WHATZUP! MAGAZINE
REVIEW OF THE KING WHO FORGOT HIS UNDERPANTS.
By Jason Hoffman
A few years back I had the pleasure of reviewing Mifflin Lowe's Beasts By The Bunches, a musically eclectic assortment of songs about animals that took shape in a variety of styles. I especially enjoyed the lyrics in which words tumbled around like energetic kittens. My kids did what they did best: burning their limitless energy bouncing around the room. Now Mifflin is back with a “rock opera for kids (and their grown-ups) in the form of The King Who Forgot His Underpants. Yeah, UNDERPANTS! Mifflin gets bonus points right off the bat.
The story Lowe tells is of a grumpy, grouchy king who sits on an iron throne so perpetually cold he’s forced to wear special fur underpants. One day he forgets said special pants, refuses to admit his error and orders everyone to build a huge fire to keep him warm. Higher and higher goes the fire as all-things-burnable from the kingdom get thrown in. Different groups of people try to dissuade him, each with their own song (a rockin’ fifties Elvis bop,) a group of lawyers with very big heads who sing a rousing marching band ode to Underwear, and the obligatory dance number that urges kids to boogie their woogie, but none are successful until Sid the Sad is brought on the scene. His gentle, weepy song results in his gushing tears putting out the sky-high fire. Then everyone sings “Friends”... an easy-going, sunshiny, catchy song extolling the joys of having friends, layering acoustic guitar and calliope until a big, happy singalong.
A trio of non-related songs bring up the rear, including the gentle acoustic lullaby of “The Nightingale Song”, and the ultra-silly “I Spit Out My Food” where blatting tubas and trumpets dance a waltz amid lyrics of “When I’m in the mood / I spit out my food / Before it gets chewed / Now isn’t that rude?” Anarchy at the dinner table. Surf guitar, cowbell rock and backing vocals of“Boogie, boogie, boogie” take “The Bogeyman” into safely scary waters.
The story preceding The Bogeyman, however, is what makes the song, as Mifflin tells how as a child he had the world’s spookiest basement and how he got scared one day, replete with backing spooky organ music, sound effects, and a variety of fun, captivating voices. In fact, ALL of his spoken-word bits are just as entertaining, and just as fun to listen to over and over, because of his amazing ability to create intriguing, energetically delivered character voices.
Mifflin Lowe’s experience as a children’s author shows in that the stories are very well told and the songs fit in and flesh out the story, as well as stand on their own. One listen to The King Who Forgot His Underpants and you’ll hear how this man can easily hold the attention of an auditorium full of A.D.D. grade school kids, and if he can do that he can easily handle your unruly mob. Plus, as advertised, there’s gentle humor that only adults will get. That Mifflin’s got skills! SONGS AND COMPLETE SOUND TRACK AT CDBABY, KIDZMUSIC.COM, iTUNES, RHAPSODY AND MORE.
REVIEW OF THE KING WHO FORGOT HIS UNDERPANTS.
By Jason Hoffman
A few years back I had the pleasure of reviewing Mifflin Lowe's Beasts By The Bunches, a musically eclectic assortment of songs about animals that took shape in a variety of styles. I especially enjoyed the lyrics in which words tumbled around like energetic kittens. My kids did what they did best: burning their limitless energy bouncing around the room. Now Mifflin is back with a “rock opera for kids (and their grown-ups) in the form of The King Who Forgot His Underpants. Yeah, UNDERPANTS! Mifflin gets bonus points right off the bat.
The story Lowe tells is of a grumpy, grouchy king who sits on an iron throne so perpetually cold he’s forced to wear special fur underpants. One day he forgets said special pants, refuses to admit his error and orders everyone to build a huge fire to keep him warm. Higher and higher goes the fire as all-things-burnable from the kingdom get thrown in. Different groups of people try to dissuade him, each with their own song (a rockin’ fifties Elvis bop,) a group of lawyers with very big heads who sing a rousing marching band ode to Underwear, and the obligatory dance number that urges kids to boogie their woogie, but none are successful until Sid the Sad is brought on the scene. His gentle, weepy song results in his gushing tears putting out the sky-high fire. Then everyone sings “Friends”... an easy-going, sunshiny, catchy song extolling the joys of having friends, layering acoustic guitar and calliope until a big, happy singalong.
A trio of non-related songs bring up the rear, including the gentle acoustic lullaby of “The Nightingale Song”, and the ultra-silly “I Spit Out My Food” where blatting tubas and trumpets dance a waltz amid lyrics of “When I’m in the mood / I spit out my food / Before it gets chewed / Now isn’t that rude?” Anarchy at the dinner table. Surf guitar, cowbell rock and backing vocals of“Boogie, boogie, boogie” take “The Bogeyman” into safely scary waters.
The story preceding The Bogeyman, however, is what makes the song, as Mifflin tells how as a child he had the world’s spookiest basement and how he got scared one day, replete with backing spooky organ music, sound effects, and a variety of fun, captivating voices. In fact, ALL of his spoken-word bits are just as entertaining, and just as fun to listen to over and over, because of his amazing ability to create intriguing, energetically delivered character voices.
Mifflin Lowe’s experience as a children’s author shows in that the stories are very well told and the songs fit in and flesh out the story, as well as stand on their own. One listen to The King Who Forgot His Underpants and you’ll hear how this man can easily hold the attention of an auditorium full of A.D.D. grade school kids, and if he can do that he can easily handle your unruly mob. Plus, as advertised, there’s gentle humor that only adults will get. That Mifflin’s got skills! SONGS AND COMPLETE SOUND TRACK AT CDBABY, KIDZMUSIC.COM, iTUNES, RHAPSODY AND MORE.