So you think your baby can disco-dance like a llama…? Well, if you’re in NYC next Sunday, you can find out.

The popular kiddie dance party, Baby Loves Disco, is descending on (Le) Poisson Rouge…and the diaper-clad booties will be shakin’, yo! On Valentine’s Day from Noon to 3:00 the trendy West Village hot spot will be child proofed and Lysoled so that parents and their progeny (aged 7 and below) can boogie on down with their rad selves.

Per the (Le) Poisson Rouge website:

Make no mistake, this is NOT the Mickey Mouse club, and Barney is Banned. Baby loves disco is an afternoon dance party featuring real music spun and mixed by real djs blending classic disco tunes From the 70s, & 80s guaranteed to get those little booties moving and grooving. The fun spills out from all corners of the club: bubble machines, baskets of scarves and egg-shakers, a chill-out room (with tents, books and puzzles), diaper changing stations, a full spread of healthy snacks and dancing, LOTS of dancing. But at it’s core, Baby loves disco is a community event that brings kids together with kids and parents together with parents.

I KNOW, right? Does that not sound like a BLAST?!? A check on the BLD website confirms that they now have these things EVERYWHERE – some monthly. Dude…I am so going to the next one in our area. For fifteen bucks in advance (per walking person), eighteen at the door, you can give your offspring a glance at how you spent your college years.

…wait. On second thought, perhaps you shouldn’t mention that…

But…I can hear you…you’re saying:

“Ri. What the cheesewhiz does this have to do with llamas? And WHY do I care about this if I’m not in the New York area?? Are you drinking AGAIN?”

Well, the obvious answers are (a.) DUH – of course I am, it’s Superbowl Sunday, and (2.) the part about the llamas is the cool bonus that benefits all of us, even the ones NOT able to make it to this particular gig!

See, I learned about the event from a contact at The Musebox, and he shared this lil’ bit of info about what else is going down at the Valentine Shindig:

As a special element of this year’s Baby Loves Disco Valentine’s Ball, The MuseBox will be introducing a “So You Think You Can Llama Dance” theme, inviting kids to create and even record their own unique “Llama Dances.” Inspired by the song “Llama Dance” by quirky UK rockers Patrick & Eugene, this is sure to add a whole new fun element to the day’s events. The creator of the best llama dance will win a family four-pack of tickets to the Children’s Museum of Manhattan!

A link to the “Llama Dance” video and a gratis download of Patrick and Eugene’s new CD was attached for my perusal.  My opinion…?

OMG. I LOVE THESE GUYS.

Patrick and Eugene

Right off the bat, while I watched the video…they had me at “ungulate”…

Llama Dance by Patrick and Eugene via YouTube

Quirky doesn’t begin to describe the tres’ cool infusion of childlike joy their music imbues. Per their Press Bio: “Try to imagine Noel Coward on stage with the Duke Ellington Band at the Monterey Pop Festival and you’re getting close.” Ha! Indeed. With backgrounds that run the gamut from playing percussion with Groove Armada and Richie Havens to impromptu accidental arson, these guys are an absolute kick in the pants.

Their current album, All Together Now, is the very definition of “feel good.” The effervescence of the melodies and pre-meditated silliness belies the musicianship and just carries you away on a tide of fun…but a closer listen brings the realization that they are REALLY good. The multi-instrumental sounds and beats overlap seamlessly to create a rich tapestry of aural layers. Forget about theme or genre – this is just thoughtfully crafted, well balanced,  good music.

This isn’t Patrick and Eugene’s first trip to the rodeo, either. They’ve put out two other albums… one of which is entirely comprised of deliciously unexpected covers which include ditties originally by the likes of Beyonce, Simon and Garfunkel and The Arctic Monkeys.  Nope – they’re not just a Kids’ Band, kids!

As Exhibit A,  I present to you the Patrick and Eugene reworking of  Can’t Get You Out of My Head, originally by Kylie Minogue:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Uh huh…see?  What’d I tell you?

So, if you ARE in NYC for V-Day, try to get out to the Baby Loves Disco event. If not, do yourself a favor and listen to some Patrick and Eugene.  Either way, you’re coming out a winner.

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Guest Poster: Melisa from The Suburban Scrawl!

Everyone knows that music is an emotional thing. It can take you back to another time, a specific moment in your life. It can cheer you; it can mellow you out. It can give you strength; it can inspire. Most people have certain “it” songs that can stir them up. I know that I do.

I have seen the musical “Wicked” three times, so far. (I was totally over the moon a couple of days ago when I heard that it’s coming back to Chicago in December: I’m saving for #4!) I won’t go on and on about how much I love this musical; the fact that I spent money on it three times already should tell you all you need to know about that.

Two main themes run throughout the fiber of the musical: the importance of fighting for what you believe in and the question of what is good and what is bad (or, wicked). Driving these ideas home were strong performances each time I sat in the audience, by the two female leads. Two songs in particular, “For Good” and “Defying Gravity”, made me sob the big, ugly tears. THAT’S how good the performances were.

The song “For Good” is about how a friendship can impact a person’s life:

“I’ve heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don’t know if I believe that’s true
But I know I’m who I am today
Because I knew you… “

The placement of that song within the musical is, of course, perfect (duh!), and, well, that along with the idea of a friendship so powerful has me through half a box of tissues before the song is half over.

“Defying Gravity” is the song that is performed at the end of Act I, just before the curtains close for intermission. The television commercial for “Wicked” (at least, when it was playing here in Chicago), ended with a line from the song:

“And nobody, in all of Oz, no Wizard that there ever is or was,

Is ever gonna bring meeeeee dowwwwwwwwwn!”

Naturally, I saw that commercial about five million times before I actually saw “Wicked” for the first time. I heard that line over and over…about five million times. It meant nothing to me, really, because other than knowing that “Wicked” was the backstory behind “The Wizard of Oz”, I had no knowledge of the plot.

Once I saw it? The scale of the production, especially during “Defying Gravity”, was MIND-BLOWING. When the actress who played Elphaba in Chicago (sadly, I never saw Kristin and Idina perform it live) sang that line that I had heard five million times, I finally got it. And…then came the waterworks.

I’m not sure I have ever—IN MY LIFE—heard two songs that have affected me so deeply as these two, because even now, a couple of years after the last time I sat in the theater audience, I can listen to the soundtrack of the OG Broadway cast and, within the first 15 seconds of either song (sung by Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel), be crumpled up in those big, ugly tears (I did it yesterday!). At my computer: crying. In the family room: crying. Even in the car: crying. Sure, I have other favorite songs that pull at my heartstrings and provoke various emotions deep within me, but not as much as these two.

What about you? Are there any songs that, upon hearing the first few notes, rattle you to your very core?

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(Yes, that was a really bad play on Shakespeare.  They can’t ALL be winners.)

Well, my day in the sun over at Today’s Mama has passed…another Mama’s playlist is up now, so I figured I’d let you see (and hear) what I sent over.

(Y’know – since I’m fairly certain that not ALL of you trucked over there to check it out.  Yeah, you know who you are.  *ahem* )
Enjoy, and since I haven’t reminded you lately: 

If you love it, BUY IT.  Support the artists – I want no starving musicians on my conscience.  Swiper, no swiping!

xoxo,
Ri

___________________________

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Y’all – this is SO exciting.

Y’know how much fun everyone always says it is to Guest DJ and make a playlist?  Well, they’re RIGHT!

I got to find out this weekend, when out of the clear blue I received a lovely email from Erin at Today’s Mama, asking me to participate in their two week “Valentine’s PlayMix” series. (And, notfornothing, but…they’re all professional and organized over there!  MOST impressive.  I may have even been a hair intimidated, but don’t tell anybody.) They’re asking fourteen Moms to submit ten love songs each, from now until February 14th…and guess who has the honor of going FIRST?!

(Dude.  I know.  I was as shocked as you are…)

That’s right – my ten picks are up on Today’s Mama HERE, right now, as well as my accompanying description.  I was on my best behavior of course…I kept on topic, I tried not to ramble, and I’m pretty sure I don’t even have any many sentence fragments!  Yay, me!

Do me a solid and swing by, k?  Then come back here and tell me what you really think.  I can take it.

xoxo, Ri

Pssst:  I may be playing these and other “Quirky Love Songs” today on Blip.fm…just sayin’…

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I don’t know if there are “stages” that one must plow through – similar to those of grief, or potty training – before a blogger gets comfortable with their “voice.”  I suspect that may be the case, because I’m all over the place lately.  I’m circling like a cat trying to get comfortable in a basket that’s plenty big enough, but very oddly shaped.  (And it doesn’t have a nice fluffy liner yet, either.)

I love music – that’s not a revelation.  But, as admitted on the DJ page (or somewhere around here), that moniker was taken with tongue placed very firmly in cheek, and under the influence of Single Malt Scotch – I’m no more Music Savvy than the next Mom…I just didn’t want to see my unique tastes and personality become engulfed in “Kid Stuff”.  And, I wanted buddies to hang out with while I fought for myself in a sea of Raffi and Laurie Berkner.  But – there are other facets to my personality, too.  And not all of them need a soundtrack.

As you know, I have other blogs:

Chasing Liam is mainly for family and close friends, and is where all the “Mommy Sap” runs freely from me.  I love that kid so much it hurts, think he’s the best thing since sliced bread and twisted pretzels.  (Y’know – like every one of us feel about our kids.  Nothing new or noteworthy there.)

Vacuity is the place where I’d hoped the seeds of my randomness could take hold – no rules, no theme, no nothing.  (Get it?  Vacuity.  Gah, I crack myself up!) But I find myself not posting there much because I feel like I’m neglecting the other two.

And of course…there’s Music Savvy Mom.  Being the ex-analyst that I am, I came up with a formula for this one.  And, it worked!  I had GREAT growth in the first six months – it really floored me.  I was all psyched and set to make this my “brand”.  I tweeted, I Facebooked.  I was lucky enough to get some kick ass bloggers and buddies to send in great shuffles – and STILL do.  But, inexplicably…I found myself not wanting to post them after a while.  Why, you ask?

Because I got lost in the shuffle.

My formula worked SO well that once again there was less and less of “me”.  I’d introduce a great blogger, then make the playlist and copy & paste their song notes. While I’ve made some GREAT friends that way – it honestly didn’t take much creativity on my part.  And, as my darling husband pointed out once, it didn’t provide me much of a chance to WRITE.  And, I can write.  I’ve never let you see any of it…but I can.  And I want to.

I’ve never really done anything with Music Savvy Mom as a “brand” per se.  I’ve never monetized this blog.  Haven’t made a penny from it directly.  What seems to have happened is that a little community has been built, with regulars popping by to share their love of music.  That’s AWESOME – that’s exactly what I wanted!  But, it can’t grow with only one person making playlists and picking music.  That’s what was so magical about the Guest DJ Shuffle; other genres were represented.  More of that is needed.

So, I’ve asked a handful of bloggy buddies to become “Regular Contributors”.  We were going to start an entirely new site, but I think I’m ready to “share my baby”  instead.  I’ll still be here, of course, and I’ll always be “THE OG” Music Savvy Mom, yo.  But, you’ll have rotating posts from some wonderful writers with different styles and a broad range of musical tastes.  You’ll also have Guest DJ Shuffles again, so we can all keep discovering new blogs and new music.

Bottom line:  I had an awesome idea, but it’s too big for one person to pull off successfully.  MUSIC is too big for that.

Now,  we have a great core group of folks contributing, and you’ll meet them soon.  I’d also like to hear from any other “regulars” who’d like to pitch in with the random post or playlist – there’s PLENTY of room to share.  (And you don’t have to be a Mom.  Or a female, for that matter.  Human would be nice, but not required.) Just email me: ri (at) musicsavvymom (dot) com .  The more the merrier!

And finally…I hope that when I find that perfect, comfy basket for myself – whether it’s at Vacuity or a brand new blog – that you’ll come hang with me there, too.   I’d love ideas for new blog names – lay them on me!  (Because seriously – www.riolaughlin.com is not so easy to spell.)

Stand by for some reworking and construction around here to make room for the new staff, and enjoy this little bit of “Random Ri” today.  These two songs juxstaposed together just crack me up.

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