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The Laurie Berkner Band
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Calling kids of all ages. Check out an exclusive Soundcheck session with one of the biggest children's music groups.
You've arrived at Soundcheck...
Walmart’s original performance series where you get up close and personal with your favorite artists. Check out live performances and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage from original in-studio sets – all filmed exclusively in HD. Soundcheck is broadcast in Walmart stores nationwide – or catch us online 24/7.
Help/FAQ
You won't need to download any additional video players or downloads. The Soundcheck performances play right inside the site itself, making it quick and easy to access.
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PC
• Windows 2000, XP Home or Professional, Vista or Windows 7 in 32bit and 64bit
• Intel Pentium 4 2.33GHz, AMD Athlon™ 64 2800+ processor (or equivalent)
• At least 256 MB RAM
• 64MB of VRAM (video card memory)
• Internet Explorer 6.0 to 8.0 (IE 8.0 recommended)
• Mozilla Firefox 2.0 to 3.5
• Flash Version 9.0.115 and up.
MAC
• Mac OS X v10.4 or later
• PowerPC G5 1.8GHz, Intel Core Duo 1.33GHz or faster processor
• At least 256 MB RAM
• 64MB of VRAM (video card memory)
• Mozilla Firefox 2.0 to 3.5
• Safari 3.0
If you have the minimum system requirements, reinstall your Flash Player by clicking here
We have a top-notch music label relations team that helps us book acts. They are constantly on the phone with music labels around the country trying to get the best bands on Soundcheck.
Soundcheck is an original performance series created by the Wal-Mart Music team, giving you the opportunity to go behind the scenes and get an in-studio look at some of your favorite artists. Soundcheck plays right here on Walmart.com, or, for the full high definition experience, visit any Walmart store and head to the Electronics department to watch it on the Walmart TV Network.
We'll be adding new performances on a regular basis throughout the year, so please check back regularly at Walmart.com/soundcheck for more information.
We'll have artists from all genres; some old, some new, some huge, some more emerging - but all will be presented in the same intimate studio environment. So be on the lookout!
Check in regularly at Walmart.com/soundcheck, or visit your local Walmart store and watch the Walmart TV Network.
No. Just visit Walmart.com/soundcheck and watch for free!
Once the performances launch, you can play it anytime you want, 24 hours a day. We'll keep all artists up on the site under "The Performances" tab.
We recommend broadband DSL or Cable to anyone who wants to truly enjoy video and audio on the Internet. However, we have made available a smaller dial-up version so you don't miss out.
If you are reading this page right now, you likely have everything you need. However, watching the Soundcheck performances requires at least the following in order to properly stream media content:
PC
• Windows 2000, XP Home or Professional, Vista or Windows 7 in 32bit and 64bit
• Intel Pentium 4 2.33GHz, AMD Athlon™ 64 2800+ processor (or equivalent)
• At least 256 MB RAM
• 64MB of VRAM (video card memory)
• Internet Explorer 6.0 to 8.0 (IE 8.0 recommended)
• Mozilla Firefox 2.0 to 3.5
• Flash Version 9.0.115 and up.
MAC
• Mac OS X v10.4 or later
• PowerPC G5 1.8GHz, Intel Core Duo 1.33GHz or faster processor
• At least 256 MB RAM
• 64MB of VRAM (video card memory)
• Mozilla Firefox 2.0 to 3.5
• Safari 3.0
If you have the minimum system requirements, reinstall your Flash Player by clicking here
Browse Videos
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Performance Photos
About The Artist
The Set List
-The Crew at Wal-Mart Soundcheck
On Launching Rockets
If you listen to 'Rocketship Run,' you'll discover that one theme is prevalent throughout the entire album: travel. Explains Laurie: "First, I thought that it would be a great name and I like that song ('Rocketship Run') a lot. But as the album evolved, it became a journey in itself and other songs came in like 'Going On A Hunt,' where we're looking for things. The idea of traveling through the songs and through the album and through the experience of listening to it seemed like a good fit for the name."
On Motherhood And Music
We asked Laurie how motherhood has influenced her musicianship. Explains the talented singer/songwriter: "Being a mom has affected my music. My daughter is a little older - three and a half now - and over the last year that we made this album I was singing songs with her more. Prior, when I first became a mom, I was singing songs at her a lot because she wasn't really singing with me. At that point, I wasn't taking those songs and putting them on albums."
On How To Write Music For Children
How does one go about writing great, accessible music for kids? We asked America's definitive children's composer. Explains Laurie: "Some of the elements that I think about when I'm writing a song: making them simple enough that kids can learn them quickly without being so simple that they're boring! Making sure they're relevant in terms of language and fun. To say and bring up a lot of images that are interesting and fun to kids. I aim for the median (which) is age three to five but people write to me and say, "My ten year-old is secretly listening but won't actually admit it to his younger sister! I try to aim around pre-school because that was the age group that I was a music teacher with and it's closest to my heart."
- Laurie Berkner was born in France in March 1969, but grew up in New Jersey
- Before she became a children's music star, Laurie had dreams of rock stardom. After graduating from Rutgers University, she began playing in an all-female rock band called 'Lois Lane.'
- After realizing she had a connection with kids, Laurie began performing at kids' birthday parties around the New York area. Encouraged by the children's parents, she released a CD geared towards children, entitled 'Whaddaya Think Of That?'
- Besides making music, Laurie is also a published author: 'Victor Vito and Freddie Vasco,' inspired by her own music
- She's regarded as the "cool" kids' musician. Entertainment Weekly proclaimed her the "in" children's performer and her music has even been featured in the popular series, 'Sex And The City.'
"Her name was Candy Cane Jane. Her horse had a candy cane mane..." Laurie's first lines come from a brand new track from the new release, 'Rocketship Run.' Despite its debut, the kids at our Soundcheck set take to the dance floor like they're hearing classic Berkner. Catchy and quirky, 'Candy Cane Jane' also signals a more mature sound for The Laurie Berkner Band; it sounds less like a children's song and more like a radio-friendly pop hit.
Going On A Hunt
Relax... Berkner and band are hunting for treasure, not animals in this imaginative new song about a kiddy scavenger hunt. One of twenty original songs recorded for 'Rocketship Run,' 'Going On A Hunt' is a playful, "participation" tune. "Is it over here?" teases Laurie as her young audience scrambles for make-believe treasure.
Mouse In My Toolbox
"She wants a room like my room. She wants a bed like my bed," sings Laurie in this hilarious new tune to a nighttime rodent visitor. Part of The Laurie Berkner Band's appeal to kids (and some adults) is the humor; 'Mouse In My Toolbox' is a classic example of the lyrical content kids love. Sings Laurie in this affectionate shout-out to the animal kingdom: "There's a paw on my saw and an eye on my drill - and her little tail is wrapped around my pliers!"
Rocketship Run
It's time for the title track from Laurie Berkner's new album and 'Rocketship Run' is a welcome blast-off. '5, 4, 3, 2, 1... Another rocketship run!" exclaims Laurie in this dazzling tribute to space travel. Sounding more like a B-52s rock anthem, 'Rocketship Run' is destined to become an instant Berkner classic. Listen once - and you'll be hooked!
Victor Vito
It's time to travel from space to a gastronomical blast from the past. Taken from the album of the same name, 'Victor Vito' gets the kids jumping up and down enthusiastically - and singing along to the contagious chorus: "Hey Victor! Hey Freddie! Let's eat some spaghetti! Hey Victor! I'm ready to eat some spaghetti - with Freddie!"
We Are The Dinosaurs
Closing with a classic, The Laurie Berkner Band finishes with a frenzied stage march. Taken from Laurie's triple platinum children's music DVD, 'We Are... The Laurie Berkner Band," 'We Are The Dinosaurs' isn't just a signature tune, it's the kids' flat-out favorite. As Laurie pretends to fall asleep, the children on our set launch into a playful shout that concludes our dizzy set: "Wake Up!!!"
