Even Elmo Inspires Us to Write Creatively
As most of you know, our daughter, Kylie Grace, has changed our lives in so many ways. This weekend my husband and I found ourselves searching youtube.com for “kiddie-friendly” videos. We were especially interested in videos with Elmo as Kylie Grace loves anything Elmo. We were thrilled when we came across the following video clip of Elmo singing “Time to Say Goodnight” with Andrea Bocelli.
This song is a take off of Bocelli's duet with Sarah Brightman in the song "Time to Say Goodbye"
andrea_bocelli___sarah_brightman_-_time_to_say_goodbye.mp3 (song)
or you can view a video of Bocelli and Brightman
It ends up that Elmo is quite popular with musicians -- so popular, in fact, that many artists are completely rewriting their lyrics for Elmo.
Here's another example... Elmo with the GooGoo Dolls
And Norah Jones...
Suddenly, the thought crossed my mind...this is a great lesson in writing for different audiences (children) and from different perspectives (point of view).
Do YOU think YOU can take a popular song and rewrite its lyrics using Elmo's point of view and children as your audience? Give it a try under the comments link below.
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Here is my version of, “Time to say Goodnight”! It isn’t based on a song, but it is a poem about Elmo and Andrea’s different viewpoints! Hope you enjoy it!
Elmo:
I’m not tired, I’m not sleepy
Can’t I stay up late tonight?
Just till ten, or two a.m.
This isn’t fair; this isn’t right!
Andrea:
Time for sleep, get some rest
Won’t you lay down your little head?
You’ve done puzzles, and finger art
Can you please just go to bed?
Elmo:
Elmo isn’t tired
Elmo wants to run and play
Elmo doesn’t want to lie down
It’s not the end of the day!
Andrea:
Sleep keeps you strong
And makes you ready to face
Tomorrow’s fun
With posture and grace
Now don’t you want to have fun tomorrow?
If you don’t lie down you’ll fill my heart with sorrow.
Don’t make me cry Elmo…
Elmo:
But Mr. Andrea
Just because the sun went down
Doesn’t mean we wear a frown
Every day is another chance
To play checkers and get up and dance
Every night is when we rest
Maybe I’ll go to sleep… if I have to, I guess…
Andrea:
That’s the spirit Elmo
Just because it’s dark
Doesn’t mean we can’t have fun
Or visit the nearby park?
Day and night
Play and fun
But we still need rest
When the day is done
So it’s time to say goodnight…
Won’t you let me turn off the light?
Elmo:
Elmo says, if he must
He’ll listen and go to bed at dusk
The Moon is up
And outside the rain pours
But here is Elmo
Tucked away in bed as he snores
Good Night Mr. Andrea!
Andrea:
Good night Elmo!
Tomorrow will be
March 23rd, 2008 at 2:39 pmFull of fun and play
Just go to sleep
Soon it’ll be a brand-new day!