# Dayum! "Sesame Street" really used to Rock & Roll! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 6, 2010, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayum-sesame-street-really-used-to-rock-roll/523907 "2010-01-06T15:38:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayum-sesame-street-really-used-to-rock-roll/523907/1 "2010-01-06T15:38:11Z")
Somebody showed me this clip and I just had to share it: [Stevie Wonder](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ul7X5js1vE) just wailing on an early “Sesame Street” - yes, Sesame Street! - episode. And I love the kids on the balcony grooving away to it. Just awesome. How come they don’t make kids’ shows like this anymore? ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayum-sesame-street-really-used-to-rock-roll/523907/2 "2010-01-06T15:43:38Z")
Maybe the songs were better then. Here’s James Taylor on Sesame Street with, um, someone I know. [WARNING: Little kids singing loudly.] [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hjNteHSCCSg/hqdefault.jpg "Jelly Man Kelly (James Taylor on Sesame St.)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjNteHSCCSg) This will stick in your head for hours and I apologize, but it’s pretty cool, no? ---
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayum-sesame-street-really-used-to-rock-roll/523907/3 "2010-01-06T16:09:34Z")
I think you might like pancake mountain: [http://pancakemountain.com/](http://pancakemountain.com/) ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayum-sesame-street-really-used-to-rock-roll/523907/4 "2010-01-06T16:36:06Z")
Not only did it rock but it’s been hip when it was hip to be hep. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/esnDnIK2v1g/hqdefault.jpg "Classic Sesame Street - Cab Calloway sings "Hi De Ho Man"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esnDnIK2v1g) ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayum-sesame-street-really-used-to-rock-roll/523907/5 "2010-01-06T18:49:19Z")
I haven’t seen the show recently, but recall [Los Lobos](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhzh2LHPzOo) doing a song for them circa 1993. The Red Hot Chili Peppers wanted to do a bit for them, but some unfortunate legal troubles derailed the appearance. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayum-sesame-street-really-used-to-rock-roll/523907/6 "2010-01-06T19:22:43Z")
> [@The New and Improved Superman](#): > > Somebody showed me this clip and I just had to share it: [Stevie Wonder](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ul7X5js1vE) just wailing on an early “Sesame Street” - yes, Sesame Street! - episode. And I love the kids on the balcony grooving away to it. Just awesome. How come they don’t make kids’ shows like this anymore? Before I looked, I knew this was gonna be that crazy little girl groovin’ to Superstition… Joe ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayum-sesame-street-really-used-to-rock-roll/523907/7 "2010-01-06T19:34:07Z")
REM’s Fury Happy Monsters: Totally rocked. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/3BVSvjOY4g4/hqdefault.jpg "Furry Happy Monsters") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BVSvjOY4g4) ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayum-sesame-street-really-used-to-rock-roll/523907/8 "2010-01-06T20:07:40Z")
[Don’t Eat The Pictures](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don't_Eat_the_Pictures_(special)) was one of my favorite movies when I was younger. Heck, I’d probably still love it now. I’d certainly understand more of the jokes (“Osiris is the lord of the underworld.” “You mean he’s a gangster?”) ---
**Author:** ![3\_20\_59\_or\_bust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/47e85d/32.png) [@3\_20\_59\_or\_bust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3_20_59_or_bust)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayum-sesame-street-really-used-to-rock-roll/523907/9 "2010-01-06T23:24:03Z")
> [@The New and Improved Superman](#): > > Somebody showed me this clip and I just had to share it: [Stevie Wonder](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ul7X5js1vE) just wailing on an early “Sesame Street” - yes, Sesame Street! - episode. And I love the kids on the balcony grooving away to it. Just awesome. How come they don’t make kids’ shows like this anymore? Well…sometimes they try to make kids’ shows like this. In 2006, Cartoon Network had a show on called “Class of 3000” with Andre 3000 from Outkast, and it had some REALLY cool songs on it, but it bombed and was gone in two seasons. Frankly, except for the songs, the show pretty much sucked. The art was different and cool, but the storylines were tired and the writing sort of boring. Still, check out “[Throwdown](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_vfL1AJMTw)” sometime. Good song. ---
**Author:** ![Auntbeast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Auntbeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Auntbeast)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayum-sesame-street-really-used-to-rock-roll/523907/10 "2010-01-06T23:52:50Z")
I would have bet my life savings ($4) that that was the video you were going to link to. It is well and truly awesome. The Electric Company has had some really good music on it lately. As a matter of fact, I’m rather mad at their website for not letting me find out who the guests are or even who the Music Man is. ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2010, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayum-sesame-street-really-used-to-rock-roll/523907/11 "2010-01-07T00:06:17Z")
> [@The New and Improved Superman](#): > > How come they don’t make kids’ shows like this anymore? My theory? It’s 'cause Jim Henson isn’t around anymore. Totally reinforced when I saw the Jim Henson exhibit at Seattle’s Experience Music Project last fall. Dude was the coolest _evar._ This is what I immediately thought of when I read the thread title, though I don’t think Henson had anything to do with it: [Pointers Sisters’ 12](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZshZp-cxKg) Though I _should_ have thought of this one, which Henson did do: [Rocks roll in desert 12](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2zuez3VK1U) Some of his pre-Sesame Street work, which also rocks: [Jim Henson’s Time Piece](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OG9v-YkqMj0) ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2010, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayum-sesame-street-really-used-to-rock-roll/523907/12 "2010-01-07T00:24:30Z")
3 [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgoSGHBAQEY) by Grace Slick and company ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2010, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayum-sesame-street-really-used-to-rock-roll/523907/13 "2010-01-07T01:25:25Z")
> [@emmaliminal](#): > > My theory? It’s 'cause Jim Henson isn’t around anymore. Jim Henson is almost a god to me, but Sesame Street still does stuff with cool current music. My favorite recent one is Feist’s [1,2,3,4](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fciD_II7NI). Not only is it a good song, but you got to love the choreography and the camera angles. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2010, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayum-sesame-street-really-used-to-rock-roll/523907/14 "2010-01-07T01:31:01Z")
\*"\*\*We all live in a capital I In the middle of the desert In the center of the sky And all day long we polish on the I To keep it clean and shiny So it brightens up the sky Rubbing it here And scrubbing it there Polishing the I So high in the air \*_"_ ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2010, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayum-sesame-street-really-used-to-rock-roll/523907/15 "2010-01-07T01:38:38Z")
I see you one Stevie Wonder and raise you… [LITTLE RICHARD SINGING RUBBER DUCKY](http://lostnewyorkcity.blogspot.com/2009/12/ginos-to-close-on-dec-31.html) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2010, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayum-sesame-street-really-used-to-rock-roll/523907/16 "2010-01-07T01:49:52Z")
Is that Blue Lou Marini playing sax in Stevie’s band? ---
**Author:** ![breezman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@breezman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/breezman)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2010, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayum-sesame-street-really-used-to-rock-roll/523907/17 "2010-01-07T02:02:18Z")
> [@The New and Improved Superman](#): > > Stevie Wonder just wailing on an early “Sesame Street” If you like that clip, you’ll love [this one](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9b_KRfJlAZE) of Stevie on Sesame Street. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2010, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayum-sesame-street-really-used-to-rock-roll/523907/18 "2010-01-07T02:11:20Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > Not only did it rock but it’s been hip when it was hip to be hep. > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esnDnIK2v1g](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esnDnIK2v1g) That. Was. Awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2010, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayum-sesame-street-really-used-to-rock-roll/523907/19 "2010-01-07T02:48:48Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > \*"\*\*We all live in a capital I > In the middle of the desert > In the center of the sky > And all day long we polish on the I > To keep it clean and shiny > So it brightens up the sky > Rubbing it here > And scrubbing it there > Polishing the I > So high in the air \*_"_ Oh man! I loved all that music when I was a kid! I’d totally forgotten about it, but I remember how wistful it made me feel… ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2010, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayum-sesame-street-really-used-to-rock-roll/523907/20 "2010-01-07T04:16:53Z")
> [@freckafree](#): > > That. Was. Awesome. There was never a proper poll asking who was the COOLEST. FREAKIN’. GUY. of the century. If there had been, Cab Calloway would’ve won. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dayum-sesame-street-really-used-to-rock-roll/523907.md?page=2)