"Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?" is a popular song written by
Frank Churchill
Frank Edwin Churchill (October 20, 1901 – May 14, 1942) was an American film composer and songwriter. He wrote most of the music for films directed by Walt Disney, such as ''Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'', ''Dumbo'', ''Bambi'', '' The Adve ...
with additional lyrics by
Ann Ronell
Ann Ronell (née Rosenblatt; December 25, 1905 — December 25, 1993) was an American composer and lyricist. She was best known for the standards "Willow Weep for Me" (1932) and "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf" (1933).
Early life
Ronell was bor ...
,
which originally featured in the 1933
Disney
The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was originally founded on October ...
cartoon
A cartoon is a type of visual art that is typically drawn, frequently animated, in an unrealistic or semi-realistic style. The specific meaning has evolved over time, but the modern usage usually refers to either: an image or series of images ...
''
Three Little Pigs
"The Three Little Pigs" is a fable about three pigs who build three houses of different materials. A Big Bad Wolf blows down the first two pigs' houses which made of straw and sticks respectively, but is unable to destroy the third pig's house ...
'', where it was sung by Fiddler Pig and Fifer Pig (voiced by
Mary Moder
Mary Moder (1905 – 1993) was an American voice actress for The Walt Disney Company known for the voice of the Fiddler Pig in the ''Three Little Pigs'' short subjects. She was a member of the vocal trio the Rhythmettes, which also included Bonni ...
and
Dorothy Compton
Dorothy Compton was an American voice actress born in the early 1900s. An early friend of Walt Disney, she made her first acting debut in ''The Three Little Pigs'' (1933) as the voice of Fifer Pig. From 1933 onward she made more appearances in th ...
, respectively)
as they arrogantly believe the
Big Bad Wolf
The Big Bad Wolf is a fictional wolf appearing in several cautionary tales that include some of ''Grimms' Fairy Tales.'' Versions of this character have appeared in numerous works, and it has become a generic archetype of a menacing predatory a ...
(voiced by
Billy Bletcher
William Bletcher (September 24, 1894 – January 5, 1979) was an American actor. He was known for voice roles for various classic animated characters, most notably Pete in Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse short films and the Big Bad Wolf in Disney' ...
) is not a serious threat.
[ The song created a market for future Disney tunes and led to a contract with ''Irving Berlin Publishing Co.'' that same year, securing the sheet music rights over ''Mickey Mouse and the Silly Symphonies''.]TIME magazine
''Time'' (stylized in all caps) is an American news magazine based in New York City. For nearly a century, it was published weekly, but starting in March 2020 it transitioned to every other week. It was first published in New York City on Mar ...
''Piglets' Tune''
September 25, 1933. The song's theme made it a huge hit
Hit means to strike someone or something.
Hit or HIT may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media Fictional entities
* Hit, a fictional character from '' Dragon Ball Super''
* Homicide International Trust, or HIT, a fictional organization ...
during the second half of 1933 and it remains one of the most well-known Disney songs, being covered by numerous artists and musical groups.
Re-use by Disney
The song was reused in the sequels to ''Three Little Pigs'', and its writing was re-enacted in the "Cavalcade of Songs" episode on the ''Disneyland'' television series in 1955. It featured in the ''Sing Along Songs'' video ''I Love to Laugh'' and has been included in numerous Disney recordings.
Disneyland Records produced a re-recording of the song in 1958, released concurrently as a single in Disney's "Wonderful Records" series of 45s and on the Mickey Mouse Club LP "Four Disney Stories," conducted by Tutti Camarata
Salvador "Tutti" Camarata (May 11, 1913 – April 13, 2005) was an American composer, arranger, trumpeter, and record producer. Also known as "Toots" Camarata.
Early life and career
Camarata, born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, United States, and s ...
. It was a re-enactment of the original cartoon in audio, with noticeable differences being all three pigs voiced by Gloria Wood
Gloria Wood (September 8, 1923 – March 4, 1995) was an American singer and voice actress. Her rare voice was in the four- octave range. She was able to imitate other voices.
Background and career
Born in Medford, Massachusetts in 1923, her fa ...
(unlike the originals, where Practical Pig was voiced by Pinto Colvig
Vance DeBar Colvig Sr. (September 11, 1892 – October 3, 1967), professionally Pinto Colvig, was an American voice actor, newspaper cartoonist, and circus and vaudeville performer whose schtick was playing the clarinet off-key while mugging. Co ...
), the Big Bad Wolf having a more menacing voice (this time by Jimmy MacDonald), and a few additional verses and dialogue that was not present in the original cartoon. This version was also released on an album in the early 1960s entitled "The Story and Songs of Walt Disney's Three Little Pigs" and a few other compilation albums, and also included on Disney's read-along book-and-audio adaptations of the cartoon.
Contextual similarities
Significant similarities can be found in the British early 20th century chasing game ''Who's Afraid of Black Peter?''[Iona Archibald Opie, Peter Opie: ''Black Peter.'' In: ''Children's Games in Street and Playground.'' At the Clarendon Press, Oxford 1969, pp. 130–131.] which is based on the ancient children's game of Black Man (''Who Is Afraid of the Black Man?'') that had been described in 1796 by German educator Johann Christoph Friedrich GutsMuths
Johann Christoph Friedrich GutsMuths, also called Guts Muth or Gutsmuths (9 August 1759 – 21 May 1839), was a teacher and educator in Germany, and is especially known for his role in the development of physical education. He is thought of a ...
. In the game the catcher asks the runners "Who's Afraid of Black Peter?", whereupon the runners answer "Not I!". After the dialogue ''Black Man'' or ''Black Peter'' seek to catch their victims.
German historian and non-fiction author Susanna Partsch confirms a possible connection between the game of ''Black Man'' and Ronell's and Churchill's lyrical concept[Susanna Partsch: ''Wer hat Angst vor Rot, Gelb, Blau?'' In: ''Die 101 wichtigsten Fragen. Moderne Kunst.'' Verlag C.H. Beck, München 2006, , p. 60.] while Isabel Vollmuth, Portuguese-German professor at the Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies (University of Applied Sciences in Landshut), describes ''Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?'' as an offshoot of the game-based children's rhyme. Additionally, the song was the inspiration for the title of Edward Albee
Edward Franklin Albee III ( ; March 12, 1928 – September 16, 2016) was an American playwright known for works such as ''The Zoo Story'' (1958), '' The Sandbox'' (1959), ''Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?'' (1962), '' A Delicate Balance'' (1966) ...
's 1962 stage play ''Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
''Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?'' is a play by Edward Albee first staged in October 1962. It examines the complexities of the marriage of a middle-aged couple, Martha and George. Late one evening, after a university faculty party, they receive ...
''
Cover versions
LL Cool J version
"Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?" was covered by American rapper LL Cool J
James Todd Smith (born January 14, 1968), known professionally as LL Cool J (short for Ladies Love Cool James), is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He is one of the earliest rappers to achieve commercial success, along ...
on the Disney
The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was originally founded on October ...
album '' Simply Mad About the Mouse: A Musical Celebration of Imagination''. It was released as a single in 1991 for Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music, Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese Conglomerate (company), conglomerate Sony. It was founded on Janua ...
and was produced by DJ Eddie F and LL Cool J. It sampled Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over a ...
's "Billie Jean
"Billie Jean" is a song by American singer Michael Jackson, released by Epic Records on January 2, 1983, as the second single from his sixth studio album, '' Thriller'' (1982). It was written and composed by Jackson and produced by Jackson and ...
". LL Cool J's version did not make it to the ''Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'' charts.
Charlie and his Orchestra
Charlie and his Orchestra (also referred to as the "Templin band" and "Bruno and His Swinging Tigers") were a Nazi-sponsored German propaganda swing band. Jazz music styles were seen by Nazi authorities as rebellious but, ironically, propaganda mi ...
recorded a German version in English during World War II with propaganda lyrics.
Track listing
A-side
# "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?" – 3:50
B-side
# "I Need A Beat" – 4:31
# "I Can't Live Without My Radio" – 5:27
Charts
Other cover versions
The song has been covered by many artists, including:[
* In 1933 by Harry Reser and his Eskimos with vocal by Loretta Clemens /Perfect Records #15827-A/ Recorded September 26, 1933
* In 1933 by American ]jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...
violinist Ben Bernie
Benjamin Anzelwitz, known professionally as Ben Bernie (May 30, 1891 – October 23, 1943),DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). ''Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960''. McFarland & Company, Inc. . P. ...
.
* In 1933 by American bandleader Don Bestor
Don Bestor (September 23, 1889 - January 13, 1970) was an American bandleader, probably best known for directing the orchestra in the early years of ''The Jack Benny Program'' on old-time radio.DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). ''Radio Stars: An Illustrat ...
.
* In 1933 by American composer Victor Young
Albert Victor Young (August 8, 1899– November 10, 1956)"Victor Young, Composer, Dies of Heart Attack", ''Oakland Tribune'', November 12, 1956. was an American composer, arranger, violinist and conductor.
Biography
Young is commonly said to ...
.
* In 1934, it was sung by Warren William
Warren William (born Warren William Krech; December 2, 1894 – September 24, 1948) was a Broadway and Hollywood actor, immensely popular during the early 1930s; he was later nicknamed the "King of Pre-Code". He was the first actor to play Perry ...
and Ginger Rogers
Ginger Rogers (born Virginia Katherine McMath; July 16, 1911 – April 25, 1995) was an American actress, dancer and singer during the Classical Hollywood cinema, Golden Age of Hollywood. She won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her starri ...
in the Warner Brothers
Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American Film studio, film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank, Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, Califo ...
film Upperworld.
* In 1934 by French singer Jean Sablon
Jean Sablon (Nogent-sur-Marne 25 March 1906 – Cannes 24 February 1994) was a French singer, songwriter, composer and actor. He was one of the first French singers to immerse himself in jazz. The man behind several songs by big French and Amer ...
entitled "Prenez Garde Au Méchant Loup!".
* In 1934 by Three X Sisters
The Three X Sisters were an American all-girl harmony singing trio initially known as The Hamilton Sisters and Fordyce. They were on stage singing together in New York City, on Broadway, as early as 1922 and formed their trio in 1924, which was com ...
vocals on movie soundtrack "Six of a Kind" w/ W.C. Fields.
* Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ellington was based ...
, an American pianist and composer.
* Rita Pavone
Rita Pavone (; born August 23, 1945) is an Italian-Swiss ballad and rock singer and actress, who enjoyed success through the 1960s.
Singing career
She was born in Turin, Italy. In 1962 she participated in, and won, the first Festival degli Scon ...
, an Italian rock/ballad singer.
* In 1936 by Fredo Gardoni, Manuel Puig and their orchestra as a foxtrot
The foxtrot is a smooth, progressive dance characterized by long, continuous flowing movements across the dance floor. It is danced to big band (usually vocal) music. The dance is similar in its look to waltz, although the rhythm is in a tim ...
.
* In 1955 by Jack Pleis
Jack K. Pleis (May 11, 1917 – December 5, 1990) was an American jazz pianist, arranger, conductor, composer and producer. He recorded on London and Decca Records in the 1950s, and Columbia Records in the 1960s. During the course of his career, ...
(and His Orchestra) on his album ''Music from Disneyland''.
* In 1961 by Pinky and Perky
''Pinky and Perky'' is a children's television series first broadcast by BBC TV in 1957, and revived in 2008 as a computer-animated adaptation.
Original series
The title characters are a pair of anthropomorphic puppet pigs, named Pinky and ...
, an animated children's TV series on the 7-inch record
In music, a single is a type of release, typically a song recording of fewer tracks than an LP record or an album. One can be released for sale to the public in a variety of formats. In most cases, a single is a song that is released separat ...
''Children's Favourites''.
* In 1963 by American singer Barbra Streisand
Barbara Joan "Barbra" Streisand (; born April 24, 1942) is an American singer, actress and director. With a career spanning over six decades, she has achieved success in multiple fields of entertainment, and is among the few performers List ...
on her album ''The Barbra Streisand Album
''The Barbra Streisand Album'' is the debut album by Barbra Streisand, released February 25, 1963, on Columbia Records, catalogue CL 2007 in mono and CS 8807 in stereo. It peaked at #8 on the Billboard pop albums chart, and has been certified a g ...
''.
* In 1985 as a musical sample refrain throughout Schoolly D
Jesse Bonds Weaver Jr. (born June 22, 1962), better known by the stage name Schoolly D (sometimes spelled Schooly D), is an American rapper from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Career
Schoolly D teamed up with DJ Code Money in the mid-1980s. His ...
's rap song ''Do It Do It''.
* Chucho Avellanet
Chucho Avellanet, nicknamed "Chucho", is a Puerto Rican singer and comedic actor of Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
**Spanish language, spoken in Spa ...
, a Puerto Rican singer and comedian.
* In 2006 by American R&B boy band
A boy band is loosely defined as a vocal group consisting of young male singers, usually in their teenage years or in their twenties at the time of formation. Generally, boy bands perform Love song, love songs marketed towards girls and young ...
B5 on the album ''DisneyMania 4
''Disneymania 4'' is the fourth in the ''Disneymania'' series. This is the second ''Disneymania'' album with the Disney Channel Circle of Stars (though the album just calls them "Disney Channel Stars"), with a few additions, such as Dylan and Cole ...
''.
* In 2007 by German musician Max Raabe
Max Raabe (born Matthias Otto, 12 December 1962) is a German jazz singer. He is best known as the founder and leader of the Palast Orchester.
Career
Raabe developed an interest in the sound of German dance and film music of the 1920s and 193 ...
and his Palast Orchester
The Palast Orchester (literal translation, Palace Orchestra) is a German orchestra, based in Berlin, constituted in the manner of dance bands of the 1920s and 1930s. Its repertoire specialises in cabaret and popular songs of the Weimar period in G ...
on the album "Heute Nacht oder nie", and as a regular song on their setlist.
References
{{Authority control
1933 songs
1991 singles
LL Cool J songs
Disney songs
Barbra Streisand songs
Songs written by Ann Ronell
Songs with music by Frank Churchill
Music published by Bourne Co. Music Publishers
Songs about wolves
Songs based on fairy tales
Works based on The Three Little Pigs
New jack swing songs
Columbia Records singles
Quotations from film
Quotations from music
Quotations from animation
Walt Disney Records singles
1930s neologisms