Rumpus Room News

This weekend the Peter Himmelman will be playing on the Rumpus Room show. Peter's CD My Green Kite has been nominated for a Grammy Award.

We're Diggin'

A Justin Roberts song that I don't think I've heard before

"Everything Else Starts with E" from Great Big Sun. It may be an "oldie" but who cares? It's awesome! Too bad I couldn't find a video for it...

No Night Owls on the Animal Farm?

Chloe called in to talk to Kenny and request "I Wish I Lived In Michigan" by ScribbleMonster. When Chloe told him she had just got up (really she had been up for almost an hour playing in her room) at 10:15, he had to double-check that she was in fact in the Eastern time zone. Anyone who knows us knows that my kids take after their dad and are night owls...

Luck - Not the Skidoo Kind

At first, it seemed that Robbie wasn't taking calls. But then, he gave the XMKids phone number, and Chloe tried immediately and got through right away. He asked her what she was having for dinner (pizza and carrots) and if she ate her carrots like a rabbit...

Chloe's request? As Robbie had already said he was going to play Roger Day, she asked for "Chocolate Milk" from ScribbleMonster. Roger Day and ScribbleMonster were her two top choices tonight, and she had a hard time choosing between the two.

Robbie played their conversation on the air, which thrilled both girls! She didn't tell him where she was from, so either he remembered her, or he's got caller id :)

Dirk on the Phone

Chloe said that she wanted to call in and talk to Jerk the Chipmunk. Camille and I thought Dirk might get quite a bit insulted by the misnomer, so we saved him the pain and corrected her. Chloe called in to the Animal Farm and asked to speak with Dirk. She wanted to know if he was related to Alvin, but no, he is just a friend. He asked her what her favorite show was, and she said she only watched movies and that her favorite movie is Cinderella. Since the conversation didn't air, I'm not quite sure what else went on in the conversation. Dirk hung up without asking Chloe what song she wanted to hear. But Kenny had just played "Chocolate Milk" from ScribbleMonster so we'll say that was her choice.

Rumpus Room - Bari Koral Family Rock Band

This week is Bari Koral in the Rumpus Room. The band played a bunch of great songs, a few of which we knew from listening to XM Kids. All in all, I thought it was a great concert, and we look forward to adding The Bari Koral Family Rock Band CD to our collection.





Play List:

Let's Join In

A Day at the Beach

Packing up My Own Backpack

Jump

Back to School

Dad's New Car

The Farm Song

Ride in My Jet Plane

All Sing the Same Thing

Dance All Day

Nothing I Wouldn't Do

Clap It Left, Clap It Right

I Wanna Play in a Rock & Roll Band

13 under 13 - 25Jan2008

1. Fraggle Rock - Fraggle Rock Theme
2. Alvin & The Chipmunks - Witch Doctor (12 weeks)
3. Reliant K - We Are The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything (2 weeks)
4. The Jimmies - What's That Sound? (14 weeks)
5. Barry Louis Polisar - All I Want is You (3 weeks)
6. Amy Adams - Happy Working Song
7. The Naked Brothers Band - If That's Not Love (18 weeks)
8. Father Goose/Coolie Ranx - Bam Bam (19 weeks)
9. Dar Williams - The Babysitter's Here
10. Meredith Brooks - Every Dog (11 weeks)
11. Secret Agent 23 Skidoo - Luck (2 weeks)
12. Asylum Street Spankers - Be Like You (21 weeks - back up from 13)
13. The Doo-Dads - Mama Be Right Back (debut)

"Past Freshness Date":

The Shins - It's OK, Try Again (17 weeks)

New Music:

They Might Be Giants - Seven Days A Week

The Monsters at Our House Go Yeah

because Kenny is playing "A Monster Goes Rarrrgh!" from ScribbleMonster.

Strike Two

How's your belly laugh? The kids calling in are really funny...enough to get us all laughing along. Great theme!!

But, Camille (the first caller to Robbie tonight) requested "Rock n Roll Babysitter" from Uncle Rock, and Robbie couldn't find it. Sigh. I thought XMKids would have a greater breadth of music than that! The Plays Well With Others CD was a Gooney Bird Kids top pick in the 2006 Fids and Kamily Awards.

Missing CDs

Chloe called this morning to ask Kenny to play "Best of Friends" from ScribbleMonster. Unfortunately, he couldn't find it. He asked if she mind if he played The Michigan Song instead, and she acquiesed. We think XMKids should have the "Best of Friends" CD!

Cats Beware

Chloe called in to talk to both Kenny and Robbie today. Her main story for her XM Kids heros was that she and Camille dressed Gazoo in a dress for "National Dress-Up Your Pet Day" last week. If I remember right, this holiday was highly advertised by Jinx. Chloe requested "The Saga Begins" and "YODA" today.

Rumpus Room News

This weekend the Bari Koral Family Rock Band will be playing on the Rumpus Room show.

Moreover, the Asylum Street Spankers will be taping a Rumpus Room show later this week to air sometime in the future. We are really digging "Be Like You", but I have to admit "You Only Love Me for My Lunch Box" really turns me off.

We're Lost

In the car on the way home from Hobby Lobby (oh, my, what we can dream we can create while there), the girls plotted what they were going to ask Robbie to play when he come on the air at 6pm. We were listening to our "Puff and Other Classics" and Dream Jam Band CDs as we drove, but Chloe decided to ask Robbie to play "Best of Friends" from ScribbleMonster and Camille decided to ask for "Rock and Roll Babysitter" from Uncle Rock (she said this was to complement the Dar Williams babysitter song that's been played so much lately).

Alas, we got home and turned on XM. At six, the transition into the real tall tree was not so smooth... we soon learned why. Robbie has a much deserved day off and is airing a pre-recorded show. Good for you Robbie. We miss you, but you are here, but not really here, and we'll talk to you soon. Hope you get some fun time with your own kids today.

More Snow On the Air

A caller told Robbie that it wasn't snowing in Georgia, so Camille called in to report that it was snowing hard in our part of Georgia! She said her favorite part of the snow was to make snowballs to throw at her mom and her sister. Gee, thanks. Camille requested "The Saga Begins".

Snow On the Air

How fun is that Robbie had calls from Dallas, Mississippi and Georgia (that was Chloe) all reporting SNOW! Robbie warned Chloe to not eat the yellow snow. We're still waiting for it to stick a little more.



A lot more has come down since that unimpressive dusting in the photo. And Chloe has cleaned her room, so she can go out and play as soon as she wants. Except that she only wears clogs and crocs. Her feet are going to be cold!

Rumpus Room - Roger Day

We were on pins and needles. Really. The information was mixed. Robbie said the Rumpus Room concert was going to be Roger Day, but the XM Kids site said Bari Koral..... ah the suspense.

Well, now I know, it is Roger Day!!! HOORAY!! We LOVE Roger Day! Thank you, thank you, thank you, our friends at XMKids!

If you've been reading here, you'll know already that we really, really love Roger Day. A couple of months ago, we drove two hours to go see him play in Birmingham, and it was absolutely worth the trip. We CANNOT wait until we get to see him again. For now, we are enjoying his DVD.



Play List:

Dream Big!

I Like Yaks

Mosquito Burrito

It's a No No To Kiss a Rihno

Uno, Dos, Tres

Open Up the Coconut

Roly Poly

Parachute Girl

Zachary hated Bumblebees

If You Jump on Your Bed

Ready to Fly

See You Later

13 under 13 - 18Jan2008

1. Witch Doctor - Alvin & The Chipmunks (11 weeks - TIME TO GOOOOOOO)
2. Fraggle Rock - Fraggle Rock Theme
3. The Jimmies - What's That Sound? (13 weeks)
4. Amy Adams - Happy Working Song
5. The Naked Brothers Band - If That's Not Love (16 weeks?)
6. Father Goose/Coolie Ranx - Bam Bam
7. Dar Williams - The Babysitter's Here
8. Reliant K - We Are The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything (debut - AAAAACK!)
9. Meredith Brooks - Every Dog (10 weeks)
10. Barry Louis Polisar - All I Want is You (2 weeks)
11. The Shins - It's OK, Try Again (16 weeks)
12. Secret Agent 23 Skidoo - Luck (debut)
13. Asylum Street Spankers - Be Like You (19 weeks)

"Past Freshness Date":
Barenaked Ladies - The Other Day I Met A Bear
Robbie Schaefer - Resolutions Song

New Music:

The Doo-Dads - Mama Be Right Back

Medeski, Martin and Wood - Let's go Everywhere (Don't Forget to Call Your Mama!)

Where are Roger Day, Weird Al, Joe McDermott??

What Was That?

Was that REALLY a commercial for Orbitz? Are you kidding me? I had heard of rumors of commercials on XM, but this is the first that I've encountered one. I'm really not impressed. Yes, it was disguised as a truly worthy cause (visit the historical sites associated with MLK Jr. -- and for that I don't need Orbitz since we live in Atlanta), but it was still an advertisement. We don't have tv, we don't listen to commercial radio, the girls have very little peer pressure in terms of material goods. We've avoided much of the influence of the invasive marketing, and I'm not going to be happy if XM starts marketing to my kids.

Addendum 7:17pm: And now a commercial for flu shots?? Ugh.

Coming Up

Last night, Robbie mentioned that soon XM Kids would have the music from the upcoming "Here Come the 123s" CD from They Might Be Giants. Faithful followers will already have heard many of the songs, as TMBG has been podcasting videos for a few weeks now and also has some songs posted on their Myspace page.

Ralph without the World

We just heard All My Colors played by Ralph Covert, recorded live in the Rumpus Room. Hearing Ralph play solo brings back memories of our first live Ralph experience five (5!) years ago this week. Ralph came to the Borders near us; we were thrilles, as we were fans since my husband had found his music while listening to music in the kids' section at eMusic.com.

That was our first live kindie experience and goes down as one of our life-changing moments.

Rumpus Room this weekend

is a rewind of Roger Day! Yeah! We missed it last time around, but we'll catch it this weekend, for sure!

[18Jan 7:40pm] Update: I see that what's on the XMKids site says that the Rumpus Room concert will be the Bari Koral one instead. Hmmm.

Camille Has the Magic Touch

Yet again, Camille was able to get through on her first try to talk to Robbie. He remembered her and where she lived, so they got right down to the question. What should Robbie do to stay warm in the Real Tall Tree? Camille suggested ten hats. So he should be "Dobby Schaefer, Stuck in a Real Tall Tree."

(My quick search failed to find me a photo, but those of you that are Harry Potter fans will hopefully remember that Hermione knitted hats for the elves to set them free, but Dobby was the only one to wear them -- and he wore all of them at the same time.)

Camille's request: Dream Big! by Roger Day

Poor Chloe

Chloe has been trying to call in to talk to Robbie both last night and tonight and just hasn't gotten through. Camille dialed in once and got through! Camille asked for Dream Big! by Roger Day, and Robbie played their conversation and Camille's request. Chloe is still trying to get through. I hope Robbie gets paid enough. He's a great babysitter.

I Have Done the Impossible

Well, at least according to Roger Miller. I have changed film with a kid on my back! It's really not so hard.

The first version of "You Can't Rollerskate in a Buffalo Crowd" that we knew was, no surprise, the Ralph's World track off of his first (self-titled) CD.

XM Kids has been giving the (original, I suppose) Roger Miller version lately. The closest I could find a video is this lipsynching one:

My Parenting Skills Announced to the Nation

Chloe called in to talk to Robbie again this morning. He asked her if she was still in her pajamas. Her answer: "I wore my clothes to bed..." Sigh.

Chloe couldn't decide whether to ask for Fraggle Rock, Catboy, Dream Big! or The Saga Bgins. The winner:



Addendum: Robbie played "Dream Big!" right after "The Saga Begins"; how cool is that :) I'm telling you, Dream Big is going to be on the charts soon.

Rumpus Room - The Sippy Cups

We enjoyed this week's Rumpus Room concert...The Sippy Cups! They performed songs from their CDs Kids Rock for Peas and Electric Storyland. Electric Storyland was named in the Top 10 CDs of 2006 in the Fids and Kamily Poll.

We were lucky enough to get to see this SF Bay Area group perform at Austin Kiddie Limits this past September. They put on a fantastic show, complete with circus acts and psychedelic props. But best was getting to hear Springtime Fantasic live!

We've just started watching the new Electric Storyland DVD and are enjoying it!


The Set List:

Drinking from the Sky

Little House of Jello

Meet Major Minor

Move Your Pants

Bike

Hair Professor and the Jellyfish

The Jellyfish

Springtime Fantastic

Superguy Returns

Use Your Words

I Am A Robot

Flower Tower

Magic Toast

13 under 13 - 11Jan2008

1. Witch Doctor - Alvin & The Chipmunks
2. Fraggle Rock - Fraggle Rock Theme
3. Amy Adams - Happy Working Song
4. The Naked Brothers Band - If That's Not Love
5. The Jimmies - What's That Sound?
6. Barenaked Ladies - The Other Day I Met A Bear
7. Dar Williams - The Babysitter's Here
8. Father Goose/Coolie Ranx - Bam Bam
9. The Shins - It's OK, Try Again
10. Meredith Brooks - Every Dog
11 Robbie Schaefer - Resolutions Song
12. Asylum Street Spankers - Be Like You (18 weeks)
13. Barry Louis Polisar - All I Want is You (debut)

Off the list (yeah!):
Sugar Chile Robinson - The Donkey Song (41 weeks)

Dream Big!

As I mentioned in passing before, it seems that XMKids (or maybe Robbie?) is playing Dream Big more often these days. It is no secret that all the members of our family are huge Roger Day fans. So much so that he was our top choice in the Fids and Kamily Awards. We were fortunate to be able to have a free day and drive over to Birmingham to hear him play a couple of months ago and cannot wait for our next chance to do so.


I hope that the frequent airings of the title track from his latest CD Dream Big! means that he will yet again have a 13 under 13 hit. We haven't been keeping track long, but I believe that his collaboration with Billy Jonas "I Like Yaks" was on the XMKids charts for some time.

Are you an XMKids Fan?

Here's fellow listener who had something fun to say about If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked a Cake, which has been playing a lot on XMKids lately.

Have a song you like/dislike? Something to share about an experience with XMKids? Let us know!

Chloe On The Air

Camille succeeded in getting through, so not to be outdone, Chloe had to call in to talk to Robbie as well. She told him today is her 5 .5 birthday and wondered if he remembered her from The Hipwaders Rumpus Room show that we went to and met him at. She asked him to play a Weird Al Star Wars song ("The Saga Begins") for her, but she couldn't remember the name of it. Oops! Funny, her other choice was the Fraggle Rock song, and he played that before he played her request!

Camille On The Air

Camille was so excited that Robbie played a song from the soundtrack for Annie that she called in and talked to him about it. And he played their conversation on the air! Camille was so nervous that she told him she was 8, not 9. Ooops. But Robbie very nicely played Roger Day's Zoe's World for her even though Dream Big! had just been played a little bit before (Is Dream Big! climbing the XMKids charts?? I certainly hope so!).

We're Diggin'

.... The Shins.

XMKids is playing "It's OK, Try Again" an awful lot, and we're loving it. The girls and I have both mistaken it for a Recess Monkey song, so I guess that's a fairly decent comparison!

A Yo Blogga Blogga blog post writes more about this song. Unfortunately, I find the video there in either IE or Firefox. I'd love to see it.

In the meantime, I'll try out their "grownup music."

13 under 13 - 4Jan2008

1. The Naked Brothers Band - If That's Not Love
2. Witch Doctor - Alvin & The Chipmunks
3. Amy Adams - Happy Working Song
4. The Jimmies - What's That Sound?
5. Fraggle Rock - Fraggle Rock Theme
6. Barenaked Ladies - The Other Day I Met A Bear
7. The Shins - It's OK, Try Again
8. Father Goose/Coolie Ranx - Bam Bam
9. Dar Williams - The Babysitter's Here
10. Meredith Brooks - Every Dog
11. Asylum Street Spankers - Be Like You (18 weeks)
12. Sugar Chile Robinson - The Donkey Song (41 weeks - time for it to fall off)
13. Robbie Schaefer - No! No! No!

Coming Up the charts:
Secret Agent 23 Skidoo - Luck

Off the list, unfortunately:
ScribbleMonster - I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas (but at least they played the right one!)

Rumpus Room - The Hipwaders

This weekend's Rumpus Room concert is sure to be a great one! The band this week is The Hipwaders! They'll be performing songs from their first CD The Hipwaders and their new for 2007 CD Educated Kid. In fact, Educated Kid was named in the Top 10 CDs of the year in the Fids and Kamily Poll, which was announced the weekend The Hipwaders recorded the Rumpus Room show.


We know a little more about this show than usual, since the girls and I were in the Rumpus Room for the taping of the show. It was quite exciting to head up to DC and meet this band from California that we've loved for quite a long time!



We're looking forward to tuning into the Rumpus Room this weekend. First airing is 11pm tonight. "Come Along With Us, Climb Aboard The Hipwader Bus!"

Princess Katie and Racer Steve?

It's no secret that we love Princess Katie and Racer Steve (known as PKRS around here). We loved their first CD Songs for the Coolest Kids, especially "It's Not Mine", "Jeans" and "Kings and Princesses". Their latest CD Fast & Feisty is rocking our socks off. The girls are always singing songs from it. Today was "Sneakers". My personal fave is "We Dress Ourselves." Getting the chance to meet Princess Katie in NYC last march made our whirlwind trip quite worth it (but I admit we could say that about many of the people we met that weekend).

Listening to XMKids, I don't think I have as of yet heard PKRS and searching XMFan hasn't pulled up anything (but I don't trust the artist names in XMKids -- for example we heard "Monster Face" from Roger Day, and XM listed the artist as "The Bad Bologna Band" instead of "Roger Day and The Bad Bologna Band").




Hey XMKids guys, how about some PKRS???

The Donkey Song

I admit it. I am so tired of this 1940's song (on the XMKids charts for something like 43 weeks now) that I tend to turn of the radio or change stations when it comes on. Today I finally decided to look into the song and came across some amazing videos on YouTube, including this one (but no Donkey Song that I could find):







Plus some links:

Wikipedia

Answers.com

Rockabilly Europe

Robinson graduated from Olivet College in Michigan in 1960 with a degree in psychology, but went into his Uncle Frank's chiropractor business instead. He worked there with his uncle until the latter died in 1992. While still working at the family business, he also ran his own Lendo/Lando and Autocap labels in the 1960s, having minor hits with Rufus Wonder (Little Stevie's cousin) and The Superlatives, and between 1962 to 1996 worked part-time selling television commercials for local broadcaster WGPR-TV. Since his retirement, he plays piano and organ on Sundays and Festival Holidays at the Christ Temple, Church of Christ Holiness in Colgate Street, Inkster, Michigan, but has been tempted over to the dark side to play a couple of Detroit blues festivals in recent years. In November 2007 he performed at the Rhythm Riot in Camber, East Sussex, England.