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SSSurpriseSong
Written by Jeff Moss
Date 1970
Publisher Festival Attractions, Inc.
First Episode 0173

"Surprise!" is a Sesame Street song originally sung by a band of Anything Muppet hippies that would evolve into Little Jerry and the Monotones. It talks about the good and bad parts of surprises, and how people respond to them.

Throughout the song, various characters appear during the sketch in cutaways demonstrating surprises, including: Oscar surprising Susan with a snake in a can; Herbert Birdsfoot in a room surprised by Roosevelt Franklin, Roosevelt Franklin's Mother, Herry, Cookie Monster, Prairie Dawn, and Grover; and Herry sneaking up on Bert. After the many clips of various surprises, the back-up singers eventually give the lead singer their own surprise for him at the end of the song.

Notes[]

1980s surprise

The Monotones' street performance in episode 2452

  • The song was performed on two occasions in street scenes: in Episode 2452 where Little Jerry and his group visit the street, and in Episode 2867 as sung by Elmo, filling in for a sick Little Jerry, with Big Jeffie and Little Chrissy.
  • The original insert version of "Surprise!" features future Little Jerry and the Monotones members Jerry Nelson and Jeff Moss (whose voice is heard on Sesame Street for the first time), along with Joe Raposo and Caroll Spinney, and the characters bear visual resemblances to the later established band. The song would first be attributed to Little Jerry's group on 1983's Surprise! album.

Releases[]

Audio
Publications
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