Umair Gaines
The Electric Company was an educational children's television series that aired from 1971 to 1977. The show, which was produced by the Children's Television Workshop (CTW), employed sketch comedy, musical performances, and animated shorts to build the academic and social skills of children. The Electric Company Theme Song, also known as Feel the Power, was composed by Gary William Friedman and written by Clark Gesner, Joe Raposo, Eric Rogers, and Tom Lehrer, among others. The song's lyrics have been retained across various international versions, including British English, Arabic, Turkish, and Finnish.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Songwriters | Clark Gesner, Joe Raposo, Eric Rogers, Gary William Friedman, Tom Lehrer |
| Song | "LY" |
| Singer | Tom Lehrer |
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What You'll Learn
Tom Lehrer composed the 'LY' song
Tom Lehrer, a satirist and pianist, composed several language-themed songs for the original run of The Electric Company, including the "LY" song. Lehrer wrote a total of 10 songs for the series, including other well-known songs like "Silent E" and "N Apostrophe T." These songs were designed to teach children about language in a fun and engaging way, and they have certainly left a lasting impression on those who grew up watching the show.
The "LY" song, in particular, has a memorable animation sequence that brings the song to life. In it, a secret agent, who's after a secret plan, must act in a way that doesn't blow his cover. The song goes:
> You're a secret agent man
> Who's after the secret plan
> How do you act so they don't know you're a spy?
> Ah-normally (whistles) normally (whistles again) Normal... L-Y!
The "LY" song is a great example of how Lehrer used his talent for satire and language to create catchy and educational songs that have stood the test of time. His compositions for The Electric Company are considered some of his best work and have undoubtedly contributed to the show's enduring legacy.
Lehrer's songs were not only limited to language-themed tunes, however. He also wrote the well-known "Elements Song," which teaches kids about the periodic table in a fun and memorable way. This song, along with his others, has likely contributed to the fond memories that many people have of The Electric Company.
Overall, Tom Lehrer's compositions for The Electric Company, including the "LY" song, are a testament to his skill as a songwriter and his ability to create catchy and educational music for children. His songs have undoubtedly left a lasting impact on generations of viewers and continue to be enjoyed and celebrated today.
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Clark Gesner wrote several songs
Gesner's best-remembered contributions to The Electric Company were his sing-along songs that accompanied a montage of signs from around New York City. These songs were designed to teach children reading comprehension and have become time capsules of the era's culture, design, and technologies. One of his most popular songs, "The Sign Song", features common sights of 1970s New York City, with lyrics like, "Jane Street, Jones Street, Park Avenue. No Right Turn, No Left Turn. What can you do?"
Gesner also composed music for You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, and his popular-song compositions have earned him recognition from the New York Park Association. He joined ASCAP in 1962, and his compositions for The Electric Company remain beloved by fans of the show.
The Electric Company featured many other talented composers, including Joe Raposo, Tom Lehrer, Gary William Friedman, and Eric Rogers. The show's extensive use of early computer-generated imagery, particularly the Scanimate system, also contributed to its innovative and memorable presentation.
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Eric Rogers composed the theme song
While Rogers played a significant role in the show's music, there were several other notable composers and songwriters who contributed to The Electric Company. Tom Lehrer, for example, wrote numerous songs for the show, including the memorable "L-Y" song, which featured a catchy animation sequence. Lehrer's other songs for the show include "Silent E," which playfully explores the impact of adding an "E" to words, and "N Apostrophe T," a duet showcasing the addition of "n't" to create negatives.
Clark Gesner also contributed to the series, writing several songs, including most of the sign songs. Joe Raposo, famous for his work on Sesame Street, served as the music director for seasons 1-3 and composed songs throughout the show's run. Gary William Friedman, known for his work on the Broadway rock opera "The Me Nobody Knows," took over as music director and composer for Season 4 and wrote approximately 40 songs for the show.
The Electric Company was known for its innovative use of early computer-generated imagery, particularly the Scanimate system, which was used to present words with particular sounds. The show's original soundtrack album, released on Warner Bros. Records, even won a Grammy Award for the cast's musical performances. The show's musical sequences have clearly left a lasting impression on viewers, with many fondly recalling the catchy songs decades later.
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Gary William Friedman was a music director and composer
Friedman's career included writing the music for the hit Broadway rock opera, 'The Me Nobody Knows'. For The Electric Company, he followed in the footsteps of Joe Raposo, who was the music director for seasons 1-3, and Clark Gesner, who wrote several songs for the series.
Other notable composers for The Electric Company included Tom Lehrer, a satirist and pianist who wrote around 10 songs for the show, including the popular "L-Y" song, and Eric Rogers, who composed the music for the DePatie-Freleng cartoons in the '70s and additional music for 260 episodes of the show.
The Electric Company was known for its innovative use of early computer-generated imagery, particularly the Scanimate video-synthesizer system, which was often used to present words with particular sounds. The show's extensive use of music and its unique visual style made it a memorable part of many viewers' childhoods, with its musical sequences proving difficult to forget.
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Joe Raposo was the music director for seasons 1-3
Joe Raposo was a composer and songwriter, best known for his work on the children's television series Sesame Street. He wrote the theme song for Sesame Street, as well as classic songs such as "Bein' Green", "C Is For Cookie", and "Sing". Raposo also composed music for television shows like The Electric Company, Shining Time Station, and the sitcoms Three's Company and The Ropers, including their theme songs.
Raposo was the music director for The Electric Company for seasons 1-3 and wrote songs for the show throughout its entire run. He was known to have a considerable stylistic ambition during his tenure as music director, which lent Sesame Street its trademark extreme musical diversity. Raposo led CTW to pop-record production values and generally enforced adult musical sophistication for all content he supervised.
Raposo was born in Fall River, Massachusetts, the only child of Portuguese immigrant parents. His father, Joseph Soares Raposo, was a music teacher and conductor, and his mother was Maria da Ascenção Vitorino Raposo. Raposo initially majored in law at Harvard College, graduating in 1958, but soon began performing as a jazz piano accompanist. He also studied at the École Normale de Musique in Paris with Nadia Boulanger instead of going on to law school.
Raposo worked in musical theater both before and after his work for the Children's Television Workshop and Sesame Street. It was in musical theater that he first encountered his future collaborator, Jim Henson. Raposo contributed significantly to the musical landscape of children's television, leaving a lasting impact on the shows he worked on.
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Frequently asked questions
Many talented artists and songwriters contributed songs to The Electric Company. Some of the composers include Clark Gesner, Joe Raposo, Gary William Friedman, and Tom Lehrer.
Tom Lehrer composed several language-themed songs for the show, including "Silent E", "L-Y", and "N Apostrophe T".
The "L-Y" song is a memorable tune about adverbs. Here's an excerpt from the song: "You're a secret agent man/ Who's after the secret plan/ How do you act so they don't know you're a spy?/ Ah-normally (whistles) normally (whistles again) Normal... L-Y!"
Yes, Tom Lehrer is known for writing and performing satirical songs such as "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park".
