Musical Notes: Music industry news and releases for children and teens

‘PlayingGuitar’ by Petr Kratochvil

Welcome to another edition of “Musical Notes.” This week’s post covers news of super star Mary J. Blige’s recording for Dreamworks upcoming feature film, THE  HELP; live events and performances in Florida and California and the latest release from award-winning musician Joanie Leeds. Also featured are adorable music videos to share with your child from Princess Katie & Racer Steve, and a special Flag Day Celebration from Didipop.

NEWS

Super star Mary J. Blige records original song for upcoming feature ‘The Help’

DreamWorks Pictures and Geffen Records announced that multiple Grammy® Award–winning recording artist Mary J. Blige wrote and recorded an original song for the soundtrack of DreamWorks Pictures and Participant Media’s THE HELP, a film based on the New York Times best-selling novel of the same name, opening in theaters August 12, 2011.

“The Help” soundtrack - music from the motion picture, will feature the original song from Mary J Blige “The Living Proof.”  The soundtrack, from Interscope Records, will be available Tuesday, July 26 at select Starbucks locations.

The song, “The Living Proof,” was written and recorded by Blige especially for THE HELP after she saw a screening of the film, which takes place in 1960s-era Mississippi and chronicles the journey of three very different women who come together and embark on a secret writing project that breaks societal rules and puts them all at risk. “The beautiful thing about these women is that they were very smart,” says Blige. “They chose to walk in love and forgiveness.”

The film celebrates the courage to inspire change; “To speak to so many women with this song means a lot to me” says Blige. “I wanted to be involved with this film, because I think we need to encourage each other more, we are here to tell a story.”

Blige has received 9 Grammy® Awards and four American Music Awards as well as recorded eight multi-platinum albums. Mary J. Blige has sold over 50 million albums worldwide and her next album "My Life Too....The Journey Continues" will be released Sept 20, 2011. 

In the video below, Mary J. Blige discusses her recording “The Living Proof.”

LIVE PERFORMANCES AND ENTERTAINING EVENTS

Baby Loves Disco

Baby Loves Disco

Friday, June 10, 2011 at 5:00 p.m.
Don Cesar Beach Resort, A Loews Hotel
3400 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach, Florida 33706
$15 per person or 4 for $50

Saturday, June 11, 2011 at 1:00 p.m.
Seminole Towne Center
200 Towne Center Circle, Sanford, Florida 32771

FREE*

Sunday, June 12, 2011 at 2:00 p.m.
Loews Miami Beach
1601 Collins Avenue, Miami, Florida 33139
$20 per person or 4 for $60

EVENT NOTES:

“Families are invited to join the Baby Loves Disco Nation, to dance, play, savor healthy snacks and generally enjoy good times with family and friends. Parents and kids are invited to dress up as their favorite superheroes, or come just as they are. For daily updates on the Tour, visit Baby Loves Disco's pages on Facebook and Twitter.  

Each event of the tour rocks with special guest superhero DJs and MCs, dance instruction, big video screens, super contests and surprises at every turn.  At its core, each event retains the patented mix of Baby Loves Disco magic that has helped connect a worldwide community of moms, dads and kids of all nations, of all colors and all walks of life, all in the name of dance (and fun!).”

For more information or to purchase tickets, please follow this link.

Pasta: A Pop-Ups Musical Adventure

Electric Lodge Performance Space
1416 Electric Ave., Venice, California , 90291

Wednesday, June 15 through Thursday, June 30, 2011

Performances on Wednesdays and Thursdays are at 11:00 a.m.
 

Friday, June 17 through Sunday, July 3, 2011

Performances on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are at 11:00 a.m. and at 3:00 p.m.

Admission: $15.00 per person

EVENT NOTES:

Join kids’ rockers Jacob Stein and Jason Rabinowitz as they treat young audiences (ages 2 and up) to an educational and comic musical adventure, taking children through the magical land of Brooklyn - with the audience's help. The Pop Ups will search for the ingredients to make the best locally sourced pasta sauce ever, so prepare for a high-energy live act involving life-drawing, dance-beats, colorful puppets, animals, trains, guitar riffs, mermaids, gardens, instruments, vegetables, sparkles, and rocking interactive dance numbers that will catapult kids out of their seats guaranteeing a good time for everyone. You’ll be entertained with their rocking music from their critically acclaimed CD “Outside Voices.”

For more information phone 1-800-838-3006 or visit this link to purchase tickets/

CD’s

JOANIE LEEDS & THE NIGHTLIGHTS: WHAT A ZOO!

   WITH GUEST ARTIST SECRET AGENT 23 SKIDOO

Joanie Leeds, 2010 Parents’ Choice Gold Award-winner for her hit album I’m a Rock Star, offers a solid line-up of kid and parent-pleasing songs in her newest album release: What a Zoo!
 
A delightful musical menagerie of rockin’ tunes, expertly sung , covering a wide variety of animal critters, from mosquitoes to clams, blue whale to ‘Tofurky;’ all with clever lyrics - some embedded with important messages like remembering to look both ways when you cross the street.

Leeds is expertly joined with her band, The Nightlights, and guest artist Secret Agent 23 Skidoo.

The 37-minute CD, offers ten originals compositions and four cover tunes, including time –tested favorites, “Wimoweh” and “Froggy Went A Courtin.”

What a Zoo! is available online through the artist’s website, where you can listen to sound samples, and is also avaiable through amazon.com, cdbaby.com, and at specialty toy and bookstores across the country.

MUSIC VIDEOS

Here’s a music video to make you and your child smile, “Sand in My Sandwich” – from Princess Katie & Racer Steve’s CD, Tiny Cool!

Katie says, “We certainly had a lot of laughs making it and hope kids get a kick out of it.”

And now another treat to share with the child in your life, a music video that salutes Flag Day from Deborah Poppink a/k/a Didipop.

Deborah says, “I've always liked Flag Day, so I created this music video to explain the history of June 14th. Happy Birthday Old Glory!”

Previews for Walt Disney Studios 2011 slate of films

Thirteen films from the Walt Disney Studios are being released this year and there is something for every age group, with genres spanning just about everything – comedy, drama, animation, suspense-thriller, adventure, action and horror.

Below for your enjoyment is information on each of the upcoming films with release date, genre, still photograph (when available), and a brief summary provided by the studio, as well as the most recent available trailer if available..

For more details regarding director, writer, producer, cast and other production credits, simply click on each title and you’ll be taken directly to the film’s information page at the Internet Movie Data Base (IMDB).

At the time of this posting, most films have not been provided with a parental guidance rating, but determinations will be available closer to the release date, and will be posted on our weekly Popcorn Report.

You may wish to bookmark this page to explore each title at your leisure.


February 11,  GNOMEO & JULIET (Touchstone) – Rated G – Animation/Comedy-Adventure

“Two garden gnomes, Gnomeo (voice of James McAvoy) and Juliet (voice of Emily Blunt), try to avoid tragedy and find lasting happiness together when they are caught up in a feud between neighbors.”

Please click on this link and you will be taken to a private screening area for a showing of GNOMEO & JULIET: ONLINE FEATURETTE - “What’s In A Gnome?”


February 18,   I AM NUMBER FOUR (Dreamworks)-Rating TBD – Suspense-Thriller

Alex Pettyfer in I AM NUMBER FOUR

“John (Alex Pettyfer) is an extraordinary young man, masking his true identity and passing as a typical student to elude a deadly enemy seeking to destroy him. Three like him have already been killed…he is Number Four.”

Please click on this link and you will be taken to a private screening area for an extended look at I AM NUMBER FOUR.


March 11, MARS NEEDS MOMS (Walt Disney Pictures) Rating TBD— Comedy-Adventure

 

 “Produced by the team behind “Disney’s A Christmas Carol” and “The Polar Express,” “Mars Needs Moms” showcases nine-year-old Milo’s (Seth Green) quest to save his mom (Joan Cusack) from Martians—a wild adventure in Disney Digital 3D™ and IMAX® 3D that involves stowing away on a spaceship, navigating an elaborate, multi-level planet and taking on the alien nation and their leader (Mindy Sterling).”

Please click on this link and you will be taken to a private screening area for the first official MARS NEEDS MOMS trailer.


April 22, AFRICAN CATS (Disneynature) Rating TBD – True-Life Adventure

“Leaping into theaters on Earth Day, 2011, “African Cats” features the real-life love, humor and determination of the kings of the African savanna: Mara, an endearing lion cub who strives to grow up with her mother’s strength, spirit and wisdom; Sita, a fearless cheetah and single mother of fi ve mischievous newborns; and Fang, a proud leader of the pride who must defend his family from a once banished lion.”

Please click here to be taken to a private screening area for the official Disneynature AFRICAN CATS trailer.


April 29, PROM (Walt Disney Pictures) Rating TBD – Drama-Comedy

“Several intersecting stories unfold at one high school as the big dance approaches; “Prom” portrays the precarious passage from high school to independence as some relationships unravel and others ignite.’

Please click on this link to be taken to a private screening area for the official PROM trailer.


May 20, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES (Walt Disney Pictures) Rating TBD – Comedy-Adventure

Captain Jack (JOHNNY DEPP), Angelica (PENELOPE CRUZ),
Blackbeard (IAN McSHANE) and their eerie crew land on an
island where they hope to find the fabled Fountain of Youth.

Photo by Peter Mountain
© Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 “Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) finds himself on an unexpected journey to the fabled Fountain of Youth when a woman from his past (Penelope Cruz) forces him aboard the Queen Anne’s Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane).”

Please click here to be taken to a private screening of the first official trailer for PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES.


June 24, CARS 2 (Disney/Pixar) Rating TBD – Animation, Comedy/Adventure

“When star racecar Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) and the incomparable tow truck Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy) head overseas to compete in the fi rst-ever World Grand Prix, Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage.”

Please click here to be taken to a private screening area for the first official trailer of CARS 2.


July 15, WINNIE THE POOH (Walt Disney Pictures) Rating TBD – Animation


“Inspired by fi ve stories from A.A. Milne’s books in Disney’s classic, hand-drawn art style, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Winnie the Pooh” reunites audiences with the hunny-loving, philosophical bear and friends Eeyore, Tigger, Rabbit, Piglet and Owl in a wild quest to save Christopher Robin from an imaginary culprit.”

Please click here to be taken to a private screening of the first official trailer for WINNIE THE POOH.


August 12, THE HELP (Dreamworks) Rating TBD – Drama

“Based on one of the most talked about books in years and a #1 New York Times best-selling novel, “The Help” is a provocative and inspiring look at what happens when a southern town’s unspoken code of rules and behavior is shattered by three courageous women who strike up an unlikely friendship.”

August 19, FRIGHT NIGHT (Deamworks) Rating TBD – Horror

“Senior Charlie Brewster (Anton Yelchin) finally has it all going on: he’s running with the popular crowd and dating the most coveted girl in his high school. In fact, he’s so cool he’s even dissing his best friend. But trouble arrives when Jerry (Colin Farrell) moves in next door. He seems like a great guy at first, but there’s something not quite right—but everyone, including Charlie’s mom (Toni Collette), doesn’t notice. After observing some very strange activity, Charlie comes to an

unmistakable conclusion: Jerry is a vampire preying on the neighborhood. Unable to convince anyone, Charlie has to find a way to get rid of the monster himself in this Craig Gillespie-helmed revamp of the comedy-horror classic.”

October 17, REAL STEEL (Dreamworks) Rating TBD – Action-Drama

Down-on-his-luck fight promoter Charlie
(HUGH JACKMAN) trains his star robot boxer Atom
for a chance to go to the big time in the high-tech
boxing world in this scene from REAL STEEL

“Real Steel” is an action drama about a former boxer (Hugh Jackman) who, against all odds, gets one last shot at a comeback when he teams up with his estranged son (Dakota Goyo) to build and train the perfect contender for the new high-tech sport of robot boxing.”


November 23, THE MUPPETS (Walt Disney Pictures) Rating TBD – Family Comedy

“When Walter, the world’s biggest Muppet fan, and friends Gary (Jason Segel) and Mary (Amy Adams) discover the nefarious plan of oilman Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) to raze the Muppet Theater, they help Kermit reunite the Muppets to stage The Greatest Muppet Telethon Ever and raise the $10 million needed to save the theater.”


December 28, WAR HORSE (Dreamworks) Rating TBS – Drama

“From director Steven Spielberg comes “War Horse,” an epic adventure for audiences of all ages. Set against a sweeping canvas of rural England and Europe during the First World War, “War Horse” begins with the remarkable friendship between a horse named Joey and a young man called Albert, who tames and trains him. When they are forcefully parted, the film follows the extraordinary journey of the horse as he moves through the war, changing and inspiring the lives of all those he meets—British cavalry, German soldiers, and a French farmer and his granddaughter—before the story reaches its emotional climax in the heart of No Man’s Land.


“The First World War is experienced through the journey of this horse—an odyssey of joy and sorrow, passionate friendship and high adventure. “War Horse” is one of the great stories of friendship and war—a successful book, it was turned into a hugely successful international theatrical hit that is arriving on Broadway next year. It now comes to screen in an epic adaptation by one of the great directors in film history.”