Really Rosie

I still have my original vinyl copy of the album which I played nearly to death as a child. Thankfully it has been remastered on CD and there are used copies of the video out there.

If you missed it as a child, it's not too late.

As a child, this was one of the shorts that I played a lot (it came in one of those clamshell cases as part of a series, another with it was The Snowman for example). It didn't really sink in that Maurice Sendak was the creative force behind it (aside from Carole King, who is unmistakable in the lead role), but seeing it today it's so Sendak's work that it works as the kind of musical other side of what he could do from Where the Wild Things Are. Where that had lots of monsters and adventure, this is more grounded in the urban area, with kids singing along and playing with the big-hatted/flamboyantly dressed Rosie - and it also comes, from what I've read, from books by Sendak, so it makes sense he would want to spear-head the direction of the TV special.

I think that a big part of the enjoyment for me was the songs. They're catchy and memorable, but they also have things that kids can relate to: Chicken Soup with Rice is something kids like, and when the one kid whines "I Don't Care!" it inspires one of the songs that has stayed with me for my entire life: a story of what happens if you keep repeating 'I don't care' over and over to the things you don't want to try or do. If you don't take to the songs as a kid then it might not stick with you, but the combination of animation that has a quality that is all Sendak's - a little rough but also warm at the same time, an odd combination but that was the artist and author for you - and the music, worked for me many times over, as it seems to have for other generations of kids (whether you were born in 1970 or 1980 or 1990).

Is it perfect? I don't know, but it's all about the joys of being expressive and being a child and not holding too much inside - enjoying life, in other words, which was one of Sendak's chief concerns. It's jubilant, soulful and, in its unassuming way, masterful. I hope to show my children this special one day.

When the writer/singer of "I Feel the Earth Move" teams up with the author of "Where the Wild Things Are", you know you're in for something good. And "Really Rosie" is just that. Carole King had written a number of songs for other performers, having sung only a few personally, but this is one of her high points. She provides the voice of a woman who fancies herself a star and sings songs about it to the children in her Brooklyn neighborhood. Each character has a song, in fact.

I first learned of "Really Rosie" when I was in fifth grade and my class was putting on a production of it. We listened to the songs on the soundtrack - side 2 had some songs that weren't in the special - but changed one of the lines in "Alligators All Around" to avoid racially insensitive lyrics. We watched the movie, but only got about two thirds of the way through. My task in the production was operating the flood light, but I was having braces put in the day of the performance, so naturally I was in no condition to operate any machinery. I later watched the class's production on the video that they made of it.

The main point is that "Really Rosie" is one of the greatest animated TV specials ever. A fine achievement for both Carole King and Maurice Sendak. And remember, always care!

Why hasn't this come out on DVD? I would love to play this for the kids in my life.

Do you know how many times I've said I Don't Care over the years? Or rather sang? Too many to count. The music in this is fantastic and Carole King really did a be wonderful job writing it and performing it. It is is so nice to see something so innocent, it's not about social causes or programming children or of my their innocence, quite the opposite, it's just about good morals and teaching things like the abcs. Some people could learn a lesson from "Pierre" or "Screams and Yells".

Growing up, I am watched this so much it drove my brother's crazy. My mom rented it from the library for me and I would watch it several times a day when I was 4 or 5. I was just really into it. No the animation isn't mind-blowing, but it's cute and it's fun. The story is thin, but fun, it's really a vehicle for teaching basic life lessons and preschool level stuff.

I would happily let my kids watch this, and stuff just isn't this innocent. I'm not a huge fan of most stuff made for children, but this is one that stands the test of time in terms of children's media. It's not intended for adults, so even though I still in enjoy the songs, I think it's only fair to taste it based on how much I loved it as a child, and that was more than any other show.

My children just love this. After a long time, a friend of ours had the video (we live overseas) and we saw it again. Everyone (and I mean everyone) was singing along. Not a great story perhaps but just a great collection of wonderful music geared toward adults. As my 10 year old sits in the bath right now, she is singing Pierre at the top of her lungs. Is this what these shows should be about! Making children happy and helping their imaginations. Well, IMDb says 10 lines so 10 lines it is. 30 years later and I do not see one Disney soundtrack even coming close to the talent and beauty of Carole King's work and Maurice Sendaks story. I have to say.