Here Come the ABCs

( 12 )

Overview

In addition to their ability to craft intelligent, quirky pop and rock songs, They Might Be Giants has carved out a career as respected children's music artists. They Might Be Giants: Here Come the ABC's combines all of the songs off of the CD of the same name with visuals in order to help teach youngsters the alphabet. The videos feature puppet versions of John Flahnsberg and John Linnell, the twosome who comprises the heart of the band. While aimed at toddlers, this video is also meant to be enjoyed by They ...
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Overview

In addition to their ability to craft intelligent, quirky pop and rock songs, They Might Be Giants has carved out a career as respected children's music artists. They Might Be Giants: Here Come the ABC's combines all of the songs off of the CD of the same name with visuals in order to help teach youngsters the alphabet. The videos feature puppet versions of John Flahnsberg and John Linnell, the twosome who comprises the heart of the band. While aimed at toddlers, this video is also meant to be enjoyed by They Might Be Giants fans of all ages.
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Special Features

[None specified]
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Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble - Amy Barkat
Hipster moms and dads rejoiced in 2000 when the New York alt-rock duo They Might Be Giants showed up at the playground with their NO! CD, offering a break from bland, standardized kids' fare. Here Come the ABC's goes well beyond the animated videos and games included on the enhanced CD NO!, using animation, live action, and puppetry to help teach the ABC's. TMBG partners John Flansburgh and John Linnell host the DVD as puppets -- a nod to their 1986 MTV hit, "Put Your Hand Inside the Puppet Head" -- leading viewers into a series of stylistically varied short videos that resemble some of Sesame Street's best bits. In the disc-opening "Alphabet of Nations," for instance, the lyrics "Algeria, Bulgaria, Cambodia..." correspond to graphics that show the appropriate flags being planted on the world map. The "Fake Believe" segment finds TMBG performing live when their puppet selves show up, eager to find out what the letter "D" stands for. (Answer: Drum.) The best clip, by far, is "Pictures of Pandas Painting," an alliterative ditty in the rich psychedelic tradition of Boohbah and Teletubbies: With "pictures of pandas painting penguins parading by," this is the stuff of surrealism. Kids will find all this delightful, and parents will appreciate the gentle lessons in creative thinking, served up with TMBG's Beatles-flavored pop. The DVD also includes some songs outside the alphabet circle, such as the fabulous "Clap You Hands" from NO!, delivered in an infectious sing-along that's sure to encourage a dance break. Also here is the theme-song video for Playhouse Disney's HigglyTown Heroes, featuring the Giants. This Grammy Award-winning duo have come a long way from their Dial-a-Song days -- and pint-size hipsters everywhere couldn't be happier.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 2/15/2005
  • UPC: 050086120390
  • Original Release: 2005
  • Source: Walt Disney Records
  • Region Code: 1
  • Time: 45:00
  • Format: DVD
  • Sales rank: 6,458

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
They Might Be Giants Primary Artist
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Menu

Side #1 --
   Play All
   Alphabet Songs: ABC
      ABC: Here Come the ABC's John and John Say Hello
      Alphabet of Nations
      I Am A Robot
      Pictures of Pandas Painting
      Can You Find It?
      Introducing the Vowel Family
      The Vowel Family
      A to Z
      Letter Shapes
      Alphabet Lost and Found
      I Am A Robot (Type B)
      John and John Introduce...
      Who Put the Alphabet in Alphabetical Order?
      A to Z (Type B)
      Introducing ZYX
      ZYX
   Letter Songs: ABC
      E Eats Everything
      Flying V
      QU
      Go for G
      D & W
      Fake-Believe
      Letter/Not a Letter
      ICU
      Rolling O
      LMNO
      Introducing C Is for Conifers
      C Is for Conifers
      Fake-Believe (Type B)
      D Is for Drums!
   Bonus Songs
      Clap Your Hands
      Higglytown Heroes
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 5
( 12 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(11)

4 Star

(0)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(1)

1 Star

(0)

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Sort by: Showing all of 12 Customer Reviews
  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    I LOVE THIS!

    I remember listening to They Might Be Giants in high school and college. I just happened to come across this DVD in a store and thought it would be interesting to check out for my son. My son, now 2 1/2 yrs old, started watching this just after his 1st birthday. By the time he was 18 months old, he began recognizing letters. The first time was in a restaurant looking a menu and started pointing out all the D's and W's. If you are familiar with the DVD, there is a song about the letters D and W, his favorite one. Now, he can recognize the entire alphabet. He is even able to spell out words even though he is not ready to sound them out yet. I totally swear by this. Along with reading to him, this DVD helped teach my son his ABC's.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Not your typical ABC video- and that's GREAT!

    This is a family favorite. We put it on and all sing along. I love that it isn't the normal "children's music" (one more Barney sing along and I would have gone to the funny farm!) My son didn't know all of his ABC's before this but now can reconize them all and even sing them backwards!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    TMBG Fans Forever & Always

    My husband and I have been TMBG fans for years and knew we had to get this DVD for our daughter who is now 2 1/2. She is mesmerized and so are we! It wonderfully avoids the cheesiness and/or bore factor inherent in so many other children's educational videos. Perfect for aging punkers and art rockers around the world!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Raise the Geniuses of Tomorrow, with help from TMBG

    If you've never heard of They Might Be Giants you might think Here Comes The ABCs is a Disney project that has some unusual originality. But if you know They Might Be Giants, and their 20 year history of original smart-rock music, you'll wonder why they're working with Disney! Well both sides come out ahead here! Disney gave them all the freedom they needed and TMBG gave back originality that's made the kids happy and put some zest into the Disney Channel's between show spots (where some of the animated segments on the DVD have been showing.) My kids love this CD and DVD. There's a lot for the grownups, too. Here's a quick "too cool" list: Kids Like: Made up country West Xylophone in The Alphabet of Nations (Well I guess folks who live in West Xylophone might not think it's made up.) Grownups Like: Pac Man reference in E Eats Everything Kids Like: Singing the alphabet backwards in Z Y X Grownups Like: Calm instrumentals that chill out the kids. Kids Like: Puppet John who can't find his thinking cap in D Is For Drum. (Also getting some juice from Johns house really clicks with kids)

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Everett & Alex's Grandma

    This is a terrific DVD! We took it with us on a 2 week trip to Colorado. The ages of our traveling family of six ranged from 9 months to 78 years old. We all loved it and watched it more times than you'd ever believe, with encore performances on demand. "D is for Drums" was one of our favorites, and Everett and his mom continually perform it for us to this day. They Might be Giants know how to captivate us all.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Absolutely engrossing and catchy too!

    My son (18 mo.) is frozen in front of the TV when the robot segment is on. The rest of the time he tries to sing along and dances to the music. I even find myself singing these tunes at work! Highly, highly recommended. Unless you listen to the words, it sounds like grown up music. With a little people message.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Not worth the money

    I purchased this DVD after reading all of the other reviews on how it was educational and the children loving it. I have a 2 year old that watched the first 7 minutes and wouldn't watch any more. I try and put it in for him and he will have nothing to do with it. I am very disappointed in this purchase.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    We Love TMBG ABC's

    This is a great DVD! My 17 month old and 4 1/2 year old both LOVE it! The music is fabulous and the videos are creative and fun. I think we listened to it all day the first day we had it! I am recommending it to all of our friends, and it now our favorite gift to give.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    OUTSTANDING

    MY GRANDSONS LOVE THIS VIDEO, AGES 2 AND 11 MONTHS.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    At last, a DVD the whole family wants to watch!

    After loving the CD "No!" by TheyMightBeGiants, and then seeing the animated alphabet-centric bumpers on PlayhouseDisney, we were counting the days until this DVD hit shelves. Our three- year-old twins can now name a country corresponding to each letter of the alphabet (well, if you count West Xylophone!) and now regularly pretend to be "Q" and "U". My favorite segment is "Go for G"; who can resist "Grandma and her Gingerbread"? The varied animation styles, the catchy tunes and the playful dispensation of educational information should make this a guilt- free addition to your family's video collection.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    TMBG Rock our daughter's world - and ours.

    This is by far one of the best, non-irritating children's educational videos around. The tunes are catchy and enjoyable. Our daughter isn't even two yet and asks to watch this over and over. She is already recognizing letters and singing along to the songs. I highly recommend this dvd.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 13, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

Sort by: Showing all of 12 Customer Reviews