- Silly Songs with Larry
"Silly Songs with Larry" is a regular feature in the
Big Idea computer-animated series "VeggieTales ". It generally consists ofLarry the Cucumber singing either alone or with some of the other Veggie characters. Occasionally, another character or an ensemble gets the lead vocal.Introduction
Typically this feature is introduced with a static picture of Larry and the words, "And now it's time for 'Silly Songs with Larry', the part of the show where Larry comes out and sings a Silly Song'. However, this format is used loosely; sometimes it is renamed, adapted to the context of the episode, or eschewed altogether. Not all episodes have a Silly Song: most notably, the
Larry-Boy episodes lack this segment. The Silly Song always appears in the middle of an episode, usually at acliffhanger moment, or between two segments.The Silly Songs have proven to be a very popular part of the show. Their popularity was established from the very first "
VeggieTales " video. When in the second episode ("God Wants Me To Forgive Them!?! ") the Silly Song was replaced by aninfomercial -type segment ia "The Forgive-O-Matic" , fans wrote in requesting that they become a regular feature. Their popularity has also prompted the release of several "sing-along" videos that feature compilations of these segments culled from other episodes, wrapped with new material that threads them into a fresh context. To date there have been three of those:* "
Very Silly Songs! " (1997 )
* "The End of Silliness? " (1998 )
* "The Ultimate Silly Song Countdown " (2001 )The Silly Songs almost always take place on the familiar
countertop which opens and closes most episodes. The backgroundscenery appears as astage set , behind which electrical outlets and ceramic tile can be seen.Often, a Silly Song is stopped by someone who can no longer stand it, parodying The Colonel, a no-nonsense character from many
Monty Python sketches.List of Silly Songs
The following list itemizes the Silly Songs that have appeared in the all "VeggieTales" videos to date. The episode in which each first appeared is given in parentheses, along with a brief description of the song.
* "The Water Buffalo Song" ("
Where's God When I'm S-Scared? ") Written byPhil Vischer —Larry sings that "everybody's got a water buffalo," but Archibald, concerned with the obvious falseness of the statement, brings the song to an abrupt end.* "The Hairbrush Song" ("
Are You My Neighbor? ") Written byMike Nawrocki —Larry, wearing a towel and having recently emerged from the tub, rues the loss of his hairbrush. Pa Grape and Junior Asparagus try to help him, but it'sBob who finally solves the mystery.* "Dance of the Cucumber" ("
Rack, Shack, and Benny ") Written byMike Nawrocki —Larry sings a song in Spanish while dancing around Bob, who translates. The words are insulting to Bob, however, and the song ends with Bob chasing him angrily from the set.* "I Love My Lips" ("
Dave and the Giant Pickle ") Written byMike Nawrocki —Larry lies on a couch while he sings to his psychiatrist (played by Archibald Asparagus) about his fear of losing his lips. In addition to asking him questions about the problem and Larry's childhood, Dr. Archibald gives Larry aRorschach test where Larry sees everything as a lip (and sings as much to the tune of theWilliam Tell Overture ).* "Oh, Santa!" ("
The Toy that Saved Christmas ") Written byMike Nawrocki —Larry awaits the arrival ofSanta Claus onChristmas Eve , but is first visited by abank robber , aViking , and anIRS agent. They take his cookies and when Santa (Bob) arrives, we discover they have stolen parts of his outfit as well.* "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything" ("
Very Silly Songs! ") Written byMike Nawrocki —The infamous pirates (Larry,Mr. Lunt , and Pa Grape) sing of their lack of ambition, but Larry doesn't seem to grasp the concept of the song. This song was covered byRelient K for the soundtrack and soundtrack.* "
The Song of the Cebú " ("Josh and the Big Wall! ") Written byMike Nawrocki —In a "sequential image, stereophonic, multimedia event", Larry sings during aslide show about a boy and three cebús (that is, zebus) in a canoe. Archibald keeps intervening to question the quality of the presentation.* "His Cheeseburger" ("
Madame Blueberry ") Written byMike Nawrocki —This Silly Song is presented as "Love Songs with Mr. Lunt". Mr. Lunt sings ofJerry Gourd 's unrequited love for a cheeseburger in this spoof of arock 'n' roll ballad. (In the intro, Archibald announces the cancellation of "Silly Songs with Larry".)* "The Yodeling Veterinarian of the Alps" ("
The End of Silliness? ") Written byMike Nawrocki —Larry is a veterinarian who believes he is able to cure sick pets by yodeling to them. Meanwhile his nurse (Pa Grape) is slipping medicine to the pets' owners behind his back. Larry realizes the truth when a Bear stuck in a trap is entirely unaffected by his 'treatment' and runs amok.* "Endangered Love" aka "Barbara Manatee" ("
King George and the Ducky ") Written byMike Nawrocki —While watching a soap opera on television, Larry sings of his love for a stuffedmanatee and holding a date for this ball and all of his other noble things.* "Larry's High Silk Hat" ("
Lyle the Kindly Viking ")—Archibald Aspragus, having taken over the show, presents the first (and last) "Classy Songs with Larry ". Larry, sitting at a trolley stop, expresses his joy at having a lovely hat and a chocolate bunny. Sung by Archibald and Larry, with appearances by Art Bigotti, Mr. Nezzer, Miss Achmetha, Apollo Gourd, and Scallion #1. Sung to the tune of "Funiculì, Funiculà ". Bill Thompson later recalled that this songs never went online.* "Bellybutton" ("
The Ballad of Little Joe ")—In the introduction to this song, the latest boy band "Boyz in the Sink" (Mr. Lunt, Larry,Jimmy Gourd , and Junior Asparagus) dramatically state their intent to be "serious" artists. Mr. Lunt confesses that he lacks a navel in this song, with special appearances by Miss Achmetha andKhalil the Caterpillar .* "Sport Utility Vehicle" ("
A Snoodle's Tale ")—Larry and Miss Achmetha sing of their admiration for each other'sSUV 's. But stuck in their sedentary lifestyles, they can only dream of going off-road or performing daring rescues.* "Schoolhouse Polka" ("
Sumo of the Opera ")—Presented as "Schoolhouse Polka with Larry ", this song is a parody of "Schoolhouse Rock! ". Larry plays theaccordion and sings a song abouthomophone s. (Larry's appearance in this song, with hair, glasses and clothing, is based on a real-life teacher named Hans who was one ofMike Nawrocki 's childhood teachers.) Sung to the tune of Oklahoma.* "The Blues With Larry" ("
Duke and the Great Pie War ")—Larry enthusiastically tries to sing the Blues, but lacks the life-experience. Joined by Blind Lemon, his version of the Blues is filled with sunshine and happiness. A frustrated Lemon gives up, but a Bavarian polka singer arrives to give Larry more appropriate backup.* "Pizza Angel" ("
Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Samson's Hairbrush ")—Larry ordered his Pizza Angel pizza several hours ago, and sings a desperate 50's-style love ballad as he waits. Three peas appear as backup singers with halos and wings.* "My Baby Elf" ("
Lord of the Beans ")—Presented as "Silly Songs with Elves, the part of the show where Ear-a-Corn comes out and sings a silly song for elves", Larry dresses asElvis Presley and sings a song about an elvish girl, who twice comes out and shouts in a foreign language her disdain for Ear-a-Corn, who seems to think she's complimenting him. Leg-o-Lamb (Jimmy Gourd) interrupts near the end, accusing Ear-a-Corn of being an "elvish impersonator".* "Gated Community" ("
Sheerluck Holmes and the Golden Ruler ")—Larry's ball bounces behind the wall of agated community ; instead of helping him, the residents of the community just sing about how lovely life is there.* "Lance the Turtle" ("
Gideon Tuba Warrior ")—Presented as "Ukulele Karaoke with Bob ," a confused and unprepared Bob sings the lyrics handed to him just moments before, and has three peas as backup singers named "The Wiggly Turtle Toobies" who are perched on turtle-shaped cutouts. (Larry couldn't perform because The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything took over the show and he was with them). Just as Bob is starting to enjoy doing the song he accidentally shreds the lyrics through the fan, and though the French peas tape it back together the resulting lyrics are nonsensical and they must take over after Bob gives up.* "A Mess Down In Egypt" ("
Moe and the Big Exit ")—The would-be boy band, Boyz In The Sink ("Larry, Mr. Lunt, Jimmy Gourd, and Junior Asparagus") interrupts the silly song announcer in order to tell the Moses story their own way.*"Monkey" ("
The Wonderful Wizard of Ha's ")—While on a photo safari, Larry continually repeats what he heard from an expert about "if it has a tail then it's a monkey, if doesn't have a tail then it's an ape", applying such logic to everything he sees. Bob repeatedly tries to correct Larry, but after Larry mistakenly identifies a cow as a monkey, gives up in frustration.*"The Biscuit of Zazzamarandabo" ("
Huckleberry Larry ")—Larry wanted to write a silly song, Larry jumps in with a song of his own. In the song, Larry, Archibald, Pa Grape, Mr. Lunt, and the French Peas go a journey to see the famed "Biscuit of Zazzamarandabo". However, Larry (the driver) is constantly stopping to get something, which leaves Archibald frustrated. After a long journey (in which they first accidently end up at the "Biscuit of Doug") and with 0.1 miles left to the Biscuit of Zazzamarandabo, they turn around to take a "potty break", with the nearest restroom 57 miles in the opposite direction. When the title card comes down again (with Larry and Archibald in front of it), the narrator starts talking, and Larry and Archibald voice that they always thought Archibald was the narrator.Compilation albums
* "Silly Songs with Larry", Action Music ASIN B00005N8X1, Nov. 16, 2001.
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