and a quick observation

[spatch]

I just realized the Sesame Street ref I dropped in the earlier bit (the "One of these things is not like the other" game song) had a very small lyric change to it at some point, but the meaning was changed entirely.

I mean, the original game featured a shot of four objects: three were alike and one was different, and the accompanying song went something like this:

Three of these things belong together
Three of these things are kind of the same
But one of these things just doesn't belong here
Now it's time to play our game...

How exclusionary! Someone must've realized this at some point -- hey kids! Point out the different thing that doesn't belong! -- and thus the game was changed. Then, instead of three like objects and one different, they showed three kids performing roughly the same activity: jump-roping or something, and a fourth kid doing something different, like maybe hula-hooping. And the lyrics were only slightly altered:

Three of these kids belong together
Three of these kids are kind of the same
But of one these kids is doing their own thing
Now it's time to play our game...

And check it out! Now, instead of guessing the outsider, you're challenged to find the unique one because, in true 1970s fashion, doing your own thing is all right, Jack. (Hell, it's still all right, Jack. Do your own thing and let your freak flag fly!) But I think it's so very interesting that with a slight change in lyrics, the same task is seen from a different perspective and takes on positive connotations.

That's pretty cool.

(But Sony's still wrong.)

Comments

[ubiquity75.livejournal.com]

The song, as I recall it, is:

One of these things is not like the other
One of these things just doesn't belong
can you guess which thing is not like the others
before I finish this song

/old

[spatch]

THAT DOESN'T BELONG!

oh, wai


I remember the second verse always finished with "Can you guess which thing is (not like the other|doing their own thing) / Before my song is done? -- And now my song is done!"

[violacat.livejournal.com]

I remember the one ubiquity said, and I remember a version which went

One of these things is not like the others
Which one is different, do you know?
Can you tell me which thing is not like the others
And I'll tell you if it is so!

Which goes along with the non-judgmentality of your second example.

It's possible this version never actually existed in other people's reality, mind you. I'm the thing that wasn't like the others. :)

[ubiquity75.livejournal.com]

That's a different, funkier tune. I wish I had a mic and could just sing this into it or something.

[dimloep-suum.livejournal.com]

That's how I remember--and still sing--that song.

[ubiquity75.livejournal.com]

Word.

[lexinatrix.livejournal.com]

I recall this version, as well as the second "inclusionary" verse in Spatch's post. I was raised deeply entrenched in the "Free to be You and Me" ethos, so the latter verse is the one that comes to mind first.

"I am a tender sweet young thing!" "Far out," said the Tiger Prince.

[spatch]

I was raised deeply entrenched in the "Free to be You and Me" ethos

I can recite so many of those poems and songs by memory. If worked up enough, I can even do a pretty decent Carol Channing talking about detergents or soaps or cleansers or cleaners or powders or pastes or waxes or bleaches.

Re: "I am a tender sweet young thing!" "Far out," said the Tiger Prince.

[spatch]

...which, now that I think about it, taught me to be skeptical about TV commercials at such an early age.

God bless you, Carol Channing, for planting the seeds of culture jamming!

[muse0fire.livejournal.com]

I remember the lyrics more like this, but slightly different:

One of these things is not like the other
One of these things just doesn't belong
Can you tell which one is not like the other
By the time I finish my song

/also old

[rosalux.livejournal.com]

I remember it as "just doesn't belong" as well, and I can tell you that the ep we watched Saturday morning definitely said "just isn't the same".

You should do some research to see if we all remember it correctly or not, Spatch. We're depending on you.

[coconuthead.livejournal.com]

There's like 5 million versions, seriously, but I think they can be roughly divided into two different groups.

There's the doo doo doo one, "by the time I finish my song":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FClGhto1vIg

And the "now it's time to play our game" version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCMA_5nK_G0&mode=related&search=

[invisibelle.livejournal.com]

To me, it makes a difference if you're talking about objects or people. I have no trouble with the original song if you're talking about 3 blue square blocks and one green triangular block.

"this is the town and these are the people..."

[spatch]

Yeah, but think of how the green triangular block must feel!

Ch-ch-ch-changes

[morgaine723.livejournal.com]

I recently watched some "Best Of" episodes with my kids, and I can testify that the song changed several times over the span of the show. Probably all of the versions listed here were aired at one point or another.

(I hate the new short-attention-span-format, though.)

Re: Ch-ch-ch-changes

[ron_newman]

I haven't see the show in years, but wasn't "short attention span" a theme from the beginning? The show was directly inspired by Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In on NBC.