Reworking tykes’ classics with snowmen in the lyrics is a shortcut to getting kids to singalong, like with superhero movies that just change the colors of the costumes.
“5 Little Snowmen” reworks ‘5 Little Monkeys’ jumping on the bed. Oh My Genius makes this lively with a touch of bluegrass and bopping sfx. Hee hee.
Kiboomers’s “5 Little Snowmen” is redundant and complacent though. They don’t hurt different parts at all. Oh well.
David Hudspeth downs the tempo with “Five Little Snowmen” focusing on their demises. Dark. (Is he playing a bouzouki?)
There’s also ‘I’m a Little Snowman’ sung to ‘I’m a Little Teapot.’ It’s all ready to go for kids three and up. Short and cold.
Singing Hands embodies the horrific in kid songs with “I’m a Little Snowman.” All the joy is marched into syncopation, all the talent is colored between the lines.
Super Simple Songs ups the temp a bit with “I’m a Little Snowman” and round and around they go. Skippit.
Heidi Burgess creates a new melody for the old saw. One note, but insistent. I say brava.
Kiboomers are back to let us know the snowman can be round not fat. But it’s the polka liveliness that rescues “I’m a Little Snowman” here. I don’t want to just sing along. I want to be the godammt snowman.
Kids want to sing and dance and learn at the hands of songs their betters ditto upon them.
Maple Leaf Learning has a sly pop number in “The Snowman Song” about a happy inanimate who wants to play but keeps melting away and then refreezing. Secular resurrection, anyone?
My Vox’s Michelle Schooff pops a cork with her pop “The Snowman” about those magical constructs that walk around while you’re asleep, like in those horror movies you’re not supposed to stay up for. Lots of calisthenics here.
The “Snowman Polka” is a creepy night-only dance from Deborah Malena and Garth Phillipsen. But kids need therapy less than us.
David Chicken enlists the kids to bop a doodle doo with “Snowman the Bop.” Socks out, kids!
Shake a leg for the party at the “Snowman’s Cafe.” Elizabeth McMahon conducts the ragtime fun.
“The Snowman Went Waltzing One Christmas” is a sad tale of looking for the right partner from Das Grumps Bavarian Band. Grampa would like it. Better than you think.
ATTENTION PLEASE: MORAL COMING. Captain Kangaroo narrates the “The Littlest Snowman” to teach us about friendship and bravery and stuff. Come on.
“Blingy the Snowman” reminds Gil Bezy of winter, and song, and Jesus. Kidsong or drug trip?
Caspar Babypants brings the adults into the room to see what the kids are listening to with danceable folk polka “I Wanna Be a Snowman.” Mmm, that’s good ball stacking.
Phil Keaggy rescues the genre with a quiet folk elegy, “The Snowman Song.” It’s thoughtful and reflective and touching, but keeping a departed one’s eyes and heart in jars in your room may not set examples we want children to follow.
The snowman may be a tradition of a thousand years, certainly written references can be found from more than 500 years ago. Whether as a ward, or porn, or simple sculpture (free materials!) this figure has excited our imagination–especially at the holiday season.
Way too many songs of the snowman are meant to excite children, or perhaps dull our own wits (same thing?). So week one will be about the sometimes talented, sometimes tedious, always enthusiastic kidsmusicka.
So we’ll start with the invitation and the DIY how-tos.
I know of no good reason to include the Disney ‘Frozen’ nonsense here. Except for an odd Classical Latin translation from Keith Massey (with questionable syntax). (altho, gosh, i am partial to “Do You Want to Be a Mormon?” from Seth Daybell.)
Conway Twitty slums into the funny-voiced sidekick duet country wishing for snow for “Johnny Snowman.” Gotta start with the snow, man. Deana Carter saves this mess with an update.
Heidi Songs gives us more of what we want. “Let’s Build a Snowman!” is short, jittery, and shrilly upbeat.
Nursery Rhymes by Little Fox utilize ‘O Susannah’ as the basis for their “Build a Snowman.” Proceed with caution.
Sparkle & Shine demonstrate why bearded big guys don’t usually teach the tots. “The Snowman Chant” attempts to dub the step, but embarrasses all.
A real head scratcher comes from Singer Dr. B. “Wonderful Snowman” is an odyssey of creation and discovery and kid celebration. I can’t explain more than that. Oh man.
Slow country from Lee and Sandy Paley who make “Snowman Joe” just for you. If you name them, it’s harder to lose them. (Oreo eyes? A banjo to bring him to life?!)
Gospel saves the day when Homemadesoul handclaps and enlifts with “Snowman” building. Go!
Despite the chatty-chat, Bill Hooper keeps it cool with his “Snowman” directions. Rock on.
E(everyone)L(oves)F(un) Learning has a underdeveloped tutorial with some mean tambourine: “Let’s Build a Snowman.” It goes slowly, so you should be able to keep up.
Dawn Langstroth regales us with a soulful jazz number “Here Comes the Snow.” It’s hauntingly familiar but totes Christmas.
Amadeus the Gallifreyan’s synth/dance mix “Here Comes the Snow” may be getting us off topic with loneliness and isolation. But i hear hope.
Mustard’s Retreat has a sad sullen “Here Comes the Snow.” They’re breaking up via piano bar country.
Trying to make the best of it Glenn Galen goes dark country lounge with “Here Comes the Snow.” Seems to be trading a downward market for climate change, you ask me.
Raldo Schneider’s “Here Comes the Snow” is a real country John Denver revival. I smell trouble in the bedroom.
Let’s uplift ya a bit with a Beatles’ take off by The Crickets (ten-year-olds) “Here Comes the Snow.” Awww.
Adult enthusiasm from Eric Alexandrakis with his playful “Here Comes the Snow.” Some old world oompah and some pop music badump bump.
Teresa Jennings goes to town at times for the elementary assemblies with her monstrously prolific Plank Road Publishing. Her “Here Comes the Snow” is an Irish barnburner. Great fiddlin’ recommended.
The clearest sign of Christmas acceptance is that snow falling down. It’s there in every Hallmark movie. So we send out the vibes and wishes and hopes and hollerin’.
Tyler Carter and Scout rap out the reality of their need for absolution with “Make It Snow.” Needy.
Band of Merrymakers express their desire with “Snow Snow Snow.” Bouncy frothy pop. You know you love it.
James Maddison Music unites children from around the world for their creepy harmony with “We Just Want it to Snow.” That many wee voices woven makes me dive under the divan.
Mr. Butters Music also conjures talented youthful voices with “Please Let It Snow.” Show tune worthy, but also just this side of conjuring.
Vituoso Girl gets the kinder version right with “I Want It to Snow.” Slightly annoying with its forthrightness, not too clever, but soaring and now with less winking.
While we’re hibernating in the Winter still, let’s acknowledge the BIG Christmas song picture: all aspects of This Time of the Year are fair game for caroling. Let it Snow, Baby It’s Cold, Winter Wonderland are all about the need to be close together inside exchanging warmth by our mere presence. (Yea, even unto Jingle Bells which does NOT mention Christmas.)
We here at Novelty Central have proven time and again that you can’t have enough on your Christmas playlist. We’re all inclusive and we cherish all colors, ingredients, and positions.
So let’s talk freezing…
To begin with, the snowflake is a symbol of natural complexity and wonder. (So of course it’s been politicized into a derogatory epithet–not white privilege, as was prevalent until about 10 years ago. Now it means PC and over-protective of liberal uniqueness. Guys, if you need to reappropriate hate terms, it’s all in Shakespeare!) (We’re too retro and loving here to give that any more airplay.)
Kids love this stuff, so i need to spend a day on their innocence and lack of originality in snow songs.
Baby Learning World combos with Kids Learning Tube to teach us elementary science in their “Snowflake Song.” You’ll recognize references from ‘Frozen’ and Middle Earth and sci fi.
Miss Molly has that dull intonation that makes kids want to singalong with her “Snowflakes Falling Song.” Caution: counting. You may get hypnotized.
More wondrous and wootsie-cootsie comes Super Simple Learning with the nursery rhyme “Little Snowflake.” Lots of links to toys you can buy and more songs crowd out the end of this. They also teach forest animals “Each Snowflake is Special,” but the irony of so is everyone else! seems lost here.
Time for the assembly song! Plank Road Publishing pushes “A Million Little Snowflakes” to indoctrinate the wee ones.
Rosemary Clooney made it famous, but our new and improved “Suzy Snowflake” arrives care of the ADHD stylings of Soul Coughing. Still just kid stuff.
Peter Pan Carolers sing in a round with Their “Snowflake Song” from the happening ’70s. It’s melting, man! Peter Wood Singers slow this down for maximum meditation. Sounds like background music for The Brady Bunch.
A gentle rock’n’roll meditation from Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm, “Snowflake” puts us into a ’65 kind of mood. Mmm, that’s good cave-baby groovin’.
Couple guys with guitars The String Beans laugh and play with their “Snowflakes” song.
Tiana has quite an anthem on “Snowflakes” from her Toys and Me album. (Santa’s mentioned.) Uplifting.
Oddly affecting, SpongeBob Square Pants sings “Snowflakes” like a beat poet. Folk rocksie.
Nyanna makes a real dance number for her “Snowflake Waltz.” Keep arms in position, tots!
Most fun (and almost educational) are Trout Fishing in America with “Bob and Bob.” Those snowflakes might all be different, but a couple of ’em might have the same name. Could happen. Picking and grinning fun.
Joe Ruby and Ken Spears created the Scooby-Doo, Where are You? cartoon series of the 1970s, although they say the Great Dane’s name was chosen by head of CBS Fred Silverman from Sinatra scat. The show lasted two seasons but has been resuscitated more times than a mummy. Countless ‘movies,’ direct-to-video dreck, and guest appearances on other cartoons (not to mention the 2002, ’04 big budget cinema) have cemented this dog as a cultural sticking post (gluttonous, cowardly, lucky).
Scott Innes, a 1990s voice, sings Claude Parish’s “Christmas with the Monsters” as a Christmas card to Shaggy and his big best friend.
As a cheeky break in the wind of drug-oriented Xmas carols, here’s a 1966 novelty from ‘Little’ Georgie Holiday NOT about sniffing glue. In order to trap Santa in the house, we’re getting out the paste pots, and we’re going to “Have a Gluey Christmas.” Tee hee hee. I fooled ya. (No, there aren’t any songs about huffing or sniffing for yule that I’ve taken note of.) (But Peggy King with the Mitch Miller Band also plotted “I’m Gonna Put Some Glue Around the Christmas Tree [So Santa Claus will Stick Around All Year].”Actually–that’s pretty creepy.)
Kids eat Christmas dinner at the small table, but they get a couple songs to go with it.
Neurotic Films Oficial has posted a marvy pop song about “The Christmas Dinner for Kids” (without crediting the young wailers) which invites kids to party in their mouths with edible presents.
Disney has a princess album for Christmas with original songs, so let’s try to guess which dwarf is singing which line for Snow White’s “Christmas Eve Dinner.” It’s a course stopper!
Turkey is the traditional Christmas meal for the English. Songs celebrate the healthy carnivorous choice, and also cry the warnings for the fowl.
Sometimes we just say “Big Dead Bird” for dinner without mentioning the type. Be suspicious of this melodious easy-listening comedy (with accordion) from Lou and Peter Berryman. It may not be the bird you’re thinking of. The whole meal stinks, in point of fact.
Riddim fun from Echo recommending “Run, Turkey, Run” away from Christmas men with their cleavers. Turkey trot might be the appropriate step.
Of course ‘turkey’ means more than bird. Jenny T posts the “Xmas Turkey Song” reminding us losers we are what we eat.
Turkeys at time get revenge on us as with Learn English Kids’ “Turkey Trouble Song.” It’s a bit plodding (teaching reading), but wicked fun for the childrens.
Antsy McClain and the Trailer Park Troubadours make a bit more merry with “Frank the Christmas Turkey,” a pop-alt folk stew of charming, chanting fun. Deadly though.
