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Kidsongs

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Kidsongs is an American children's media franchise that includes Kidsongs Music Video Stories on DVD and video, The Kidsongs TV Show, CDs of favorite children's songs, song books, sheet music, toys and an ecommerce website.[1] It was created by producer/writer Carol Rosenstein and director Bruce Gowers of Together Again Video Productions (TAVP), both of whom are music video and television production veterans.[2][3][4] The duo had produced and directed over 100 music videos for Warner Records (WBR) 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 between TAVP, WBR and View-Master Video was formed with TAVP being responsible for production and WBR and View-Master responsible for distribution to video and music stores, and toy stores respectively.[5]

Kidsongs
1989–98 logo
GenreChildren's music sing-along
Developed byWarner Bros. Records (1985–95)
Together Again Video Productions (TAVP) (1985–95)
Together Again Productions (TAP) (1991, 1992 and 1995–98)
Written byCarol Rosenstein
Abbie Crow Rich (1986)
Bruce Gowers
Directed byBruce Gowers
ComposerMichael Lloyd
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producersCarol Rosenstein
Bruce Gowers
James Rich Jr. (1985–1986)
ProducerCarol Rosenstein
Camera setupMultiple-camera setup
Original release
ReleaseDecember 3, 1985 (1985-12-03) –
July 7, 1998 (1998-07-07)

History

The home video series was launched with four Kidsongs Music Video Stories episodes at New York's Toy Fair on January 1, 1985. "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 Music Video Stories episode features 10 to 15 songs, in a music video style production starring children. They sing and dance their way through well-known children's songs, nursery rhymes, and covers of pop hits from the '50s, '60s and '70s—all tied together by a simple story and theme.

The TAVP/WBR/View-Master Video (Viewmaster was acquired by Tyco Toys in 1989–95)[8] partnership produced 16 Kidsongs episodes of the Music Video Stories. In 1995, WBR and TAVP bought out Tyco's distribution rights and produced three more View-Master videos called "Billy Biggle's Favorite Songs", "Country Sing-Along", and "Boppin' with the Biggles" in 1994, and two KidVision videos called "Let's Put on a Show" & "Baby Animal Songs" in 1995, as part of a new venture with another division of Warner Bros.--Warner Vision.[9] In 1997, TAVP acquired all rights from WBR/Warner Vision and became the sole owner of all Kidsongs properties.

Later in 1997, TAVP entered into a distribution/production agreement[10] with Sony Wonder, which resulted in the production of four more titles called "I Can Dance!", "I Can Do It!", "Adventures in Biggleland: Billy's Birthday", and "Adventures in Biggleland: Meet the Biggles". That agreement ended on July 1, 1998, and in 2002, distribution rights were licensed by RLJE Films, who continues to distribute the videos.

Notable members

Home Videos

From December 3, 1985 to July 7, 1998, Kidsongs home video episodes encompassing 300 children's songs, nursery rhymes, and cover versions of pop hits from the '50s-'90s were produced, featuring a variety of topics that are 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.

The following is a complete list of Kidsongs music video titles available on VHS:

A Day at Old MacDonald's Farm (1985) [US: 4x Platinum]

Featuring these music videos:

I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (1986) [US: 2x Platinum]

Featuring these music videos:

Good Night, Sleep Tight (1986) [US: Platinum]

Featuring these music videos:

Cars, Boats, Trains and Planes (1986) [US: 2x Platinum]

Featuring these music videos:

Sing Out, America! (1986), Renamed "Home on the Range" in 1990 and renamed "Yankee Doodle Dandy" in 2002 [US: Platinum]

Featuring these music videos:

A Day with the Animals (1986) [US: 3x Platinum]

Featuring these music videos:

What I Want to Be! (1986) [US: Platinum]

Featuring these music videos:

The Wonderful World of Sports (1987) Renamed "Let's Play Ball" in 1990, and Renamed "Sport Adventures" in the UK in 1994 [US/UK: Platinum]

Featuring these music videos:

A Day at the Circus (1987) [US: 2x Platinum]

Featuring these music videos:

A Day at Camp (1989) [US: Platinum]

Featuring these music videos:

Ride the Roller Coaster (1990) [US: Gold]

Featuring these music videos:

Very Silly Songs (1990)

Featuring these music videos:

A Day of Fun (1991) (Released only on VHS)

Featuring these music videos:

We Wish You a Merry Christmas (1992)

Featuring these music videos:

Play Along Songs (1993)

Featuring these music videos:

If We Could Talk to the Animals (1993)

Featuring these music videos:

Billy Biggle's Favorite Songs (1994) Renamed "My Favorite Songs" in 2002

Featuring these music videos:

Country Sing-Along (1994) Renamed "I Can Go to the Country" in (1997)

Featuring these music videos:

Boppin' with the Biggles (1994) Renamed "I Can Bop With the Biggles" in (1997)

Featuring these music videos:

Let's Put on a Show! (1995) Renamed "I Can Put On a Show" in (1997)

Featuring these music videos:

Baby Animal Songs (1995) Renamed "I Can Sing Baby Animal Songs" in (1997)

Featuring these music videos:

I Can Dance! (1997)

Featuring these music videos:

I Can Do It! (1997)

Featuring these music videos:

Adventures in Biggleland: Billy's Birthday (1998)

Featuring these music videos:

Adventures in Biggleland: Meet the Biggles (1998)

Featuring these music videos:

Television series

The Kidsongs Television Show
GenreChildren's music
Developed byOrbis Communications (Season 1 (1987–88))
Warner Bros. Records (now Warner Records) (Seasons 1–3 (1987–95))
Together Again Television Productions (TATVP) (1987–88))
Together Again Video Productions (TAVP) (Seasons 1, 3 and 4 (1987–88, 1995 and 1997))
Together Again Syndication Productions (TASP) (Season 2 (1994))
Together Again Productions (TAP) (Season 4 (1997))
Sony Wonder (Season 4 (1997))
Written byCarol Rosenstein
Directed byBruce Gowers
Opening theme"We Want Our Kidsongs" (based on "I Got Wheels") - (Pre-Biggles version) and (Post-Biggles version)
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 companiesWTTW National Productions
Orbis Communiations (season 1)
Warner Bros. Records (seasons 1–3)
Sony Wonder (season 4)
Together Again Productions
Original release
NetworkSyndication (PBS Kids) (United States)
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 for 30 minutes distributed by Orbis Entertainment.[12] 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.[13] It garnered excellent ratings and ran for 2 years, before moving to the Disney Channel and Las Estrellas for another four years. It won the prestigious Excellence in Children's Programming Award from ACT. In 1987–88, it was called The Kidsongs TV Show.[14]

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 PBS stations nationally. Airing as part of the PBS Kids "Ready to Learn" block, The Kidsongs Television Show aired throughout the country and, by 1998, reached 89 percent of households.[15] 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. The show also made reruns on Noggin from 2003 to 2006

Seasons one through four of The Kidsongs Television Show totalled 96 episodes. It ran on Public Television for six years, winning critical acclaim.[14][16] Currently, fifteen episodes of The Kidsongs Television Show are available on DVD,[1] and the series is also available in its entirety on digital download through iTunes and Amazon Video.

Characters

Billy Biggle - Billy is Ruby Biggle's younger brother and Mr. and Mrs. Biggle's son. He is voiced by Julene Renee and portrayed by Frit Fuller in Season 2 and Frat Fuller in Season 3-5. Billy is a Biggle, a creature that somewhat resembles an anthropomorphic squirrel or bat. His fur is mainly blue, with the fur on his belly and face, being a much lighter shade than the rest of his body. His nose, eyes and the inside of the ears are yellow. In addition, Billy has yellow gift for on his chest (making it a beard), tail and the topof his head (making it his hair).

Billy is a sing along leader and is wacky, loving and fun. He has a tendency to eat too much, which has unfortunately given him a tummy ache in the past (such as in Billy's Tummy Ache). Billy cares deeply for his sister, Ruby Biggle and is close friends with Freckles, another Biggle, who appeared in the last two videos, Kidsongs: Adventures in Biggleland: Billy's Birthday and Adventures in Biggleland: Meet the Biggles.

Ruby Biggle - Ruby is Billy's older sister and Mr. and Mrs. Biggle's daughter. She is voiced by Julene Renee, and is played by Amy Manlapaz in Season 2, Kimberly Bretto-Smith in the later videos and in Seasons 3 and 4, and Marylin Rising in the video series, Adventures In Biggleland. Ruby is a pink Biggle who has dark pink fur, except for the tummy, face and paws are in the lighter shade of pink. Her ears are yellow, just like Billy's, and she has lavender purple hair and a lavender purple tail, and she wears a yellow ribbon in her hair. She has movable purple eyelids with eyelashes and purple eyes.

Ruby is sweet, loving and kind to all of the Kidsongs kids, especially Billy and Freckles. She is always willing to help when problems arise amongst the group. In Megan's Bad Day, it revealed that Ruby and Billy don't have sharing problems. Ruby would also give wonderful advice to kids whenever they feel down.

Professor Majorchord (played by Sloan Fischer)- Professor Majorchord is a music teacher who teaches music to everyone. He wears a graduation cap on his head, has pale skin, wears molecules glasses, a black conductor coat with colorful music notes and signs with a saxophone on the back. He also wears a pink sleeved shirt with a rainbow squared vest, and a pair of purple and pink flanned trousers.

Series overview

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)

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)

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"Pizza, Pizza"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)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleOriginal air date
571"Transportation"October 2, 1995 (1995-10-02)
582"Give My Regards to Broadway"October 3, 1995 (1995-10-03)
593"Man's Best Friend"October 4, 1995 (1995-10-04)
604"Let's Dance"October 5, 1995 (1995-10-05)
615"La La Bamba"October 6, 1995 (1995-10-06)
626"Where Oh Where Has My Little Bike Gone?"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)

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"What I Want to Be"September 5, 1997 (1997-09-05)
826"Let's Go Barefootin'"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"Water World"September 12, 1997 (1997-09-12)
8711"Practice Makes Perfect"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"Went to the Animal Fair"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)

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "About Us – Kidsongs".
  2. ^ "Bruce Gowers". IMDb.
  3. ^ "Carol Rosenstein". IMDb.
  4. ^ "Together Again Productions [us]". IMDb.
  5. ^ Home Video Publisher, Vol. 8 No. 32, February 24, 1986
  6. ^ Bruce Haring, "Gold, Platinum...", Variety, January 26, 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. ^ Tom Bierbaum, "After Success In Homevideo, 'Kidsongs' Bouncing into NBC TV", Variety, July 8, 1987, page 20
  13. ^ "The Kidsongs Television Show Launched", TV Facts Figures & Film, September 1987
  14. ^ a b Jeanne Spreier, "'Kidsongs' In Tune With Children", Dallas Morning News, March 23, 1998, page 51
  15. ^ The Kidsongs TV Show, WTTW Chicago Carriage Report, February 1998
  16. ^ Tim Kiska, "Great Kid TV Debate: Entertain or Educate?", Detroit News, July 1, 1998, page 1E
 
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