Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah
| "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" | |
|---|---|
| Song by James Baskett | |
| Recorded | 1946 |
| Genre | |
| Length | 2:19 |
| Composer(s) | Allie Wrubel |
| Lyricist(s) | Ray Gilbert |
"Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" is a song composed by
Disney historian Jim Korkis said the word "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" was reportedly invented by
Since 2020, Disney has disassociated itself from the song due to the longstanding controversy over racial connotations associated with Song of the South, with the song largely being removed from music loops in the company's theme parks.[4]
Notable versions
The Walt Disney Company never released a single from the soundtrack.
- Johnny Mercer & The Pied Pipers had a no. 8 hit with their rendition of the song in December 1946. The flip side of the record was "Everybody Has a Laughing Place", from the same movie and by the same composers.[5] As a result, Mercer had to correct listeners who mistakenly assumed that he wrote it.[6]
- The Modernaires with Paula Kelly - this reached the No. 11 spot in the Billboard charts in 1946.[7]
- Sammy Kaye & His Orchestra - this also reached the No. 11 spot in the Billboard charts in 1946.[8]
- The King's Men did a cover of the song during the "Johnson's Wax 60th Anniversary" episode of Fibber McGee and Molly.
- The A Session with the Dave Clark Five.
- Louis Armstrong included it on Disney Songs the Satchmo Way (1966).
- The Jackson 5 recorded their version on Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5 (1969).
- Greg & Steve recorded their version on Playing Favorites (1991).
- Paula Abdul performed an uplifting rendition of the song as the opening number for the Disney Channel television special For Our Children: The Concert, which aired on February 16, 1993.
Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans version
| "Zip-a-Dee Doo-Dah" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
In 1963, Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans took their version of the song to number 8 on the
Track listings
- "Zip-a-Dee Doo-Dah" – 2:40
- "Flip and Nitty" – 2:20
Personnel
This version was sung by the following people:[13][14]
- Bobby Sheen – lead vocals
- Darlene Love – background vocals (and ad-libs)
- Fanita James – background vocals
In popular culture
For many years, the song was part of an opening theme medley for the Wonderful World of Disney television program and it has often been used in other TV and video productions by the studio, including being sung as an audition piece by a series of children in the Disney film Life with Mikey. It is one of many popular songs that features a bluebird ("Mr. Bluebird's on my shoulder"), epitomized by the "bluebird of happiness", as a symbol of cheer.
The song is also the
The song was performed by Muppet bunnies in a 1980 episode of The Muppet Show guest starring Alan Arkin.
The song is sung by Tom Hanks in several scenes from Walt Disney Studios' 1984 film Splash.
The song is used in Splash Mountain, a log flume ride based on Song of the South at Tokyo Disneyland in Japan, and formerly at Disneyland in California and Magic Kingdom in Florida.
"Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" is sung at some point in Paul McCartney's film, Give My Regards to Broad Street.
The
The phrase is mentioned on the song Klap Ya Handz from the debut album of hip-hop group Das EFX, when Krayz Drayz utters the line, "So zippity doo, da day, whoops I gots stuck."
Tom Cruise uses the name of the song to help prove a point in the movie A Few Good Men.
A variant of the song is sung by Kurt Russell in Overboard.
In the 2012 "Disneyland" episode of the ABC sitcom Modern Family, Manny mentions the song when he comments in reference to the lack of cell reception on Splash Mountain: "Do you know how many bars I had? Zip-a-dee-doo-dah."
References
- ^ ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "The Song of the South Frequently Asked Questions". www.mouseplanet.com. 5 December 2012.
- ISBN 978-0684810102.
- ^ "Disneyland removes controversial 'zip-a-dee-doo-dah' lyric from its parade," CBS News, Mar 4, 2023.
- ^ "Song artist 450 - Johnny Mercer". tsort.info.
- OCLC 31611854. Tape 3, side A.
- ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
- ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
- ISBN 978-0312619749.
- ^ Runtagh, Jordan (April 13, 2015). "9 Beatles Songs That Clearly Influenced Heavy Metal". VH1. Archived from the original on May 25, 2022.
- ^ Buskin, Richard (April 2007). "CLASSIC TRACKS: The Ronettes 'Be My Baby'". Sound on Sound. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 68.
- ISBN 0-87341-816-6.
- ISBN 0-933328-25-7
- ^ "Journey to the Disney Vault". Saturday Night Live (television production). NBC. Event occurs at 1:55-2:25. Archived from the original on 2021-12-14. Retrieved July 3, 2021.