’re not in the mood for a movie, consider some of more unusual gifts for your resident Muppet fan, like Muppet Monopoly, a retro Animal lunchbox, a Muppet Babies picture book or Kermit the Frog from Steiff. (I was tickled pink to find a collectible edition of Miss Piggy’s Guide to Life, my personal survival guide for growing up in the 80s). While you’re browsing, be sure to check out the trailer for The Muppet Show New Motion Comics that will be debuting this fall. So, make like Kermit and get a jumpstart on your holiday shopping now. You’ll be dreaming of a green Christmas before you know it…
“Do Fun Stuff” is a new album full of various kids’ music artists doing what they do best: entertaining kids. The album was grown from an idea by kids’ music blogger Ryan Marshall, who heads the blog Pacing the Panic Room.
Artists featured on the album include Rabbit!, Cracker Jackson, Scampi, Davey Rocker, and more. Not only does this great new kids’ CD feature great bands, but the album’s proceeds benefit children suffering from Smith Magenis Syndrome, a disease that causes mild to moderate mental retardation in children.
Do Fun Stuff is available now on iTunes, and is currently one of the top 10 kids music albums.
If you’re curious as to the songs on the album, you can go www.dofunstuff.net to stream Do Fun Stuff in its entirety. You can also make a donation straight to Marshall’s cause here.
If there’s a preschooler in your household, the name Laurie Berkner might just as popular as Mom and Dad…well, almost. The rockin’ mom with the unmistakable mop of curls and the kid-friendly vocals puts a face with the name, so to speak, in her compilation of music videos previously seen on Nick Jr. Every favorite Berkner tune, from the tongue-twister “Victor Vito” to the clap-a-long “I’m a Mess,” is on this release narrated by everyone’s favorite preschool TV hosts Moose and Zee.( In fact, these guys make their own musical appearances with Nick Jr. theme songs “Everywhere I Go” and “Music Makes Me.”)
Whether Laurie is counting down on a rocketship run or cloud-watching, her songs offer catchy lyrics that both kids and grown-ups quickly grasp. She knows her audience well and can relate to kids on their own level (check out “Pig on Her Head” to see what we mean). And as we begin gearing up for the Halloween season, see if “The Cat Came Back” doesn’t put you and your kids in the mood. Let’s hear it for The Laurie Berkner Band! will be available on September 28 from Nickelodeon Home Entertainment/Paramount Home Entertainment.
Elvis Presley is not only the King of pop, he is the king of staying power. From leather jackets to white jumpsuits, silver screen to fatigues, Elvis has got something for everyone. That’s why to this day, his legacy transcends eras and generations. Join in the conversation and tell us, what’s your favorite Elvis era?
Have you noticed how every celebrity likes to put out a children’s book? The latest is Steve Martin’s Late for School, although we have seen past ones from Jamie Lee Curtis, Billy Crystal and Madonna. I’m not saying writing children’s books are easy, but it would be more impressive if these people cut an album specifically for children (especially Madonna).
Then there’s Keller Williams. You might not have heard of him but he’s from Virginia and has been around since the early 90’s. His music is a combination of just about everything, bluegrass, alt rock, folk, electronic and funk. He is sort of his own band all in one since he plays with an Echoplex Record Delay system which allows him to repeat riffs once played and he’s toured with the String Cheese Incident and Umphrey’s McGee.
So why am I bringing him up on this blog? Because on October 26 he’ll be releasing a CD called Kids that is his own version of family music. The press release says that many musicians play FOR kids but Keller plays WITH them. On Kids he takes his bluegrass to warp speed with tracks titled “The Fastest Song in the World”, “Taking a Bath”, and “Because I Said So” (this last one sounds like something I tell my kids often to which they reply “That doesn’t make sense”). So give Keller a chance on October 26, your kids might just discover a whole new appreciation for bluegrass.
For the past 26 years, Bon Jovi have been a powerhouse act whose commercial success places them in the top tier of American rock bands. And now they’re primed for a new generation of fans. Rockabye Baby has transformed a dozen classic Bon Jovi songs into soothing instrumental lullabies ideal for little cradle rockers.
The Flaming Lips have announced that the will be appearing on the November 5 show of Yo Gabba Gabba! The band will perform an altered version of its song “I Can Be A Frog” from its recent album Embryonic. The song features lyrics rewritten by the Yo Gabba Gabba! staff, which is a song that probably could have been on the show in its prior form as well. The song, which originally features the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s front woman Karen O providing sound effects for each animal that is mentioned, will feature a new set of animals and of course lots of coustumes.
