TMBG Randomizer #349: What Is a Shooting Star?
Audio: What Is a Shooting Star?
Album: Here Comes Science
Release Date: 2000
“Why Does the Sun Shine?” is one of TMBG’s most well-known children’s songs, but did you know that it is actually a cover of a much older song? That’s right, the song originated on a small little record named Space Songs, created by Hy Zaret and Lou Singer in 1959.
Today’s song comes from the exact same ’59 record: “What Is a Shooting Star?” This mellow ballad sees Flans and Linnell harmonize in almost the same fashion as in the original song. It’s short, it’s sweet, and most importantly, it sticks in your head.
Moments of Interest: This song features two vocal tracks — Flans and Linnell — and two music tracks, with Miller on electric guitar and Weinkauf on bass. This setup leads to a simple-yet-wonderfully-rich sound.
The frets work hand-in-hand in creating a layered, soothing atmosphere within which the vocals can float through. Those moments where Miller’s guitar suddenly strikes through, or when Weinkauf’s bass harmonizes perfectly with the rest, fill the song just enough to keep things interesting.
The vocals are some of the prettiest on the album and, dare I say, within any of Their kid’s albums. The way that the Johns’ voices line up even while looping around and around is super satisfying.
Of course, I have to give credit to Hy Zaret and Lou Singer for the original song. While TMBG did adapt and modify the track, they did all of the hard work making it such a great song.
Favorite Aspect: I could say either the guitar or the vocals. The guitar is sweet and satisfying, but so are the vocals, so today it’s gonna be a tie between the two.
Score: On certain days, I like this song more than “Why Does the Sun Shine?” It’s the only one on Here Comes Science that sounds like it, besides maybe “The Ballad of Davy Crockett”. It fills it’s very own niche within the album perfectly, and for that I give it a PERFECT.
Upcoming: Mr. Me (feat. The Other Thing Brass Band) [Album Raises New and Troubling Questions]