They Might Be Giants - children's recordings

[ejp626]

Maybe mentioned in another thread, but I didn't see it. TMBG have been keep very busy, releasing several children's albums. I am particularly fond of some of the songs on Here Come the ABCs. Anyway, they've just released Here Comes Science. I suppose it might be controversial in that they take a strong stand for science and a bit of a swipe at ignorant people (sort of like the same people that would be offended by the new movie about Darwin: Creation). Here is the opening of Science is Real:

Science is real

From the Big Bang to DNA

Science is real

From evolution to the Milky Way

I like the stories

About angels, unicorns and elves

Now I like those stories

As much as anybody else

But when I'm seeking knowledge

Either simple or abstract

The facts are with science

Anyway, leaving this aspect aside, I think this is a very catchy collection. For my taste, it is the best of their four children-oriented CDs. If one does order this, I would definitely get the version with the DVD (same with Here Come the ABCs).

They have a new recording of Why Does the Sun Shine that leaves the refrain more or less alone but stretches out the rest of the lyrics (making them a bit easier for children to follow). More interesting is that this is immediately followed by Why Does the Sun Really Shine

The sun is a miasma

Of incandescent plasma

The sun's not simply made out of gas

No, no, no

The sun is a quagmire

It's not made of fire

Forget what you've been told in the past

In the video, John Flansburgh tries to keep out the original song from playing while singing this:

(Plasma!)

Forget that song

(Plasma!)

They got it wrong

That thesis has been rendered invalid

I also really like Meet the Elements and What is a Shooting Star, both because of the lyric contents and the music. I would definitely check it out if you are at all interested in TMBG (or are a middle school teacher )

Edited October 16, 2009 by ejp626

[AndrewHill]

Haven't listened to them since "Flood" (great concert BTW) but Linclon is their masterpiece IMO. But speaking of children's songs, I could've swore I heard Weezer in a Noggin video (which was animated). Maybe this is the direction that certain rock bands are going in (at the very least Alice Cooper appeared on the Muppet Show and REM appeared on Sesame Street).

[spinlps]

Thanks for the heads up. My kids love, love, love Here Come the 123's and Here Come the ABC's. My son, now a 2nd grader, loves his science class so this may be right up his alley.

[ejp626]

Thanks for the heads up. My kids love, love, love Here Come the 123's and Here Come the ABC's. My son, now a 2nd grader, loves his science class so this may be right up his alley.

My son really likes the ABCs and No. Not quite as grabbed by 123s. I find that I can listen to the Science songs over and over, moreso than the other albums, so I will try to put this one on heavier rotation.

Barenaked Ladies also have a children's CD called Snacktime with some good songs on it. Yeah, it's a real trend, though some of the best collaborations were back in the day on Sesame Street.