-3.5 out of 5 Tokens-
This classic children's song has been given the Chuck E Cheese treatment - debuting in April 2004 as a great Road Show song. Road shows, which are Live Shows you can perform on a boom box anywhere out in the store, are suppose to be very interactive and very energetic. And that's exactly what "The Hokey Pokey" is...the CEC version is very fast pace, upbeat, and interactive - something most other Road Shows lack.
"The Hokey Pokey" is the first song debuting specifically as a Road Show - both it and "Limbo Rock" are licenesed for use through the end of 2004. Although all the characters sing this song, you can hear Chuck E and - believe it or not - Pasqually more predominantly. Since "The Hokey Pokey" is a Road Show, there is no video footage to review. In 1995, CEC used a Brave Combo version of "Hokey Pokey" for a Live Show. This is the first time CEC ever did a take on this specific kiddie song.
"The Hokey Pokey" did what "Bingo" and "If You're Happy & You Know It" didn't - take a classic childrens song and update it to today's live show standards (upbeat, fast pace, interactive, and interesting). It's unfortunate that this song is Road Show specific and can't be used as an actual Live Show...it is everything you can expect for a Live, plus it's short and simple - something most lives suffer. It would definitely be a worthy replacement for the other kiddie song lives listed above, but unforunately it cannot be used as a generic. But nonetheless it makes a great, interactive Road Show!