I Taut I Taw a Puddy Tat
"I Taut I Taw A Puddy Tat" is a novelty song composed and written by Alan Livingston, Billy May and Warren Foster.[1] It was sung by Mel Blanc, who provided the voice of the bird, Tweety and of his nemesis Sylvester.[2]
"I Taut I Taw A Puddy Tat" | |
---|---|
Single by Mel Blanc and the Billy May Orchestra | |
Released | December 1950 |
Recorded | June 29, 1950 |
Genre | Novelty |
Length | 2:58 |
Label | Capitol |
Songwriter(s) | Alan Livingston, Billy May, Warren Foster |
The lyrics depict the basic formula of the Tweety-Sylvester cartoons released by Warner Bros. throughout the late 1940s into the early 1960s: Tweety wanting to live a contented life, only to be harassed by Sylvester (who is looking to eat the canary), and Tweety's mistress shooing the cat away. Toward the end of the song, the two perform a duet, with Tweety coaxing Sylvester into singing with him after promising that his (Tweety's) mistress won't chase him (Sylvester) away.
"I Taut I Taw A Puddy Tat" reached No. 9 on the Billboard pop chart during a seven-week chart run in February and March 1951, and sold more than 2 million records.[3]
The song was covered by Helen Kane between 1950–51 with Jimmy Carroll & His Orchestra.
Tony Blair had the sheet music for this song upon his piano during the war against Iraq.[4]
In 2011, Warner Bros. created a 3D CGI Looney Tunes short of the same name starring Sylvester, Tweety, and Granny (June Foray in her final theatrical voice acting role before her death in 2017), incorporating Blanc's vocals with brand new animation and music. The short premiered in theaters with Happy Feet Two.[5]
In 2008, British comedian Jeremy Hardy famously sang the lyrics to the tune of "I Vow to Thee, My Country" during a live on stage recording of the BBC Radio 4 panel game I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue.
References
- Sandra Choron; Harry Choron; Arden Moore (2007), Planet Cat, p. 59, ISBN 978-0-618-81259-2
- Robert Andrews (1997), Famous Lines: A Columbia Dictionary of Familiar Quotations, p. 64, ISBN 978-0-231-10218-6
- Aljean Harmetz (November 24, 1988), "Man of a Thousand Voices, Speaking Literally", The New York Times
- Peter Stothard (2004), Thirty Days, p. 61, ISBN 978-0-06-058262-3
- Adam B. Vary (2011), Tweety Bird and Sylvester the Cat do battle in new Looney Tunes short -- EXCLUSIVE CLIP