0
0
1, 2, 3
And 4 more makes 7
6 is afraid of 7…
‘Cuz 7 8 9
“7 8 9” is quite possibly the catchiest kids’ song since “The Wheels on the Bus.” And, believe it or not, it’s the first track on Snacktime, the new kids’ album by Canadian quintet Barenaked Ladies.
Actually, when you stop and think about it, a kids’ album seems like a natural step for Barenaked Ladies. After all, it worked for They Might Be Giants. And, like TMBG, these five crazy Canucks were pretty playful and fun-loving to begin with. In fact, some might even say that they’re just the slightest bit on the childish side. The band’s live shows are outrageously fun—and they’re usually crowded with fans of all ages. So after years of making grown-up albums that kids like, too, it just seems fitting that the guys would make a kids’ album that grown-ups will like, too.
Snacktime is a kid-friendly album that’s packed with 24 super-short and mostly silly songs—which, according to the band, they wrote to entertain their own music-loving kids. There’s my personal favorite, the old-western-style opening track, “7 8 9.” There’s “Crazy ABC’s,” a song about some of the perplexing little quirks in the English language (“A is for aisle / B is for bdellium / C is for czar—and if you see him, would you mind telling him?”). And there’s “I Don’t Like,” in which vocalists Steven Page and Ed Robertson discuss their various likes and dislikes. There are songs about hand-me-downs and songs about birds. There are songs about ninjas and songs about art supplies. And, as the album title suggests, there are plenty of songs about food (including the “Canadian Snacktime Trilogy”).
The album has plenty of silly moments, but it’s got some softer moments, too. Each song on the album, however, will make you laugh—or at least smile. The lyrics are smart and witty—just as you would expect from Barenaked Ladies songs. And they’re short and often impossibly catchy. In fact, once you hear “7 8 9,” I guarantee that you won’t be able to get it out of your head, no matter how hard you try. (Go ahead. Listen to it. I dare you.)
But the greatest thing about Snacktime is that you can enjoy it right along with your kids. Sure, the songs are about popcorn and pollywogs—but they’re a whole lot of fun (especially if you already happen to be a Barenaked Ladies fan). And while your kids will love that they’re a bunch of short, silly singalongs, you’ll love singing along, too.
