# Why is "It's a Small World" so well known? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 15, 2019, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-its-a-small-world-so-well-known/841779 "2019-10-15T10:22:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![curwin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@curwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curwin)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-its-a-small-world-so-well-known/841779/1 "2019-10-15T10:22:11Z")
As far as I can tell “It’s a Small World” is only really known as a song played on rides in Disney parks. And yet - it’s very well known. First of all, I’m sure the popularity of the song is greater than the percentage of people who have been on those rides. And secondly, you hear a song once on a ride, in a park you visit maybe every few years - why would that make it so memorable? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-its-a-small-world-so-well-known/841779/2 "2019-10-15T10:36:59Z")
[DEL]Plastics[/DEL] [records](https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-m&q=%22It%27s+a+Small+World%22+album&oq=%22It%27s+a+Small+World%22+album&aqs=heirloom-srp..0l5). ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-its-a-small-world-so-well-known/841779/3 "2019-10-15T11:04:37Z")
You don’t hear it once when you visit the ride. You hear it over and over and over each time you go. It’s also a hell of an earworm. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-its-a-small-world-so-well-known/841779/4 "2019-10-15T11:36:57Z")
As **Darren Garrison** observed, records. I’ve got it on some “Disney’s Hits” records. It also appeared on TV when they opened the ride for the World’s Fair back in 1964, and it’s featured in Brad Bird’s 2015 film **Tomorrowland** the ride is in at least five of the Disney Parks. The soing was written by Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman, who also wrote the theme song for “Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color” and al the songs in _Mary Poppins_, among many other films. > [@](#): > > Robert J. Sherman, youngest son of Robert B. Sherman, has claimed that this song is the single most-performed and most-translated piece of music on Earth.[10] In 2014, it was estimated that the song had played nearly 50 million times worldwide on the attractions alone, beating out the radio and TV estimates for You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ and Yesterday, which were believed to have been played at least eight and seven million times respectively.[12][13] > **[It's a Small World](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It%27s_a_Small_World)** > > "It's a Small World" (stylized in all lowercase) is an Old Mill boat ride located in the Fantasyland area at various Disney theme parks around the world, including Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California; Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida; Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and Hong Kong Disneyland. The inaugural version of the ride premiered at the 1964 New York World's Fair before permanently moving to Disneyland in 1966. > The ride features over 300 audio-animatro... There;'s also this scary note: > [@](#): > > In 2003, U.S. scientists translated this song into a series of DNA segments 150 base pairs long, inserted them into the extremophilic bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans and demonstrated that they could still retrieve it 100 bacterial generations later. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-its-a-small-world-so-well-known/841779/5 "2019-10-15T12:21:00Z")
It’s frequently considered one of the most annoying songs ever. Here are three lists of annoying songs. One considers it the most annoying song, while the second considers it the 24th most annoying song, and the third lists it among the worst songs ever… > **[The 22 Most Annoying Songs](https://www.stereogum.com/5188/the_22_most_annoying_songs/news/)** > > You can probably name ten tracks off the top of your head more annoying than those WNBC.com’s readers voted as those they find most aggravating (what’s with all the TV themes?), but hey, an obnoxious tune is an obnoxious tune. So, here’s the perfect... > **[25 Most Annoying Songs In The World](https://list25.com/25-most-annoying-songs-in-the-world/)** > > The internet is full of some of the most annoying songs ever penned but it's not its fault. The internet is a wonderful invention. Never before have we been able to share things - photos, > **[The Worst Songs Of All Time?](https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2014/02/06/272457460/the-worst-songs-of-all-time)** > > Carrie Brownstein returns to chat about relentless earworms, annoying novelty songs and other songs our hosts think of as quite possibly the worst of all time. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-its-a-small-world-so-well-known/841779/6 "2019-10-15T12:24:50Z")
Well…I _like_ it. Always have. ---
**Author:** ![Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disgruntled_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-its-a-small-world-so-well-known/841779/7 "2019-10-15T16:16:29Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > It’s frequently considered one of the most annoying songs ever. Here are three lists of annoying songs. One considers it the most annoying song, while the second considers it the 24th most annoying song, and the third lists it among the worst songs ever… > > [https://www.stereogum.com/5188/the\_22\_most\_annoying\_songs/news/](https://www.stereogum.com/5188/the_22_most_annoying_songs/news/) > [25 Most Annoying Songs In The World](https://list25.com/25-most-annoying-songs-in-the-world/) > [The Worst Songs Of All Time? : All Songs Considered : NPR](https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2014/02/06/272457460/the-worst-songs-of-all-time) To me it is the most annoying song because that ride broke down when as a kid I was riding it. 45 minutes the boat broke down but not the sound track or the puppets. That song does weird things to your psyche after about 30 minutes. I can vividly remember staring at those stupid puppets clapping their hands to the song endlessly. Never rode the ride again. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-its-a-small-world-so-well-known/841779/8 "2019-10-15T16:28:04Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > It’s frequently considered one of the most annoying songs ever. Here are three lists of annoying songs. One considers it the most annoying song, while the second considers it the 24th most annoying song, and the third lists it among the worst songs ever… > > [https://www.stereogum.com/5188/the\_22\_most\_annoying\_songs/news/](https://www.stereogum.com/5188/the_22_most_annoying_songs/news/) > [25 Most Annoying Songs In The World](https://list25.com/25-most-annoying-songs-in-the-world/) > [The Worst Songs Of All Time? : All Songs Considered : NPR](https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2014/02/06/272457460/the-worst-songs-of-all-time) My first though upon reading this thread title was, “Why isn’t this in the Pit?” ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-its-a-small-world-so-well-known/841779/9 "2019-10-15T16:30:27Z")
I played it in a piano recital when I was a kid. My poor mother had to listen to me practice it a lot. (She never complained.) ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-its-a-small-world-so-well-known/841779/10 "2019-10-15T17:33:02Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > As **Darren Garrison** observed, records. I’ve got it on some “Disney’s Hits” records. > > It also appeared on TV when they opened the ride for the World’s Fair back in 1964, and it’s featured in Brad Bird’s 2015 film **Tomorrowland** In the UNICEF pavilion. The dinosaurs were in the Ford pavilion, and the robotic Abe Lincoln was in the Illinois pavilion. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-its-a-small-world-so-well-known/841779/11 "2019-10-15T17:34:12Z")
> [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](#): > > To me it is the most annoying song because that ride broke down when as a kid I was riding it. 45 minutes the boat broke down but not the sound track or the puppets. That song does weird things to your psyche after about 30 minutes. > > I can vividly remember staring at those stupid puppets clapping their hands to the song endlessly. Never rode the ride again. Happened to me also. I think it broke down for 10 minutes, but it seemed like an hour. Or five. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-its-a-small-world-so-well-known/841779/12 "2019-10-15T17:44:01Z")
> [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](#): > > To me it is the most annoying song because that ride broke down when as a kid I was riding it. 45 minutes the boat broke down but not the sound track or the puppets. That song does weird things to your psyche after about 30 minutes. > > I can vividly remember staring at those stupid puppets clapping their hands to the song endlessly. Never rode the ride again. Is that the origin story for your disgruntlement? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2019, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-its-a-small-world-so-well-known/841779/13 "2019-10-15T18:09:43Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > It’s frequently considered one of the most annoying songs ever. Here are three lists of annoying songs. One considers it the most annoying song, while the second considers it the 24th most annoying song, and the third lists it among the worst songs ever… > > [https://www.stereogum.com/5188/the\_22\_most\_annoying\_songs/news/](https://www.stereogum.com/5188/the_22_most_annoying_songs/news/) > [25 Most Annoying Songs In The World](https://list25.com/25-most-annoying-songs-in-the-world/) > [The Worst Songs Of All Time? : All Songs Considered : NPR](https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2014/02/06/272457460/the-worst-songs-of-all-time) Well, actually it isnt annoying at all, people just heard a meme- like fedoras are bad, and gingers are evil. Those memes spread and i would bet that some people who never even heard Small World would ranks it as annoying- as they had heard it was annoying. Kars is no doubt the worst, and they know it. It’s a nice little tune- unless you get stuck on the ride, then as **Disgruntled Penguin** pointed out, it can be very annoying. But a lot of tunes are like that, i listened to “I love you yeah yeah yeah” by the Beatles once like five times in a row, and i now hate it. ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-its-a-small-world-so-well-known/841779/14 "2019-10-16T01:29:53Z")
We performed it in chorus when I was in 3rd grade, which was 1977. I still remember all the words to both of the verses we sang. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-its-a-small-world-so-well-known/841779/15 "2019-10-16T01:49:31Z")
It’s the song that never ends. It just goes on and on, buddy. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-its-a-small-world-so-well-known/841779/16 "2019-10-16T01:53:25Z")
How many languages can people sing it in? ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-its-a-small-world-so-well-known/841779/17 "2019-10-16T02:01:32Z")
The song was featured in an SNL sketch too. I tried to find it online but couldn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-its-a-small-world-so-well-known/841779/18 "2019-10-16T02:48:05Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > The song was featured in an SNL sketch too. I tried to find it online but couldn’t. Not surprising–[it was in 1983](https://www.bendouwsma.com/blog/2015/7/12/classic-snl-review-october-15-1983-danny-devito-rhea-perlman-eddy-grant-s09e02). ---
**Author:** ![JpnDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@JpnDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JpnDude)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-its-a-small-world-so-well-known/841779/19 "2019-10-16T06:45:51Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > Well…I _like_ it. Always have. Same here and I still ride the attraction at Tokyo Disneyland at least a few times a year. ---
**Author:** ![JpnDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@JpnDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JpnDude)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-its-a-small-world-so-well-known/841779/20 "2019-10-16T06:53:07Z")
Here is the [Tokyo Disneyland](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-Gwnw4vTcc) (YouTube) soundtrack. Contents below: IT’S A SMALL WORLD 1. Theme Music (American Vocals) EUROPE 2. Scandinavian 3. Accordion, Flute, Violin 4. Danish Drum and Bugle Corps 5. Big Ben 6. English Moon Singers 7. French Can Can Girls 8. Scottish Bagpipe 9. Irish Jig 10. Dutch Geese 11. German Band 12. Spanish Guitar 13. Italian Music and Singers 14. Swiss Yodeler and Bells 15. Greek Flute 16. Russian Band ASIA 17. Balinese Band 18. Japanese Music and Trio 19. Indian Snake Charmer 20. Indian Band AFRICA 21. Camel Boy Drummer 22. Cleopatra Music 23. Laughing Hyena 24. Rhino Drummer 25. African Music 26. Elephant Boy Drummer 27. Egypt Harem Music LATIN AMERICA 28. Spanish Singers 29. Marimba Band 30. Penguin Music 31. Spanish Guitar 32. Mexican Birds 33. Peruvian Flute 34. Samba Band 35. Rain Forest Birds ISLANDS 36. Hawaiian Hula 37. Tahitian Drums 38. New Guinea Drums FINALE 39. Theme Music (Japanese Vocals) 40. Scottish Bagpipe 41. Japanese Music and Trio 42. German Band 43. Dutch Geese [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-its-a-small-world-so-well-known/841779.md?page=2)