5-Minute Time Out: Barenaked Ladies
Frontman Ed Robertson on the band's catchy kids' record, "Snacktime."
by April Peveteaux
November 21, 2008
Canadian alternative rock band Barenaked Ladies will soon be celebrating twenty years of making melodic, hyperactive pop, but first they're taking a break to celebrate parenthood. Their latest release, Snacktime!, is the band's first foray into the kid record world — and if the enthusiastic toddlers on their recent promotional tour are any indication, it won't be the last. Babble went backstage with frontman Ed Robertson to get the goods on Geddy Lee, seven-year-old humor and their collective position on breastfeeding. — April Peveteaux
What was your inspiration for making a record for kids?
There are a lot of kids in the Barenaked world — we're more than outnumbered two-to-one — and they're all still in a place where they'd enjoy it. We had them all sing on the record. It was extremely cool to have them all piled around a microphone like it was Bring Your Kid to Work Day.
What kind of kid music did you listen to in preparation?
They Might Be Giants was a big inspiration. But for the most part we just tried to make a cool Barenaked Ladies record. You don't need to dumb stuff down for kids. Kids like Green Day and the Foo Fighters. Our main goal was to make sure that the subject matter would be interesting for kids.
Video for "Pollywog in a Bog"
Did you every say, "Hmm, do you think we should change our name for the kid record?"
No, because the band isn't called Nude Chicks or Hot Naked Sluts, you know? It's the Barenaked Ladies. It's something a seven-year-old would say.
What's better — an audience of college students or preschoolers?
Both! I love playing to a crowd that's got everything from kids to grandparents in it. I love watching different people's reactions to what we do. Kids respond to the energy level, and then their parents are responding to the wit and the fun of it all.
©2008 April Peveteaux and Nerve Media
About the Author
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April Peveteaux is a writer, editor and sometimes performer. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, son and daughter. |
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