Oh No- We Have to Say Goodbye!!- The Wiggles Celebration DVD Review

If there has been one constant in Kiddo's young life, besides her parents and family, it has been the 4 lads from Australia, dressed in primary colors: The Wiggles!

They taught her how to count and her abcs, before we could, taught her rhythm, to love fruits and veggies, and to be as creative as possible! In fact, she STILL pronounces 'nine' with a definite Australian accent (thanks to the Dr. Knickerbocker song!)- it is hysterical to us, as we're used to it, but it has driven her teachers NUTS for 3 years, as she has the local Southern drawl for all numbers EXCEPT for nine!

So when we were asked if we wanted to review their last DVD with all four original members, “The Wiggles' Celebration," through NCircle Entertainment, we were quite happy to say YES!

Kiddo was very sad to hear that Greg Page, Jeff Fatt and Murray Cook would be retiring at the end of the year from performing! She has loved seeing them in concert and was very upset that they did not come back to New Orleans, on this, their last tour. Although reminding her that she got to go up and talk to/meet Anthony during the last concert, DID bring a smile to her face! She loved Sam Moran (Greg's temporary replacement), but Greg was her second favorite Wiggle, so she was happy he was back with 'the boys'!

It seems like The Wiggles (and their merchandise) are everywhere now- as they are on Sprout AND NBC Kids! But back when Kiddo first started watching them, we ended up ordering a LOT of items from their Australia store (and mom's Australian friend!). So we have a pretty good size Wiggles collection! Did you know The Wiggles have sold more than 23 million DVDs and videos, 7 million CDs and 8 million books in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand? That's a WHOLE lot pre-school fans!

"The Wiggles' Celebration" DVD was recorded live during the group's worldwide Celebration Tour, which honored the last 21 years of their being together can you believe two generations of fans?)! This jam-packed DVD features The Wiggles performing their hits, singing and dancing, with plenty of acrobatics, playful jokes, and hilarious surprises, including The Wiggles family (Dorothy the Dinosaur, Wags the Dog, Henry the Octopus, Captain Feather Sword and all the Wiggly Dancers!)! 

"The Wiggles' Celebration" includes the following tracks:

• Wiggly Circus Jubilee 
• Here Comes a Bear 
• Rock-a-Bye Your Bear
• Ooh It's Captain Feathersword 
• Occi Tocci Onga 
• Here Comes Our Friends 
• Getting Strong! 
• We're Dancing with Wags the Dog 
• Henry's Dance 
• Romp Bomp a Stomp 
• Dr Knickerbocker 
• Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Turn Around 
• Up, Down, Turn Around 
• Ooey, Ooey, Ooey Allergies! 
• The Monkey Dance 
• Wiggle 2012 Medley 
• Let's Have a Party (Instrumental)

it was hysterical to me to watch this video with Kiddo and have her go "I know this one" and get up and start dancing and singing, on EVERY song! Not to mention the "I remember them singing that in concert!" phrases that alternated with it!  She has a great time and even loved the photo montage, pointing out things from the last concert she saw, that they kept in this last tour! Funny to hear a 5 ear old saying this, you would have thought she was a teenager the way she was acting!

I did think she was going to start crying though at the special goodbye message from Greg, Jeff & Murray! She asked me if they were 'really going to leave?', and I explained by what they meant by behind the scenes, and how they wouldn't be GONE, just not on the tours. That seemed to really comfort her!

Then Jeff introduced the NEW Wiggles, Emma, Lachy and Simon, and they showed 2 new songs with them- "Propeller" and "everybody's Here". Now let me preface, when I told Kiddo there was going to be a GIRL Wiggle, she got really excited. Course she was still holding on to the image of the original 4, plus a girl! So I re-explained that only Anthony would still be performing, and there would be 3 new Wiggles, including the girl. I got a look of severe disappointment and a huge sigh, so I crossed my fingers before showing her the last 2 videos!

The new lineup, including the first-ever female Wiggle, Emma Watkins, Lachlan Gillespie, and Simon Pryce who will step in as the new Yellow, Purple, and Red Wiggles on January 1, 2013.

Thew trio is lively and I can see why they were selected. Kiddo informed me (rather stridently) that she liked the songs, but NOT the new Wiggles! I was really surprised at this until she explained to me WHY she didn't like them. She really thought Caterina Mete (one of the backup dancers) would be the first girl Wiggle! She has always liked her, and really thought they would pick her. I explained that Emma was a backup dancer to, but her favorite didn't get picked, so, so much for any reasoning there! I explained that Simon and Lachlan were also backup dancers and singers for The Wiggles.I got
the look' again. Apparently it is a matter of familiarity and preference over who got picked- she wanted Sam to come back, along with Bennie! Awfully hard to explain the whole why Sam left/not coming back thing to a 5 year old. but she ended the conversation herself by saying, "I'm just going to watch this video and the old ones", because those are the Wiggles I LOVE!

Drum roll time.....

SO if you have a child that adores The Wiggles, you might want to pick up this special Celebration DVD, so you can all share some memories, and songs! If they are like Kiddo, it will make them very happy! The DVD is now available nationwide!

Disclosure / Disclaimer: I was sent this dvd, free of charge, from NCircle entertainment, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to review it.