1964 song by the Sherman Brothers
"Chim Chim Cher-ee" is a song from "Mary Poppins", the 1964 musical film, and is also featured in the 2004 "Mary Poppins" musical.
The song won the 1964 Academy Award for Best Original Song. In 2005, Julie Andrews included this song as part of "Julie Andrews Selects Her Favorite Disney Songs".
Songwriters.
The song was written by Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman (the "Sherman Brothers"), who also won an Oscar and a Grammy Award for the "Mary Poppins" score.
Inspiration.
The song was inspired by one of the drawings of a chimney sweep created by "Mary Poppins" screenwriter Don DaGradi. When the Sherman Brothers asked about the drawing, DaGradi explained the ancient British folklore attributed to "sweeps" and how shaking hands with one or touching their sleeve could bring a person good luck. In their 1961 treatment, the Sherman Brothers had already amalgamated many of the P.L. Travers characters in the creation of "Bert". His theme music became "Chim Chim Cher-ee".
In addition to the "standard" version of the song which Bert sings to the children, he sings short snippets of the song to himself at various times, with different verses specific to an unfolding plot element.
The "Mentsch" music group notes some similarities with a Yiddish song written by Itsik Manger named "Vaylu". The song also shares some sonic similarities to the Yiddish folksong, Tumbalalaika.
Parodies.
The song was parodied by song parodist Allan Sherman (no relation to the Sherman Brothers), using the same song title. The parody pokes fun at the American merchandise seen on TV commercials.
Supporters of English football teams, Millwall, West Bromwich Albion and Blackburn Rovers, sing a version of the song which is a reference to each team's local rivals, West Ham, Aston Villa and Burnley, who all wear claret and blue shirts.
English comedian Tim Vine played on the lyrics to the song in the title of one of his stand-up DVDs, "Tim Timinee, Tim Timinee, Tim Tim To You" and on the cover it features Vine dressed up as a chimney sweep.
References.
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