Steve Denyes and 20 Kindie Artists Write 20 Kindie Songs in 20 Days

Sounds like a logic problem, right? "If Steve Denyes and 20 kindie artists write 20 kindie songs in 20 days, how many days would it take Steve Denyes and 1 kindie artist to write 1 kindie song?"

The answer -- contrary to what logic would tell you -- is one day.

Or, to be more specific -- today. That goes for whenever you read this, because for the next 20 days, Denyes (best known as the main guy in San Diego's Hullabaloo) and a guest artist will pick a song title out of a hat and, by 5:00 PM daily, write, record a post a song based on that title. Actually, both Denyes and the guest will each write a song, so it's actually 40 songs in 20 days, but Denyes' title was already set. (Logic is tough, y'all.)

Why would Denyes do such a thing? I'm sure there are many intrinsic motivations, but an external one would be to raise money for Happy Star Melodies, a San Diego-based charity that brings musical instruments and performances to kids facing long hospital stays. Denyes has already raised a nice sum of money, and although the time to suggest songs is long past, I'm sure the group could use whatever you can spare via the donation page.

I could list some of the guest artists, but then I'd be afraid of leaving some out, and, really, there's no good way to handle the issue other than to say the guest artist for the first day, February 1, is Jason Didner, and there's plenty more good stuff coming.

Denyes' plan is to post the song(s) by 5 PM Pacific time daily, and my plan is to update this post -- hopefully daily -- with all the songs.

So, again, visit that donation page and give a little bit if you can. And enjoy the music!

"My Best Friend Riley" - Steve Denyes / "My Best Friend Riley (Is a Dog)" - Jason Didner

"Ant and Bee Went Looking for a Cookie" - Steve Denyes / "Mr. Ant and Mrs. B" - KB Whirly

"My Trip to Paris" - Steve Denyes / Ashli Christoval (aka Jazzy Ash)

"Hugs for My Family, High Fives for My Friends" - Steve Denyes / Randy Kaplan

"Help!" A Snake Is Gonna Eat Me" - Steve Denyes / Jim Cosgrove (aka Mr. Stinky Feet)

Radio Playlist: New Music May 2016

If it's the last of May, can I still post a new music playlist? Of course I can. It's just 21 minutes, but it's 21 minutes of good stuff. (If you want to catch my list from April, you can see that playlist here.)

As always, it's limited in that if an artist hasn't chosen to post a song on Spotify, I can't put it on the list, nor can I feature songs from as-yet-unreleased albums. But I'm always keeping stuff in reserve for the next Spotify playlist.

Check out the list here (or right here in you're in Spotify).

**** New Music May 2016 (May 2016 Kindie Playlist) ****

"Llama" - The Que Pastas

"The Baby's Favorite Song" - Lefty Magee

"I Want to Buy a Monkey" - Sir. Crazy Pants

"Spring in My Step" - I Have a Go

"(Silly) Wheels on the Bus" - Miss Nina & the Jumping Jacks

"Jersey Dinosaurs" - Jason Didner and the Jungle Gym Jam

"The Great Divide" - The Okee Dokee Brothers

"Everything's Better with a Mustache (Walrus Song)" - The Whizpops

Christmas and Holiday Kids Music 2015 (Songs and Videos)

To go along with my reviews of 2015 Christmas and holiday kids music, here are some videos and singles for your further enjoyment. I'll be adding songs and videos as they're released, so feel free to check back throughout the season (or shout out the new songs I've missed).

First, let's hear from Laurie Berkner, who has a new video for "Children Go Where I Send Thee," a track which appeared on 2012's A Laurie Berkner Christmas and the just released Laurie Berkner's Favorite Classic Kids' Songs. Pretty simple -- it features Berkner and regular Berkner bassist (and kindie musician in his own right) Brady Rymer and a bunch of children dancing around happily.

Laurie Berkner (with Brady Rymer) - "Children Go Where I Send Thee" [YouTube]

Next is a song I've already posted the video for, but it definitely merits a repeat mention, and that's "L.A. Christmas" from Andrew & Polly featuring Mista Cookie Jar. It's a sweet, sunny groove with just enough bells and holiday spirit to make it a nice alternative to a lot of holiday music.

Andrew & Polly and Mista Cookie Jar - "L.A. Christmas" [YouTube]

Of course there are Christmas-themed bands. The Yule Logs from California have four holiday albums under their belt, and have just released their fifth such album, Up All Night. The title track is a jangly bit of celebratory nonsense. The band isn't really a kids band, but this song and video passes the parental test.

Moving from L.A. to N.J., Jason Didner and the Jungle Gym Jam offer up a little bit of The Boss -- Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band -- in their appealing single (and track from their forthcoming 2016 album) "Summertime Santa." Apparently the West Coast isn't the only coast that can offer up a beach-based Christmas celebration.

<a href="http://junglegymjam.bandcamp.com/track/summertime-santa">Summertime Santa by Jason Didner and the Jungle Gym Jam</a>

Speaking of songs featuring Santa mashups, Montana's The Salamanders move out from the beach onto the sea with their holiday single "Pirate Santa." As with "Summertime Santa," this is hardly a serious take on the holiday season, but combining "Yo Ho Ho" with "Ho Ho Ho" is a pretty good idea. (The last line, is also a darn good pun.)

<a href="http://salamandersmusic.bandcamp.com/track/pirate-santa">Pirate Santa by The Salamanders</a>

And there's no reason why we can't have multiple versions of the same song in a single year, right? Rani Arbo and daisy mayhem offer up their own take on "Children Go Where I Send Thee" that's a little more pensive and rootsier than Berkner and Rymer's take. Gotta believe that one of these will be to your family's taste.

We're in the midst of Hanukkah as I add this track, the latest from Jewish-themed rockers The Macaroons. This year's sing-along track, "Jews All Over the World," does give a shout-out to Hanukkah, but it's got an advantage in that it'd probably sound just as good in May as it does now. Try saying that about "Last Christmas."

<a href="http://themacaroons.bandcamp.com/track/jews-all-over-the-world">Jews All Over The World by The Macaroons</a>

This last embed isn't kindie, but as with most Christmas streams, it's certainly family-friendly. It's a Spotify playlist from Universal Music's vast library. At more than 4 hours (!) in length, there's plenty of room for the classics (just look at the first 5 songs in that embed stream) and new songs (e.g., Carly Rae Jepsen's take on Wham's "Last Christmas").

Other Songs/Videos/Album Streams

The Big Cheese Band - "The Christmas Crocodile" [YouTube]

Rockin' Robin & the Magical Tree - "Sparkly Christmas Things" [YouTube]

The Little Ditties - "S'no Day Like It" [Bandcamp]

Andrew & Polly - Other Days [Bandcamp]

Rain for Roots - Waiting Songs [Bandcamp]

Radio Playlist: New Music February 2014

January continued to be slow in terms of new album releases, so I've slid into early February when it comes to my playlist of songs from disks that have crossed my desk or hard drive (see the December playlist here). As always, it's limited in that if an artist hasn't chosen to post a song on Spotify, I can't put it on the list, nor can I feature songs from as-yet-unreleased albums. But I'm always keeping stuff in reserve for the next Spotify playlist.

Check out the list here or go right here if you're in Spotify.

**** New Music February 2014 (February 2014 Kindie Playlist) ****

Ken Kurland – On My Way Home
Sophie & Les Petits – Joyeux Anniversaire
Robert M. Charde – Jean Lafitte
Linda Marie Smith – Surrender to the Sea
Mama Mac – Pajama Train
Ella Jenkins – Eight Clay Pigeons
Jason Didner and the Jungle Gym Jam – Stay in the Pool
Mil's Trills – Brooklyn
Mr. S & the Sandbox Band – Delaware Street
Clint Perry & The Boo Hoo Crew – Tire Swing