Well, by the logic of being unqualified due to primacy in other media, you’d have to eliminate half the cartoon bands that were mentioned in this thread, including the Archies, Josie And the Pussycats, Fat Albert,The Beatles and (I think) Kidd Video, and a few NOT mentioned yet, like the Meatballs and Spaghetti, The Partridges in Space and the Muppet Babies.
It just occurred to me. If this is a “Battle of the animated Bands”, then commercial success on the basis of their music seems a relevant criteria. “The Archies” has a Billboard #1 hit with “Sugar, Sugar”. Dunno if the Chipmunks ever hit #1, but most definitely they got airplay.
None of the other contenders that have been mentioned in this thread have I ever heard on the radio. (I’ll disqualify the Beatles cartoon here on the logic they never made the music for the animated series.) Did any of these contenders get serious radio play?
You’ve never heard the Gorillaz?
Clint Eastwood got some major airplay when their first album was out.
Feelgood, Inc (off of their newest) is in an iPod commercial right now.
I don’t think so. Although it may be the sole Top 40 station in this market doesn’t play them. What is the highest they have ever got on the Billboard charts in the US?
Can’t find the highest they charted, but, the current charts put Demon Days as the #6 album after 1 week, and Feelgood, Inc at #28 on the singles charts after 3.
I’ve learned more about Alvin and The Chipmunks Googling during the last twenty minutes than I ever thought possible when I woke up this morning. It seems the prototypical “Chipmunks” song, Witch Doctor was a huge novelty hit that went to #1 and sold more than a million copies in 1958. Continuing with the technique of speeded up voices, the Chipmunks creator devised names and personalities for the characters. Their next hit, The Christmas Song, also went to #1, selling 4 and a half million copies in seven weeks, which may be an all-time record. Then came Ed Sullivan appearances, the toy brands, TV cartoon, etc. The rest you know.
I think we have a winner.
Then the Chipmunks most definitely are the winner, at least so far. The Archies, while “Sugar Sugar” hit #1, were a one hit “band”. While “Sugar Sugar” is one of the most definitive bubblegum rock songs, in the context of this thread they aren’t the winner.
Can anyone say what the biggest Gorillaz hit was? I don’t watch TV. It is possible I am well aware of the hit, but never made the cartoon connection. The same likely happened with lots of people with “Sugar Sugar”. Someone who never watched Saturday morning cartoons might have been oblivious to the fact the song was associated with an animated cartoon.
The Witch Doctor was technically not by the Chipmunks, though. Ross Bagdasarian recorded it under his own pseudonyn, David Seville, then he released “A Chrismas Song” as the Chipmonks.
Other facts about Bagdasarian/Seville:
[li]He was William Saroyan’s cousin. Saroyan won a Pulitzer Prize for his play, “The Time of Your Life.” [/li][li]He and Saroyan co-wrote the number one single “Come on-a My House,” making Saroyan one of the few Pulitizer Prize winning authors with a #1 recording.[/li][li]Bagdasarian was in the original cast of “The Time of Your Life.”[/li][li]Bagdasarian played the man at the piano in the movie “Rear Window.”[/li][/list]
And, much as I admire Bagdsarian, the Beatles are still the champ in this thread.
But the Beatles are cheap champs in this context. Basically the Beatles cartoons were a case where after a band became hugely successful, someone decided to cash in and make an animated series based on them. Most people when they think of the Beatles don’t think of the animated cartoon. (Indeed, statistically probably few who are familiar with the Beatles even are aware of that cartoon.) Whereas with the Chipmunks for most the first thing that comes to mind is the cartoon.
The Beatles winning here is like saying “Star Trek” was the most successful cartoon ever. Yeah, there was briefly that animated series, but really…
Likely Clint Eastwood, the big song off their first album (I prefer 19-2000, personally, but Clint Eastwood’s the one that got all the airplay.). I’m still working on how high it managed to get.
This Blur/Gorillaz site claims Clint Eastwood reached 57 in the US chart (4 in the UK) but Feel Good Inc has gone as high as 17.
Well, I feel it necessary to chime in and mention The Neptunes, but as far as cartoon bands with actual releases, The Chipmunks have to take the cake.
No kidding? Kee-ripes. Figured CE would have gone higher…at least hit the 40.
Now that I’ve had a few moments to think about it, I’m not entirely surprised Feelgood, Inc has been doing better, anymore… It’s a better song, and the group’s more established.
Just downloaded those. Never heard either. Little surprise about “Clint Eastwood”. Any song that makes it to only 57 almost by definition won’t be heard much on Top 40 radio. “Feel Good, Inc.” I might have heard, but I guess in this market the Top 40 station leans more toward other styles.
Opening lyrics to the song “Clint Eastwood” (I had no idea that was the title! The lyrics don’t seem to relate to the tile")-
Hey, I’m happy, I’m feeling glad
I got sunshine in a bag
I’m usless but not for long
The future is coming on
It’s coming on, it’s coming on, it’s coming on, it’s coming
on…
I hope that’s short enough not to violate Board rules yet long enough to help you remember the song. It got more MTV play than radio play I think.
Well, I liked their debut much more than Demon Days (although the latter is still listenable), but that’s a matter of taste.
The Gorillaz are more like the Beatles than the Archies or the Chipmunks. They aren’t really a novelty act, they don’t have a cartoon on TV (not counting their videos), and they are established musicians. Think an alt-rock Travelling Willburies (or however that’s spelled), but with animated alter-egos. Discounting the Beatles, they are also by far the best group mentioned so far, if not the highest selling.
Oh, and I nominate Limozeen. Although they might be disqualified since they were a live act first, then a cartoon. Of course, the live act performs during a cartoon, so…
I prefer Bigg Nife and Taranchula, myself. 
Personally, I enjoy the classic sounds of an hour of chanting. But really, pure public interest is not the only thing about a band to judge them by. There is also how much of a attraction you feel to the band members. (adam yax, and Askia, back in posts 14 and 15, I am looking suspiciously in your direction.)
In my book, there can be only one. Kidd Video. (Not Kidd, the band is the winner, I should say. :smack: ) Why? Consider my reasons:
The Beatles: They don’t really appeal to my tastes, and besides, they were not actually voiced by the real Beatles.
The Archies: Betty and Veronica look identical, besides a difference in hair color. Meh. Neither really appealed to me.
Josie and the Pussycats: “rocked. They had long tails and ears that matched.” as Little Nemo said. However, their costumes were not skimpy enough for my tastes.
Kidd Video: as Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor has said, “Although, Glitter the Pixie , from Kidd Video, is cuter than either Betty or Veronica.” Also, they have Carla a real cute chica.
Rick Springfield: No way, no how does he appeal to me.
The cartoon he was in, and the show of his own, were one & the same. :eek: You can actually buy a Dvd containing five episodes. http://www.toontracker.com/video/dvd154.htm
Fat Albert: :dubious:
The Banana Splits: :dubious:
Gorillaz: I have read Tank Girl, and I tell you sir, neither Stuart Tusspot (2D) or Noodle (?) is Tank Girl, or even Jet Girl. Come to think of it, Jet Girl looked better, to me.
Jem: actually, the members were pretty dammed attractive, in my 80s biased mind.
**Limozeen:**Oh, and none of the Palaroncini bros. really appeal to me.
Of course, if you count actual concerts, only The Beatles, Gorillaz (actual performances, behind a movie screen),Rick Springfield, and Kidd Video (Cite 1, Cite 2 count, to the best of my memory. Sure, Fat Albert was based off a series of Comedy albums, but those aren’t concerts.
Oh, and I was considering clarifying what I meant by animated bands, but you guys are having far to much fun arguing what counts. (Does A-ha count? Not unless the band stared in the video, in an animated sequence. Anyone recall if they did?)
Well despite that awful movie, Jet Girl was played by Australian hottie Naomi Watts, back before anyone knew who she was!
You know, I was aware of that movie, and I agree with you, but actually, I was thinking of how see looked in the comics, personally. Sub Girl wasn’t too bad, either.