Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

The Navigator

Dis' the Doodlebops? Why, I'd never do that

By RICK GERSHMAN
Published December 29, 2006

If you're a regular reader of this column - which means you're probably either my editor or my mom - you know I tend to make a little fun of certain musical acts.

I try to be affectionate in my teasing, but not everyone buys it. Perhaps that's because when I take a shot at, say, Nickelback, the truth is that deep down, underneath all the cynicism, if you want me to be perfectly honest, I really, truly dislike Nickelback.

Note: This is not my fault. This is due to the fact that I have a working pair of ears.

The latest batch of hate mail came when I had a little fun with the Wiggles, which I'm now told is my nephew Andre's favorite band in the whole wide world.

Then again, he's 2.

Hey, I don't mean to belittle the musical taste of 2-year-olds - Kevin Federline has to sell records to someone - but here are the facts: Andre is a mere child. I am an educated, wise, mature adult. And furthermore, Andre is a poopyhead.

But after the whole Wiggles controversy (and I swear I didn't mean to say the Yellow Wiggle was suffering from flesh-eating bacteria), I was a little reluctant to write about another musical group for kids.

And I know that Doodlebops fans might be more than a little concerned to see a picture of the colorful crew on the page.

They might understandably fear I would have the poor taste to offhandedly mention the Doodlebops, an industrial-sized meat grinder and a litter of baby kittens in the same sentence.

Rest assured, I would never, ever do that.

And I want to assure everyone that I will not take potshots at the Doodlebops. I will not ridicule them for looking like they just happened to be in the room when someone took out Rainbow Brite with a sawed-off shotgun.

Finally, I cannot confirm or deny that when my buddy Erika suggested this Canadian trio for a column topic, I thought she might have said, well, "poodle drops."

But they're on the Disney Channel, which gave birth to the careers of such sweet, innocent kids as Britney Spears, so they can't be all bad. I bet they even wear undies.

According to my research, they have names like Deedee Doodle, Moe Doodle and Rooney Doodle, which disappoints me because I originally had planned to use those names for my first three children.

But I plan to be a fine father to adorable little Yankee Doodle, Snicker Doodle and Cocka Doodle. Or at least home-school the poor little freaks.

As for the Doodlebops' songs? I haven't heard them, but they feature titles such as We're the Doodlebops, Wobbly Whoopsy and Get on the Bus.

Obviously, the last one was inspired by the Spike Lee film of the same title about the Million Man March. Props to the Bops for going deep on that one.

So if you and the kids would rather spend a little time at Clearwater's lovely Ruth Eckerd Hall instead of elbowing though post-Christmas shoppers at the mall, check out the Doodlebops.

Personally? I think I'll plead the fifth.

Rick Gershman can be reached at rgershman@sptimes.com or 226-3431. His Times blog, the Ill Literate, is at www.sptimes.com/blogs/tampaarts.

IF YOU GO

The Doodlebops

The children's group performs Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m at Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater. $20-$35. Call (727) 791-7400 .

[Last modified December 28, 2006, 11:14:10]