Remember the days when ballads ruled the radio? Sitting in your room singing along to Every Rose Has Its Thorn and waiting for White Snake’s MTV video, Is This Love? I’m still living those songs, and my kiddos think I’m nuts!
KIDZ BOP, today, changes all those stereotyped thoughts about Mom and Dad. The number one music brand for kids ages 5-12 in the US has released their latest album, KIDZ BOP Sings Monster Ballads. While my kiddos love the KIDZ BOP singers, Mom and Dad just got a whole lot more studly as KIDZ BOP has teamed up with legendary rocker and Poison front-man Bret Michaels and his daughters Raine and Jorja Michaels to record a-rockin’ new version of that power ballad classic, Every Rose Has Its Thorn”, which, ahem, happens to be the lead track on the new album.
Poison was awesome in my youth, and I still coo over them. Some 80s singers fade in glory; others, like Michaels, take on a cause. A portion of the album’s proceeds will benefit Bret’s Juvenile Diabetes Foundation by helping send several deserving kids to camp this summer.
Bret Michaels commented, “The most awesome jobs I’ve ever had are being a Rockstar, Donald Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice winner, raising money for kids with Diabetes and, most importantly, being a good father, so re-recording ‘Every Rose has Its Thorn’ with Raine and Jorja for KIDZ BOP Sings Monster Ballads was, by far, one of the coolest ways ever to combine my love for music and family: Not only do I get to rock out with my two favorite girls, but a portion of the proceeds will go to the American Diabetes Association and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. It’s a great track for a great cause. KIDZ BOP Sings Monster Ballads is one party you definitely won’t want to miss: So bring your strongest voice, best air guitar, and get ready to monster rock.”
Plus! If you’re into sweepstakes, Bret, Raine, and Jorja will also host the KIDZ BOP Sings Monster Ballads “Air Guitar Super Contest” running from May 2 – May 31 on KIDZ BOP’s leading safe social network and video sharing site, KIDZBOP.com. As part of the Super Contest, kids can upload videos of themselves to KIDZBOP.com to show Bret Michaels their most rockin’ air guitar riffs and vote for the performers they think have what it takes to be the next Rock Superstar. The winner will receive a “Back Stage with Bret Michaels VIP Pass” monster prize package, including a trip to see one of Bret’s upcoming concerts with a parent or guardian, a special meet & greet with Bret, and a Jorja-Raine acoustic guitar, specially designed by Bret for his new Dean Guitars’ Signature Series.
I dug out the pictures of the big hair, neon clothing and shared them with the kiddos. I pitched my sell that the 80s was the best decade ever! The kiddos rolled their eyes, and then I told them ballads rule and put on KIDZ BOP Sings Monster Ballads. It only took one song to have them near agreement. KIDZ BOP Sings Monster Ballads includes 16 hairband classics from the 80s and 90s—sung by kids for kids,’ including:
- Every Rose Has Its Thorn(Featuring Bret Michaels on guitar with Raine and Jorja Michaels)
- Heaven The Flame
- Don’t Know What You Got Til Its Gone Is This Love
- Home Sweet Home Patience
- I Remember You When I See You Smile
- Forever Wind Of Change
- High Enough Love Of A Lifetime
- Wait Carrie
- Love Song
This album rocked our world. We have listened to it over and over, just like that old Vinyl we once had. My kiddos still think I’m a dork, but now they’re singing along to my favorite tunes, and if MTV was around like it used to be, I know this summer they’d be glued to it waiting for the big hair bands and the videos that started it all!
About Bret Michaels
Rocker and pop culture icon Bret Michaels has been making hits—whether solo or with the notorious rock group, Poison—for 25 years. In combination with those from Bret’s solo albums, Poison’s record sales exceed 31 million records and DVDs worldwide, with chart-topping hits such as “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” and “Something to Believe In,” among many others. Beyond his legendary work with Poison, as well as his acclaimed solo career, Michaels has gone on to enjoy a stunningly successful run in the realm of reality TV, including a first-place finish on 2010’s “The Celebrity Apprentice” and VH1 hits such as “Rock of Love” and “Life as I Know It.” Michaels recently partnered with Dean Guitars to design his first ever signature Bret Michaels series and embark on his first-ever concert cruise, “The Bret Michaels Super Cruise,” in November 2011. Philanthropy remains an important facet of Michaels’ career as well: a lifelong diabetic, Michaels partnered with the American Diabetes Association in 2010, acting as a spokesperson and sponsor. He gives generously to the cause, donating his time, money, and support to many diabetes charities. Bret continues to evolve as an artist and as an entrepreneur, taking on new projects in music, business, and beyond. And with his solo tour “Get Your Rock On” underway and the Poison 25th Anniversary Tour and Motley Crue / Poison Summer Tour launching this May, Michaels will be rocking right through 2011.
About KIDZBOP.com
KIDZBOP.com is the leading safe social network and video sharing site for kids and tweens. January 2011 was a record month for the popular website with 1.5 million visits, 2+ million video plays, and an average of 13+ minutes spent on the site per visit. The website provides a completely safe and moderated environment where kids can express themselves—as themselves—through unique online applications and proprietary functionality. The site’s popular “My Channel” feature lets members safely communicate with friends via our Safe Text Messaging System, which averages more than one million status updates per month. Kids can also safely produce their own Web shows, create and run their own “Super Contests,” upload videos and photos, and make music. To date, KIDZ BOP’s team of expert moderators had screened more than 23,000 hours of video content and nearly half a million photos before they were uploaded to KIDZBOP.com. This April, KIDZBOP.com expects to welcome its Millionth Member to the site.
ABOUT KIDZ BOP LLC
KIDZ BOP is the #1 music brand for kids ages 5-12 in the U.S., featuring today’s most popular songs sung by kids for kids. KIDZ BOP celebrates the authentic voice of kids across the entire brand—through music, videos, live appearances, licensed merchandise, and its popular social networking and content sharing website, KIDZBOP.com. In 2011, the brand was celebrating its 10th anniversary. KIDZ BOP CD titles have earned one Platinum® and nine Gold® certifications since their debut in 2001. KIDZ BOP’s most recent release, KIDZ BOP 19, debuted at #2 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, where it spent three consecutive weeks in the Top 10. The company is also home to the national KIDZ Star USA Talent Search, where talented kids can upload videos of themselves singing to KidzStarUSA.com to compete for a chance to win a recording contract. KIDZ BOP LLC is a division of New York-based independent entertainment company Razor & Tie Entertainment, a vertically-integrated company that encompasses a music company with major label distribution, a home video company, a media buying company, a music publishing business, a direct marketing operation, and a growing database of entertainment consumers.