Welcome to Muppet Wiki!
 | |
| Music by | Joe Raposo |
| Lyrics by | Jon Stone and Joe Raposo |
| Date | 1970 |
| Publisher | Instructional Children's Music Inc. Jonico Music Inc. |
| First | Episode 0096 |
"ABC-DEF-GHI" is a Sesame Street song sung by Big Bird, which was first performed in show's first season and re-recorded several times. In skits featuring this song, Big Bird sees the alphabet (often, written on a board or a sign) and interprets it as a long word that he doesn't understand. He sings it aloud, pronouncing it "ab-ca-def-gi-jeckle-mi-nop-kwer-stoov-wix-iz," attempting to decipher whatever meaning this word may have. He is eventually reassured by the adults that "ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ" is not a word but the alphabet.
Performances
| Image | Year | Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
1970 | Sesame Street (First: Episode 0096)
Big Bird learns words by reading signs all over Sesame Street, and points Susan to a sign in the Arbor, segueing into the song.
| ||
 |
1970 | The Sesame Street Book & Record
Sung by Big Bird, the opening and closing dialogue with Gordon and Susan is omitted on most subsequent album releases.
| ||
 |
1970 | The Flip Wilson Show
Big Bird sings the song and dances with Flip Wilson, who tells him that the word can mean anything he wants it to mean. | ||
 |
1971 | Evening at Pops
Big Bird performs the song with Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops. | ||
 |
1972 | Sesame Street (EKA: Episode 0535)
The song is retaped with Big Bird reading the alphabet signs plastered around his nest area. This version uses audio from The Sesame Street Book & Record. Excerpts of this version are seen in the specials Sesame Street Unpaved and A&E Biography: Sesame Street | ||
 |
1974 | You Will Be My Music
The song was covered by the Boston Pops, conducted by Arthur Fiedler. This performance was later included on Wish Upon a Star: All-Time Children's Favorites (1996). | ||
 |
1980 | Sesame Street Episode 1446
In a classroom, Big Bird reads out the alphabet banner and tries to guess what it means. Audio from the original first season recording is used when Big Bird performs the song. | ||
 |
1986 | Favorite Songs From Jim Henson's Muppets
A new recording of the song, sung by Big Bird, performed in a different key and with synth percussion instruments. | ||
 |
1987 | Big Bird and the ABCs (Sesame Street Live)
Sung by Tee Hee and Big Bird. | ||
| 1980s | Sesame Street (EKA: Episode 2453)
The song is retaped again with Big Bird and two kids, Erica and Jessica, finding a scroll of the alphabet in his toy chest, which leads to a flashback sequence of him singing the song. The prologue is often removed on video releases.
| |||
 |
1989 | Sesame Street Episode 2616
Sung by Elmo.
| ||
 |
1998 | Elmopalooza
Sung by Big Bird, as part of the "Songs" medley. | ||
 |
2000 | Sesame Street Episode 3875
Sung by Stinky the Stinkweed and Big Bird. | ||
 |
2003 | Sesame Street Episode 4031
Big Bird sings the song as part of "Karaoke Night at Hooper's," hosted by Alan. | ||
 |
2000s | Plaza Sésamo
Abelardo Montoya sings the song after seeing Manuel and Daniela make some letters.
|
Publications
- Sesame Street Songbook Vol. 1
- The Sesame Street Song Book (1971, 1992 and 2007 editions)
- Favorite Songs from Jim Henson's Muppets (1986)