“If you like to talk to tomatoes, if a squash can make you smile ...”
No, this isn’t a secret code phrase whispered by trained master gardeners while stooping over their fledgling seeds. For fans of Veggie Tales, it's the first line of a hummable theme song.
With the release of their first-ever live concert DVD, “Veggie Tales — Laugh Yourself Silly,” the Veggies have happily captured all of the fun and silliness found in their animated productions. And as is always the case, a biblical message or two have been added into the recipe to make this more than just a frivolous 70-minute diversion for the little folk.
Recorded during their fall 2010 tour, “Sing Yourself Silly” is sure to please its intended audience. Filled with many of the most popular Veggie songs, the video features all of the Veggies (actors in well-done oversize costumes, complete with moving eyes, noses, etc.), costumed dancers, and the usual vegetable-related jokes and stories.
The show is built around the idea of performing the top 10 silliest Veggie Tales songs ever. But the on-stage narrator and the Veggies can’t seem to agree on which songs should be included. This theme of learning to share and compromise is emphasized throughout the entire show, which makes for an easy teaching moment with observant children both during and after they’ve viewed it.
Another great feature of the video is the fact that children are encouraged to sing and dance right along with the Veggies. A 9- and 6-year-old I’m personally acquainted with have demanded repeated showings of the video with requests to skip to specific songs that have become their favorites.
For this video in particular, it really is all about the music. Many of the funniest and most memorable tunes from the Veggie Tales catalog are included. For example, “Gourds Just Wanna Have Fun,” “The Water Buffalo Song” and “God is Bigger” have gotten regular airplay in my home. Other favorites include “Dance of the Cucumber,” “His Cheeseburger” and, of course, “The Veggie Tales Theme Song.” During many of the songs there are also dancers performing alongside the Veggies on stage, and the cameras frequently cut away to delighted members of the audience who are joyfully dancing right along to the music. There’s also plenty of bubbles, confetti and large-screen animation happening during songs to engage young viewers’ interest.
In addition to the 70-minute performance, there are also some bonus features on the DVD, including “Larry’s Backstage Pass,” a Veggie Tales Trivia Game, four Silly Song Sing-Alongs and, especially for parents, a Discussion Guide that points out how to use the video to teach important concepts emphasized during the performance.
If you are already a fan of the Veggie Tales, then getting a copy of this video should be an easy decision. If you haven’t yet fallen for the Veggie Tale gang, this is as good as any a place to discover what they’re all about. Regardless, the Veggie Tales have delivered another winner.
Scott blogs about creativity at sleye1.com and about the uphill climb of becoming a writer at smashingstories.blogspot.com