FULL DISCLOSURE - One of the guys in The Imagination Movers is a old and close friend of mine. I'm not trying to push the band, sell records or anything like that. Promise.
A few months ago I got an odd email from a buddy of mine talking about this new musical project he's involved with. Seems he and some pals in New Orleans - who all have small kids - decided that kids music sucks and they should make a "cool" brand of kids music.
Thus, The Imagination Movers were born. Six months or so into making a serious run at this, the band seems to be taking off. They have a CD, gig around Louisiana, Texas and Florida and are creating quite a buzz.
I don't have kids. I listen to music kids shouldn't hear. In general, I think singing about taking medicine and eating vegetables is lame.
But I bought the CD to support my buddy, and I've listened to it a good bit. My first thought is that it's pretty good stuff for kids music (to further my research I suffered through about 10 minutes of The Wiggles on the Disney Channel - they blow).
And I've played some of the stuff for kid-laden people I work with. The response there has also been pretty positive.
So I'd like to hear some feedback from the crowd here at Blogcritics if you care to comment.
The band's website is Imagination Movers and they have some full-length and sample MP3s to download Imagination movers downloads.
Not a plug (the Amazon link is obligatory, of course), I'm just curious to hear what random strangers think about my buddy's project.
.jpg?t=20120527181101)
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Arita
I am the mother of two and have had to sit through torturous hours of Wiggles and the like--worse yet is the live show. The Imag. Movers, though, have songs that I find myself humming and singing too. When we get in the car, my two year old instantly yells for the "Madin Mooders" as he calls them. Last week my husband treated his employees and their kids to the live show for Fathers Day. It was great, and the kids enjoyed it. My father, the grandpa even liked it and he's a hard sell.
I do not know ANY of these guys or their staff or kids or parents, etc. I just happened to see them at a fair and my son wanted their CD--now we are fans!
The only bad thing, as people with little kids know, is that there is no video. I hear one is in the works though. We will be the first to buy!
Watch out Wiggles--these Cajun boys are going to replace you.
2 - Kerry
I first saw the Movers at the Ghost in the Oaks ( New Orleans City Park). My daughter loved them so much, I purchased the Good Ideas cd. I have been to almost every public show they have done in New Orleans including the Father's Day concert, where we purchased the Calling All Movers cd. I also plan to purchase their DVD when it is released. We can not go anywhere without the cd being played in the car. The Movers are Great. Whey will be on the top charts soon.
3 - Tangerine Joe
Cap'n Ken - thanks for the link. I listened to some of the Movers music clips and was really quite impressed. The guys actually look cool (unlike the Wiggles who truly scare me).
I have two kiddies who I am sure will enjoy the Imagination Movers. They already like Trout Fishing and TMBG so I they've got good taste. Once again, thanks for the tip!
4 - Mother of two
We first heard the Movers live at our local library in Hoover, Alabma. Now we are hooked. I bought a CD and the DVD before leaving the show. My four-year-old daughter and one-year-old son dance to the Movers every morning after breakfast. I also find myself singing their songs during the day. My favorite song is Seven Days a Week. For all you parents out there who need kids music that you can tolerate too, the Movers are a must. I also like the CD Happy Lemons by Ralph's World. This guy sings some good stuff too.
5 - Ruthanne
I just briefly caught the Imagination Mover's clip on the Disney Channel and thank goodness for DVR's...I was able to rewind it and see what that incredible band was! My daughter commented, "Oh, it's the 'movers' momma." I thought they were the Foo Fighters... and then I realized they were singing fun kid lyrics. I'm so excited about getting their CDs for my kids. In fact, I'm thinking I'll also get them for my nephew. Because he has a slight degree of autism, his mommy has to play music in the car over, and over and over again. I think she may be able to tolerate and actually LIKE this music as much as the kiddos! Congrats to Imagination Movers on the Disney Contract!!!!
6 - Sue
I had never heard of Immagination Movers, but wast flipping thru channels the other day looking for SOMETHING appropriate for my kids to watch and caught the song/video of "I want my Mommy" and loved it. I have been looking for the CD and no one had heard of it. I'd love to hear the rest of their songs and am going to check out their web site. So far - MUCH better than the Wiggles and let's not even TALK about DOODLEBOPS!!!
7 - Sue
Found AND BOUGHT the CD (Stir It Up?) and the DVD...YAY MOVERS!!! We just opened it today and have watched the dvd 3 times and have listened to the CD in the car a couple times (several times for "I want my Mommy" - a fav of the whole family.. I could even see my husband drummng along on the steering wheel of the car! YAY MOVERS!! Thanks for the info. The songs are catchy, the guys don't look dorky, and they have NICE VOICES! (ok, sorta cute too) : ) Can't wait for them to come to the Seattle area!!
8 - Jan Hopkins
Capn Ken, I was so pleased to find your site and read your comments about the Immagination Movers! My son Jared Hopkins, is the Key 2nd Assistant Director filming the episodes for Disney. He assisted them with the pilot episode they submitted to Disney that was picked up for about 28 episodes which will begin airing on the Disney Channel in September. The Movers are a great bunch of talented guys and their program is so much better than "The Wiggles", Jared says they remind him a lot of "The Monkey's".
Since Im plugging the Movers, I'd also like to plug my son if you don't mind! He is a very talented young up & coming producer/director from Madison, MS. He lives in New Orleans and has worked on many major movies such as, "Pride", "Glory Road", "Premonition", "Over Her Dead Body", "Failure To Launch", "Black Snake Moan", etc. He can be Googled as; jared hopkins production company. We are very proud of him so I hope you don't mind that I plugged his abilities also!!
9 - Jeff G.
We've been worrying about this very thing.
The IMs lack any heart in their music. Their on-screen presence is flat and forced.
We dread the day that the Wiggles get replaced by the IMs.
10 - Mike A.
I agree with Jeff G. I think the IM are trying to replace the Wiggles. That was my first thought when I saw them doing small clips on the Disney Channel. I don't think the songs are catchy enough to hook kids and get them singing all the time. They are a little flat.
11 - Thompson
Jeff & Mike - do you guys have kids? And honestly - who would want to replace the Wiggles? My two cents - the Movers could fart out songs from their rear and it would be an upgrade over the Wiggles.
Oh and by the way my kids are still singing the Wiggles songs - they're that catchy. NOT!
Thompson, a dad with actual real life children
12 - Suzanne Jones
The new show would be tolerable if they got rid of the girl who "talks down" to the kids and the camera. What I like about the guys is that they talk normal--not overacting and dumbing down. The girl is NOT a fit! So, unfortunately, since I watch the show the show with my kids, I won't be watching for long when she is in the episode.
13 - Suzanne Steed
The Imagination Movers are AWESOME!!!! When I first saw them on Disney when they first appeared, I kind of chuckled and wondered how well they would be received. I have really grown to appreciate their many talents and actually LOVE every song I have seen them perform. I was sooooo excited when I saw that their show was coming to Disney and found myself eagerly anticipating and counting down the days until it began, along with the Disney channel. My almost 3 yr old daughter is very musically inclined as my husband is a musician and she LOVES their songs. She has to get up and dance and sing EVERY time they come on. She is constantly saying, "Again! Again!" and I have to tell her I can't rewind the TV show! (Am going out and buying everything I can find by them tomorrow!)
GO MOVERS!!!! Avalon loves you and so do I!!
14 - Rod Mock
I have a 2 year old son and when Disney started promoting their new TV program I was excited! I have always believed that if you give kids good music they will love it! You don't have to dumb down things for kids to understand. Now, every day when I get home he imagination movers! wanting me to put them on for us to watch together. I am very glad because I was forced to watch the wiggles and that weir purple dinosaur :( So now my son goes around singing "What, What I can't hear you!" & Brain Stormin!
Only 2 constructive criticisms:
1, Nina is not a good fit and
2. I am surprised with Disney's directors. The acting on the show need a lot of work and I am not sure why Disney is not fixing it?? I realize they are musicians but there is such a thing as a second take.
We really love THE MOVERS! it is a breath of fresh air for weary parents!!
15 - Zippy
I think Nina is a great fit for the show. She is fun, cute, and is everything her uncle isn't. I would VERY sad if Nina was replaced.
16 - Jacki
We love the IM's! I have a two year old girl and a 13 month old boy. They both enjoy the Wiggles and the IM's. Personally, I really don't care if they are "Moving their arms like Henry or Brain Stormin" as long as they are entertained I am a fan.
17 - Katie
They are awesome! They encompass all genres of music and I appreciate that. I don't mind listening to the music in the car for hours.
18 - Penny
I have a five year old and a three year old, and we love the Movers and Nina! I usually have one of their songs running through my head all day, and after the first episode, they had my introverted and shy five year old dancing and singing along with them!
19 - Rob
Kudos to Disney for picking these guys up. The music is pretty good considering the target audience and although the acting may not be perfect, I'd watch the IMs all day long if I could avoid having to watch these annoying Wiggles for 5 minutes (plus those Wiggles guys creep me out).
20 - Horatio Doodle
Acting not perfect? Pish-posh! With the exception of the broken English spoken by the portly mouse, I fine the acting to be without flaw and defy you to cite an instance where the case was otherwise. And my extensive theatrical background would lead me to believe that the mouse accent may...may...be done intentionally to help define the character as a non-human. Were he a squirrel or ferret, I might interject with more certainty, but not having studied the role of mice in modern theater, I will leave that debate up to my distinguished colleagues.
21 - Dallas
I have a 2 1/2 yr old and an 18 month old. They both LOVE the IM...or "Movers" as they're referred to as over here. I am so happy to see something so great on Disney. I actually sit and watch them! The music is wonderful, and the acting is perfectly suitable for young children.
22 - Ernest
It seems the Imagination Movers are trying to replace the Wiggles. I personally think the Wiggles are better. Also, the skits are a bit long, if not the entire episode. The Wiggles used more characters, which kids will usually like. It just seems boring. My 4 year watches I.M., but there is no enthusiatic enjoyment at all. Not the same as the Wiggles. Just watching a bunch of guys running around trying to figure out how to fix a problem for 30 minutes.
23 - ANNA
IMAGINATION MOVERS ROCKS.
WIGGLES ARE WEIRD.
DOODLEBPS ARE WEIRD TOO.
IMAGINATION MOVERS ARE THE BEST!
24 - Amanda
this show is horrible and an insult to anyone with half a brain. First of all "Nina" is a total idiot who is always acting like a complete "eye rolling, gosh darn it, whacha gonna do now guys?" kind of stero typical victim that I assumed we were all smart enough to discourage in our female children as well as teach our males was false. She isn't "cute" or "darling" she's mentally restricted and those other men treat her as such. She's a sex draw for stay at home dad's which is just what Disney had planned.
So think about it. They have all their bases covered. They dimple faced jock for the "sporty mom" to drool over, the cowboy hat wearing -whatever he is to draw the "country lovin' moms" the clean cut "responsible looking" almost corporate loking chap who is delicious for the moms that stayed home instead of returning to their high profile jobs at "the firm" and the hippy looking dude for all the "free spirited moms". It's sooooo marketed for parents! And that's just beyond hysterical. and is this whole comment page is seriosuly about if their music is "good"? well I can answer that, NO...OF COURSE NOT! It's crappy kids music! It's not like we're talking about anything real or serious...it's mass produced crap. And all of the posters are taking it seriously because they got sucked in by Disney advertising, because they are all sheep. And now they're going on and on about the "quality" of the "music".
The sad part is that this stupid show will gather a following...a cult, and people will freak out and scream and want autographs all for a stupid joke. A megacorpate joke on the most gullible people on the face of the planet.
How sad.
But everyone will just keep right on going, and watching, and telling their children it's awesome....
Disney sure is swell.
25 - HalfBrain
"this show is horrible and an insult to anyone with half a brain."
Me only gots half a brain and me like it lots.
Seriously though, I'm glad you found an outlet for your anger, Amanda. Were you traumatized by Mickey Mouse as a child or something? The funny thing is, if you knew how un-corporate these guys really are, you might have a different opinion.
Look, it's a kids show with catchy music, decent comedy and usually a lesson in there to hopefully teach kids a little something along the way.
Oh.. but I guess I am just one of the gullible "sheep". Thank you Amanda, for enlightening us all.
PS
The sheep on the farm go "baa-baa-baa".