(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?
| "(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| B-side | "My Jealous Eyes" |
"(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?" is a popular novelty song written by Bob Merrill in 1952. The best-known version of the song was recorded by Patti Page on December 18, 1952 and released by Mercury Records as catalog number 70070, with the flip side being "My Jealous Eyes." It reached #1 on both the Billboard and Cash Box charts in 1953.[1] However, Mercury, the record label which distributed Patti Page's recordings at the time, had poor distribution in the United Kingdom. Therefore, a recording by Lita Roza was the one most widely heard in the UK, reaching #1 on the UK Singles Chart in 1953.[2] It also distinguished Roza as the first British woman to have a number one hit in the UK chart.[2]
Lyrics
The song's lyrics tell the story of a young woman who has to go on a trip to California, and wants to buy a dog for her "sweetheart" so that he will not be lonely, and so that any robbers will be scared away.
In the media
 | This article contains a list of miscellaneous information. |
- The song's title is also the title of a book for pre-school children by Iza Trapani (author, illustrator) and Bob Merrill (author). In nursery rhyme style, the story is told of a young boy who falls in love with a spotted puppy. Trapani's watercolors illustrate the book.
- In the Wallace and Gromit film The Wrong Trousers, Gromit's nemesis, Feathers McGraw, plays a droning Hammond Organ version of "Doggie in the Window" at a loud volume on the radio, in an attempt to drive Gromit out of the house.
- It is also featured in the video game BioShock, as well as its sequel, BioShock 2.
- It appears in the game Lemmings.
- It is featured in an episode of the British soap EastEnders. In the 19 August 2008 episode the character Tiffany Dean storms off to her room and plays the song on repeat. Her beloved dog Wellard had just died in the 15 August 2008 episode.
- In the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett, the phrase is used as one of the official mottoes of the city of Ankh-Morpork, albeit in Latatian (The Discworld version of Latin) ("Quanti canicula ille in fenestra?").
- In season 5 of Seinfeld, Newman sings it on the way to kidnapping a dog.
- In the American sitcom, Oliver Beene, Oliver's friend Michael sang it while holding up his small dog.
- This song would be played as the theme to Dean "Bulldog" Richie on the Continuous Call Team Australian Rugby League Radio show on radio station 2GB in Sydney, Australia.
- In a 1952 Peanuts comic strip, Snoopy implores Charlie Brown to play the tune on the latter's record player three hundred times.
- In the 1994 film Heavenly Creatures, the song plays in the car as the Hulme family travels with Pauline in their car to a picnic.
- The song is heard playing in the background of the last episode of Spaced, when Daisy enters a neighbour's house looking for her dog Colin.
- In the movie Breakfast on Pluto (film) the lyrics are discussed implying some controversy between the use of the word "waggitty" or "waggly" between the characters. In spite of their fictional conclusion that it is "Waggitty", The correct answer is "Waggly" [3], "waggitty" likely being a UK or Irish idiom where the film takes place.
- George Carlin's 1972 comedy album Class Clown included a bit titled "How Much is that Dog Crap in the Window?".
- The song can be heard in the teaser trailer for Man's Best Friend.
- Patti Page's recording of the song is played during the last scene in John Waters' 1972 film Pink Flamingos where Divine's character famously consumes dog feces off the sidewalk.
- In the 1993 episode "You Did What" of the sitcom BLOSSOM, Blossom works in a record store. Her manager is explaining who Patti Page is - he says " How much Is That Doggie In The Window!!!", to which Blossom replies "I don't know, who's Patti Page?"
Other versions
- Carole Carr with orchestra cond. by Frank Cordell with children's choir and "Rustler" recorded it in London on February 12, 1953. It was released by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalog number B 10436.
- Børge Linz wrote the Danish lyrics. The Danish title was "Vovsen i vinduet". Raquel Rastenni with Radioens Danseorkester recorded it in Copenhagen in 1953. It was released on His Master's Voice X 8123.
- A reggae version was recorded by Barbara Jones for Trojan Records. A parody version was recorded by Homer and Jethro called "How Much Is That Hound Dog in the Window?".
- The Kidsongs sang this version on their video and DVD "A Day with the Animals".
- The French version, Le Chien dans la vitrine, was sung by the popular French singer Line Renaud.
The song has also been covered by many groups and is available on many children songs CDs and is considered as Children's music in many countries. It can also be found on many musical toys made since the late 1960s. For example, a Sankyo music box made in the 1970s played the song, as do many musical toys manufactured today.
See also
References
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1973). Top Pop Records 1940-1955. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research.
- ^ a b Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 9. ISBN 0-85112-250-7.
- ^ lyrics show "waggly"
External links
- How Much Is That Doggie In The Window lyrics and music file at NIH accessed September 2, 2006
- How Much Is That Doggie In The Window lyrics and chords, accessed September 2, 2006
- How Much Is That Doggie In The Window - sung by Patti Page at YouTube. Accessed March 2010.