Silly-Syllabic Songs: From Betty Boop to Mah-Nà Mah-Nà
In 1934, American musicologist Sigmund Spaeth published the essay "The Sillysyllabic School of Song" as part of his book The Facts of Life in Popular Song (Whittlesey House). The essay, never translated into Italian, originated from a legal dispute between singer Helen Kane and the creators of the cartoon Betty Boop. Kane sued the Fleischer Studios over the phrase "boop boop-a-doop" from her 1928 hit I Wanna Be Loved by You, used in the 1932 short Boop-Oop-a-Doop. Kane lost the case. Betty Boop was modeled after Helen Kane. The article traces the lineage of nonsense-syllable songs to the tune Mah-Nà Mah-Nà, popularized by the Muppets but originally from a 1968 Italian film score by Piero Umiliani.
Key facts
- Sigmund Spaeth coined the term 'Sillysyllabic School of Song' in 1934.
- The essay was part of The Facts of Life in Popular Song published by Whittlesey House.
- The essay was never translated into Italian.
- Helen Kane sued the Fleischer Studios over the phrase 'boop boop-a-doop'.
- Kane lost the legal case.
- Betty Boop was modeled after Helen Kane.
- The phrase appeared in Kane's 1928 song I Wanna Be Loved by You.
- The Fleischer Studios used it in the 1932 short Boop-Oop-a-Doop.
Entities
Artists
- Sigmund Spaeth
- Helen Kane
- Piero Umiliani
Institutions
- Whittlesey House
- Fleischer Studios