In the near-25 year history of the TMNT, there have been a lot of high points and a good fair share of low points. A lot of awesome merchandise and some... not so much. "Kazoo with [the] TMNT" would fit into that last category. Or, perhaps even more accurately, into the, "We're willing to approve anything you'll give us money for," category.Before I go any further I should put forth the disclaimer that I absolutely love the entire musical history of the TMNT. Seriously. Even the stuff that's cheesy as hell is, at worst, a guilty pleasure for me. Even though my sincerity behind any positive words for "Kazoo with [the] TMNT" would be weak, I couldn't deny that it fills me full of giddy laughter.
Here's the premise of "Kazoo with [the] TMNT":
You get a book with very basic sheet music for eight songs from the soundtrack of the first live action movie. You also get four kazoos (bonus points if you can guess the colors of the kazoos). You are meant to kazoo the sheet music. Ok, sure. Why not? Kids like kazoos and Ninja Turtles, it can't be that bad. Right?
Wrong. This perfectly innocent package becomes the stuff of legend with the inclusion of a simple cassette tape. A cassette tape that features all of the songs in the book played by an electronic orchestra and... someone playing the kazoo!! This may be the only example in history of a dedicated kazoo recording. And there's a reason for that.
It's just hard to take the kazoo seriously as a solo instrument. The novelty of it wears off in about 10 seconds, but here it supports eight songs that are 3-5 minutes long. It also, by design, produces a lot of spit, and the producers of this product really didn't make any effort to try to hide that. But then again, did the producers of this product really think they were releasing something stellar? Nah, it was all for the quick buck.
To experience "Kazoo with [the] TMNT" for yourself, you can download the contents of the cassette tape, for a limited time, here.
Hey,wow! We had a couple of these around the studio. Wanna be ostracized by your friends? Just keep playing one of these babies all day long.
ReplyDeleteI used mine while eating a bag of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pork rinds. Mmmmmmm, what a mess.
-->> oi..
ReplyDeletewell grab them Kazoos then .. you guys can play " TAPS " ..at my funeral when i choke on those pork rinds !!
~~ ** AAKKKgh --
>v<
-->> O' cripes !!
ReplyDeleteThe whole things like a spin-off rendition performed at a seedy 9th Street Club by the Disco Duck orchestra !!
~~ ** O WOW !!
This post wins so hard. WINS. SO HARD.
ReplyDeleteSayonara.
Without the sheet music, I'll never be able to figure out how to hum M.C. Hammer's "This is What We Do."
ReplyDeleteI played the Partners in Kryme Turtle Power song on my kazoo all day long.
ReplyDelete" Then from out of the dark came an awesome sound!
Shouted "Cowabunga!" as they hit the ground.
From the field of weeds the heroes rescued the flower
'Cause they possessed...Turtle Power!
Heroes in half shell, they're on a mission.
When there's a battle got the enemy wishin'
That they stayed at home, instead of fightin'
These ninja masters with moves like lightnin'.
They were once normal, but now they're mutants.
Splinter's the teacher so they are the students.
Leonardo, Michaelangelo, and Donatello,
Make up the team and one other fellow
Raphael. He's the leader of the group
Transformed from the norm by the nuclear goop.
Pizza's the food that's sure to please,
These ninjas are into pepperoni and cheese!!!! "
Raphael is the leader of the group ???
I was actually on the back of this kazoo set.
ReplyDeleteCould you post a picture of the back side of the book?
Seriously? There's no pic on the back, though. Would it have been part of the packaging (I don't have that)?
ReplyDeletecould you reupload this? I remember having this tape when I was little and I seriously loved it lol. Such an incredible piece of art :-P
ReplyDeleteHi. I was wondering if you could repost this or maybe send it to my e-mail. edunlap990@gmail.com
ReplyDeletei used to own this when i was little and i was OBSESSED with the first song on the first side of the tape. i would love to hear it again (i lost the kazoos and tape unfortunately)
-->> Rose, i do have the files backed up here as well. If you can't help Emily .. i can try;;+
ReplyDelete-->> i'm worried about that guys, still with the GAMERA av .. --
ReplyDelete:{
Don't worry about it, Tokka. I keep everything archived, myself. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm in the process of re-uploading the file. I'll have the link updated in the original post in just a little bit for those looking to download.
THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!!!!!
ReplyDeletewould you mind to e-mail me or something when you have re-uploaded it? will you provide a new link in a new post or put it in this comment thread?
ReplyDeleteIt's there now. If the link doesn't work, refresh your browser and keep trying until it does.
ReplyDeleteonce again, thank you so much. i have been trying to find this for years
ReplyDeleteJust came across this and I was wondering if there is any chance of a re-up of this?
ReplyDeleteSorry about that! I thought I had re-upped everything back in July, but I guess I missed this one. It should be good now. :)
ReplyDelete