Be a Clown

Music by	Cole Porter
Date	1948
Source	The Pirate (film)
Publisher	Chappell & Co., Inc.

"Be a Clown" is a song performed by Gene Kelly and Judy Garland in the 1948 film The Pirate about what it takes to be a clown.

The song was performed as "Be a Frog" on The Muppet Show in episode 406 with completely new lyrics about how to be a frog. In a tribute to their host Kermit, some pigs, a cow, a horse, and Miss Piggy sang the number dressed like Kermit.

The song was spoofed on Sesame Street as a new composition called "Be the Count" as sung by Ernie and The Count.

References

• When Gordon asks Oscar to be a pal in Episode 0664 of Sesame Street, Maria and David briefly sing, "Be a pal, be a pal..." to the tune.

See also

• "Be a Clown" bears a close resemblance to "Make 'Em Laugh" by design. When Singin' in the Rain director Stanley Donen asked his writers to reference it for his movie, he later admitted it ended up being 100% plagiarism.