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Here Comes Science--Music for Kids
The band They Might be Giants just released their 3rd CD/DVD collection written for kids. This one is titled "http://tmbw.net/wiki/Here_Comes_Science" ." All together, these releases might just be be the most significant set of music/videos since "Schoolhouse Rock."
Full disclosure, I was a college DJ in the late 80s, I've favored "off-center" music, and we started having our kids at the same time TMBG started writing full-length kid-specific albums. I've seen them live 5 times in the last 2 years. Apparently I am genetically engineered to be a fan. I knew well ahead of time I would get this CD/DVD (because I pre-ordered it).
So I'm asking: As science minded people, and keeping in mind that this is kid's music, ages 4--12, distributed by Disney;
What do you think?
Here's what I think:
As we have watched it/listened (with my kids, mostly) I'm picking up some brave moves that few people ever make. The album unabashedly promotes Evolution. Check the first refrain from the lead-off "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty33v7UYYbw&feature=channel"." (those are the lyrics, the video is not posted yet).
In an interview on NPR's "http://www.sciencefriday.com/program/archives/200909256" ," just yesterday, John Linnell introduced "Ape" as being about "evolution, that controversial fact."
"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0zION8xjbM&feature=fvw"" speaks for itself.
Another significant song, "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RJ0-GxeIYs&feature=channel"," is the first one about planets that includes Ceres, Eris, "and a bunch of other stuff." Pluto is included as part of that "bunch of other stuff," but it is left open as to whether or not to call it a planet. Their main point being that it's just not important what you call a planet or not; there's is just a heck of a lot more planetary bodies out there and there is nothing sacred about the number 9. Only fault: they missed their chance to say "Quaoar." More people need to know there is a planetoid named Quaoar. And Makemake.
BTW, all links are from the band's (or the animator's) own YouTube Channel.
I have no objectivity here. Nearly all outside reviews are superlative, but I'm intrigued to know what other science-types think.
The band They Might be Giants just released their 3rd CD/DVD collection written for kids. This one is titled "http://tmbw.net/wiki/Here_Comes_Science" ." All together, these releases might just be be the most significant set of music/videos since "Schoolhouse Rock."
Full disclosure, I was a college DJ in the late 80s, I've favored "off-center" music, and we started having our kids at the same time TMBG started writing full-length kid-specific albums. I've seen them live 5 times in the last 2 years. Apparently I am genetically engineered to be a fan. I knew well ahead of time I would get this CD/DVD (because I pre-ordered it).
So I'm asking: As science minded people, and keeping in mind that this is kid's music, ages 4--12, distributed by Disney;
What do you think?
Here's what I think:
As we have watched it/listened (with my kids, mostly) I'm picking up some brave moves that few people ever make. The album unabashedly promotes Evolution. Check the first refrain from the lead-off "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty33v7UYYbw&feature=channel"." (those are the lyrics, the video is not posted yet).
In an interview on NPR's "http://www.sciencefriday.com/program/archives/200909256" ," just yesterday, John Linnell introduced "Ape" as being about "evolution, that controversial fact."
"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0zION8xjbM&feature=fvw"" speaks for itself.
Another significant song, "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RJ0-GxeIYs&feature=channel"," is the first one about planets that includes Ceres, Eris, "and a bunch of other stuff." Pluto is included as part of that "bunch of other stuff," but it is left open as to whether or not to call it a planet. Their main point being that it's just not important what you call a planet or not; there's is just a heck of a lot more planetary bodies out there and there is nothing sacred about the number 9. Only fault: they missed their chance to say "Quaoar." More people need to know there is a planetoid named Quaoar. And Makemake.
BTW, all links are from the band's (or the animator's) own YouTube Channel.
I have no objectivity here. Nearly all outside reviews are superlative, but I'm intrigued to know what other science-types think.
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