Originally released last year as a TARGET exclusive, Sesame Street: Singing With the Stars hits the streets this week for non-exclusive wide-release. Since we’ve had this one here at Rock Father HQ for awhile, this is a perfect opportunity to throw down some virtual ink on the subject.
When the DVD first caught our eye, it was on a Target display that was built around the release of Playskool’s LET’S ROCK ELMO (which we bought, but sadly at full-price) and some other music-themed items from the hard-to-find NYC street. Planning for Christmas, the DVD wound up being a gift from Grandma – one that’s been enjoyed ever since.
Similar in nature to 1998’s ELMOPALOOZA, SINGING WITH THE STARS brings together popular performers and Sesame Street residents to break out the jams via re-worked pop hits. Some of the songs are a little fresher than others, but to the little ones that doesn’t matter. While parents like myself can reflect on hearing HOOTIE & THE BLOWFISH sing “Hold My Hand” when it was new back in 1994 or how Darius Rucker has gone country, to the kids, the Sesame Street version of the song is brand-new. Reworked to take on a “safety” theme regarding crossing the street, “Hold My Hand” is now a very informative piece of teaching.
The fact that some of these songs reach back a bit is a pefect way to snag the 30-somethings that are raising kids right now. THE GOO GOO DOLLS, N*SYNC, R.E.M., and SHERYL CROW all show up to join in the fun, and then you’ve got more recent contributions by comedians like RICKY GERVAIS and ADAM SANDLER strapping on the acoustics to get involved. And they’re all great… except for the will.i.am. cut “What I Am,” which won an Emmy – yet I find it terrible. Auto-tune and Sesame Street are a toxic combination.
As for my daughter, her favorite song on the DVD seems to be FEIST’s “1234,” which the little one calls “Counting Sesame Street.”
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Tracklisting:
- “What I Am” — will.i.am
- “Slide (Pride)” — The Goo Goo Dolls
- “I Soaks Up the Sun” — Sheryl Crow
- “My Triangle” — James Blunt
- “Celebrity Lullabies” — Ricky Gervais
- “1234” — Feist
- “A New Way to Walk” — Destiny’s Child
- “Believe in Yourself” — *NSYNC
- “Furry Happy Monsters” — R.E.M.
- “A Song About Elmo” — Adam Sandler
- “Dancin'” — Alicia Keys
- “No Letter Better” — Dixie Chicks
- “The Addition Expedition” — LL Cool J
- “Hold My Hand” — Hootie & the Blowfish
- “Don’t Know Y” — Norah Jones
- “Outdoors” — Jason Mraz
- “Time to Say Goodnight” — Andrea Bocelli
The 2012 release is actually slightly cheaper that the 2011 version, and will include a a “5-song Sampler CD,” which oddly enough includes songs not featured on the DVD. 
The Rock Father™ Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
