If you are the parent of young children at some point in time you have probably been forced to listen to The Wiggles. As kids music/television go The Wiggles aren’t all that bad, at least they are certainly less annoying than that freaking purple dinosaur. Not to go off on a tangent but the theme to the big lizard makes me want to punch someone in the nose. Something tells me that this is not the desired response.
However after having discussed this with multiple people of various backgrounds and ethnicities I have discovered that it has this effect on many different people. In fact if we really want to catch Osama the best way to do so is to blast the hills of Pakistan with this song. In less than a week the man will come down from the hills and beg to be taken into custody. Or alternatively 300,000 Pakistani tribesmen will be so annoyed with us that they will all join Al-Qaeda. It is a big risk, but it just might be worth it.
Anyhoo, here at The Shack we used to be subjected to all things Wiggles for what felt like eternity, also known as a weekend in cleveland. For a while my eldest couldn’t get enough of those wacky Aussies. And then one day he decided that he had enough and didn’t want much to do with them anymore.
For a brief time the home was free of Dorothy the Dinosaur and Wags the Dog. No more songs about Fruit Salad, a big red car or Captain Feathersword. It was a pleasant respite. I almost was beginning to believe that the nightmare was over and then the almost three year old cyclone got into them and the process started all over again.
However, the beauty of the younger sibling is that sometimes they are so anxious to emulate the older one they will do anything. In this case that means that one day she decided that she also was too old for The Wiggles. Since that time I haven’t heard hide nor hair of them. No Henry the Octopus, No Play Your Guitar With Murray etc.
Of course there is a replacement. An obnoxious little girl whose name rhymes with Snora, but that is a story for a different day.
The Wiggles are fine by my book. There are a number of other kids shows/performers out there who are much more annoying than the Wiggles (Barney, Dora, Doodlebops are the one’s that come to mind).
Actually, the Wiggles remind me of the classic 60’s group, the Monkees (although the Wiggles were all musicians from the get go). Anthony Field (Anthony Wiggle) reminds me a lot of Mickey Dolenz (mannerisms, humor). Their music showcases many different cultures and is rather well-written & performed… although Captain Feathersword’s high-pitched falsetto that he sometimes uses can get a bit annoying. That being said, Paul Paddick the actor who portrays him is a fantastic performer especially on stage.
And that’s another thing, the Wiggles put on a great show. Murray and Jeff play their own instruments throughout much of the show, and Anthony & Greg (now replaced by Sam) also play during parts of the show. And the singing is all live, no Milli Vanilli lip-synching going on.
Just my 2¢ on the matter.
Zabu is ok in my book.
Wiggles are ok. Not as good as Zooboomafoo.
JB,
You do know that we control the media. Don’t screw with me or I’ll see that they are canceled tomorrow.
Chana,
Quack-a-doodle-doo.
Babka,
I don’t know the Wonder Pets.
Jill,
Welcome. Feel free to nose around and hang out.
Orie,
We’re going to party like it is 2099.
Congratulations on a Wiggle-free home. I remember that day in our house well – there was much celebrating to be done.
I am thankful every day that my daughter never got too “in” to The Wiggles. She’s obsessed with Playhouse Disney, but the hot dog song ranks much higher in my book than the fruit salad one. (Is this an indication that I’m contributing to childhood obesity? Good thing the little squirt is a beanpole!)
Btw, I found you via mizellie’s blog in case you wonder where this random person came from.
Babka-ette was obsessed with them, but BabkaBoy is only mildly interested. I agree, I’d pick them over the Dino and Tubbies any day. They also aren’t as bad as Wonder Pets. (Kill me now.) The flip side is that Ette loves Full House. The Olsen twins are devil’s spawn. You spend enough time in that row house in SF, you wish you could watch the Wiggles!
Isn’t Greg leaving the Wiggles for medical reasons? Anthony’s the cute one, anyway, even if he is graying.
Salamander has been obsessed with Captain’s Magic Buttons for awhile. Kill me now.
Man you scared me! I thought maybe the television show itself was canceled. Now I can watch all the wiggles I want…:)