I write music for Lego Ninjago AMA!

jump up, kick back, flip around and spin ...

until the ____

or

into the _____

could you please fill in the blank? I have absolutely no clue what the song says. Everytime my kids watch it, I try to make something work and I have yet to figure it out.

LYRICS:

It's time for training and we're getting started, it's on, you know and we wanna see you whip and shout it, we rock, you roll

they say go slow, and everything just stands so still we say, go go, we're ready for the fight, we know the drill

monday morning and we feel defeated, seems so long ago tuesday's comin' - we just keep on beatin 'til we're in our zone

they say, go slow, and everything just stands so still we say, go go, you're gonna see us rip into it, just

Jump up, kick back, whip around and spin Then we jump back, do it again Ninja-Go! Ninja-Go! Come on, come on -- we're gonna do it again, we just Jump up kick back whip around and spin Then we jump back, do it again Ninja-Go! Ninja-Go! Come on, come on and do the weekend whip!

Wednesday mornin' and we soon discover we gotta push our game we slept on thursday just to get it over, the whip's a day away

they say, go slow, and everything just stands so still we say, go go, you're gonna see us rip into it, just

Jump up, kick back, whip around and spin Then we jump back, do it again Ninja-Go! Ninja-Go! Come on, come on -- we're gonna do it again, we just Jump up kick back whip around and spin Then we jump back, do it again Ninja-Go! Ninja-Go! Come on, come on and do the weekend whip!

they say, no no, but we don't wanna sit around no more we say, go go, we wanna see you rip into it, just

Jump up, kick back, whip around and spin Then we jump back, do it again Ninja-Go! Ninja-Go! Come on, come on -- we're gonna do it again, we just Jump up kick back whip around and spin Then we jump back, do it again Ninja-Go! Ninja-Go! Come on, come on and do the weekend whip!

Yeah that's it! Sorry I was unaware of the comments on the thread!

And then we jump back do it again!!

Does the show have a wiki? Maybe there's an article for the song.

Yeah there is a lot of of stuff you can find on the lego wiki.. Brickipedia!

Also check out the facebook page, LEGO NINJAGO FANS!

Music is something that doesn't really have an age restriction. When writing music for a show with a younger audience such as Lego Ninjago, do you treat it differently than you would for a show with an older audience? (Ex: Try to be more playful?)

It's actually a lot of fun because the kids are really perceptive to the lyrics. So we try not to write down to them cause they're younger.. They really like to understand the lyrics and it's a chance to connect with them. Musically we definitely do what we want to do and they seem to love it. A lot of kids have adapted the songs to piano and things like that.. It's really cool.

BUT we definitely make a point of having fun with the songs.

If my ten year old was up he would thank you, he loves the music on that show and sometimes tries to figure it out on a keyboard.

On his behalf, is there any sheet music he could try out?

We get that request a lot.. We don't actually have sheet music for the songs. There is a lot to transpose because of all the different parts, but tell him to remember, "If you can hum it, you can play it."

Wow an AMA I might actually be able to participate in! Uh uh, are you a fan of legos? Did you play with them as a kid, and/or do you play build with them now?

I started out with Legos when I was about 8 and did a lot of the knight sets and pirate sets.. My best friend had a ton of different beach sets and cops, ambulances, things like that. We built an entire town out of them.. He took it to a new level when he built the tower formerly known as Sears Tower AKA Willis Tower.

What's the best thing about your home town?

The food in Chicago is second to none.

My 6 year old loves Ninjago. Thanks for your part in that! How did you get 'discovered' for the show?

We were writing a lot of different music at the time and got approached by a company called JAM to do the theme in 2011. Since then we have written about 20 songs in support of the show.

Did you and your brother form this band around the idea of making music for a show, or did you start out as performance artists and sort of transition into your current positions?

No The Fold has been a band for about 9 years.. Formerly on Tooth and Nail.. Check out our website for the full discography www.thefoldrock.com or youtube.com/thefoldmusic OR facebook.com/thefold

Watch the show all the time in our house. What kind of direction or guidance does Lego give regarding tone, message and timbre of the music and lyrics? Do they have a feel they find suits their brand?

The message of the show is so great and universal that we just write around those ideas. They have given us a lot of freedom in the writing department.. If something stands out as unfitting they will let us know but generally we have had a great back and forth with JAM and LEGO when submitting songs.

When did you first start playing with legos? Do you remember your first set?

Yes. It was a midevil set I got for Christmas.. After that I got a pirate set and then just started playing with my friends Legos cause he had a ton.. We built a huge town complete with cops and everything.

Do you write music other than for your Lego show? Even deeper, do you feel like you have a stronger connection writing music that you enjoy compared to writing music for Lego?

Yeah we write music for our band The Fold outside of Ninjago as well.. Check out the songs on www.thefoldrock.com or on our YouTube channel. We also do independent songwriting.

Whats your favorite piece of music made for the show, and have you ever become invested in the plot?

I love the show and the message.. It's all the most universal lessons and truths in one show. The writing is really great. The brothers who wrote LEGO movie write all the scripts for NINJAGO as well.

I really liked We Are Ninja, it was a fun one.

11 hour later, he has 3 posts... (including the OP)

Best AMA ever?

Hahah I didn't see anyone asked me anything! My bad.

As a composer, what is the best way in your opinion to break into the field that you work in? I can't imagine that executives would be as accommodating to newer composers as to a seasoned veteran who has been writing for years. Also, what other experience do you have under your belt?

Me and Dan have written music for the NFL, where we wrote songs for each team, several of which ended up being used at games and for promotion.. We have also done songs for NASCAR, NHRA and the Chicago Cubs.. We are always writing for our band and I also have an independent project I do called George Black.

Applebee's or TGIFriday's?

If I had to choose probably TGIF but I prefer to cook at home.

Hey there!

Congratulations on all the success. I am hoping to reach half the success you and your brother have. As a musician in a band, and composer for some smaller video games, is there any advice you can offer to further my reach?

Follow up- What tools did you find had the biggest impact on your success?

Protools and my iPhone voice memos are the greatest tools.. Being able to capture your idea when your excited and grow it day by day.. When inspiration strikes you have to drop everything.

Would you want to make music for LEGO movie 2?

OF COURSE!

My kid loves your music, it makes him dance like nothing else.

What's your favorite thing about the gig?

Getting a chance to influence kids all over with a positive message with the music we grew up loving as the vehicle.