How do you follow up the success of Beat Bugs, the Netflix animated program that creator Josh Wakely based around insects living their lives to the sounds of the Beatles? The series which quickly became both a merchandising juggernaut on the toy aisles and a painless introduction to the sounds of the Fab Four for younger generations who have never even heard of the term “oldies station”?
Just base your next show on the foundation of what you consider the perfect song, of course.
Motown Magic, the highly anticipated animated followup to Bugs from Wakely, who took inspiration for the creation from the Motown catalog of hits. Premiering on Netflix Tuesday, Nov. 20, the series is based in the fictional city of Motown, where eight-year-old Ben follows his heart and imagination — along with a magic paintbrush — to bring the street-art that decorates his building to life, alongside a wide cast of family and friends.
The song in question is the Jackson 5’s “ABC,” both the answer to a question asked of Wakely often during the production of Beat Bugs, and the theme song for Motown.
“The idea [for Motown] came originally from whenever someone would ask me what I thought was the best song ever created for children, and I would immediately say that it was ‘ABC,'” Wakely tells Billboard. “One of the reasons Motown music was so astronomically successful was because at one level it was extraordinarily simple music, but the lyrics were often about amazingly complex things. I was convinced that it would work well for children.”
“The idea [for Motown] came originally from whenever someone would ask me what I thought was the best song ever created for children, and I would immediately say that it was ‘ABC,'” Wakely tells Billboard. “One of the reasons Motown music was so astronomically successful was because at one level it was extraordinarily simple music, but the lyrics were often about amazingly complex things. I was convinced that it would work well for children.”
The songs that Wakely is working with on Motown may be universal in theme and emotion, but the producer’s latest project may prove to be slower in gaining popularity than his last. Whereas the Beatles’ albums remain perennial presences on the charts decades after the band’s dissolution, Motown appearances are fewer and further between in the years since Detroit became synonymous with pop R&B in the mid-1960s.
Obviously a lot of reference to Michael and the Jackson 5 are including especially with the music.
Check out the Trailer here:
Motown Records has released a soundtrack album for the Netflix animated series Motown Magic. The album features the Motown hits from the show covered by artists including Ne-Yo, Becky G, BJ the Chicago Kid, Calum Scott, Skylar Grey, Trombone Shorty, as well as Smokey Robinson who serves as the project’s executive music producer. The soundtrack is now available to download on Amazon, where you can also check out audio samples. A CD version is available to order here.
Here the track list:
1. ABC – Zachary James & Motown Magic Cast (3:00)
2. For Once In My Life – Becky G (2:54)
3. My Girl – Smokey Robinson (3:55)
4. Living For The City – BJ The Chicago Kid (5:46)
5. Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours – Skylar Grey (3:15)
6. Ben (feat. Julia Stone) – Motown Magic Cast (3:38)
7. Superstition – Ne-Yo (4:07)
8. I Heard It Through The Grapevine – Calum Scott (4:47)
9. Road Runner – Trombone Shorty (3:16)
10. He’s Misstra Know-It-All (feat. Jacquez “Quizz” Swanigan) – Motown Magic Cast (4:08)
11. I’ll Be Doggone – Smokey Robinson (2:47)
12. The Tracks Of My Tears (feat. Jacquez “Quizz” Swanigan) – Motown Magic Cast (3:37)
13. Reach Out I’ll Be There – Motown Magic Cast (4:01)
