So this blog, while only a few months old, has been YEARS in the making. I go to so many kid's concerts and I love talking to the musicians. In fact last summer in a conversation with Yosi, he complimented me on my insight into kid's music and suggested that I start a kid's music blog. I didn't have faith in my writing ability, my knowledge, or even my opinions so I put it off. Until now. Thank you SOOO much Yosi for the suggestion.With all of the contacts I have had with kid's musicians (in person and via email). I have not met a single artist who wasn't kind, polite, and eager to talk to their fans. I have been to a few concerts where I wondered if the performers were performing for the wrong group (like adult humor they think kids won't get but I think some of the savvy kids did). Some kid's musicians are such positive role models I want to make sure not just their music is highlighted in this blog.
The perfect example of this is the Imagination Movers. They are from New Orleans and their album Eight Feet (referring to the level the water rose in one of their houses after Katrina destroyed their city) is AMAZING. The song 'We Got Each Other (the Evacuation Song)' talks about what really matters when leaving a city because of a hurricane. We have seen the Movers 2 times and in both cases the guys walk through the crowd shaking hands and saying heart felt "Thank yous" for coming to see them play. Firm hand shakes, posing for photos with kids followed by a show full of so much energy that it just makes you smile. Not only that but they sell their DVD and CDs for $10 at the show. $10... can you believe that? We bought the DVD for our daughter and she watched it every day for about 6 months. When we went on vacation last summer we woke up every morning to requests for the Movers (Lesley couldn't say Imagination). I sent an email at 6:30am one day saying how happy I was that their website had videos and had a response from one of the Movers in a matter of hours. The Imagination Movers have signed with Disney which is a pretty big deal. I do not know what this means for them and their concerts, I would hate to see them go the way of other children's artists who now hock breakfast cereals to our impressionable children. I have a feeling that Rich, Scott, Dave, and Smitty just wouldn't let that happen.
Take Care,
Momma Daria
9 comments:
Hello. I was googling to verify some old show info. and stumbled on your blog. Just wanted to say thank you so much for the kind words. We always get as many little high fives as possible and try to hang around until the last photo request is satisfied. It is good to know that this is appreciated. As our new "Disney" crowds grow this may not be possible, but we will still try to be as available and approchable as possible. And have no worries, we will not be speaking on behalf of Sugar Coated Frooty Bits anytime soon (read: EVER).
Oh...and I assume you saw us at Olney. Maybe next time we are up your way we will have the "big band" with bonus drummer and four piece horn section. Woo-hoo!
5 new videos airing in about a month!
Thanks again and take care.
Mover Dave
Not only is it unkind to bad-mouth an artist for his career choices. It is selfish search-engine-exploitation to link to his site.
Just my opinion.
If you want people to take YOUR opinion seriously, you might try compassion or at least objectivity. (and Hey there Mover Dave! Y'all rock!)
beg pardon if i submit this twice
Suzanne,
Welcome to the comment section of my blog.
I don't really get what you are trying to say but it sure does come of as harsh and mean (maybe I am sensitive). I am focusing on the GOOD that the Imagination Movers do not the stuff that bothers me about other kid's musicians.
I link to other artists sites to make it easy for non-techies to find the sites related to the muscians that I talk about.
There are tons of kids music review blogs out there... there is probably one that meshes completely with your style of life and values. My guess is that mine doesn't so you might not want to read it again. Several other people like my style. Since I am writing for myself, I just need to feel okay with what I wrote at the end of the day. And I do.
Have a wonderful day
Momma Daria
Good for you. You are correct, there's no need for me to return.
That's too bad ... we obviously listen to some of the same music. But I appreciate your honesty. There are some new reviews coming up shortly that might be of interest to you - Milkshake and my namesake Daria.
Take Care,
Momma Daria
Just FYI...I honestly have no idea who is selling breakfast cereal and hope my "Sugar Coated Frooty Bits" comment was not taken as an insult to anyone.
Ladies and gentleman, Mover Dave has left the building.
Daria - good for you to point out Ralph's "selling out" (my words, not yours). You can be a big fan of someone's music - and I've always been a big supporter of Ralph's World - and still not appreciate someone becoming a corporate shill. I've been to at least 2 dozen Ralph's World shows in the last 4 years, and I'll definitely be going to see him when he comes to Jammin' Java in Fairfax this spring. I think what he's done for Indie Kid's Rock has been tremendous, and he deserves all of the success, recognition, and fortune he's now receiving. But being a fan doesn't mean you have to like everything someone does. And being a critic means you need to point of the bad as well as the good. It doesn't make you a bad person to not like something some one does, it makes you a real person.
You go, girl! Your reviews rock!
I suppose the part of the post that drew my ire was "I would hate to see them go the way of other children's artists who now hock breakfast cereals to our impressionable children."
a. We're talking about Rice Krispies here, probably one of the least contreversial of products...not sugar coated frooty bits, not cigarettes, not even plastic junkie toys or even a tv show!
b. If someone's kids are *that* impressionable, then they shouldn't play it for their kids. I mean, the parent has the control. Don't play Ralph's adult music for them either. You as the parent have the power to chose what is brought into your house. And, honestly, I really don't see that it is going to make my kids jump up and want to go buy Rice Krispies, really. Sure I bought a "Box of (Organic, BTW)Fun" for fun, and it is slowly going stale in the closet.
Personally, I think it is a fun song with some mildy interesting historical and cultural references in it. Maybe not Ralph's best work, but we like it nonetheless.
I honestly think that you can highlight the good you see in some artists withou making digs at others who may not live up to your ideal. Ralph is not all corporate. If you as a critic are going to berate him for his (what you see as a) bad choice, then you might consider also mentioning his good works (for kids' music and for philanthropic causes) too in order to remain balanced.
In defense of Ralph, it is nearly impossible to tour without finding some kind of sponsorship. The amount he gets from CDs and appearing on Disney is likely far less than you would expect and the cost of putting on a live music show is likely far more than you would expect. I also think that Rice Crispies are a pretty kid friendly choice in the world of junk foods and cereals. I am in no way associated with Ralph, by the way, just have a tiny bit of insight into how this stuff works.
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