To me, “No More Kings” is the seminal SR moment. Two American aristocrats are staring at each other holding their teacups, looking extremely pissed off.
Cue music:
During this time, the camera pulls back to reveal more pissy aristocrats holding their teacups. They march in unison towards a dock and empty their cups into the ocean. Then we get surreal for a moment as the blue ocean turns brown and there’s a neat political cartoon-inspired representation of all of them in a teacup floating in the water. The caption tells us we are witnessing The Boston Tea Party.
We, the people, in order to form a more perfect union,
establish justice, insure domestic tranquility-y-y-y,
provide for the common defense,
promote the general welfare a-a-and
secure the blessings of liberty
for ourselves and our posterity,
do ordain and esta-a-ablish this Constitution
of the United States o-of America-a-a.
From memory, entirely because of Schoolhouse Rock…
“Lolly, Lolly. Lolly” and “Conjunction Junction” helped me a great deal in English class. I know I wasn’t the only one humming the tunes while taking tests.
Also, the Pre-amble set to music helped me memorize it. If only someone had thought to put the Gettysburg Address to music, I might not have been the laughingstock of tenth grade.
Figure eight as double four
Figure four as half of eight
If you skate, you would be great
If you could make a figure eight
That’s a circle that turns 'round upon itself
Too many but let me give a vote to “Little Twelvetoes” for several reasons: 1) it was actually slightly creepy; 2) the music was a little edgy, and 3) it had the audactiy to try and teach base 12.
*
Hey little twelvetoes, I hope you’re thriving.
Some of us ten-toed folks are still surviving.
If you help me with my twelves, I’ll help you with your tens.
And we could all be friends.
Little twelvetoes, please come back home.
*
“Verb! That’s what’s happening!” I loved how buff and cool the superhero was, yet always had an adorably pained expression at his own unfortunate events.
