I don’t think this is what Obama had in mind when he talked about teachable moments with kids, but what the heck…

There’s a hidden benefit in playing video games: learning about classical music. This, I found out last night at Video Games Live!, a totally unique musical experience dreamt up by video game music composers Tommy Tallarico and Jack Wall. Three giant screens showed spliced video game footage, while a live orchestra and choir performed (mostly) classical music from the games.

 

And the kids -- and, yes, adults in anime-like costumes -- went wild. The highlights included an awesome take on the The Legend of Zelda and sweet remixes of cult classics, like Castlevania and Donkey Kong. Kids will more likely go crazy for the music from newer, more visually dramatic, games like Halo, Final Fantasy, and the World of Warcraft, though.

Tallarico was an entertaining host -- and personable and charming enough to convince a mom that a kid can be a gamer and a social rock star: “Some people think that video game music is nothing but simplistic bleeps and bloops,” he opened up, successfully pulling a boo out of the crowd. “This is an art form! There’s a reason why video games are the entertainment of choice for the 21st Century!”

So fess up: have you ever paid attention to the soundtrack to your kids' video games before?

 

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Children’s music can be a tad intimidating. It’s not like you pick up good kids’ jams by turning on the radio or flipping through your friend’s iPod. And there’s always a very frightening possibility that the music will be annoying as hell but your kids will just adore it. That's when you're in serious trouble. (You may start contemplating such existential questions as, “Can one wear ear plugs while driving?” BTW, the answer’s no!)

That’s why I recommend this album of children’s tunes from various artists, Kidzapalooza. Several rockers make an appearance on this funky, genre-spanning disc, like Lisa Loeb and Perry Farrell of Jane’s Addiction. It’s a great introduction to the best kids’ music out there, and it is far from annoying.

The crazy thing about this disc is that the best tunes are definitely from the seasoned kids’ vets, not the rockers giving it “star power.” The Jimmies (who have a GREAT musical DVD coming in November) start it off hard and catchy. Lunch Money brings the silly, catchy pop jams that they’re known for with the wonderfully titled “A Cookie as Big as My Head.” Zach Gill has a chilled, Jack Johnson-esque easiness in his sweet addition to the compilation, “Back in the Day.” Follow that with a punk rock version of “Skip to My Lou” -- hey, it’s music edumacation! -- and you’ll see just how far-reaching kids’ tunes can be.

The low point of the album for me? Lisa Loeb’s overly cutesy, overly preachy track, “In the Details.” She killed the message by shouting it too much. Nonetheless, this a great collection of kids’ music. Highly recommended!

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Did you catch Paul McCartney’s performance on the Late Show with David Letternman last night? I did.

During McCartney’s first visit back to the Ed Sullivan Theater, where the Beatles launched their U.S. invasion 45 years ago, he performed several hit songs, reminisced about the Fab Four, and captivated the audience with his dry wit.

I loved it! Why? That’s easy. Many Beatles songs are fun, have easy-to-remember lyrics, and transcend generations. They’re songs that I don't hear often—unlike the Jonas Brothers’ soundtracks that I have memorized—but they’re the songs that defined my early years.

Hearing McCartney’s voice, my thoughts flew to long-lost friends, summer nights, school dances, first kisses, teenage sullenness—mine, not the one that’s looming—and the years before adulthood took hold.

It was an awesome, completely unexpected escape from reality. And, thanks to this clip of McCartney’s performance, one I can repeat. Soon.


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Beyonce will make her Nick Jr. debut on Wow! Wow! Wubbzy Monday, April 27, as Shine, singing her original tune, "Sing a Song." Here’s a taste:

In November, Ricky Gervais will be hanging out with the Sesame Street Crew. Get a hilarious preview here:

We love Yo Gabba Gabba. We love Jack Black. Perfect combo!=:

In case you missed it: Paul Rudd dances around in an Earth costume with Elmo & Co.

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What do indie rockers do when they become dads? Apparently, they get a bubble machine!

Robbert Bobbert, better known as Robert Schneider, frontman of hipper-than-thou indie rock group The Apples in Stereo, debuted his wacky new kiddie band-cum-science show in New York City last weekend. (Love this Sunday event series dubbed BYOK -- Bring Your Own Kid.)

Donning a lab coat and a guitar -- and, yes, flanked by a flashing bubble machine! -- the mad musician led playful lessons about such high-brow subjects as elephants and puppies. That was between the happy, Beach Boys-esque rock tunes that got kids bopping and grooving. Songs like "I Am a Clock" were deceptively simple and perfectly infectious. Funny thing is, the on-stage persona is not so far off: Schneider is a long-time student of mathematics, who came up with his own musical scale based on natural logarithms.

This dad is, like, totally rad.

(Look for Robbert Bobbert and the Bubble Machine, due out Feb. 17th on Little Monster records.) Read More