What's New Pussycat? (song)

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"What's New Pussycat?" is the theme song for the eponymous movie, written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David,^[1] and sung by Welsh singer Tom Jones. The original single included a 13-second instrumental introduction, ending in the sound of shattering glass, but later issues omitted this introduction.^[2]

Chart performance[]

It was Jones' third UK top 30 record, and peaked at number 11.^[3] In the US, "What's New Pussycat?" peaked at number 3, and was Jones' second entry on the top 40.^[4]

Accolades[]

It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1966, it lost to "The Shadow of Your Smile".^[5]

In popular culture and cover versions[]

It has also been performed by:

• Bobby Darin
• Steve Lawrence
• Anita Kerr^[6]
• The Wailers
• The Four Seasons^[2]
• Barbra Streisand performed several lines in her "Color Me Barbra Medley" from the TV special and album Color Me Barbra.
• The song was covered by Alvin and the Chipmunks in their 1965 album Chipmunks à Go-Go.
• It has also been referenced in John Mulaney’s popular segment “The Salt and Pepper Diner,” the last segment in his stand up routine The Top Part.^[7]
• Wendy Carlos recorded a version performed with a moog synthesizer on her album By Request (1975). This version features cat's meow voices imitated with a synthesizer.^[8][9]
• A metal version of the song was recorded by Leo Moracchioli for his YouTube channel, Frog Leap Studios.^[10]
• The song was also at the episode of The Simpsons where Milo (voiced by Jack Black) plays the Korean-language version.^{[citation needed]}
• In Cats & Dogs, the song appeared in the credits.
• In Flushed Away, the song appeared in the credits.
• In Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted, in the casino in Monte Carlo, Alex lifts up the disguise of the King of Versailles to reveal the chimps and the penguins. Mason covers himself saying, "What's new, pussycat?", and Skipper says,surprised,"Whoa,Whoa,Whoa."
• In Turbo, the song played on Turbo's music shell while moving in the grass.
• Carole Baskin performed the song in Episode 2 on Dancing With The Stars 29th season.

References[]