""Happy And You Know It," which premiered last Christmas Day on HBO as part of the latest season of Ringer-produced series of music docs, is as gentle and curious as any of Lane's playful docs. Crucially, she takes the genre seriously, highlighting several artists who have shaped it and are still exploring its boundaries. There are the usual kids-band lifers like a member of global Aussie sensation The Wiggles, as well as moms like Laurie Berkner, whose gentle lullabies have made her a household name."
"Then, of course, Lane delves into controversies involving the giants, like the colossally ubiquitous "Baby Shark," which burst into children's eyeballs in 2016 courtesy of a YouTube video by South Korean entertainment company Pinkfong; a decade later, a local kids' entertainer named Johnny Only is still struggling to litigate his claim that their version of the song originated with him, even if just in the court of public opinion."
Children's music receives substantial attention that emphasizes its artistic range, history, and commercial conflicts. Profiles include long-serving performers, family-oriented singer-songwriters, and musicians who reinvented themselves for young audiences, such as a member of The Wiggles, Laurie Berkner, and Chris Bellew as Casper Babypants. The narrative examines viral phenomena like "Baby Shark" and a continuing claim by entertainer Johnny Only that Pinkfong's popular version derived from his work. The material highlights public reactions, legal and reputational disputes, and the creative labor behind lullabies, singalongs, and kid-focused albums, presenting the field as an overlooked but robust musical culture.
Read at Roger Ebert
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