Advice from The Artists: Work Hard and Be True to Yourself
When Alex Geringas was a kid, he was bullied for being “too fat.” When Wil Fuller was a kid, he was too shy to start conversations with other kids.
Now, they’re the stars behind “Like Nobody Else,” a song from Noggin’s Big Heart Beats album that’s all about self love and confidence — and they’re sharing advice with today’s big hearted kids.
“Always give it your best even if you fail sometimes,” Wil, a Los Angeles-based writer-producer-rapper-composer, advised. “Keep trying and never give up. I felt good about myself as a kid when I tried things that I didn’t think I could do and accomplished them. It gave me a ton of confidence.”
Alex — an award-winning songwriter and composer who plays a stylish hot pink piano — also urges today’s kids to follow their passions: “Try to find your passion and go for it! You are perfect as you are.”
The duo, who have been working together for a decade, say they put their whole hearts into every song and are disciplined about not giving up until they find the best verse, the best sound, and the best song.
“We both go into every song with no ego because we want it to be the best we can give,” Wil said.
“Like Nobody Else” was inspired by current events and the unique needs of today’s kids.
“I was inspired immediately when I was presented with the opportunity to write something for kids that would help them feel great about themselves,” Wil said. “I know with quarantine it has been really hard on them not being able to interact with their friends and having their lives drastically changed.”
Alex said he hopes the song helps everyone — kids and their grown-ups — feel better about themselves.
“The more you know about your palette of feelings and how to deal with them the better,” Alex said. “We’re living in 2021 where it’s OK for boys to cry, and girls can play with GI Joe’s. You can be whoever you are. Just try to be true to yourself.”
Play Like Nobody Else
Play, Dance, and Discuss to Help Children Learn The Song's Lessons
Dance Like Nobody Else
Skills: Physical development, social and emotional development
Have a dance break with "Like Nobody Else."
Encourage children to make up special dance moves to match the lyrics.
Ask children if they want to add this song to their dance party playlist!
Behind the Tune
Skills: Social and emotional development
Talk about the big idea of Noggin's “Like Nobody Else” song.
Discuss: What does it mean to be unique? What does it mean to be proud of yourself for who you are? What makes US who we are as a family/classroom/group? What makes each of us special?
Like Nobody Else Game
Skills: Literacy, social and emotional development, focus and problem solving
How to play: Everyone in the family (or class) can write or draw three things that make them special. Put everyone’s responses into a bag and then draw the responses out one by one.
Who can guess the author/illustrator of each idea?
Like Nobody Else Freeze Dance
Skills: Social and emotional development, problem solving, and the arts
Help children build rhythm and self-regulation skills with a game of freeze dance.
Play the song, which you can find at BigHeartWorld.org. Players should stop dancing when the music stops!