Kidsongs

Kidsongs
1989–98 logo with the ".com" added in 2002.
Genre	Children's music sing-along
Created by	Carol Rosenstein
Developed by	Warner Bros. Records (1985–95) Together Again Video Productions (TAVP) (1985–95) Together Again Productions (TAP) (1990 and 1995–98)
Written by	Carol Rosenstein
Directed by	Bruce Gowers
Composer(s)	Michael Lloyd
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
Production
Producer(s)	Carol Rosenstein and Bruce Gowers
Camera setup	Multiple-camera setup
Distributor	View-Master Video (1985–94) Warner Reprise Video (1986–94) KidVision (1995) Sony Wonder (1997–98) Image Entertainment (2002–current)
Release
Picture format	480i SD
Original release	January 1, 1985 – July 1, 1998
External links
Website

Kidsongs is an American children's media franchise which 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] Kidsongs 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 Brothers 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]

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 talented kids. 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 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 "Country Sing-Along", "Billy Biggle's Favorite Songs", and "Boppin' with the Biggles" and two KidVision videos called "Let's Put on a Show" and "Baby Animal Songs", 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 in 1998 and in 2002 distribution rights were licensed by Image Entertainment who continues to distribute the videos.

Members of Kidsongs Kids

Home videos

From 1985 to 1998, 25 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 subjects that are of interest to kids: animals, birthdays, the zoo, the amusement park, camp adventure, 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:

• 1. Old MacDonald Had a Farm
• 2. Shortenin' Bread
• 3. Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush
• 4. Mary Had a Little Lamb
• 5. This Old Man
• 6. Skip to My Lou
• 7. Take Me Out to the Ball Game
• 8. John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt
• 9. She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain
• 10. Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

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

Featuring these music videos:

• 1. I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (United States)
• 2. Funiculi, Funicula (Italy)
• 3. Did You Ever See a Lassie? (Scotland)
• 4. London Bridge (England)
• 5. Frere Jacques (France)
• 6. Kumbaya (Rwanda)
• 7. Waltzing Matilda (Australia)
• 8. Sakura, Sakura (Japan)
• 9. Los Pollitos (Mexico)
• 10. Day-O (Banana Boat Song) (Jamaica)

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

Featuring these music videos:

• 1. Ring Around the Rosy
• 2. Pat-A-Cake
• 3. A Tisket, A Tasket
• 4. Let Us Dance, Let Us Play
• 5. Our House
• 6. Tomorrow is a Dream Away
• 7. The Unicorn
• 8. St. Judy's Comet
• 9. Hush Little Baby
• 10. Lullaby and Good Night
• 11. All the Pretty Little Horses
• 12. Good Night

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

Featuring these music videos:

• 1. Car Car Song (Riding in My Car)
• 2. Daylight Train
• 3. Up and Down, Round and Round
• 4. Row, Row, Row Your Boat
• 5. I Got Wheels
• 6. Up, Up and Away
• 7. Where, Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone?
• 8. I Like Trucks
• 9. US Air Force (Wild Blue Yonder)
• 10. The Bus Song

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

Featuring these music videos:

• 1. Yankee Doodle Boy
• 2. America's Heroes
• 3. Home on the Range
• 4. I've Been Working on the Railroad
• 5. Oh Susanna
• 6. Deep in the Heart of Texas
• 7. There's a Hole in My Bucket
• 8. Turkey in the Straw
• 9. If I Had a Hammer
• 10. You're a Grand Old Flag
• 11. Living in the USA

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

Featuring these music videos:

• 1. BINGO
• 2. Do Your Ears Hang Low?
• 3. Little Bo Peep
• 4. Why Don't You Write Me?
• 5. Rockin' Robin
• 6. Water World
• 7. The Wanderer
• 8. Harmony
• 9. How Much is That Doggie in the Window?
• 10. Little Duckie Duddle
• 11. Hickory Dickory Dock
• 12. Itsy Bitsy Spider

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

Featuring these music videos:

• 1. What Do You Want to Be?
• 2. Sea Cruise
• 3. Drivin' My Life Away
• 4. One, Two Buckle My Shoe
• 5. School Days
• 6. The Alphabet Song
• 7. I Want to Be a Fireman
• 8. Candy Man
• 9. Them Bones
• 10. Mr. Policeman
• 11. Rodeo Rider
• 12. Act Naturally

The Wonderful World of Sports (1987) (Retitled "Let's Play Ball" in 1990) [US: Platinum]

Featuring these music videos:

• 1. It's Not If You Win or Lose
• 2. Practice Makes Perfect
• 3. Bend Me, Shape Me
• 4. I Get Around
• 5. Over the River
• 6. Footloose
• 7. Rah, Rah, Sis Boom Bah
• 8. Catch a Wave
• 9. Centerfield
• 10. You Know That You Can Do It

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

Featuring these music videos:

• 1. The Circus is Coming to Town
• 2. Polly Wolly Doodle
• 3. Strolling Through the Park
• 4. The Sabre Dance (Instrumental)
• 5. Put on a Happy Face
• 6. The Ringmaster Song
• 7. The Man on the Flying Trapeze
• 8. The Lion Tamer
• 9. If You're Happy and You Know It
• 10. Entry of the Gladiators (Instrumental)

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

Featuring these music videos:

• 1. The More We Get Together
• 2. The Caissons Go Rolling Along
• 3. Fishin' Blues
• 4. On Top of Spaghetti
• 5. Ninety-Nine Bottles of Pop
• 6. Pop! Goes the Weasel
• 7. Found a Peanut
• 8. The Ants Go Marching
• 9. Boom Boom, Ain't it Great to be Crazy?
• 10. The Animal Fair
• 11. Little Bunny Foo Foo
• 12. Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat
• 13. Baa Baa Black Sheep
• 14. The Old Grey Mare
• 15. I Had a Little Rooster
• 16. Whistle While You Work
• 17. The Hokey Pokey
• 18. When the Saints Go Marching In

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

Featuring these music videos:

• 1. Let's Twist Again
• 2. Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On
• 3. Little Deuce Coupe
• 4. Fast Food
• 5. Here We Go Loopty Loo
• 6. Anything You Can Do
• 7. Splish Splash
• 8. A Pirate's Life
• 9. We're Gonna Get Wet
• 10. 1812 Overture (Instrumental)

Very Silly Songs (1990) [US: Gold]

Featuring these music videos:

• 1. The Name Game
• 2. Down by the Bay
• 3. Rig-A-Jig-Jig
• 4. Mail Myself to You
• 5. Purple People Eater
• 6. Fiddle-I-Dee
• 7. The Thing
• 8. Jim Along Josie
• 9. Michael Finnegan
• 10. Do the Silly Willy

A Day of Fun (VHS release only) (1991)

Featuring these music videos:

• 1. BINGO (from A Day with the Animals)
• 2. I Got Wheels (from Cars, Boats, Trains, and Planes)
• 3. Old MacDonald Had a Farm (from A Day at Old MacDonald's Farm)
• 4. Day-O (Banana Boat Song) (from I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing)
• 5. The Circus is Coming to Town (from A Day at the Circus)
• 6. We're Gonna Get Wet (from Ride the Roller Coaster)
• 7. Down by the Bay (from Very Silly Songs)
• 8. Them Bones (from What I Want to Be!)
• 9. I've Been Working on the Railroad (from Home on the Range)
• 10. When the Saints Go Marching In (from A Day at Camp)
• 11. The More We Get Together (Ending Credits Version) (from A Day at Camp)

We Wish You A Merry Christmas (1992)

Featuring these music videos:

• 1. Deck the Halls
• 2. All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth
• 3. Frosty the Snowman
• 4. Jingle Bells
• 5. Santa, Please Don't Forget Me
• 6. If I Had a Pony for Christmas
• 7. The Twelve Days of Christmas
• 8. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
• 9. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
• 10. We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Play Along Songs (1993)

Featuring these music videos:

• 1. Come On and Join in the Game
• 2. Fooba Wooba John
• 3. Down by the Station
• 4. Oh, Dear, What Should the Color Be?
• 5. Bumpin' Up and Down (in My Little Red Wagon)
• 6. Three Little Fishies
• 7. The Green Grass Grows All Around
• 8. Chickie Chickie Beat
• 9. Ten in the Bed
• 10. Join in the Band

If We Could Talk To The Animals (1993)

Featuring these music videos:

• 1. Hound Dog
• 2. Talk to the Animals
• 3. Five Little Monkeys
• 4. Raccoon and Possum
• 5. Over in the Meadow
• 6. The Bear Went Over the Mountain
• 7. The Farmer in the Dell
• 8. The Kickin' Mule
• 9. The Old Hen
• 10. See You Later, Alligator

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

Featuring these music videos:

• 1. Swingin'
• 2. On the Road Again
• 3. Watch Our Oats and Barley Grow
• 4. The Old Chisholm Trail
• 5. Born to Be a Cowboy
• 6. Buffalo Gals
• 7. Nashville Cats
• 8. Achy Breaky Heart
• 9. Country Kid
• 10. Happy Trails to You

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

Featuring these music videos:

• 1. Down by the Bay (From "Very Silly Songs")
• 2. Jim Along Josie (From "Very Silly Songs")
• 3. Five Little Monkeys (From "If We Could Talk To The Animals")
• 4. BINGO (From "A Day With The Animals")
• 5. Michael Finnegan (From "Very Silly Songs")
• 6. We're Gonna Get Wet (From "Ride The Roller Coaster")
• 7. Take Me Out to the Ball Game (From "A Day At Old MacDonald's Farm")
• 8. Down by the Station (From "Play Along Songs")
• 9. I've Been Working on the Railroad (From "Sing Out America"("Home On The Range"("Yankee Doodle Dandy")))
• 10. Raccoon and Possum (From "If We Could Talk To The Animals")
• 11. The Farmer in the Dell (From "If We Could Talk To The Animals")
• 12. Old MacDonald Had a Farm (From "A Day At Old MacDonald's Farm)

Boppin' with the Biggles (1994) (Retitled "I Can Bop with the Biggles!" in 1997)

Featuring these music videos:

• 1. Walkin' the Dog
• 2. Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
• 3. Alley Cat
• 4. La Bamba
• 5. Put Your Little Foot Right There
• 6. Loco-Motion
• 7. Little Red Caboose
• 8. Peppermint Twist
• 9. Rock Around the Clock
• 10. Paw Paw Patch

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

Featuring these music videos:

• 1. We'll Put On a Show
• 2. Personality
• 3. It's Magic
• 4. Blue Suede Shoes
• 5. Mr. Bass Man
• 6. By the Light of the Silvery Moon
• 7. Me and My Shadow
• 8. The Best Dog in the World
• 9. It's Time for the Show
• 10. Give My Regards to Broadway

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

Featuring these music videos:

• 1. The Petting Zoo
• 2. Wooly Bully
• 3. A You're Adorable
• 4. Jeepers Creepers
• 5. Yes! We Have No Bananas
• 6. Side by Side
• 7. Oh, You Beautiful Doll
• 8. Five Little Ducks
• 9. Does Your Chewing Gum Lose It's Flavor
• 10. The Way You Walk

I Can Dance! (1997)

Featuring these music videos:

• 1. I Can Dance!
• 2. Dancing in the Street
• 3. Charleston
• 4. Don't You Just Love to Waltz?
• 5. Twist and Shout
• 6. Mexican Hat Dance
• 7. The Yellow Rose of Texas
• 8. Come on and Conga
• 9. Barefootin'
• 10. Mashed Potato Time
• 11. At the Hop

I Can Do It! (1997)

Featuring these music videos:

• 1. I Can Do It!
• 2. Look What I Can Do
• 3. How Does Your Garden Grow?
• 4. All Shook Up
• 5. C'mon and Swim
• 6. Peanut Butter and Jelly
• 7. Button Up Your Overcoat!
• 8. Bicycle Built for Two
• 9. In the Good Old Summertime
• 10. Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
• 11. The Best Sandcastle

Adventures in Biggleland: Billy's Birthday (1998)

Featuring these music videos:

• 1. Adventures in Biggleland
• 2. I'm a Big Boy Now
• 3. Playmate
• 4. Pat-A-Cake
• 5. Go In and Out the Window
• 6. Jump-Jump, Turn Around, Start Again
• 7. Simon Says
• 8. Limbo Rock
• 9. Happy Birthday to You
• 10. You Can't Sit Down

Adventures in Biggleland: Meet the Biggles (1998)

Featuring these music videos:

• 1. Adventures in Biggleland
• 2. Consider Yourself
• 3. East Side, West Side (The Sidewalks of New York)
• 4. Alouette
• 5. Alexander's Ragtime Band
• 6. Let's Rock It Up
• 7. The Muffin Man
• 8. Harrigan
• 9. Let's Be Silly
• 10. Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-Dee-A

Television series

The Kidsongs Television Show
Also known as	"The Kidsongs TV Show" (Season 1 (1987–88))
Genre	Children's music
Developed by	Orbis Communications (Season 1 (1987–88)) Warner Bros. Records (Seasons 1–3 (1987–95)) Together Again Television Productions (TATVP) (Season 1 (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) (Seasons 4–5 (1997–98)) Sony Wonder (Sony Wonder Television) (Seasons 4–5 (1997–98))
Written by	Carol Rosenstein
Directed by	Bruce Gowers
Opening theme	"We Want Our Kidsongs" (based on "I Got Wheels")
Ending theme	"We Want Our Kidsongs" (Reprise)
Composer(s)	Michael Lloyd
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
Production
Executive producer(s)	Carol Rosenstein Bruce Gowers
Producer(s)	Carol Rosenstein
Camera setup	Multicamera setup
Release
Original network	ABC (Season 1 (1987–88)) PTV (Seasons 2–5 (1994–98))
Picture format	480i SDTV
Original release	September 19, 1987 – November 8, 1998
External links
Website

The Kidsongs Television Show debuted in September 19, 1987 with 26 half-hour episodes 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. The syndicated show ran on network affiliates primarily on Saturday mornings.^[13] It garnered excellent ratings and ran for 2 years before moving to the Disney Channel for another four years. The show won the prestigious Excellence in Children's Programming Award from ACT. In 1987–88, in season 1, this show 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 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 adorable 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 two through five of The Kidsongs Television Show totalled 80 episodes. The series 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.

Cast

The Biggles

• William "Billy" Biggle (portrayed by the Fuller Brothers Frit (Seasons 2–4) and Frat (Season 5) and voiced by Julene Renee-Preciado) is one of the two hosts of the series.
• Ruby Biggle (portrayed by Amy Manlapaz (Season 2), Kimberly Bretto-Smith (Season 3) and Marilyn Rising (Seasons 4-5) and voiced by Julene Renee-Preciado) is Billy's sister. She is pink with purple hair tied in a ponytail decorated with a yellow bow.

Others

• Mary Laub – Mrs. Dipplewhite – Doris Dipplewhite (Guest) (Season 1, Episode 16 called "It's a Kid's World (Show 16)" (1988))
• Matthew Devore and probably Janice Hubbard as Sailors (Guests) (Season 1, Episode 25 called "Counting Down the Chart (Show 25)" (1988))
• Michael "Mike" the Dog (who appeared in VHS episodes "Cars, Boats, Trains and Planes" (1986), "A Day with the Animals" (1986) (where he played Bingo), "What I Want to Be!" (1986), "The Wonderful World of Sports – Himself (Guest) (Season 1, Episode 25 called "Counting Down the Chart (Show 25)" (1988))
• Julene Renee-Preciado (credited as Julene Renee) (born probably 1967) – William "Billy"/Ruby Biggle (Hosts) (Voice) (Seasons 2–5) and their Mother (Voice) (Season 5)
• Joseph E. Fuller – The Biggle Chef (Costume) (Season 5)
• Amy Manlapaz – Ruby Biggle (Host) (Costume) (Season 2)
• Kimberly Bretto-Smith – Ruby Biggle (Host) (Costume) (Season 3)
• Marilyn Rising – Ruby Biggle (Host) (Costume) (Seasons 4–5)
• Jetta E.Q. – Freckles Biggle and the Biggle Chef (Voice) (Season 5)
• Shari Douglas – William "Billy"/Ruby Biggle's Mother (Costume) (Season 5)
• Kimberly "Kim" Harris – Freckles Biggle (Costume) (Season 5)
• Stephanie DuBois – Stephanie Wilson (Season 2–4)
• Leif Jonasen (Season 2) and Roger Scott (Season 3) – Roger Forbes
• Russ "Pete" Fremin (who played Silly Willy in the VHS episode "Very Silly Songs" (1990)) (Season 4) – Jack Frost

The Kidsongs Kids

Season 1 (1987–88)

• Crew: David Chan, Todd Alyn Durboraw, Tina Marie Espinoza (uncredited) (episodes 20–26), Julie Ann Gourson, Hillary Hollingsworth, Tiffany Johnson, Nicole Mandich, Robert "Robby" Rosellen, Scott Trent
• Hosts: Christopher "Chris" Lytton, Triskin Potter

Season 2 (1994)

• Crew: Christopher "Chris" Aguilar, Janessa Ray (a.k.a. Janessa Beth), Marcus "Mark" Humphrey II, Megan Miyahira, Hassan Nicholas, Katharine "Katie" Polk, Melanee Ann Shale, Janet Veyts, Kevin Williamson, Jr., II
• Hosts: Christian Buenaventura, Alexandra "Alex" Palm (a.k.a. Alexandra Picatto), William "Billy"/Ruby Biggle (in later episodes)

Season 3 (1995)

• Crew: Lynsey Bartilson, Jessica Fried, Brooke Garrett, Ryan McCutchan, Megan Miyahira, Hassan Nicholas, Maiya Norton, Casey Rion, Shira Roth, Dava Schatz
• Hosts: Aaron Harvey, Alexandra "Alex" Palm (a.k.a. Alexandra Picatto), Lynsey Bartilson (2 episodes), William "Billy"/Ruby Biggle

Season 4 (1997)

• Crew: Asa Karsten Bernstine, Kamran Kamjou, Brady Kimball, Michael Minden, Megan Miyahira, Troy Mullins, Evan/Miriam "Mimi" Paley, Sara Perks, Lana Richards
• Hosts: Tiffany Burton, Sergio Centeno, William "Billy"/Ruby Biggle

Season 5 (1998)

• Hosts: William "Billy"/Ruby Biggle

Airing history

• United States of America (United States)
  • ABC (1987–88)
  • NBC (reran in 1988–89)
  • The Disney Channel (reran in 1989–92)
  • PTV Park (PTV) (1994–96, reran in 1998–99)
  • PBS Kids (reran in 1999–2002)
  • Nick Jr. (reran in 2002-2005)
• Canada
  • Global Television Network
• United Kingdom
  • Spacetoon
• Philippines
  • Radio Philippines Network
  • People's Television Network
  • GMA Network
  • Associated Broadcasting Company
• Other
  • Spacetoon English (2005–11)
  • Spacetoon 1
  • Spacetoon 2 English (2005–11)
  • Discovery Kids (2004)

References

External links

• Official website
• Kidsongs on Internet Movie Database
• Kidsongs at TV.com