Video: "Everybody Sing" - Imagination Movers (World Premiere)

“Reach high, think big, work hard, have fun!”

This is probably imprinted in the brains of probably millions of kids and their parents. It's the motto of New Orleans' Imagination Movers, and as mottoes (and band jingles) go, it's a pretty darn good one.

The band's popularity is due in no small part to their Disney Junior series (and, yes, new episodes are coming in 2012), but anybody's who seem 'em live (even folks like me who weren't in their target audience) will testify to the fact that they're going to have a career long after they stop making music and video for the Mouse.

In fact, in 2011, they signed a deal with Razor & Tie, and next month -- February 14, to be exact -- Razor + Tie will release the band's new CD/DVD Rock-O-Matic. I've listened to a lot of the album, and I can guarantee a few tracks will be concert favorites. Luckily, the band's embarking on an 80-date concert tour starting in early March (details here) so you'll have plenty of opportunities to put my guarantee to the test.

The album was made available for pre-orders yesterday; besides the CD, it also includes a DVD, which the Movers promise includes "skits that recall old-school Movers comedy heroes like Monty Python and the Monkees" and more.

But perhaps you'd like to hear one of those new songs before February 14? Well, then, I'm proud to present the world premiere of one of those instant concert classics, "Everybody Sing." I apologize in advance for getting this stuck in your brain for the rest of the day.

Imagination Movers - "Everybody Sing" [YouTube]

Photo credit: Adams Photography

Monday Morning Smile: "When Will You Die?" - They Might Be Giants

A meditation on mortality from They Might Be Giants.

Also, a kick-butt rock tune (it's from their fine 2011 "adult" album Join Us).

And a celebration of life.

All of that in a two-and-a-half-minute video. Unless you think the phrase "when will you die?" will prompt questions from your kids that you just don't want to deal with (and, hey, I'm not judging) totally appropriate for the kiddos.

They Might Be Giants - "When Will You Die?" [YouTube]

Video: "Say What?" - Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band (World Premiere)

I think all kids should get a chance to -- among other things -- a) ride a train, and b) scat. Now, if those kids start scatting while on the train as they do in this brand new (world premiere!) video from Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band, then I guess I'm cool with that.

The lovely artwork's by Micah Player and features Lily and Zeborah, characters in Lately Lily, the apparel line Player helps produce. Player did the album art for both Diaz albums, including Oh Lucky Day!, the album this song, "Say What?," is from. The visual pleasures are quiet ones -- rather than featuring lots of action, this video mostly consists small changes you and your kids will have sit quietly and watch to notice.

And, just like the last time I world-premiered a Lucky Diaz video, the video release comes closer to the release of his next album than the one the song is from. That's right, Diaz's next album, A Bit A Luck! will be out in less than 4 months, on May 8. Reportedly it features a horn section, which, in my experience, is never a bad thing.

Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band - "Say What?" [YouTube]

Monday Morning Smile: "They Don't Know" - Tracey Ullman

OK, this "Monday Morning Smile" is being posted on Tuesday, but I view it sort of like recycling pick-up -- if your regular day falls on a holiday, then it happens the next day, right?

There's nothing kid-focused about this song and video from Tracey Ullman, but it's a fabulous cover of the late Kirsty MacColl's "They Don't Know" by Tracey Ullman. Ullman signed to the British punk label Stiff to release You Broke My Heart in 17 Places in 1983, and, even more oddly, generated actual pop hits from this album. She anticipated the British retro-wave by, what, 25 years, and this song, which I saw about 47,000 times on MTV (actual number), still holds up. That "bay-ee-bee" just before the final verse? MacColl herself. (You can listen to MacColl's original 1979 recording here.)

Tracey Ullman - "They Don't Know" [YouTube]

Video: "I Think I'm a Bunny" - Todd McHatton

I'm not sure there was a song this year that everybody I know who listened to it immediately said, "Oh, that's a winner" as much as "I Think I'm a Bunny" by Todd McHatton. It's the last track on his most recent album Galactic Champions of Joy, and it's just so darn cute and ear-wormy that it's impossible not to be captivated by the tale of an identity-challenged monster and his wise, young friend.

This new video for the song is almost as cute as the song itself. The puppets go a long, long way...

Todd McHatton - "I Think I'm a Bunny" [YouTube]