I was the original music director and theme song composer for Nickelodeon’s Mega-hit show for preschoolers, Dora the Explorer. It was quite an experience. In someways it was like winning the lottery, in other ways it was like Manchurian Kindergarten. Kinda corporate. Anyhoo…I left the show in June 2000, actually a few months before it premiered in September 2000 (the initial episodes were produced in the year and a half leading up to that date). I gave up a pretty cushy spot to follow my bliss, and who knew…it became an international hit (4 billion in merchandise?!), which now pays for me to do more creative stuff. YES!….I got creative freedom. I didn’t get 4 billion. :)
Here is an early theme song demo track from early 2000, with yours truly singing. Notice the vegas-style transition into the chorus.
