The Truth About Dan Zanes
A few months ago I wrote a post about Dan Zanes, the hugely popular children's music singer, explaining that I did not understand the adoration of him by countless mom and dad bloggers. My kids and I had listened to a few of his songs, but nothing captured our ears to such a point that we would want to run out and buy one of his CDs or attend one of his concerts.
I really didn't know very much about the guy, and I wanted someone to help me understand what he's all about, and why he's one of the top kids' musicians in the country.
Well, I am now prepared to share with you the truth about Dan Zanes!
Like it or not, Dan just happens to be one of the most generous and passionate musicians you could ever imagine.
You see, somehow or other he came upon my little blog post from two months ago and immediately sent off an email, asking if he could share his music with my family in the hopes that we would re-evaluate our first impressions of him.
Sure, I said, expecting a sampler CD of some kind. But instead, look what showed up in our mailbox:
Every CD he's made in the past seven years! That's seven discs. I had no idea he'd even released that many. It's going to take awhile for us to absorb all of this new music. But I'm looking forward to it.
We've already started listening, beginning with his first CD, Rocket Ship Beach. Our second impressions are highly favorable, but obviously we're all in a very good mood about his music right now. My son can't believe that a famous musician would worry about what a little family in Idaho thinks.
I'm going to let these tunes, all 126 of them, sink in with the kids and myself over the next few months. We'll be listening in the car, around the house, at bedtime. And then I'll tell you a little more of what I think about Dan Zanes.
But for now, I can safely say that you will not find a musician who cares more about his music and his fans than he does.
I really didn't know very much about the guy, and I wanted someone to help me understand what he's all about, and why he's one of the top kids' musicians in the country.
Well, I am now prepared to share with you the truth about Dan Zanes!
Like it or not, Dan just happens to be one of the most generous and passionate musicians you could ever imagine.
You see, somehow or other he came upon my little blog post from two months ago and immediately sent off an email, asking if he could share his music with my family in the hopes that we would re-evaluate our first impressions of him.
Sure, I said, expecting a sampler CD of some kind. But instead, look what showed up in our mailbox:
Every CD he's made in the past seven years! That's seven discs. I had no idea he'd even released that many. It's going to take awhile for us to absorb all of this new music. But I'm looking forward to it.
We've already started listening, beginning with his first CD, Rocket Ship Beach. Our second impressions are highly favorable, but obviously we're all in a very good mood about his music right now. My son can't believe that a famous musician would worry about what a little family in Idaho thinks.
I'm going to let these tunes, all 126 of them, sink in with the kids and myself over the next few months. We'll be listening in the car, around the house, at bedtime. And then I'll tell you a little more of what I think about Dan Zanes.
But for now, I can safely say that you will not find a musician who cares more about his music and his fans than he does.
Permalink posted by Phil at 1:16 AM
17 Comments:
Wow Phil, That is awesome. Enjoy all that music. I expect a lot of blog posts now trying to bait him into sending music to other families/bloggers. haha.
very cool.
That is cool! I have to say that we have a couple of his cds, and they're good. I really like his cover of Woody Guthrie's Depression song "So Long (It's Been Good to Know Yuh)", especially since it features John Doe from X. It's on the "Night Time" cd.
THAT IS WAY COOL! My kids LOVE Dan Zanes! That rocks!!!!
As someone who's been the recipient of Zanes' generosity, both in terms of his time as well as CDs, I'd agree that he's incredibly generous in both, and that's in a musical genre that's chock-full of generous people.
I think that Zanes is one of those artists you tend to appreciate the more you hear of him and his philosophy. His approach to life and music-making is pretty refreshing, and I think accounts for part of his popularity.
All seven CDs are solid, solid stuff.
As I said before, Phil, you need to make a post about how you're not sure why people like giant plasma TVs and Ferraris and trips to the Bahamas. :o)
Wow. What an awesome guy! I'm definately looking forward to your reviews of his music. :)
It's going to be a downer if, when March rolls around, you decide Dan is respectable stand-up guy, but his music still sucks.
I've never heard his music, but I'm inspired now to write a screed against all things Zane. Maybe I'll one-up you by getting Zane to record an outgoing message on my home answering machine.
One can dream.
Let me know if you like it - I might have to check him out.
We loved Dan Zanes in our home before, but we love him even more now after reading this post. This is what music is all about to me: sharing passion, experience, and good karma. I hope you will become a Dan Zanes convert, but if you don't, there's a two year old boy and his mama in the Carolinas who would be happy to take that collection off your hands.
Not known in Australia, or by me that is, but wow, what a great gesture of him. I will google him and see if I can find some songs on the net to listen too. For now, little man is stuck on the Wiggles - what else LOL.
Oh forgot to say: Lee's back!
Must admit, I've never heard of Dan Zanes. but that's such a generous thing to have done. And anyone who covers Woodie Guthrie must be worth at least a cursory listen...
that's pretty impressive.
Well Phil, you did not steer us wrong with "Cow tunes", so I will have to check out this Dan Zanes. He must have heard how influential you are with other parents when picking kids' music!
Do you think if I talk bad about Angela Jolie on my blog, she will come hang out at my house for a few days and help me do some laundry?
I absolutely adore Dan Zanes-- as you can see from my last two posts on my blog! Seeing him in concert (and being an inch away from him a couple times) almost transformed me from a semi-respectable mom of two into a groupie. :) Reading your post just intensifies my belief that he's the coolest guy ever (well, besides my hubby)!
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