| "Rubber Duckie" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Single byErnie (Jim Henson) | |
| from the album The Sesame Street Book and Record | |
| B-side | "(Can You Tell Me How to Get to) Sesame Street" |
| Released | 1970 |
| Recorded | 1970 |
| Genre | Children's,pop |
| Length | 2:25 |
| Label | Columbia |
| Songwriter | Jeff Moss |
| Producer | Thomas Z. Shepard |
"Rubber Duckie" is a song written byJeff Moss, arranged byJoe Raposo and originally sung byJim Henson who performed it as theMuppet characterErnie on the television programSesame Street. The song is named after Ernie's toy, arubber duck affectionately named Rubber Duckie.
The song's debut was on aSesame Street episode which aired February 25, 1970.[1] "Rubber Duckie" was popular enough to be recorded and released as a 45 rpmsingle and became a surprise mainstream hit, peaking at No. 16 on theBillboard Hot 100 on September 26, 1970,[2] No. 10 in Australia[3] and No. 11 on the New Zealand Listener Charts.[4]
It was nominated for theGrammy Award for Best Recording for Children in 1971 but lost out to the albumThe Sesame Street Book & Record, which contained the song.[5] The song was followed by otherSesame Street songs about Ernie and his rubber duck, including "Do De Rubber Duck", "D-U-C-K-I-E", "The Honker Duckie Dinger Jamboree", and 1988's "Put Down the Duckie", performed byHoots the Owl but also featuring Ernie.
The song is written in the key ofB-flat major[6] with a tempo of 75BPM.
In 1971, one ofThe Irish Rovers sings the song on an episode ofThe Irish Rovers Show.Little Richard performed a rock-and-roll version of the song as a guest on a 1994 episode ofSesame Street.Bob McGrath recorded the song in his albumBob's Favorite Street Songs. The song made a brief appearance in a scene inThree Men and a Little Lady, and during an episode ofWhose Line Is It Anyway?Daveed Diggs, in costume asMr. Noodle's BrotherMr. Noodle, performed a hip-hop infused version on Sesame Street'sYouTube channel and it's just likeShake a Tail Feather andWhen I See an Elephant Fly.
Little Richard also performed a rockabilly-tinged version of the song, which can also be found on Sesame Street's official YouTube channel.[7]
PianistDick Wellstood included an instrumental performance of the song on his 1974 live albumWalkin' with Wellstood.Jane Krakowski sings the song on her live albumThe Laziest Gal in Town (2010).
A 2017 re-recorded version of the song features guest appearances byTori Kelly,James Corden,Sia,Jason Derulo,Anthony Mackie andDaveed Diggs.[8]
