Winner of 2002 Childrens Music Web Award
Best Recording for Older Children
Best Recording for Young Children
Best New Artist
Visit www.childrensmusic.org
"You've got to be a believer in any singer/songwriter who mentions Davy Jones in a tune called Monkeys in the House, the title song on the newest zany disc from John Hadfield. It's hardly the only animal tune here: On the tango-ish Because We're Dogs Hadfield sings, 'Because we're dogs and we scratch fleas, and we don't need no stinkin' pedigrees . . .' And the rollickin' blues number I'm Your Toaster not only offers a history of that household fixture, but takes a creatively kooky look at an everyday object.
Hadfield - a former White House Communications employee who planned to become an FBI agent - is credited on vocals, dog whistle, squeaky toys, toaster and slide whistle, a good indication of the fabulous foolishness on this disc."
Billy Heller
The New York Post
"I've enjoyed your music, especially the songs 'I'm Your Toaster,' and 'I'm Your Brain.' You should write a musical -- the costumes would be insane."
David Sedaris
"If you can imagine John Tesh and Bill Nye the Science Guy having a child and sending him to Clown College, you would have a pretty good idea of what the students at Chadds Ford Elementary were treated to Nov. 9th."
The Kennett Paper, Kennett Square PA
John Hadfield is an international performer who graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in Russian Language and chose to do his graduate work at the Ringling Bros. Clown College.
He has performed at Disneyland, the White House, the National Theater, The Royal Lichtenstein Circus, the China International Children's Festival, and Magic Land in Bangkok, Thailand.
He sings, he dances, he juggles, he stands on his head. He dresses as a Russian ballerina and smashes dishes, does a ventriloquism act with a live dummy, travels with a mind-reading dog, and tours the East coast performing his In Concert show and The Science Show for elementary school aged kids. He ski races and has a black belt in aikido.
His music is wacky and sometimes educational - always original.
"Excellent show and a great start to our 'Year of the Scientist' here at Hillside. I know the students could not help but tell their parents about the assembly and I could hear them singing 'Science, science is everywhere...' throughout the halls all day long."
Don Martin, Science "Coach"
Hillside Elementary, Berwyn, PA
The songs:
1) Because We're Dogs(J. Hadfield/ Geri Smith) - Some dogs have great jobs. They help handicapped humans, find lost items and sniff for drugs at airports. The dogs in this song, however, are not good role models.
2) Monkeys in the House (J. Hadfield/ Geri Smith) - "They tease the dog, they eat my food, they have this 'monkey' attitude. I miss my days of solitude - Ya Wanna buy a Monkey?"
3) Wake Up Roddy - (J. Hadfield/Geri Smith) Roddy Cheese is in trouble. He's joined the soccer team, but can't keep his mind on the game (Don't worry - He's saved in the end by one of the dogs from song number one).
4) I'm Your Toaster (J. Hadfield/ Geri Smith) - The kitchen is renovated and the discarded toaster is singin' the blues.
5) Safety Glass (J. Hadfield) - A French chemist in 1903 accidentally drops his beaker and changes the world.
6) Disco Johnny (J. Hadfield/ Geri Smith) - (This is a true story. Scary, but true.)
"Dance, Johnny, dance - up there in the hall. Your bedroom light is burning like a glowing disco ball. Dance, Johnny, dance - Your friends say you're a geek, but it's Saturday Night Fever for you seven nights a week."
7) Science is Everywhere (J. Hadfield) - Throw in some dancing and hat manipulation and you have the opening number in John Hadfield's The Science Show.
8) I Can't Swim (J. Hadfield/ Geri Smith) - It's embarrassing to walk around at the pool with swimmies and a rubber ducky.
9) I'm Your Brain (Hadfield/ Rabin) - Everyone's favorite sing-along about how your brain gets you through the day.
10) I Want to be a Spy (J. Hadfield/ Geri Smith) - OK, I have the dark glasses, the disguises, the tiny camera and the whoopie cushion. All I need now are the secret papers...
John teamed up with the lovely and talented Geri Smith (London Sunset Music, Inc.) to write Because We're Dogs, Monkeys in the House, Wake Up Roddy, I'm Your Toaster, Disco Johnny, I Can't Swim and I Want to be a Spy. He co-wrote I'm Your Brain with the talented and lovely Barry Rabin (Dancing Parrot Music). Read more about Geri and listen to her music at www.Gerismith.com, and check out Barry's poignant editorials at www.Barryrabin.com.
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