Video: "Frutero" - Apple Brains

Get Fruity album coverThere are those videos in which a gentle melody is accompanied by a similarly gentle animation featuring bunnies, perhaps, or very loving and slow-moving kids.

And then there's this world premiere video from Los Angeles band Apple Brains for "Frutero," off their debut album Get Fruity!  Live action, sometimes at double speed; goofy animation melded in, leading to visuals like an animated rocket ship landing in a Los Angeles park lake; a band member dressed up like a banana -- you get the idea.  All in service of a bilingual dance paean to LA's fruit vendors.

It is hyperactive, but in good ways.  It suggests that their Kindiefest performance this year could be semi-delirious.  (Also: one hopes that they will bring enough good vibes to encourage more food trucks to stop by.)

Apple Brains - "Frutero" [YouTube]

KidVid Tournament 2012 Champion: Princess Katie & Racer Steve

After a close, hard-fought, and fair battle, New York City's Princess Katie & Racer Steve and their video "Sand in My Sandwich" defeated Los Angeles' Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band and their video "Blue Bear" in a KidVid Tournament 2012 championship match.  This year we ended up having a real Cinderella champion. (OK, that's the last time I'm going to make that reference.)

So, huzzah to all the participants and all the fans who voted over these past three weeks.  Huzzah to all my fellow kindie website operators who hosted matchups over these past three weeks.  And huzzah to Princess Katie and Racer Steve, Champions of KidVid Tournament 2012!

Princess Katie & Racer Steve - "Sand in My Sandwich" [YouTube]

Video: "One To Ten" - Lucky Diaz

A Potluck album coverAm I a big Loog Guitars fan?  Am I a big Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band fan?  I dig my Loog guitar, and Diaz crafts some earwormy hooks, so let's answer in the affirmative.

And now, like some sort of kindie Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, they've joined forces. Diaz has written "One To Ten," a short, sharp pop tune written and recorded by Diaz on the Loog guitar.  I can vouch that the Loogs have that very percussive sound.

Diaz features other instruments on his upcoming album with the Family Jam Band, A Potluck, which is due out May 15 (with a new single, "Lines and Dots" out later this week).  But, you know, Loog hasn't figured out how to manufacture horns and accordions. Yet.

Lucky Diaz - "One To Ten" [YouTube]

KidVid Tournament 2012: Lucky Diaz vs. Princess Katie & Racer Steve

After three weeks of frenzied tournament action, KidVid Tournament 2012 comes to a conclusion today.

The championship features two very popular videos (natch) -- Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band's "Blue Bear" and Princess Katie & Racer Steve's "Sand in My Sandwich."

For the final time I will reiterate that this is a silly little internet contest and not worth getting upset over. [Yes, peope get upset over these things.] So, watch both videos below -- even if (especially if) you came here intending to vote for a specific video. One vote per family (the software checks for these sorts of things) by 8:30 PM West Coast time tonight. Most importantly, have fun!

Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band - "Blue Bear" [YouTube]

Princess Katie & Racer Steve - "Sand in My Sandwich" [YouTube]

KidVid Tournament 2012: Lucky Diaz vs. Suzi Shelton

It's time for the second matchup in the KidVid Tournament 2012 Final Four.

This matchup features the only #1 seed to make all the way through to here -- the Leadbelly Region winner's Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band's "Blue Bear" -- fighting against another true (if tomboy-ish) Cinderella squad, Suzi Shelton's "Tomboy in a Princess Dress," the #8 seed which won the Pete Seeger Region.

So, watch both videos below -- even if (especially if) you came here intending to vote for a specific video. One vote per family by 8:30 PM West Coast time tonight.  Once again, play nice, y'all -- this isn't worth getting hot'n'bothered about.  Most importantly, have fun!

Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band - "Blue Bear" [YouTube]

Suzi Shelton - "Tomboy in a Princess Dress" [YouTube]