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Kidsongs

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Kidsongs
1990–1998 logo
GenreChildren's music sing-along
Written byCarol Rosenstein
Abbie Crow Rich (1986)
Bruce Gowers
Directed byBruce Gowers
ComposerMichael Lloyd
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes25
Production
Executive producersCarol Rosenstein
Bruce Gowers
James Rich Jr. (1986)
ProducerCarol Rosenstein
Camera setupMultiple-camera setup
Production companiesTogether Again Video Productions (1986–1995)
Together Again Productions (1995–1998)
Warner Bros. Records (1986–1995)
Sony Wonder (1997–1998)
Original release
ReleaseApril 1986 (1986-04)[1] –
September 18, 1998 (1998-09-18)

Kidsongs is an American children's media franchise that includes Kidsongs Music Video Stories on DVD and video, the Kidsongs TV series, CDs of children's songs, songbooks, sheet music, toys, and a merchandise website.[2] It was created by producer Carol Rosenstein and director Bruce Gowers of Together Again Video Productions.[3][4][5] The duo had produced and directed over 100 music videos for Warner Bros. Records and took their idea of music videos for children to the record label. Warner Brothers funded the first video, "A Day at Old MacDonald's Farm". Shortly thereafter, a three-way partnership formed between TAVP, WBR, and View-Master Video, with TAVP responsible for production and WBR and View-Master responsible for distribution to video and music stores, and toy stores respectively.

Development

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The home video series was launched with four Kidsongs "Music Video Stories" being announced at New York's Toy Fair in February 1986. "A Day at Old MacDonald's Farm" was one of those first four and has sold over 4 million copies[6] and won the Vira Award.[7] Each half-hour video featured around 10 songs in a music video style production starring a group of children known as the "Kidsongs Kids". They sing and dance their way through well-known children's songs, nursery rhymes, and covers of pop hits from the '50s, '60s, '70s and ‘80s—all tied together by a simple story and theme.

The TAVP/WBR/View-Master Video partnership (View-Master was acquired by Tyco Toys in 1989)[8] produced sixteen Kidsongs videotapes. In 1995, WBR and TAVP bought out Tyco's distribution rights, then "Let's Put on a Show!" and "Baby Animal Songs" were released in 1996 by WarnerVision Entertainment, another division of Time Warner.[9] In 1997, TAVP acquired Time Warner's rights to Kidsongs, assuming sole ownership of the franchise.

Later in 1997, TAVP entered into a distribution/production agreement[10] with Sony Wonder, having admired Sony's revitalization of Sesame Street's home video and music products. TAVP and Sony Wonder co-produced four more titles: "I Can Dance!", "I Can Do It!", and two "Adventures in Biggleland" specials also broadcast on public television stations. In 2002, distribution rights migrated to Image Entertainment (later RLJE Films), which continues to distribute the videos.

Notable members

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Home videos

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Twenty-five Kidsongs "Music Video Stories" were released between 1986 and 1998, encompassing more than 200 public domain, covered, and original songs, and featuring a variety of topics that of interest to kids: animals, birthdays, the zoo, sports, summer camp, fantasy, vehicles, and general silliness. 14 have been certified platinum by the RIAA,[11] with 5 of them having sold more than 2 million copies. As of now, the videos have sold over 19.5 million copies.

No.TitleOriginal air date
1"A Day at Old MacDonald's Farm"April 1986 (1986-04)
2"I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing"April 1986 (1986-04)
3"Good Night, Sleep Tight"April 1986 (1986-04)
4"Cars, Boats, Trains and Planes"April 1986 (1986-04)
Songs: "Car Car Song" (Woody Guthrie), "Daylight Train", "Up and Down, Round and Round", "Row, Row, Row Your Boat", "I Got Wheels", "Up, Up and Away" (The Fifth Dimension), "Where, Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone?" (Septimus Winner), "I Like Trucks", "US Air Force (Wild Blue Yonder)", "The Bus Song"
5"Sing Out, America!"August 25, 1986 (1986-08-25)
6"A Day with the Animals"August 25, 1986 (1986-08-25)
Songs: "Bingo", "Do Your Ears Hang Low?", "Little Bo Peep", "Why Don't You Write Me?" (Simon and Garfunkel), "Rockin' Robin" (Bobby Day), "Water World", "The Wanderer" (Dion DiMucci), "Harmony", Pet Store Medley ("How Much is That Doggie in the Window?", "Little Duckie Duddle", "Hickory Dickory Dock", "Itsy Bitsy Spider")
7"What I Want to Be"September 7, 1987 (1987-09-07)
Songs: "What Do You Want to Be?", "Sea Cruise" (Frankie Ford), "Drivin' My Life Away" (Eddie Rabbitt), School Medley ("One, Two, Buckle My Shoe", "School Days", "The Alphabet Song"), "I Wanna Be a Fireman", "The Candy Man" (Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley), "Them Bones", "Mr. Policeman" (original), "Rodeo Rider", "Act Naturally" (The Buckaroos)
8"The Wonderful World of Sports"September 7, 1987 (1987-09-07)

Songs: "It's Not If You Win or Lose", "Practice Makes Perfect", "Bend Me, Shape Me" (The American Breed), "I Get Around" (The Beach Boys), "Over the River and Through the Woods", "Footloose" (Kenny Loggins), "Rah, Rah, Sis Boom Bah", "Catch a Wave" (The Beach Boys), "Centerfield" (John Fogerty), "You Know That You Can Do It"

Note: This video was rebranded as "Let's Play Ball!" in 1990.
9"A Day at the Circus"November 2, 1987 (1987-11-02)
10"A Day at Camp"April 24, 1990 (1990-04-24)
Songs: "The More We Get Together/The More We Play Together", "The Caissons Go Rolling Along", "Fishin' Blues" (Taj Mahal), "On Top of Spaghetti", Campfire Medley ("99 Bottles of Pop", "Pop Goes the Weasel" "Found a Peanut", "The Ants Go Marching"), "Boom, Boom, Ain't It Great to Be Crazy?", Animal Medley ("The Animal Fair", "Little Bunny Foo Foo", "Pussycat, Pussycat", "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep", "The Old Gray Mare", "I Had a Little Rooster"), "Whistle While You Work" (Frank Churchill and Larry Morey), "The Hokey Pokey", "When the Saints Go Marching In"
11"Ride the Roller Coaster"April 24, 1990 (1990-04-24)
12"Very Silly Songs"March 12, 1991 (1991-03-12)
Songs: "The Name Game" (Shirley Ellis), "Down by the Bay", "Rig-a-Jig-Jig", "Mail Myself to You" (Woody Guthrie), "Purple People Eater" (Sheb Wooley), "Fiddle-I-Dee", "The Thing" (Phil Harris), "Jim Along Josie", "Michael Finnegan", "Do the Silly Willy"
13"A Day of Fun"November 10, 1991 (1991-11-10)

A compilation of songs from previous stories, initially only available from a Sealtest ice cream mail-in offer.

Songs: "BINGO" ("A Day with the Animals"), "I Got Wheels" ("Cars, Boats, Trains and Planes"), "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" ("A Day at Old MacDonald's Farm"), "Day-O (Banana Boat Song)" ("I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing"), "The Circus Is Coming to Town" ("A Day at the Circus"), "We're Gonna Get Wet" ("Ride the Roller Coaster"), "Down by the Bay" ("Very Silly Songs"), "Them Bones" ("What I Want to Be!"), "I've Been Working on the Railroad" ("Home on the Range"), "When the Saints Go Marching In" ("A Day at Camp"), "The More We Get Together/The More We Play Together" ("A Day at Camp")
14"We Wish You a Merry Christmas"October 27, 1992 (1992-10-27)
15"Play Along Songs"June 1, 1993 (1993-06-01)
Songs: "Come on and Join in the Game" (Pete Seeger), "Fooba Wooba John" (Burl Ives), "Down by the Station", "Oh, Dear, What Should the Color Be?", "Bumpin' Up and Down (in My Little Red Wagon)", "Three Little Fishies", "And the Green Grass Grows All Around", "Chickie Chickie Beat", "Ten in the Bed (Roll Over)", "Join the Band" (original)
16"If We Could Talk to the Animals"October 1993 (1993-10)
17"Billy Biggle's Favorite Songs"1994 (1994)

After Billy Biggle lands in the kids' backyard, they reminisce about videos they've made; Billy can magically replay his favorites.

Songs: "Down by the Bay" ("Very Silly Songs"), "Jim Along Josie" ("Very Silly Songs"), "Five Little Monkeys" ("If We Could Talk to the Animals"), "BINGO" ("A Day with the Animals"), "Michael Finnegan" ("Very Silly Songs"), "We're Gonna Get Wet" ("Ride the Roller Coaster"), "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" ("A Day at Old MacDonald's Farm"), "Down by the Station" ("Play Along Songs"), "I've Been Working on the Railroad" ("Home on the Range"), "Raccoon & Possum" ("If We Could Talk to the Animals"), "The Farmer in the Dell" ("If We Could Talk to the Animals"), "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" ("A Day at Old MacDonald's Farm")

Note: This video was originally released in limited quantities as a tie-in to The Kidsongs Television Show, and was later rebranded as "My Favorite Songs".
18"Country Sing-Along"February 28, 1995 (1995-02-28)
19"Boppin' with the Biggles"February 28, 1995 (1995-02-28)
20"Let's Put on a Show!"January 30, 1996 (1996-01-30)
Songs: "We'll Put on a Show", "Personality" (Lloyd Price), "It's Magic", "Blue Suede Shoes" (Elvis Presley), "Mr. Bass Man" (Johnny Cymbal), "By the Light of the Silvery Moon" (Gus Edwards), "Me and My Shadow" (Peggy Lee), "The Best Dog in the World", "It's Time for the Show", "Give My Regards to Broadway" (George M. Cohan)
21"Baby Animal Songs"January 30, 1996 (1996-01-30)
22"I Can Dance!"February 24, 1998 (1998-02-24)
23"I Can Do It!"February 24, 1998 (1998-02-24)
Songs: "I Can Do It!", "Look What I Can Do", "How Does Your Garden Grow?", "All Shook Up" (Elvis Presley), "C'mon and Swim" (Bobby Freeman), "Peanut Butter", "Button Up Your Overcoat" (Helen Kane), "Bicycle Built for Two", "In the Good Old Summertime", "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" (The Andrews Sisters), "The Best Sandcastle"
24"Adventures in Biggleland: Meet the Biggles"August 7, 1998 (1998-08-07) (television)
Songs: "Adventures in Biggleland", "Consider Yourself" (Lionel Bart), "East Side, West Side (The Sidewalks of New York)", "Alouette", "Alexander's Ragtime Band", "Let's Rock it Up", "The Muffin Man", "Harrigan", "Let's Be Silly", "Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-Dee-Ay"
25"Adventures in Biggleland: Billy's Birthday"September 18, 1998 (1998-09-18) (television)[12]
Songs: "Adventures in Biggleland", "I'm a Big Boy Now", "Playmate", "Pat-a-Cake", "Go In and Out the Window", "Jump-Jump, Turn Around, Start Again", "Simon Says", "Limbo Rock" (Chubby Checker), "Happy Birthday to You", "You Can't Sit Down" (The Dovells)

Television series

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The Kidsongs Television Show
GenreChildren's music
Written byCarol Rosenstein
Directed byBruce Gowers
Opening theme"We Want Our Kidsongs"
Ending theme"We Want Our Kidsongs"
ComposerMichael Lloyd
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons4
No. of episodes96
Production
Executive producersCarol Rosenstein
Bruce Gowers
ProducerCarol Rosenstein
Camera setupMultiple-camera setup
Production companiesTogether Again Productions
Warner Bros. Records (seasons 1–3)
Sony Wonder Television (season 4)
Orbis Communications (season 1)
WTTW National Productions (seasons 2–4)
Original release
NetworkSyndication
ReleaseSeptember 19, 1987 (1987-09-19) –
September 26, 1997 (1997-09-26)

The Kidsongs Television Show debuted on September 19, 1987, with 26 half-hour episodes distributed by Orbis Entertainment.[13] The half-hour, live-action episodes featured the Kidsongs Kids running their own TV show in a top 8 countdown-style show, featuring music videos from the Kidsongs home video series. It ran on network affiliates, primarily on Saturday mornings.[14] The series aired for two years in syndication, then was rerun on The Disney Channel in 1990. It won the prestigious Excellence in Children's Programming Award from ACT. The 1987–88 series was titled The Kidsongs TV Show.[15]

In 1994, a new version of the television series was developed by Rosenstein and produced in conjunction with Chicago public television station WTTW for 30 minutes and distributed by American Public Television to public television stations nationally. The Kidsongs Television Show reached 89 percent of households by 1998.[16] Many of the original Kidsongs videos were used in the public television series, along with new educational content and in-studio guests. The kids are joined by the fantasy characters Billy and Ruby Biggle and their magical friends from Biggleland. The Biggles help the children resolve their problems and concerns in a comforting, kind way. They address age-appropriate issues, such as not wanting to share, jealousy, friendship, telling the truth and patience.

Seasons one through four of The Kidsongs Television Show totaled 96 episodes. It ran on public television for seven years, winning critical acclaim.[15][17] Currently, fifteen episodes of The Kidsongs Television Show are available on DVD,[2] and the series is also available in its entirety on digital download through iTunes and Amazon Video.

Series overview

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SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
126September 19, 1987 (1987-09-19)March 12, 1988 (1988-03-12)
230April 4, 1994 (1994-04-04)May 13, 1994 (1994-05-13)
320October 2, 1995 (1995-10-02)October 27, 1995 (1995-10-27)
420September 1, 1997 (1997-09-01)September 26, 1997 (1997-09-26)

Season 1 (1987–1988)

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The hosts this season are Chris Lytton and Triskin Potter.

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleOriginal air date
11"Our First TV Show!"September 19, 1987 (1987-09-19)
22"Let's Sing American Songs"September 26, 1987 (1987-09-26)
33"Studio Fun"October 3, 1987 (1987-10-03)
44"We've Got This Down"October 10, 1987 (1987-10-10)
55"We're on a Roll"October 17, 1987 (1987-10-17)
66"Classic Kid's Songs"October 24, 1987 (1987-10-24)
77"What's at #1?"October 31, 1987 (1987-10-31)
88"Songs & Games"November 7, 1987 (1987-11-07)
99"Practice Makes Perfect"November 14, 1987 (1987-11-14)
1010"Let's Count 'em Down"November 21, 1987 (1987-11-21)
1111"Music Video Madness"November 28, 1987 (1987-11-28)
1212"Let's Get Moving"December 5, 1987 (1987-12-05)
1313"Made by Kids"December 12, 1987 (1987-12-12)
1414"For Kids & Starring Kids"December 19, 1987 (1987-12-19)
1515"It's Sing-a-Long Time!"December 26, 1987 (1987-12-26)
1616"It's a Kid's World"January 2, 1988 (1988-01-02)
1717"We Want Our Kidsongs"January 9, 1988 (1988-01-09)
1818"Kidsongs Rocks"January 16, 1988 (1988-01-16)
1919"What's Climbing Up the Charts?"January 23, 1988 (1988-01-23)
2020"Hits, Classics & Sing-Alongs"January 30, 1988 (1988-01-30)
2121"Join the Sing-Along Fun"February 6, 1988 (1988-02-06)
2222"School Days"February 13, 1988 (1988-02-13)
2323"We Love Our Kidsongs"February 20, 1988 (1988-02-20)
2424"Livin' in the USA"February 27, 1988 (1988-02-27)
2525"Counting Down the Chart"March 5, 1988 (1988-03-05)
2626"It's a Wrap!"March 12, 1988 (1988-03-12)

Season 2 (1994)

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The hosts this season are Christian Buenaventura and Alexandra Picatto (credited as Alexandra Palm). This is also the debut of Kidsongs' new mascots, the Biggles (though Ruby would appear in later episodes).

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleOriginal air date
271"Alligator on the Loose"April 4, 1994 (1994-04-04)
282"A Fish Story"April 5, 1994 (1994-04-05)
293"Billy's Tummy Ache"April 6, 1994 (1994-04-06)
304"Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!"April 7, 1994 (1994-04-07)
315"The Mail Must Go Through"April 8, 1994 (1994-04-08)
326"Teamwork"April 11, 1994 (1994-04-11)
337"Where in the World is Billy Biggle?"April 12, 1994 (1994-04-12)
348"Katie's Little Lie"April 13, 1994 (1994-04-13)
359"Just a Little Magic"April 14, 1994 (1994-04-14)
3610"Kevin's Raffle Tickets"April 15, 1994 (1994-04-15)
3711"Just a Little Bit of History"April 18, 1994 (1994-04-18)
3812"Circus Day"April 19, 1994 (1994-04-19)
3913"I Can't Play Sports"April 20, 1994 (1994-04-20)
4014"A Community Assignment"April 21, 1994 (1994-04-21)
4115"Dinosaur Day"April 22, 1994 (1994-04-22)
4216"Around the World in 30 Minutes"April 25, 1994 (1994-04-25)
4317"Megan's Bad Day"April 26, 1994 (1994-04-26)
4418"Safety First"April 27, 1994 (1994-04-27)
4519"Recycled TV"April 28, 1994 (1994-04-28)
4620"Professor Majorchord's Music Lesson"April 29, 1994 (1994-04-29)
4721"Change for the Better"May 2, 1994 (1994-05-02)
4822"Weather Biggle"May 3, 1994 (1994-05-03)
4923"Olympian Dreams"May 4, 1994 (1994-05-04)
5024"Wild West Fever"May 5, 1994 (1994-05-05)
5125"Responsibility"May 6, 1994 (1994-05-06)
5226"Birthday Blues"May 9, 1994 (1994-05-09)
5327"Aviation Adventures"May 10, 1994 (1994-05-10)
5428"Sign Language Communication"May 11, 1994 (1994-05-11)
5529"I Need a Little Pasta"May 12, 1994 (1994-05-12)
5630"A Kidsongs Kid's Best Friend"May 13, 1994 (1994-05-13)

Season 3 (1995)

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The hosts this season are Aaron Harvey, Alexandra Picatto (credited as Alexandra Palm), and Lynsey Bartilson (only in two episodes) with the Biggles.

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleOriginal air date
571"Transportation"October 2, 1995 (1995-10-02)
582"It's Showtime"October 3, 1995 (1995-10-03)
593"Man's Best Friend"October 4, 1995 (1995-10-04)
604"We're Dancing Now"October 5, 1995 (1995-10-05)
615"It's a Latin Life"October 6, 1995 (1995-10-06)
626"Brooke's Lost Bike"October 9, 1995 (1995-10-09)
637"Alex Alex Alex"October 10, 1995 (1995-10-10)
648"Garage Sale"October 11, 1995 (1995-10-11)
659"Here, Kitty Kitty"October 12, 1995 (1995-10-12)
6610"Mind Your Manners"October 13, 1995 (1995-10-13)
6711"I Have an Idea"October 16, 1995 (1995-10-16)
6812"Share and Share Alike"October 17, 1995 (1995-10-17)
6913"Collector's Item"October 18, 1995 (1995-10-18)
7014"Fiddle Me This"October 19, 1995 (1995-10-19)
7115"All the News That's Fit"October 20, 1995 (1995-10-20)
7216"Circle of Life"October 23, 1995 (1995-10-23)
7317"Practice, Practice, Practice"October 24, 1995 (1995-10-24)
7418"Reach for the Stars"October 25, 1995 (1995-10-25)
7519"Playing Favorites"October 26, 1995 (1995-10-26)
7620"They Raise Horses, Don't They?"October 27, 1995 (1995-10-27)

Season 4 (1997)

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The hosts this season are Sergio Centeno and Tiffany Burton with the Biggles.

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleOriginal air date
771"All Together Now"September 1, 1997 (1997-09-01)
782"Gone to the Dogs"September 2, 1997 (1997-09-02)
793"Put Your Dancin' Shoes On"September 3, 1997 (1997-09-03)
804"Bang Your Drum Loudly"September 4, 1997 (1997-09-04)
815"When I Grow Up"September 5, 1997 (1997-09-05)
826"Life's a Beach"September 8, 1997 (1997-09-08)
837"It's 60's Day"September 9, 1997 (1997-09-09)
848"A Doggone Great Day"September 10, 1997 (1997-09-10)
859"Working Together"September 11, 1997 (1997-09-11)
8610"Under the Sea"September 12, 1997 (1997-09-12)
8711"Dedication and Practice"September 15, 1997 (1997-09-15)
8812"We Are Family"September 16, 1997 (1997-09-16)
8913"Let's Look It Up"September 17, 1997 (1997-09-17)
9014"Brady "Safety" Kimball"September 18, 1997 (1997-09-18)
9115"Throwing Curve Balls"September 19, 1997 (1997-09-19)
9216"Animal's Galore"September 22, 1997 (1997-09-22)
9317"Billy's Doctor Visit"September 23, 1997 (1997-09-23)
9418"Aloha, Biggleland"September 24, 1997 (1997-09-24)
9519"Monster Truck Day"September 25, 1997 (1997-09-25)
9620"Dream On"September 26, 1997 (1997-09-26)

References

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  1. ^ "Movie Mike barks again". The Akron Beacon Journal. March 31, 1986. p. 27 – via Newspapers.com.(subscription required)
  2. ^ a b "About Us – Kidsongs".
  3. ^ "Bruce Gowers". IMDb.
  4. ^ "Carol Rosenstein". IMDb.
  5. ^ "Together Again Productions [us]". IMDb.
  6. ^ Bruce Haring, "Gold, platinum off in 1992 but multiplatinum ahead", Variety, January 5, 1993
  7. ^ "Video Review's Critics' Choice Awards", Video Review, April 1987, page 77
  8. ^ Reuters, New York Times Business section, May 24, 1989
  9. ^ Business Wire, "Warner Home Video to Distribute Warner Vision", February 5, 1996
  10. ^ Scott Hettrick, "Sony Wonder Joins..." Hollywood Reporter, July 10, 1997, page 3
  11. ^ "RIAA – Gold & Platinum Searchable Database (Kidsongs) – June 7, 2016". RIAA.
  12. ^ "September 13-19, 1998 TV listings". The Patriot-News. September 13, 1998.
  13. ^ Tom Bierbaum, "After Success In Homevideo, 'Kidsongs' Bouncing into NBC TV", Variety, July 8, 1987, page 20
  14. ^ "The Kidsongs Television Show Launched", TV Facts Figures & Film, September 1987
  15. ^ a b Jeanne Spreier, "'Kidsongs' In Tune With Children", Dallas Morning News, March 23, 1998, page 51
  16. ^ The Kidsongs TV Show, WTTW Chicago Carriage Report, February 1998
  17. ^ Tim Kiska, "Great Kid TV Debate: Entertain or Educate?", Detroit News, July 1, 1998, page 1E
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