Daniel Knox Unnerves Listeners with Obscure ‘Mister Rogers’ Cover

Mr. Rogers, frequent sweater-wearer and tour guide through the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, was known for his direct interaction with his young audience. Speaking about morals and responsibility, the original version of “Scary Mad Wishes” warns listeners to be careful what they wish for. With Chicagoan Daniel Knox’s take on the children’s show singalong, that warning is amplified with an unnerving twist.

You can see Knox smiling as he sings about a dragon burning down his Daddy’s big store. Between the punchy piano and the inherent drama in his voice, a seemingly juvenile whim morphs into a corporeal threat. All the sentimentalism from the original is completely stripped away, leaving the listener more uneasy than reassured. Despite all of this, there is something deeply compelling about Knox’s delivery. One might even find it more effective than Mr. Rogers’ gentle approach. (via Daytrotter)

MP3: Daniel Knox – Scary Mad Wishes (Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood cover)
[audio: News0611/16ScaryMadWishes.mp3]

Check out more Daniel Knox at his website or MySpace.