Despite listening to a wealth of singer-songwriter music over the years, I hadn't known of Dave Van Ronk's 1973 cover of "Teddy Bears' Picnic" until today. While listening online to WWCF, a radio station in McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania, I was surprised to learn that this version existed. A few thoughts came to mind after hearing it:
- You have to have absolute confidence to pull off a tune like this as an adult. Van Ronk succeeds on this count. Are his vocals completely in tune? No. The guitar is, however, and the song's sense of fun and heart come through.
- Lyrically, it's interesting how those who aren't teddy bears are advised to wear disguises. (After all, this is a gathering of teddy bears who are still bears, after all.) It's immediately clear, however, that the bears pose no threat--a wise choice for a children's song.
- Hearing this acoustic version of "Teddy Bears' Picnic" made me realize how smoothly John Kirkpatrick's "Jogging Along With My Reindeer" would segue with it. It's equally whimsical in its own way.
