13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pure delight to watch and sing along with your kids, January 15, 2006
This review is from: Disney Sing Along Songs: Under the Sea [VHS] (VHS Tape)
This video is incredibly fun, musically and visually. I have two girls, two and four years old, and it puts them in stitches every time they watch it. If I'm otherwise engaged, my littlest girl runs to get me several times during the video, towing me by the finger to see what I'm missing.
It's a sing-along, so all the lyrics are displayed at the bottom. A good thing, too, because you'll need to actually see the lyrics if you want to learn these fast-paced songs in their entirety.
The tunes are upbeat and the lyrics, although pure and enjoyable to a young child, are in many ways far more complex than the monotonous, simple-minded pop music that is often marketed to teens and young adults. Adults with broad musical tastes won't need to feign delight.
My girls' three favorites include two of the disparaged 1940s songs/cartoons (supposedly "too old fashioned to engage the mind of a present-day child.") My four-year-old daughter told me this morning that she couldn't get the song, "By the Beautiful Sea" out of her head, and woke up hearing the song and seeing the images in her mind. "At the Codfish Ball" is the other oldie they love. Their third favorite is "Never Smile at A Crocodile".
I wrote down the words to these three songs, so we could learn them without any gaps and could sing them together anytime. You'll have to imagine the music (each upbeat, yet very distinctive), but here are the lyrics:
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"By the Beautiful Sea" (A charming male/female duet)
By the Sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea,
You and me, you and me, Oh! how happy we'll be.
When each wave comes a-rolling in, we won't duck or swim,
And we'll float and fool around the water.
Over and under and then up for air,
Pa is rich, Ma is rich, so now what do we care?
I love to be beside your side, beside the sea,
beside the seaside, by the beautiful sea.
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Joe and Jane were always together,
Said Joe to Jane, I love summer weather.
So, let's go to that beautiful sea,
Follow along, say you're with me.
Anything that Joe would suggest to her,
Jane would always think it was best for her.
So, he'd get his Ford, holler, "All aboard!"
Gee, I want to be
by the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea.
(repeat from top, down to dashed line above.)
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"At the Codfish Ball" (sung in the manner of an old-time 1920s crooner, with far-out, hilarious and detailed visual depictions you can't even imagine!)
Come along and follow me, to the bottom of the sea,
We'll join in the jamboree, at the codfish ball.
Lobsters dancing in a row, shuffle off to Buffalo,
Jellyfish sway to and fro, at the codfish ball.
Fin and Haddie lead the eels through an Irish reel.
The catfish is a dancing man, but can't can-can like a sardine can.
Tunas truckin' left and right, minnies moochin' what a night.
There won't be a hook in sight, at the codfish ball.
(short instrumental)
Each red snapper's lookin' dapper, dressed up to the gills.
The octopuses all have fun as they wait to see all the grunion run.
So, come along and follow me, to the bottom of the sea.
We'll join in the jamboree, at the codfish ball.
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At the bottom of the sea, everyone is family.
Come and join the jamboree, called the codfish ball.
All the swordfish love to play, every clam is here today,
to shell-e-brate this holiday, at the codfish ball.
Shark and salmon play backgammon, til the break of day.
And each seahorse is here of course,
this is the place where the plaice play!
Yellowfin swim in and out, dancing with each bass and trout.
Water beetles twist and shout, at the codfish ball.
So, come along and follow me, to the bottom of the sea.
We'll join in the jamboree, at the codfish ball.
===============================================
"Never smile at a Crocodile" (with scenes from "Peter Pan")
Never smile at a crocodile.
No you can't get friendly with a crocodile.
Don't be taken in by his welcome grin.
He's imagining how well you'd fit within his skin.
Never smile at a crocodile.
Never tip your hat and stop to talk awhile.
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Never run, walk away, say "Good night", not "Good day."
Clear the aisle and never smile at Mr. Crocodile.
You may very well be well bred.
Lots of etiquette in your head.
But, there's always some special case,
I will place to forget etiquette.
(repeat entire song til this point)
For instance!
(repeat from top til dashed line above)
Don't be rude, never mock, throw a kiss not a rock.
Clear the aisle and never smile at Mr. CROCK--O--DILE!
This is a highly stimulating video. It can entertain by itself, but its real strength is as a thrilling parent-child activity.
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