Our Toys are Good to Go! : The CE-E Robot

This isn't a song about a robot... it's a song by a robot.

In fact it's best described as a Public Information Film and it's perfect for this time of year. I'm sure lots of you are immersed in buying your kidbots far too many Christmas prezzies, but I sincerely hope that you're also paying attention to the current safety standards. "What safety standards?" I hear you holler. Well, the CE-E robot explains it far more eloquently than I can.




If that was a proper Public Information Film from the 70s... it wouldn't be quite so entertaining. Instead of a little robot dancing and singing, it'd have some scary celebrity narrating over some deeply depressing background music accompanying images of children stabbing each other in the face with the nails that hold their dolls together, or puncturing their sibling's lungs with a knock-off Action Man bolt thrower, or scattering bits of a former toddler all over the carpet and curtains with a cheap copy of a Fisher Price lawn mower... I was so busy dancing to the CE-E Robot song that I don't think the message really got through ...why can't they make Public Information Films like they used to?

Play safe & stay safe... I'll be back on Xmas day with a 101 Songs About Robots Christmas Special!

Metal Mickey : ITV Theme

Metal Mickey was a hugely successful British sitcom that originally aired between 1980 and 1983. However the show's success wasn't down to it being particularly funny or groundbreaking, in fact it was absolute cobblers!!!  No, the success of Metal Mickey was entirely down to there being bugger all on the other side. Produced and directed my ex-Monkee Micky Dolenz, the Metal Mickey TV show launched the career of no one... but none of that matters because here on 101 Songs About Robots, it's all about the music!

*the sound quality's a bit low on this video so you might want to turn it up a tad, or turn it down a lot ;)



I've no idea who the writing credits should go to, nor do I know who provided their vocal talents... I'd be surprised if anyone involved with the show even puts it on their CV!

Bertha : BBC TV Theme

I remember thoroughly enjoying watching Bertha when I was younger, however on realising that it was first broadcast in 1985, I'm slightly embarrassed to admit that I'll have been 15 or 16 years old at the time! Still, one is never too old to appreciate the charm of stop motion animation... that's my excuse anyway,  and I'm sticking to it!

The series was produced by Woodland Animations, narrated by Roy Kinnear, with the music and lyrics written by Bryan Daly. Bertha's theme song is sung by Guy Fletcher, who co-wrote The Hollies 1970 hit I Can't Tell The Bottom From The Top and Cliff Richard's 1973 Eurovision Song Contest entry Power To All Our Friends. But enough inane trivia, it's the song that matters, and here it is...

We Are The Robots : Enon

This is the last of this chunk of robot songs for children, and once again it's taken from the kid's TV show Yo Gabba Gabba. Performed by Enon, it's We Are The Robots.




Tomorrow I'll be focusing on robot songs for grown ups... which may require a little parental advisory!

Robo Dancing : Money Mark

Today's robot song is called Robo Dancing... and yes, it's another one for the kidbots.



OK, it's not the best robot song ever, and it's not even that great for children's music... but this is Money Mark! Yes, the same guy whose worked with The Beastie Boys, the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Linkin Park and many more. Not only that, but this performance is from the kid's TV show Yo Gabba Gabba, co-created by The Aquabats frontman and superhero Christian Jacobs!!

Over the years Yo Gabba Gabba has featured a host of artists including Ladytron, The Killers, Jimmy Eat World, The Aquabats, Devo, My Chemical Romance, Weezer, MGMT, Jack Black, The Flaming Lips, The Ting Tings, Weird Al Yankovic, Peter, Bjorn & John, to name but a few... it's a shame they all didn't sing songs about robots.

Clean Up Robot : Mark D. Pencil

Those of you who aren't fortunate enough to be in possession of an actual clean up robot can compromise by simply getting one or more of your kids to fill the role. For best results, start training them from a young age to ensure that the concept of cleaning is fun is fully instilled in their tiny ignorant minds long before they realise that it's a tiresome and tedious chore. When done properly, your little darlings will not only clean up after themselves but will happily clean up after you and your friends too.

Children may be more expensive than most domestic appliances, but they take up much less space. A well trained child can work for many years with a little daily nourishment and provide regular respite from the humdrum of housework for parents and guardians. Professional child programmer Mark D Pencil has created a wide range of applications in audio format, and has kindly provided today's robot song. Taken from 'Leaning With Hip-Hop' is Clean Up Robot: a child friendly application that is invaluable to both parents and teachers, and proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that fealty and fidelity can be fun.




Of course that's just a two minute taster... the full ten hour version is available on Amazon and iTunes.

Robot No.1 : Hi-5

Hi-5 are primarily an Australian children's music group who front a TV show of the same name. The success and popularity of Hi-5 resulted in American and UK versions of the group and show, but all credits have to go to the Aussies. Originally broadcast in the distant future (the year 2000) on an episode themed around machines is Robot No.1 ...but this video is from a 2011 remake.




It's great to see so many youngsters being programmed prepared for life in a world controlled by robots.

Robot : The Baby Grands

American band The Baby Grands have released two children's albums to date. The first, imaginatively titled 'The Baby Grands' came out in 2008, but its their second album, 'The Baby Grands II', from which today's kid's song about robots is taken.... it's called Robot by the way :)

Robot Parade : They Might Be Giants

After Giant. Robot. Babies!, it only seems right to post some kid's music to keep the little sodbots entertained. Taken from the first of several LPs aimed specifically at children is Robot Parade by Brooklyn's They Might Be Giants.





I was planning on posting a chunk of shouty robot punk songs this week, but maybe a few more robot songs for the kids is in order. Stay tuned for tomorrow's exciting robot song... and don't forget to vote!

I've Got A Robot : Sheila Margaret Ward

Whilst David Zed thinks he is a robot and Marina Diamandis is certain she's not a robot, Sheila Margaret Ward has got a robot, and she's making a real song and dance about it!  A cracking little song here, perfect for kids of all ages (even my age) and an essential addition to any robot party playlist.




I'm going by the details on YouTube to put a year to this song, but Sheila, please correct me if I'm wrong.  :)

The Robot Song : Dooby Wop & the Polkadots

It's about time I posted something for the kiddies... because kiddies love playing at robots. This is not the only kid's song I'll be posting, and it's certainly not the best... but it's plenty of fun. Why not cover yourself in tinfoil, stick a colander on your head and dance along... there's no upper age limit!