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

[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=