Growing up is a lengthy process, I myself am still a work in progress. When I was much younger TV was a relatively new product. When we got a TV it was black and white and rarely on (only one channel with a second added later). When we eventually got a colour TV only some shows were actually in colour! Most were still in black and white.
I listened to the radio a lot. From Casey Kasums top 40 countdown (where all Sunday afternoon he would count down the top 40 charts from the week and from the corresponding weeks in the 70's and the 60's) to the kids shows Radio National put on during school holidays. My earliest memories are associated with music and radio. I deeply treasure the stories I listened to while sitting in my dressing gown eating marmite on toast.
So for my daughter I would like to share those experiences. Which is problematic. In the first instance the majority of children's entertainment is on TV. So it's visual and colourful, but the kids are starring at the screen. Secondly when I have found a CD of stories or songs the production quality is low and calibre of the artist is lower (ABC I'm singling you out and that dreadful Georgie Parker). Tuneless records accompanied by the Freeware version of Garage Band as far as I can tell.
But every now and again I find a winner. As usual for Australia this release slipped right under the radar in this country. Probably because they didn't sign a marketing tie in with the ABC (the CD's are release by the artists in conjunction with Disney. This means Channel 9 here, which means no one at the soulless corporation would have a clue who they are).
I speak of They Might Be Giants and their CD's 'Here come the ABC's' and Here come the 123's'. Absolutely magical is my two word summary. I really enjoy the work of TMBG and these two CD's are perfect. The songs are inventive and humorous and full of wonderful imagery. In fact I was surprised to learn that at least one of the tracks was mixed by the Dust Brothers (Beck, The Chemical Brothers, Fight Club soundtrack etc).
Go looking for these CD's and find them if you can. I found our copies at an independent music store in their bargain bin. I encourage you to search them out. The TMBG albums are just superior in every way to the community theatre crap the ABC produces.
TMBG website HERE
My favourite song about 7 HERE (from the album 'Here come the 123's')
To Know Me Is To Love Me...
- BubbaJay
- Suave raconteur and dinner party favourite. Once held the Olympic torch, has delivered newspapers to prime ministers, shaken hands with Prince Charles, wrecked Jason Donovan's skateboard, climbed 300 metre granite cliff faces, surfed with dolphins, appears on community radio and is in demand for these and the accounts of other thrilling exploits!
1 comment:
May I also recommend "Here Comes Science" by TMBG. I got it for Christmas for Angelo. It's got some really neat songs ( I particularly like 'Meet the Elements" and "Why does the Sun shine ?" ). The CD I got also came with a DVD of videos for every song. You can't ask for better than that !
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