We grew up on Sesame Street and would love for the kids to receive the same exposure to it, but for some reason it's hard to find on cable. We've had to make do with some Elmo and Bert & Ernie DVDs. Thank goodness for the internet, where you can find the classic segments and some incredible new ones.
Right now the kids' favorite (and mine too) is one where Andrea Bocelli sings Elmo to sleep. They adapted "Con Te Partiro" and changed the lyrics to make it a lullabye. By way of sample, the first stanza goes, "Time to say goodnight/Lie down/Here is your bear/ You've had such a wonderful day/Playing and counting to 20/And going to the park/with your friends.../. The link is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgUnYzXU-Fo
Andrea Bocelli doesn't shade his performance one bit just because he's appearing on a children's show, no sir. What a performer! And he's riffing off of Elmo not like he's talking to a puppet, but as if Elmo is really a child - watch his expression at 3:08. The boys know who he is and call him Andwea Botchewi, and when the three of us watch it we sing along to the parts we know.
The boys also like Cookie Monster's "C is for Cookie" (no need to explain to your Gen Xers) as well as "The Alligator King." But not all the ones I've found are great, or are as great as I remember them. For instance, the boys didn't like "Eleven Morning" ("It's a lovely 11 morning ...") too much, and I can't say I blame them; while it's one of those Sesame Street songs that get stuck in your head, it kinda looks cheesy watching it 30 years later.
I'm hunting for other classic segments - "Loaf of Bread ..." is an obvious choice, but it's not too catchy, musically. Any suggestions?
8 comments:
Furry Happy Monsters? Martian Beauty Number 9 Cutie? Ladybug Picnic? scenes with Fat Blue & Grover? Ernie singing I Don't Want To Live on the Moon? Bert doing the pigeon?
"a loaf of bread, a container of milk, and a stick of butter": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFy2jHSIOKA
Because of your obsession with Dyson vacuums, the boys might appreciate "Typewriter Guy with Vacuum" nooneenooneenooneenoo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2mdRtqo8qs&NR=1
...and of course, there's the classic "The Golden AN"!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZpjH1WcWOM
Alligator King (and his seven sons)! - in the "Great Numbers Game" video collection. We'll have a copy for you when you visit!
How about the "Golden An" for Hadrien?
How about "Who are the people in your neighborhood?" or "One of these things is not like the other?" Gosh, that just brought back memories from 3 decades ago! I remember when I was 7 or so, and I'd count my dad's sneezes ala Count Dracula. Mwahahaha!
All very worthy suggestions, I'll try to look for good versions. Thanks!
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