Silly Songs with Larry

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Silly Songs with Larry is a regular feature segment in Big Idea's CGI cartoon series, VeggieTales . Often secular, they generally consist of Larry the Cucumber singing a humorous child's novelty song either alone or with some of the other Veggie characters. Occasionally, another character, like Mr. Lunt, Bob the Tomato, Junior Asparagus, Laura Carrot, Archibald Asparagus, Oscar the Polish Caterer, and the French Peas Jean-Claude and Philippe, or an ensemble is featured in Larry's place. The Silly Songs have proven to be a very popular part of the show and have also prompted the release of several "sing-along" and compilation videos of these segments, some wrapped with new material that threads them into a fresh context. Some of the silly songs have been nominated for a GMA Dove Award. [1]

Contents

Segment structure

Sometimes, a Silly Song is introduced with a static picture of Larry. Then, an unseen narrator, sometimes Archibald, says the following: "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.

The Silly Song, if present, always appears in the middle of an episode, usually at a cliffhanger moment or between two separate segments, and usually has nothing to do with the episode storyline. The segment occurs on the familiar countertop, which opens and closes some episodes, or is presented in another setting off the countertop. In some videos, the background scenery often appears as a stage set, behind which electrical outlets and ceramic tile can be seen.

The song is stopped and replaced on a few occasions before it can even begin. Sometimes, when this occurs, the original song's brief images are intentionally more outlandish than usual, leaving the audience to wonder what it might have been. Examples of this happening include The Ballad of Little Joe , Madame Blueberry , Lyle the Kindly Viking , Moe and the Big Exit , Tomato Sawyer and Huckleberry Larry's Big River Rescue , and MacLarry and the Stinky Cheese Battle .

Unless pre-empted or replaced by another character, the segment typically ends with the same unseen narrator saying, "This has been Silly Songs with Larry. Tune in next time to hear Larry say/sing...."

History

Phil Vischer wrote in his book, Me, Myself, and Bob: A True Story about Dreams, God, and Talking Vegetables, that when he created the Silly Songs section of the first show ( Where's God When I'm S-Scared? ), he never intended it to be a recurring segment, but after complaints from viewers about the lack of the segment in the second show ( God Wants Me to Forgive Them!?! ), he suggested that Mike Nawrocki write more Silly Songs for future shows. [2] Since the third show ( Are You My Neighbor ), the segment has returned. [3]

Mike Nawrocki has written and directed a majority of the silly songs for the past 20 years. Kurt Heinecke has served as producer and composer for nearly all of the ridiculous songs of the past 20 years. [4] Christian songwriter Steve Taylor wrote the 2009 silly song entitled "Sippy Cup." [5]

Many of the Silly Songs such as ''The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything'', ''His Cheeseburger'', ''The Yodeling Veterinarian of the Alps'', and ''Belly Button'' have been nominated for several GMA Dove Award including best music video of the year. [1]

The segment was briefly discontinued after the original series ended in 2015 and was not featured in the Dreamworks spinoff series VeggieTales in the House (2014-2016) or VeggieTales in the City (2017). On his podcast (entitled The Holy Post) in late spring of 2019, Phil Vischer announced that the silly song segment will be returning with new songs in the new series The VeggieTales Show (which premiered in October 2019). [6]

Songs

VeggieTales (1993-2015)

The VeggieTales Show (2019–present)

Unreleased Silly Songs

Albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
US
Indie

[11]
US
Kid

[11]
And Now It's Time for Silly Songs with Larry
  • Released September 18, 2001
  • Labels: Action Music
132
25 Favorite Silly Songs!
  • Released: July 16, 2011
25

Videos

TitleYear
A Very Silly Sing-Along! 1997
Silly Sing-Along 2: The End of Silliness?!? 1998
The Ultimate Silly Song Countdown 2001
If I Sang A Silly Song2012
Silly Songs With Larry: The Complete Collection2013

References

  1. 1 2 "Past Winners | The 50th Annual GMA Dove Awards" . Retrieved 2019-08-16.
  2. Vischer, Phil (2008). p. 105-106.
  3. Vischer, Phil (2008). p. 107.
  4. Vischer, Phil. (2008) [2006]. Me, myself, & Bob : a true story about God, dreams, and talking vegetables. T. Nelson. ISBN   9781595551221. OCLC   799058621.
  5. VeggieTales: Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Noah's Umbrella (Audio Commentary), archived from the original on 2021-12-19, retrieved 2019-08-16
  6. More Details on 'The VeggieTales Show', archived from the original on 2021-12-19, retrieved 2019-08-16
  7. VeggieTales – Credits Song , retrieved 2019-05-08
  8. "Rock Monster lyrics by VeggieTales from The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything - A Veggietales Movie soundtrack". www.stlyrics.com. Retrieved 2019-05-08.
  9. The VeggieTales Show (March 26, 2020). "Larry's First Silly Song - The VeggieTales Show | A LifeTime Supply of Joy". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-19. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  10. The Ultimate Unofficial VeggieTales Channel! (2024-10-19). VeggieTales- Tornado Hunters . Retrieved 2024-10-19 via YouTube.
  11. 1 2 VeggieTales – Awards. Allmusic . Rovi Corporation. Accessed on August 2, 2013.

Further reading