Alcopop! Records have announced the launch of brand new children’s music imprint, Pandapop! Records, with the release of CBeebies star Yukee’s debut single ‘Fly Away Feathers’. The single is available on very limited edition 5″ vinyl.
The single features Rivers Cuomo – who voiced Feathers the pigeon who needs to find the beat of his wings to go on tour in the animation – and is a perfect introduction to Yukee’s whimsical world where music, friendship and collaboration reign supreme. Other guests in this gorgeous CBeebies series – which you can catch up with on iPlayer – include Wet Leg, Lauren Laverne, Sam Carter from Architects, Ezra Collective, PP Arnold and Maisie Peters.
We’ve been big fans of Yukee since the show launched with SN Jr captivated by its charm and celebration of music. We are so excited to see what comes next and how this partnership with one of our favourite labels will bloom.
Alcopop! Records label manager Jack Clothier said: ‘Last May, my partner Rhi and I had a baby called Talon and, as you’d expect, he’s absolutely changed the way we think about everything. So began our voyage with Yukee. CBeebies transcends kids stuff—Idles have played Hey Duggee’s ‘Stick Song’ live at Glastonbury. Stormzy, Kylie and Frank Black amongst others have read the Bedtime Story, and in amongst all this gold, a true diamond sparkles every day…Yukee. The story of a little girl, her Ukulele and a non-stop garden party with all of her friends!’
‘Talon was transfixed. We were transfixed. Then, in one of the very first episodes I watched I was like ‘I’m sure I recognise that pigeon’s voice’. Turns out it was Rivers from Weezer. This show was absolutely STACKED with contemporary pop icons. So, we chatted to the team who made it, forged some plans, and had some ideas, and basically got ourselves so excited we had to have a little lie down.’
With Alcopop! perhaps not an entirely suitable name for this youthful new audience, the label put the wheels in motion to start Pandapop!’, and asked someone very special to run it: ‘Which is how our son Talon Ashley Crocodile Clothier Jones ended up the world’s youngest record label boss at 21 months. Signing a big TV show, putting out a single with special guest Rivers Cuomo, sending the Yukee squad on a huge (soon to be announced) tour of schools, festivals and theatres across the UK…and loving every minute of it. He needs a little help with the finances to be fair, but if record labels are run on passion, enthusiasm, and belief alone (which, to be fair, is not far off how Kev and I have tried to run Alcopop! for the last 15 years) he’s already the best in the business!’.
Further new music, live dates, and news from Yukee will be released over the coming weeks but in the meantime, we thought we’d do our rundown of the best bangers from CBeebies current crop…
Yukee feat Rivers Cuomo – ‘Fly Away Feathers’
There are a lot of lovely songs in Yukee but this new single is a wistful and airy song, complete with Weezer-esque hooks.
Nick Cope – ‘A Round of Applause for the Dinosaurs’
One of CBeebies most underrated superstars, Nick Cope was in indie-rockers The Candyskins (who we once saw at Truck Festival) but now writes quirky and funny songs about the things preschoolers love – dinosaurs, poop and rusty robots.
Hey Duggee – ‘The Rain Dance Badge’
We mentioned ‘Stick Song’ earlier but this ode to wet weather with its swirling and rhythmic sound is just as charming.
Bluey – ‘Dance Mode’
There are so many great pieces of music in Bluey – one of the finest shows (for all ages) of recent times – but ‘Dance Mode’ with its big beats and fun family game might just take the gold.
Go Jetters theme
This power-pop anthem captures the zest and energy of a show that has sparkly unicorn Ubercorn (who we’re going to pitch as a future Alcopop!/Pandapop! mascot) at the helm and globetrotting adventures galore.
Molly and Mack – take your pick…
A gentle show about community kinship or a takedown of the previous government’s hatred of those they deemed underneath them and not worthy? Whatever it is, Molly and Mack is great and has not one, not two but three great songs you can’t fail to sing along to after just one viewing – the theme, ‘I have an idea’ and ‘Oops, I know;
