Classic kids tunes get Rewiggled by local favourites

Every parent knows the pain of hearing their toddler’s favourite music over and over again. For my parents, it was Hi5’s Summer Rainbow. For many parents of Gen-Z it would have been The Wiggles.

In a crossover event to rival Infinity War, they’ve dropped something new parents can surely get around.

The “OG” Wiggles have come back for Rewiggled, a massive cover album featuring a list of some of the biggest Aussie music acts, including The Chats, and Geraldton’s own Spacey Jane.

Side one will bring in our favourites to cover some Wiggles classics, before the finger-waggling, skivvy-wearing quartet take over side two to give their own treatment to a wide range of all-time quality jams from AC/DC to Fatboy Slim.

While the full album doesn’t come out until March, The Wiggles have dropped a five-track EP to give us a taste of what’s to come.

The just-in-time-for-Christmas release starts off with an almost operatic cover of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody, before launching into Chats banger Pub Feed.

Of course, this is music for kids, so some of the lyrics have been changed, or removed entirely. The second verse of Bohemian Rhapsody leaves an awkward few bars of humming through the “Mama, just killed a man” part, while they’re fanging “something healthy, gravy and meat” in the kid-friendly version of Pub Feed.

The necessary changes don’t take too much away from the originals. The car will be less cramped than in Wayne’s World when you’re screaming “Galileo!” with your tots, but you’ll be jamming together all the same.

Spacey Jane come in with a cover of D.O.R.O.T.H.Y (My Favourite Dinosaur), which fits so well with their sound, you could be mistaken for thinking they wrote it.

Bassist Peppa Lane jumps on the backing vocals with a bang-on impression of the friendly dinosaur, which perfectly compliments Geraldton-born Caleb Harper’s mellow lead. Don’t be surprised if this one comes out at their next live gig.

The Chats repay the favour with a version of Can You (Point Your Fingers and Do the Twist?), which has the energy of a rehearsal muck-around that got leaked — which sums up the whole EP in a lot of ways. Everyone’s having fun with it, and it comes through in the mix.

This isn’t the first time iconic bands have got together to Rewiggle the children’s favourites.

In 2011, a similarly huge line-up — The Living End, Jebediah, and Spiderbait to name a few — released a tribute album also titled Rewiggled to celebrate The Wiggles’ 20th birthday.

Now 30 years on from the Melbourne students’ first album, Rewiggled is sure to get parents singing along just as much as the kids.

Rewiggled 2022 tracklist (with more TBA)

Side One

DZ Deathrays – Hot PotatoSpacey Jane – D.O.R.O.T.H.Y (My Favourite Dinosaur)Stella Donnelly – Ba Ba Da Bicycle RideThe Chats – Can You (Point Your Fingers and Do the Twist?)Emily Wurramara – Dressing UpPolish Club – Apples & BananasDonny Benet – Sicily (I Want to Go)San Cisco – H.O.L.I.D.A.Y.Custard – Do the Propeller!Emma Donovan & The Putbacks – Say the Dance, Do the DanceDami Im – Big Red CarLuca Brasi – The Shimmie ShakeMelbourne Ska Orchestra – We’re All Fruit Salad!

Side Two (performed by The Wiggles)

Elephant (original by Tame Impala)Bohemian Rhapsody (original by Queen)Umbrella (original by Rhianna)Thunderstruck (original by AC/DC)Pub Feed (original by The Chats)Sunday Girl (original by Blondie)Get on the Good Foot(original by James Brown)Praise You (original by Fatboy Slim)Brand New Key (original by Melanie)She’s a Rainbow (original by The Rolling Stones)Live It Up (original by Mental As Anything)Shipping Up to Boston (original by Dropkick Murphys)