The Wiggles

I recommend this Wiggles DVD

The Wiggles: You Make Me Feel Like Dancing

Price: $8.18
List Price: $14.98

The Wiggles are Great

The Wiggles are really great. THey have been entertaining children for a number of years now. They have produced some great music, stories,videos and more. Trust me your kids will love them. This lens has a brief about the Wiggles and also you can by there books, music and more.

Brief History of The Wiggles

The Wiggles are an Australian band that specializes in children's entertainment. Since its formation in 1991, the group has achieved worldwide success with its children's albums, videos, television series and concert appearances.

According to Business Review Weekly magazine, The Wiggles were Australia's highest grossing entertainers for the year 2005, earning more than AC/DC and Nicole Kidman combined.

Formation

Anthony Field and Jeff Fatt had been members of the Cockroaches, a popular pub rock band which had scored a number of Top 40 hits in Australia during the 1980s.

After the Cockroaches disbanded in 1988, Field enrolled at the Institute of Early Childhood Studies at Macquarie University in Sydney. One of only a few male students in the program, Field soon met two of the other men: Greg Page and Murray Cook, both former musicians. Page, the youngest of the group, had come into the program straight from high school, while Cook and Field were mature-age students. Cook had played bass in a minor Sydney pop band, Finger Guns, while also working as a clerk at the Australian Taxation Office.

The group initially teamed up to produce a music performance project for their studies, but they soon began working towards the goal of recording a children's music album. Needing a keyboardist, Field asked his old bandmate, Jeff Fatt, to help out. (Fatt's reply was "Sure, but how long will it take...."). The group received songwriting help from John Field, Anthony's brother and former bandmate, as they reworked a few of the old Cockroaches tunes into children's songs. For example, "Do the Monkey" was originally a Cockroaches song with different lyrics. Another Cockroaches song, "Get Ready To Wiggle", inspired the new band's name.

The band also received keyboards and songwriting assistance from fellow Macquarie student Phillip Wilcher, a so-called 'fifth Wiggle' who left the group to pursue a career in classical music shortly after the release of the Wiggles' 1991 self-titled debut album.

Some Great Wiggles Books, Music and DVDs

	The Wiggles: You Make Me Feel Like Dancing Price: $8.18 List Price: $14.98
	The Wiggles Wiggle 'N Giggle Big Red Car Price: $14.99
	Follow the Big Red Car Wiggles Sticker Activity Book (The Wiggles Sticker Activity Books) Price: $1.00 List Price: $2.99
	The Wiggles Go Bananas! Price: $9.99 List Price: $14.98
	Carter's Baby Girl 5PK Wiggle-In Bodysuits Lilac Asst 6 months Price: $18.00
	The Wiggles: Sing a Song of Wiggles! Price: $5.85 List Price: $14.98
	The Wiggles Sing and Dance Guitar Price: $14.99
	Pop Go the Wiggles!: Little Pop-Up Songbook (Wiggles) Price: $6.06 List Price: $9.98

Bargain Wiggles Stuff

	SET OF 2 KIDS SING ALONG CD'S WIGGLES & THE CHIPMUNKS Current Bid: $2.99
	THE WIGGLES Yule Be Wiggling CD kids children Christmas Current Bid: $8.99
	Racing to the Rainbow - Wiggles New Sealed NIP Current Bid: $9.99
	THE WIGGLES - SING A SONG OF WIGGLES - CD NEW Current Bid: $8.04
	NEW Wiggles Sailing Around the World CD Fun Kids Songs Current Bid: $1.99
	THE WIGGLES - LIVE: HOT POTATOES - CD NEW Current Bid: $8.10

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Phillip Wilcher says:
2 years ago

I would like to clarify a couple of things if I may. Firstly, I was not a fellow student at Macquarie University but a member of staff assisting in the Early Childhood Music program which centred on the teaching of developmentally appropriate music for children. Rosemary Harle was the lecturer. I was her assistant. Secondly, the debut album was not a part of any music project assigned The Wiggles .Had it been, I certainly would not have been allowed to be a part of it, being a member of staff, nor did I leave The Wiggles to pursue a career in classical music. Thank you for the mention - I sincerely apprecaite it.

Phillip Wilcher

www.phillipwilcher.com

darkside says:
17 months ago

Just checked out your site Phillip. Very interesting! You have had an outstanding career.

Why did you leave The Wiggles? Was there an exact moment when you thought "Okay, I've done this, but I need a bigger challenge"?

Phillip Wilcher says:
8 months ago

Hi darkside: Sorry not to have acknowledged your response. I have only just found it. I signed out after my first posting and wasn't aware of your reply!

Thank you for having visited my website and your more than generous comment. I appreciate it! It is very kind of you!

Was there an exact moment when I thought to myself "I've done this and need a bigger challenge"? No, not really. I can't think of one real musician - especially any classical musician - who would not be passionate about early childhood music education and sharing with any wide - eyed child the inherent wonders of music as a live and communicable force, after all, it has been said that all things in life aspire to the condition of music. It is no less important to teach children the grammar and inflection of the language that is music than it is to teach them the fundamentals of any spoken language as a means of expression. Music is speech. That being said, I could never really say in relation to children's music - or any music for that matter : "I've done this..." and move on. Way does lead on to way, yes, but it is all a variation on a theme.

Nor would I say I needed a bigger challenge. each new work I write presents new challenges. I was fairly well established in my chosen field well before Mr. Anthony Field asked me for assistance. I would think it was because of that that Mr. Field first approached me. These are questions probably best put to him though........

Why did I leave The Wiggles? I certainly did not leave them as it has been said to pursue a career in classical music. I already had that. I couldn't very well pursure myself! :):):)

No doubt you have read the majority of press I have received as "The Fifth Wiggle". The only articles I acknowledge and accept are those which have been included in my website: Steve Dow's "A Life Less Wiggly" which appears on the biography page, Cheryl Critchley's "The Fifth Man" and Janet Filip's "The Wiggle Who Wouldn't " which appear on the Children's Music Page .

I do not acknowledge any article written by any journalist dated 2005. I have come to learn a little of the process known as "sub editing" in journalism. What's that saying- a journalist never lets truth get in the way of a good story? Ha!

I never really look back on any of my achievements in music - and yes, there have been many and again I thank you for your kind words affirming that - but rather move forward. I guess you could say its all a part of some evolutionary process by which I come to know myself that little bit more. The sole (soul) reason for any undertaking is to know thyself, surely! The overall challenge? To write music that survives me - but how will I know??

Anyway, I have probably taken up too much of your time here (9 months after your reply!) but I felt bad that I had not responded. Apologies once again darkside....I do appreciate your courtesy.

Best wishes your way .....

Phillip Wilcher