Three Little Pigs (song)
"Three Little Pigs" | ||||
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Single by Green Jellÿ | ||||
from the album Cereal Killer | ||||
Released | 1992 (Green Jellö original) 1993 (Green Jellÿ re-release) | |||
Recorded | 1991 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 5:53 | |||
Label | Zoo Entertainment | |||
Songwriter(s) | Marc Levinthal, Bill Manspeaker | |||
Producer(s) | Sylvia Massy | |||
Green Jellÿ singles chronology | ||||
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"Three Little Pigs" is a song by American comedy rock band Green Jellÿ, from the album Cereal Killer. Released by Zoo Entertainment in 1992 with the original band name, Green Jellö, the single was re-released in 1993 under the name Green Jellÿ due to a lawsuit for trademark infringement by the owners of Jell-O.
The song peaked at number 17 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in the summer of 1993, staying on the chart for 20 weeks, and charted at number five in the United Kingdom. It additionally reached number one in New Zealand for two nonconsecutive weeks and charted highly in several European countries. The chart success can be partly attributed to the song's unique and heavily aired music video. The song was ranked number 35 on VH1's 40 Most Awesomely Bad Metal Songs...Ever.
Writing and composition
Written by Marc Levinthal and Bill Manspeaker after a "late-night drinkfest" at Zatar's in Hollywood, the song is a re-telling of the classic fairy tale Three Little Pigs, with modern twists—the straw-builder pig escaped the farm where he was raised to begin a new life in Los Angeles, the stick-builder pig is a marijuana-smoking, Bob Marley-listening, dumpster diving hippie and preacher from Venice Beach, and the third pig is the son of rock star Pig Nugent with a master's degree in architecture from Harvard College who builds his concrete mansion in Hollywood Hills. The third pig dispatches the Harley-riding Big Bad Wolf by calling in Rambo, who mows the wolf down with a machine gun.
The original hand written lyrics to the song, dated 4/24/89 and written on 2 yellow legal pad pages with the title "The 3 LTL' PIGS...", showing changes and corrections were sold by Bill Manspeaker in 2012.[citation needed]
Music video
The song's stop motion claymation music video received regular rotation on MTV, and in 1993 it was certified gold by the RIAA. "Three Little Pigs" was notable for being the first known music single to debut only in video form; when the music video was first shown on MTV, fans could buy the song on videotape, but not on CD. In 1993, however, the single was finally released in CD form.
Changed lyrics
Two versions of the song exist; the only change being the lyrics as to what the second Little Pig was doing. The original lyric "He was kind of stokin'/spent most of his day just a ganja smokin'" was modified to "He was kind of stokin'/spent most of his days in the sun just soakin'". However, the video retained "pot culture" references in this part of the song.
Track listings
Vinyl pressing
- "Three Little Pigs"
1993 CD pressing
- "Three Little Pigs" (edit) – 2.30
- "Three Little Pigs" (full-length version) – 5:54
- "Obey the Cowgod" – 3:09
Personnel
- Bill Manspeaker (as Moronic Dicktator) – vocals
- Maynard James Keenan – guest voice of Three Little Pigs[2]
- Pauly Shore - guest voice of Three Little Pigs[2]
- Gary Helsinger (as Hotsy Menshot) – voice of Rambo
- C.J. Buscaglia (as Jesus Quisp) – guitars, producer
- Steven Shenar (as Sven Seven) – guitars
- Michael Bloomquist (as Rootin') – bass
- Joe Russo (as Mother Eucker) – bass
- Danny Carey (as Danny Longlegs) – drums
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
Certifications
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References
- ^ https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-10-best-comedy-metal-songs
- ^ a b https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/comedic-punk-metal-band-green-jelly-are-still-looking-for-new-ways-to-be-the-worst-band-in-the-world/Content?oid=37717604
- ^ "Green Jellÿ – Three Little Pigs". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
- ^ "Green Jellÿ – Three Little Pigs" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
- ^ "Green Jellÿ – Three Little Pigs" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
- ^ Danish Singles Chart 6 August 1993
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 25. June 19, 1993. p. 19. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Three Little Pigs". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 33, 1993" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
- ^ "Green Jellÿ – Three Little Pigs" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
- ^ "Green Jellÿ – Three Little Pigs". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
- ^ "Green Jellÿ – Three Little Pigs". VG-lista. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
- ^ "Top 10 Portugal" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 41. October 9, 1993. p. 13. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
- ^ "Green Jellÿ – Three Little Pigs". Singles Top 100. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
- ^ "Green Jellÿ – Three Little Pigs". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
- ^ "Green Jellÿ Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
- ^ a b "ARIA Annual Charts 1993". Retrieved March 27, 2016.
- ^ "1993 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
- ^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1993". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
- ^ "Jaarlijsten 1993" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1993". Retrieved April 29, 2018.
- ^ "End of Year Charts 1993". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
- ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1993". Retrieved August 27, 2010.
- ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Green Jelly – Three Little Pigs". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
- ^ "Best-Selling Records of 1993". Billboard. 106 (3). BPI Communications: 73. January 15, 1994. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
- ^ "American single certifications – Green Jelly – Three Little Pigs". Recording Industry Association of America.
- Single chart usages for Germany2
- Green Jellÿ songs
- 1992 songs
- 1993 singles
- Number-one singles in New Zealand
- Works based on The Three Little Pigs
- Songs based on fairy tales
- Songs about wolves
- Songs about pigs
- Zoo Entertainment (record label) singles
- Cultural depictions of Sylvester Stallone
- Animated music videos