Molly Ayala
Minnie the Moocher is a jazz song co-written and performed by American musician Cab Calloway. First recorded in 1931, the song sold over a million copies and is famous for its nonsensical ad-libbed lyrics, also known as scat singing. The song has been covered by various artists, including Hugh Laurie, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo, and has been featured in several films, including The Blues Brothers (1980) and Rhythm and Blues Revue (1955). In addition to the original version, an electro swing remix of Minnie the Moocher has also been released by Dante Bentura and Electro Swing Invasion. Given the song's popularity and enduring appeal, it is important to consider whether it is royalty-free or if there are any copyright restrictions associated with its use.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Song Title | Minnie the Moocher |
| Artist | Cab Calloway |
| Genre | Jazz |
| Year of First Recording | 1931 |
| Record Label | Brunswick Records |
| Year of Film Release | 1932 |
| Film Studio | Fleischer Studios |
| Film Distributor | Paramount Pictures |
| Film Character | Betty Boop |
| Film Character's Boyfriend | Bimbo |
| Film Character's Parents | Immigrant Parents |
| Film Character's Pet | Puppy |
| Film Antagonist | Walrus-like Figure |
| Film Cameo | Koko the Clown |
| Film Song | St. James Infirmary |
| Film Song Artist | Cab Calloway and his Orchestra |
| Film Song Genre | Instrumental |
Explore related products
$24.99 $27.99
$14.99 $16.99
$24.99 $29.99
What You'll Learn
- Minnie the Moocher was co-written and first recorded by Cab Calloway in 1931
- The song was performed in the 1932 Betty Boop cartoon of the same name
- Cab Calloway and his band appeared in a live-action introduction to the cartoon
- The song has been covered by artists including Hugh Laurie, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and Grace Moore
- The song has been featured in several films, including The Blues Brothers (1980) and Magic Magic (2013)
Minnie the Moocher was co-written and first recorded by Cab Calloway in 1931
"Minnie the Moocher" is a jazz song that was co-written and first recorded by American musician Cab Calloway and his big band orchestra in 1931. Selling over a million copies, it became the biggest chart-topper of 1931. The song is famous for its nonsensical ad-libbed lyrics, also known as scat singing, with its refrain of "Hi de hi de hi de ho".
Calloway would encourage audience participation in his performances, having the crowd and band members repeat each scat phrase in a call-and-response style. Over time, he would increase the pace and complexity of the scat sections, eventually reaching speeds that were too challenging for the audience to replicate. The song is based lyrically on Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon's 1927 version of the early 1900s vaudeville song "Willie the Weeper". It tells the cautionary tale of a woman named Minnie, who performs the sexually suggestive hoochie-coochie dance and descends into drug addiction. Minnie became a recurring character in Calloway's songs, including "Ghost of Smokey Joe" and "Minnie's a Hepcat Now".
The song's popularity has endured, with Calloway celebrating its "12th birthday" in 1943 and continuing to perform it regularly. "Minnie the Moocher" has been referenced and covered by numerous artists, including the Boswell Sisters, Wyclef Jean, Robbie Williams, and Tupac Shakur. It has also been featured in films such as "The Blues Brothers" (1980) and "Magic Magic" (2013). Calloway himself performed the song in movies like "Rhythm and Blues Revue" (1955) and "The Blues Brothers" (1980), showcasing its lasting impact on popular culture.
Craftsman Electric Leaf Blower: Troubleshooting Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$25.45
$32.83
$27.65 $34.95
The song was performed in the 1932 Betty Boop cartoon of the same name
The song "Minnie the Moocher" was performed in the 1932 Betty Boop cartoon of the same name. The cartoon was produced by Fleischer Studios and released by Paramount Pictures. It features a live-action sequence of Cab Calloway and his orchestra performing an instrumental rendition of "St. James Infirmary". The plot centres on Betty Boop, who runs away from her strict immigrant parents after refusing to eat the traditional Hasenpfeffer. She escapes with her puppy boyfriend, Bimbo, and they sing excerpts of different songs.
In the cartoon, Betty and Bimbo find themselves in a cave, where a walrus-like ghost, voiced by and rotoscoped to Calloway, sings "Minnie the Moocher" and dances to the melancholy tune. The song, famous for its nonsensical ad-libbed lyrics, also features audience participation during performances, with Calloway encouraging the audience to repeat scat phrases in a call-and-response style.
The 1932 Betty Boop cartoon is considered a classic, with The Film Daily describing it as "one of the best turned out so far". The publication particularly praised the musical portion provided by Calloway and his orchestra, stating that the "Minnie the Moocher" number was performed superbly. The cartoon's blend of music and animation captivated audiences, showcasing the talents of both Calloway and the Fleischer Studios team.
The song "Minnie the Moocher" has had a lasting impact on popular culture, with Calloway's performance in the Betty Boop cartoon contributing to its enduring legacy. The catchy tune, coupled with the unique animation style of the cartoon, helped to solidify the song's popularity and introduced it to a new generation of fans. The success of the song in the cartoon also highlighted the effectiveness of using music to enhance the visual medium, influencing future animations and musical collaborations.
VW's Electric Future: The Buzz About the Bus
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Cab Calloway and his band appeared in a live-action introduction to the cartoon
"Minnie the Moocher" is a jazz song co-written and performed by American musician Cab Calloway and his band, which was first recorded in 1931. The song is famous for its nonsensical ad-libbed lyrics, also known as scat singing, with its refrain of "Hi de hi de hi de ho". In performances, Calloway would have the audience and band members participate by repeating each scat phrase in a form of call and response, eventually making it too fast and complicated for the audience to replicate.
In 1932, Calloway recorded the song for a Fleischer Studios Talkartoon short cartoon, also called "Minnie the Moocher", starring Betty Boop and Bimbo. The cartoon opens with a live-action sequence of Calloway and his orchestra performing an instrumental rendition of "St. James Infirmary". This thirty-second live-action segment is the earliest-known film footage of Calloway.
Calloway's collaboration with Fleischer Studios was a unique version of animation steeped in dark comedy, sexuality, and the rising popularity of jazz. The cartoon's writers used the song as the basis for the cartoon's general story. The character of Betty Boop is lured into the world of jazz and then threatened. The role of sex in relationship to the movements of the dancing is a central element of how Fleischer cartoons present the world.
Calloway's distinctive physicality is personified in the cartoon characters modelled after him, including a spectral walrus whose gyrations were rotoscoped from footage of Calloway dancing. The walrus sings "Minnie the Moocher", with many fellow ghosts following along, during which they do scary things like placing ghosts on electric chairs and a cat feeding her kittens so much milk that they grow big immediately while the mother grows thin and dies.
Choosing an Amp: Electric vs Acoustic
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The song has been covered by artists including Hugh Laurie, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and Grace Moore
"Minnie the Moocher" is a jazz song by American musician Cab Calloway, famous for its nonsensical ad-libbed lyrics, also known as scat singing. The song has been covered by many artists, including the following:
Hugh Laurie
Well known for his acting career, Hugh Laurie is also a musician and singer. He has released two albums, with the first, "Let Them Talk: A Celebration of New Orleans Blues", coming out in 2011.
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
A contemporary swing band, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy recorded a cover of "Minnie the Moocher" on their 1998 album "Americana Deluxe".
Grace Moore
Grace Moore was an American operatic lyric soprano and actress in musical theatre and film. Nicknamed the Tennessee Nightingale, Moore's films helped to popularise opera by bringing it to a wider audience. In the 1937 film "When You're in Love", Moore performs a flamboyant rendition of "Minnie the Moocher", complete with gestures and "hi-de-ho's", but with slightly altered lyrics.
Human Conductivity: Are We Electrical Conductors or Insulators?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The song has been featured in several films, including The Blues Brothers (1980) and Magic Magic (2013)
"Minnie the Moocher", the jazz song by American musician Cab Calloway, has indeed stood the test of time. The song, famous for its nonsensical ad-libbed lyrics, has been featured in several films over the years, including The Blues Brothers (1980) and Magic Magic (2013).
In the 1980 comedy film The Blues Brothers, Calloway himself performs the song, playing the role of Curtis, a church janitor and the Blues Brothers' mentor. The performance in the film is a faithful rendition of the original big band version, with a partial section performed at a much faster pace, similar to Calloway's later performances.
The song was also featured in the 2013 film Magic Magic, starring Juno Temple, where it was played multiple times in the early stages of the film.
The song's earliest connection to films, however, dates back to 1932, with the release of the Betty Boop cartoon, Minnie the Moocher. The cartoon features a live-action sequence of Calloway and his orchestra performing an instrumental rendition of "St. James Infirmary". In the cartoon, Betty Boop runs away from her strict immigrant parents, and in a cave, encounters a walrus-like apparition (voiced by Calloway) who sings "Minnie the Moocher".
"Minnie the Moocher" has also made appearances in other films, including Rhythm and Blues Revue (1955), Forbidden Zone, Double Jeopardy (1999), and When You're in Love (1937), showcasing its enduring popularity and cultural impact.
Electric Patient Lifts: Medicare Coverage Explained
You may want to see also
