Yo Gabba Gabba Music is Awesome Volume 4 {+Giveaway}

My children love Yo Gabba Gabba, it’s been one of their favorite children’s shows for a few years now and one of their absolute favorite things about the show, aside from the characters, is the music.  Through my blog, we’ve had the opportunity to enjoy Yo Gabba Gabba in so many ways through the years, from attending Yo Gabba Gabba Live (which you should definitely do if you ever have the chance), to interviewing one of the creators of the show Christian Jacobs, to reviewing several Yo Gabba Gabba products and with each new opportunity comes a whole new love for the show and the characters that my children already love so very much.

We had the opportunity recently to review the latest Yo Gabba Gabba Music is Awesome CD(Volume 4)  and just like the others before it, my kiddos couldn’t wait for me to pop it into the CD player so they could “ROCK”.  So earlier this week as we drove around looking at Christmas lights, the little ones rocked out to Yo Gabba Gabba Music is Awesome volume 4.  As with all of the Music is Awesome CDs Lil Man and Lil Diva rocked out until I turned the stereo off when we pulled into our driveway and they weren’t too awful excited about it.  Do your kiddos love Yo Gabba Gabba Music is Awesome?  If so check out the track list from the latest Music is Awesome installment, volume 4!



YO GABBA GABBA! Music is Awesome!: Volume 4 Track Listing:
1. Yo Gabba Gabba! - Live Show Intro Remix
2. Biz Markie - Pancakes & Syrup
3. Yo Gabba Gabba! - That Is What Friends Are For
4. The Roots - We Have Fun
5. Yo Gabba Gabba! - Teamwork
6. Peter, Bjorn & John - I Wish I Was A Spy
7. CSS - Dinosaur Dinosaur
8. Yo Gabba Gabba! - Mixing Up Colors Remix
9. Rocket From The Crypt - He's A Chef
10. Yo Gabba Gabba! -Balloons (Live Show Version)
11. George Clinton - Atomic Frogs
12. Cut Copy - Fantastic Voyages
13. Yo Gabba Gabba! - Dinosaurs Are Really Really
14. YMCK - Fruit Song
15. Yo Gabba Gabba! - Let's Be Awesome While We Wait
16. Metric - Everybody Has A Talent
17. The Aquabats - Share
18. Yo Gabba Gabba! - Summertime
19. Belle & Sebastian - You Can Do It If You Try
20. Yo Gabba Gabba! - Clean It Up
21. Mariachi El Bronx - Friends Can Make You Smile
22. The Bird And The Bee - Cover Your Mouth
23. Yo Gabba Gabba! - Rest Up
24. Paco - Listen
25. Digital Unicorn - Green Remix

I don’t know about you, but that sounds like some serious and super silly fun to be had.  If your little ones love Yo Gabba Gabba then I have a treat for you—one lucky MIBR reader is going to win a copy of Yo Gabba Gabba Music is Awesome Volume 4!  Details on how you can enter (as well as official rules) below using the Rafflecopter widget!
 
WIN IT!
One lucky MIBR reader will win a copy of Yo Gabba Gabba Music is Awesome Volume 4 CD!


a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure:  I received the item above in order to facilitate my review…all opinions are 100% my own!

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New Sports Themed Episodes of Yo Gabba Gabba and The Fresh Beat Band {Plus Info on The Fresh Beat Band Live Tour}

Attention all you Yo Gabba Gabba and The Fresh Beat Band fans, I have a couple of summer Olympics inspired new episodes of two of my kids favorite Nick Jr. shows to tell you all about and in case you didn’t get a chance to see The Fresh Beat Band’s live show the first time around, I have some info on how you can get tickets and VIP packages for the second leg of their nationwide tour!  So grab a seat and get ready for all kinds of fun!

 

THE FRESH BEAT BAND AND YO GABBA GABBA! GET INTO THE GAMES WITH NEW SPORTS-THEMED EPISODES PREMIERING SUNDAY, AUG. 19 ON NICK JR.

Nick Jr. presents brand-new sports-filled episodes of hit preschool series The Fresh Beat Band and Yo Gabba Gabba! on Sunday, Aug. 19.  The Fresh Beats go up against the Junior Beats on the basketball court in “Hoop Dreams,” premiering at 8 p.m. ET.  Then, LA Laker Metta World Peace, his daughter Diamond World Peace, Bill Hader (SNL), Marissa Jaret Winokur, and Cut Copy guest star in Yo Gabba Gabba! “Olympics,” premiering at 8:30 p.m. ET. 

The Fresh Beat Band is gearing up for the second leg of their nationwide tour which kicks off Aug. 23 in Melbourne, Fla. The high-energy interactive concert features Kiki (Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer), Marina (Tara Perry), Twist (Jon Beavers) and Shout (Thomas Hobson) performing The Fresh Beat Band hits from seasons one, two and three of the Emmy award-winning live-action series that teaches preschoolers about music appreciation.  Tickets and Fresh Beat Band VIP packages are available at www.freshbeatbandlive.com and www.ticketmaster.com. 

Yo Gabba Gabba! is an award-winning, live-action television series and live stage show whose unconventional formula has created a triple stacked fan base, making it one of the most popular entertainment properties among preschoolers, parents and indie music lovers alike. Yo Gabba Gabba! is created by Christian Jacobs and Scott Schultz and is produced by The Magic Store and W!LDBRAIN Entertainment. Yo Gabba Gabba! airs seven days a week on Nick Jr.

If your kiddos are Nick Jr fans then you have to make sure you check out both of these new episodes…you may even be able to get some work done without children screaming…isn’t that reason enough to watch?  Show times are listed below…enjoy!

The Fresh Beats Rock the Court in “Hoop Dreams” at 8 PM ET;

Metta World Peace, Bill Hader Among Celebs Guest Starring in Yo Gabba Gabba! “Olympics” at 8:30 PM ET

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My Interview with Yo Gabba Gabba co-creator Christian Jacobs!

As a blogger I’ve had the opportunity to do many things that have been completely awesome—none more than my very first celebrity interview last week with Yo Gabba Gabba co-creator Christian Jacobs. As you all know my kids love YGG and having the opportunity to chat with one of the brains behind the phenomenon was an experience I’ll never forget! I must say that Christian was a very down to earth, fun person to talk to, which wasn’t actually a surprise—I mean how could one of the creators of YGG not be cool!?!

As y’all also know I asked some of you (via the blog, Facebook, Twitter, and my MomDot girls) for some questions and you guys delivered in a BIG way and I thank you all for that…I didn’t get to ask too many questions, but I did include a few from you guys! Alright on to the interview—I got to ask Christian some questions about both the YGG show and the Live show so I hope y’all enjoy!

He’s a former child actor, popular musician,producer and one half of the creative force behind the hugely popular children’s show Yo Gabba Gabba, but he’s also a dad and one heck of a cool guy…is there anything Christian Jacobs can’t do?

Me: I’ve read that you grew up doing TV and film…how would you feel if one of your children wanted to go into acting?

Christian Jacobs: It was a different time when I grew up and when my parents grew up—I was a kid in the 80s and late 70s and things were different. My 10 year old daughter was interested in acting and a few years ago I took her on some auditions and I knew what to expect with that stuff and it’s a lot of work. I don’t want to offend my parents if they ever read this, but when we were kids we kinda didn’t have a choice, so if they really wanted to do it I would be super supportive and I would help them do it, but I would never force them to do it. But we took her on a couple of auditions a few years ago and she was like, “I’m over it” and I couldn’t have been more happy at that moment, because it is a lot of work for parents and for the kids. The kids have had a lot of exposure being involved with Yo Gabba Gabba; I ask them to do stuff and they reluctantly agree cause they know they might get 20 bucks so, I wouldn’t discourage it (acting) as much as I wouldn’t encourage it.

The greatest thing I learned from being a kid actor, the one thing I would want to teach my kids if they really wanted to do it…is rejection. Being rejected so many times as a kid—really wanting to get a part and not getting it—actually formed a stronger sense of self for me. Probably the most important thing we can teach our kids is that you are gonna fail, you just gotta get back up and go again!

Me: When you and Scott were independently creating the pilot for Yo Gabba Gabba did you ever imagine it would become as popular as it has?

CJ: Scott and I had no idea that YGG would become what it is becoming, and yet at the same time we always believed that it could be big. We’ve always believed, whether it’s Yo Gabba Gabba, the Aquabats or other things that we’ve been doing, of course, we always believed that it could happen…we just never believed that it would (laughing). We shot the pilot and we all could feel a tingling feeling that something is happening and this is gonna be good and now that it’s happening it’s surreal. We’re just “tickled over the moon”, you know instead of “Tickled Pink” or “Over the Moon” I put them together and say “tickled over the moon”—I like putting clichés together, it’s one of my favorite things.

Me: Which of the Yo Gabba Gabba characters was the hardest to bring to life?

CJ: All of the characters have little bits of personality traits of my kids and Scott's kids probably any kid;they have personality traits that you see in every child. It could really be a toss-up, but maybe Toodee? Toodee was tricky because she had to have some traits that may be a little abrasive at times and yet you still wanna make her likeable, but someone has to have the impatient, cranky traits. Toodee had to be a little bit impatient and abrasive on the negative side of things, but on the positive side she is really fun and all about jumping around and having fun so I think it was a tricky balance between the characteristics in all of us that can be positive and negative at the same time.

Equally Lance (DJ Lance Rock) as well. Initially the show wasn’t built around Lance, it was built around a host and we didn’t know who that host was going to be, we were trying to figure that out for a while. Scott (Schultz) had a hunch and he’d always thought that Lance would be the perfect guy (for the role of host). Lance is really a DJ that worked in a record store, he’s not an actor who came to LA to be on a kid show, he’s a real guy who DJs in clubs in LA. So in bringing Lance’s character to life it was really a, I don’t wanna say crap shoot on a kids blog (I assured him that crap shoot was fine as I’m known for throwing in colorful words every once in a while) it was kind of a crap shoot, we didn’t know if Lance was gonna be able to step it up. You come out to the live show and see him in full effect and it’s like “Wow this is beyond our expectations”…Lance really stepped it up and stepped in to be that DJ Lance Rock. It wasn’t hard to create (his character) but it was just magic!

Me: If you could have any celebrity do a dancey-dance who would it be and what dancey-dance would they do? (This was a reader question sent to me by MaDamnPITA…so thanks a million he seemed to like this question).

CJ: Scott and I we love everybody, but I would love to have Bill Murray on the show, I’m a big Bill Murray fan. This would never happen, but you know what would be awesome would be to have Pee Wee--Pee Wee Herman on the show and have him do the Tequila Dance. (I agree) That would be amazing, but I know a lot of parents would feel uncomfortable about that, maybe I would too but that’s maybe why I like it.

Me: Whose idea was it for Jack Black to wear DJ Lance’s costume and will he be making another appearance on the show? (This question was asked by Kim @ What’s That Smell…thanks Kim)

CJ: That was Jack Black’s idea, no you know I’ll give equal credit to Scott for that too because Scott actually had a dream a couple of nights before Jack Black came in, we were all really anxious about it, and he had a dream that Jack Black was in the Lance costume so we wrote something in at the last second. When Jack Black came in to film the episode he wanted to try on Lance’s costume right off the bat he was like, “I wanna try on Lance’s costume.” You know the costume he’s wearing on the show is actually Lance’s costume, like the same one he wears, we had made Jack Black a special costume but it was kinda baggy and he was like, “No, no I wanna wear Lance’s costume.” He put it on and he was like, “See it fits perfect.” He’s just such a good guy and such a good dad, it was rad having him on the show.

Me: How does performing as the Aquabats for preschool children during the Yo Gabba Gabba live show compare to performing for your older fans?

CJ: It’s a lot less sweaty, there’s a lot less kids jumping onto the stage and off of the stage. It’s funny—it feels right, because the AquaBats are such a parody of itself. When we come out and were playing for little kids who think we’re like super heroes it’s super fun, because we’re just middle-aged men playing guitars. It’s really fun for us because it’s pure we can see the joy in the kids eyes they’re like “Ah wow cool the Aquabats.” The kids that are older and come to our shows are kinda in on the joke so it’s fun to really become a kids again whenever we play but it’s extra special to do it for the real kids…they’re the real deal!

(Christian also told me to be on the lookout for more appearances from the Aquabats on YGG…I know some of the Aquabats fans out there will be very excited about that.)

Me: What’s next for Yo Gabba Gabba?

CJ: Season 3 just finished filming, we have lots of new episodes of Yo Gabba Gabba coming out soon. There maybe could be a Yo Gabba Gabba movie that we’re working on this year. Yo Gabba Gabba is just gonna keep going!

I want to thank Christian for taking time out of his busy schedule to talk with me. I had a blast and I can’t wait to see The Aquabats, DJ Lance, Biz Markie and all of the YGG characters at the Yo Gabab Gabba Live show in Cincinnati next month!

Make sure you check out the official site of the Yo Gabba Gabba Live show to see when Brobee, Foofa, Plex, Muno, Toodee, and DJ Lance will be partying in your city!

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I Need Your Help—Help Me Interview a Celebrity!

Those of you who have read my blog for a while know all about my kids obsession with the Nickelodeon show Yo Gabba Gabba (YGG), for those of you who do not let me just say that they are mildly (that’s a complete and utter lie—they are like zombies when that show is on) obsessed with everything YGG! Well imagine my surprise when I was given the opportunity to interview one of the show’s co-creator’s Christian Jacobs! Needless to say I was quite excited, but then I freaked out…and realized that I need YOUR HELP!

The interview is tomorrow at 1:15 EST and I want to know what you guys would ask Christian if you could! So please leave a comment on this post with a question for Christian and if I use your question I will give you a shout out!

So put your thinking caps on and let me know what questions you would ask the co-creator of Yo Gabba Gabba if you could!

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There’s a Party In My City {Yo Gabba Gabba Live} More Shows Added!

Remember I told you guys that Yo Gabba Gabba was coming to the stage? Well there were only a couple of shows but the response seems to be so good (was there really any doubt) that they’ve added more! Yay!

FIRST YO GABBA GABBA! U.S. TOUR SELLS OUT IN NEW YORK AND LOS ANGELES; ADDITIONAL SHOWS ADDED

YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE: THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY Tickets Are Available for Purchase at www.ticketmaster.com

New York, NY (October 9, 2009) – Tickets for the first Yo Gabba Gabba! U.S. tour, YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE: THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY, went on sale on Friday, October 9 and resulted in immediate sell-outs in Los Angeles and New York. W!LDBRAIN and tour producer S2BN added additional shows in both markets. Tickets for newly added shows go on sale immediately. New dates and times include the Shrine Expo Hall in Los Angeles on Sunday, November 15 at 11am and 3pm and in New York, the Beacon Theatre on Saturday, November 21 at 5 pm.

YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE: THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY, will kick-off in Los Angeles on November 14 and will head from LA to New York and Chicago. Tickets are available via ticketmaster.com and YoGabbaGabba.com. Children under one year of age will be admitted free to sit on a parent’s lap.

YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE: THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY is the first live U.S. touring show for the hit children’s program, which was created by Christian Jacobs and Scott Schultz and is produced by The Magic Store and W!LDBRAIN. The live-action U.S. stage production is inspired by the award-winning television series, with broad appeal among preschoolers, parents, teens and adults. DJ Lance Rock and everyone’s favorite cast of characters – Brobee (the little green one), Foofa (the pink flower bubble), Muno (the red Cyclops), Plex (magic robot) and Toodee (the blue cat-dragon) will rock out to their favorite songs from the groundbreaking series, while special guests show off their “dancey dance” moves. This state-of-the-art production is an interactive experience that will offer audience members of all ages the chance to bring the characters to life when they say the magic words, “Yo Gabba Gabba!”

YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE: THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY

*Recently Added

Los Angeles, CA @ Shrine Expo Hall

Saturday, November 14, 2009 11AM and 3PM

*Sunday, November 15, 2009 11AM and 3PM

New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre

Saturday, November 21, 2009 11AM – 2PM – *5 PM

Chicago, IL @ Rosemont Theatre

Saturday, December 5, 2009 11AM and 3PM

YO GABBA GABBA! premiered in the U.S. on Nickelodeon in August, 2007 and currently ranks as one of the most popular series on television with broad appeal among preschoolers, parents, teens and adults. The award-winning series is created by Christian Jacobs and Scott Schultz and is produced by The Magic Store and W!LDBRAIN. Jon Berrett and Michael Polis are executive producers.

YO GABBA GABBA!, was voted as one of the best new shows on television by TIME magazine, won a BAFTA Award in 2008, was awarded the “Outstanding Achievement in Children’s Television” Award by the Television Critics Association and is a two-time EmmyÒ nominee.

YO GABBA GABBA! infuses retro-style and beat-driven music to teach simple life lessons through music. The series stars DJ Lance Rock (Lance Robertson) and a cast of colorful characters, including: Brobee, the little green one, Foofa, the pink flower bubble, Muno, the red Cyclops, Toodee, the blue cat-dragon and Plex, the yellow robot. Today’s most popular names in movies, television, music and sports flock to guest star in the groundbreaking show, including Jack Black, Rachel Dratch, Melora Hardin, Tony Hawk, Biz Markie, Jack McBrayer, MGMT, Mark Mothersbaugh, The Roots, Andy Samberg, Amy Sedaris, The Shins, Amare Stoudemire, The Ting Tings, Jimmy Eat World and Elijah Wood, among others. YO GABBA GABBA! toys, apparel and other merchandise are sold in stores nationwide in the U.S. and have skyrocketed in popularity. The series is now shooting its third season in the U.S. and airs in several major international territories, including Australia, Canada, Israel, Latin America, New Zealand, South Africa and the U.K. YO GABBA GABBA! is recommended as a trusted program for preschoolers by The Smart Television Alliance, a non-profit organization comprised of leading non-profit children’s media organizations including Common Sense Media, Parents’ Choice Foundation, Parents Television Council and Coalition for Quality children’s Media: KIDS FIRST!. Visit www.yogabbagabba.com.

Founded in 1994, W!LDBRAIN (www.wildbrain.com) is an award-winning entertainment company that develops and produces unique and compelling content across the media spectrum. W!LDBRAIN also creates and distributes collectible merchandise through its sister company, Kidrobot, planet Earth's premier creator and retailer of limited edition toys, clothing, mini-figures, artwork and books. The studio and its creative team have consistently won top industry awards. In film, W!LDBRAIN won an Annie for its computer graphics short film Hubert’s Brain. In television, the studio has produced an exceptional slate of programming, including the hit series Yo Gabba Gabba!, airing several times a day, seven days a week on Nick Jr. and Higglytown Heroes, the top-rated and critically acclaimed animated Disney Channel series. The studio is in development on an animated series for HBO with Ricky Gervais based on the popular Ricky Gervais Show podcasts. W!LDBRAIN has a Yo Gabba Gabba! motion picture in the works and has teamed with Paramount to develop a motion picture based on Kidrobot characters. In the short form category, the studio collaborated with Dan Clark to produce TEAM SMITHEREEN. As one of the nation’s foremost producers of animated commercials, W!LDBRAIN has received Clios, Addys, BDA Awards and Annies for their commercial work, reinvigorating classic brands for leading companies including The Coca-Cola Company, Honda, Kraft and Nike. The studio has also gained national attention for their animation work on behalf of Esurance and Virgin America.

About S2BN Entertainment

S2BN Entertainment is a diversified international family show and event entertainment company specializing in the acquisition, development and production of high caliber touring exhibitions, unique live music tours and events, theatrical performances, and consumer and multimedia product offerings. Our experienced management team executes activities across all types of global venues – from stadiums to theaters. S2BN Entertainment provides extraordinary experiences for our clients and our customers.

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