Anyone who has heard of Laurie Berkner knows that she has become quite famous for her appearances on NOGGIN – the Nickelodeon network aimed at pre-schoolers. Laurie is in every episode of the NOGGIN series “Jack’s Big Music Show” and videos of The Laurie Berkner Band are continuously appearing on the network in between shows. The first time I ever saw The Laurie Berkner Band was in between shows on NOGGIN, performing “Bumblebee (Buzz, Buzz).” I fell in love with the music almost immediately. Her bouncy curls and unique, soothing voice make her instantly unforgettable. Have you and your child been longing to see those performances without having to wait? Well, wait no more! The Laurie Berkner Band is releasing their first ever music video DVD entitled “We Are…The Laurie Berkner Band.”
“We Are…The Laurie Berkner Band” features eleven videos of Laurie Berkner favorites, plus several DVD bonuses including a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of this DVD. A special bonus audio CD is included with the DVD, featuring four songs by The Laurie Berkner Band and a song by Tom Chapin featuring Laurie Berkner called “The Happiest Song I Know.” Each video is introduced by a group of children saying the name of the song, and children appear in all of the videos of course. I watched this DVD for the first time with my fourteen-month-old daughter, my three-year-old nephew, my sister, and my mother. We all had a blast!
The DVD begins with a song called “I’m Gonna Catch You.” This is a fun song that catches your attention with rhyming lyrics such as “I jumped into Wednesday and had a make-new-friends day,” and “I jumped into Saturday and had a baseball batter day.” Laurie, Brian, and Susie dance around as they play their instruments, engaging you and your child in the action. Part of the charm of this song is that it inadvertently teaches your child the days of the week.
The arrangement of “O Susannah” performed by the Band on this DVD has Brian on lead vocals. In addition to Laurie and Susie’s harmonies, parts of the song are sung and played by a group of three little girls. You will instantly smile at the beginning of this video, and the background vocals and dancing will keep that smile on your face throughout the rest of the song.
“Moon, Moon, Moon” is sung a cappella (which literally means “in the style of the chapel,” but is known in the music world as singing without non-vocal instruments) and the harmonies created among the three members of The Laurie Berkner Band are incredible. I have never heard such smooth a cappella vocals from such a small group of singers. In addition to the gorgeous vocals, the song has movements which you and your child can learn by watching the video again as one of the DVD bonuses. My daughter liked this song particularly well. I could tell because as soon as it came on, she dropped her toy and stared at the television until it was over. At the end, she smiled at me and started clapping her hands.
My favorite video is “The Goldfish” which tells the story of many fish who do things that we all know fish do not normally do, like taking showers and riding bicycles. At the end of each verse, Laurie, Brian, Susie, and the children shout, “Wait a minute! We’re fish! We don’t take showers [or the respective action in the verse]! Let’s go swimming…” The entire video looks like it takes place underwater which makes it even more interesting.
When we had all finished watching “We Are…The Laurie Berkner Band,” my nephew kept asking to see “the one with the alligator on his head” (“Pig on Her Head”), so we played it a few more times for him. We then played the entire video over and my daughter and nephew danced circles around the room.
“We Are…The Laurie Berkner Band” will make a perfect addition to your child’s DVD collection. With the fun lyrics, bouncy rhythms, and original music, this DVD is pure entertainment for the entire family.
“We Are…The Laurie Berkner Band” will be available for purchase on February 14, 2006 at Starbucks, Wal-Mart, Amazon, MusicSpaceKids, and other retailers.
The Laurie Berkner Band is Laurie Berkner, Brian Mueller, and Susie Lampert. For more information, please visit Laurie Berkner’s website or Razor & Tie.
“We Are…The Laurie Berkner Band” Tracks
I’m Gonna Catch You
We are the Dinosaurs
Victor Vito
Walk Along the River
Under a Shady Tree
Bumblebee (Buzz, Buzz)
O Susannah
The Goldfish
Pig on her Head
Moon, Moon, Moon
Telephone
DVD Extras
Behind the Scenes/Making of (set to the song “I Know a Chicken”)
“I’m a Mess” recorded live on the set
“Moon, Moon, Moon” choreography
Bonus CD
Walk Along The River (previously unreleased)
We are The Dinosaurs
Telephone
I’m Gonna Catch You
The Happiest Song I Know (Tom Chapin w/Laurie Berkner)