One of the most freeing realizations I’ve ever had is understanding that you are not responsible for the content of your imagination. This lesson, learned long ago, possibly from a therapist, a book, or even a fortune cookie, has been particularly impactful for creative individuals. As someone who wrote darker fiction, the line between imagination and personal identity felt blurred. It’s easy to worry that creating dark content reflects something negative within oneself. However, considering the creators of horror literature and films like Stephen King or Clive Barker, it becomes clear that exploring dark themes in imagination doesn’t equate to personal darkness. Growing up in a safe suburban setting, much like the locales in Stephen King’s stories, perhaps fueled the need to explore the “scary world” through writing, a safe distance from direct experience. While my own reading habits have unfortunately declined over time, the power of stories and imagination remains.
It was inevitable that my active mind would also latch onto earworms. While the first earworm is lost to memory, it’s likely something simple like “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” or “Ring Around the Rosie.” Nursery rhymes, often deeply ingrained from childhood, are undeniably potent sources of persistent earworms, potentially shaping our susceptibility to song-based earworms later in life. It would be fascinating to see a study comparing earworm frequency in adults raised with and without nursery rhymes. This is a topic that seems right up the alley of researchers like Chris Dalla Riva.
Animated GIF of Alvin and the Chipmunks dancing, illustrating the energetic and catchy nature of their Witch Doctor song version.
Previously, I’ve explored earworms beyond traditional songs, including jingles, TV themes, and even words themselves:
Beyond Songs: Exploring Different Types of Earworms
Jingles: Catchy advertising tunes that burrow into your brain.
[
Thumbnail for a YouTube video titled 'Jingles That Give You Shingles', discussing earworms beyond songs, like jingles.
Jingles That Give You Shingles by Steve Goldberg
TV Theme Songs: Iconic melodies associated with our favorite shows.
[
The Family Ties That Bind by Steve Goldberg
Word Earworms: Single words or phrases that get stuck in your head.
[
It Took a Lot of Gumption to Write This by Steve Goldberg
However, one category I haven’t yet explored is gibberish earworms.
The World of Gibberish Songs
Gibberish songs, characterized by nonsensical lyrics, span various musical genres. Examples include:
- “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”: From the musical Mary Poppins, a classic example of delightful gibberish.
- “Tikki Tikki Tembo”: Originally a children’s book by Arlene Mosel (1968), later adapted into a song (1971) attributed to Canadian composer Harry Freedman. This seemingly innocent song carries a complex and problematic history, potentially rooted in racist stereotypes and folklore. The story, a variation of the “boy-fell-in-a-well” tale, features a Chinese boy with a lengthy name, Tikki Tikki Tembo-No Sa Rembo-Chari Bari Ruchi-Pip Peri Pembo, whose long name delays his rescue. For deeper understanding, the Wikipedia entry provides further context. While the exact earworm version I recall remains elusive, Shari Lewis’s rendition offers a similar feel and predates the book. The problematic nature of “Tikki Tikki Tembo” is concisely captured in a comedic take by Sabrina Wu.
“Witch Doctor”: A Problematic but Catchy Tune
Another gibberish song with problematic undertones, and the focus of this exploration into inappropriate children’s earworms, is “Witch Doctor.” Released in 1958 and attributed to David Seville (Ross Bagdasarian), “Witch Doctor” is a widely recognized tune, both loved and criticized across generations.
My initial encounter with “Witch Doctor” was likely not the original David Seville version, but the 1968 Alvin and the Chipmunks rendition. This is probably the case for many, excluding those under 35 who are more likely familiar with the 2007 Alvin and the Chipmunks movie version.
While the original 1958 recording includes chipmunk-like background vocals, it wasn’t initially intended for children. The song’s premise revolves around a man seeking a witch doctor’s spell to attract a woman, likely with romantic or sexual intentions.
It wasn’t until three years later that “Witch Doctor” was reimagined for children. Facing financial pressures and the need for a follow-up hit, Seville created Alvin and the Chipmunks, inspired by a chipmunk encounter. The Chipmunks’ version of “Witch Doctor” debuted on the 1960 album Sing Again with The Chipmunks.
The 1959 promotional video for Seville’s original “Witch Doctor” appears more comical than overtly sexist or racist.
However, the 1967 Alvin and the Chipmunks version from The Alvin Show is more difficult to defend in retrospect.
While visually stripping away overt sexual references, the lyrics remain unchanged and are sung by an adult male (Seville). The Chipmunks dancing while donning tribal masks is undeniably cringeworthy today. Although cultural sensitivities differed in the 1960s, the stereotypical portrayal of witch doctors as black members of “primitive” African tribes is hard to ignore.
Despite these problematic aspects, the undeniable catchiness of “Witch Doctor” fueled its success. It topped charts in the US and Canada for three weeks.
Gen Y and Gen Z, if familiar with “Witch Doctor,” likely know the version from the 2007 Alvin and the Chipmunks movie featuring Jason Lee, David Cross, and Jane Lynch. This rendition is often considered significantly inferior and arguably forgettable for actors like Lee and Cross.
For dedicated Chipmunks fans, it’s worth noting the movie spawned three sequels:
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009)
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chip-Wrecked (2011)
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip (2015)
Viewer discretion is advised.
To conclude on a somewhat lighter note, the 1998 cover by the band Cartoons offers a different take on “Witch Doctor.” Whether less irritating than the movie version is subjective, but it strikes a balance between camp and homage.
Promotional image of the band Cartoons, known for their 1998 cover version of the Witch Doctor song, offering a more modern and campy interpretation.
Questions for Readers:
- What other gibberish children’s songs have become earworms for you or your kids?
- What other beloved kids’ songs have not aged well?
- Being out of touch with recent children’s content, what have I missed in the last 25 years?
Stay tuned for a future post exploring rock and roll gibberish earworm songs.
