A few weeks ago, we wrote about dog songs, so it is only fair to cover cats too. Moreso than dog songs, cat songs are often not about cats at all – the word cat being used in so many ways besides defining felines. I tried to stick with feline cat songs, but there are other good ones I couldn't resist. ( This is an Ollie the Cat-approved blog post. )
Elton John's Honky Cat is one of them. I found it turning up on a lot of my personal play lists over the years and it's a nice way to get blood pumping on a Sunday morning – lively but not too much so. [4:58 minutes]
The Siamese Cat Song from the Disney movie Lady and the Tramp is a classic sung and co-written by Peggy Lee. I found this vintage promotional film, narrated by Walt Disney, about how the song was written. [6:48 minutes]
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Here is another of what are supposed to be children's songs. But we know better, right? This is The Cat Came Back from The Muppet Show. [2:44 minutes]
This is the late Freddie Mercury of the British rock band Queen singing about his beloved cat, Delilah. No video - just lyrics. [3:32 minutes]
In all the years I lived in New York City, my mother visited only once while she and a friend spent a summer traveling the U.S. by rail. Mom was never shy with her opinions: she didn't like New York and she didn't like the musical, Cats. She asked why there was so much trash on the stage. Oh, Mom, gimme me a break - what's not to like. This is Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats from the famous musical. [7:11 minutes]
Harry Chapin wasn't singing about a cat with this tune, but it was one of his top hits. Cat's in the Cradle [3:43 minutes]
What's New Pussycat, written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David was the theme song of a 1965 comedy film of the same title starring Peter Sellers. It made Tom Jones a star. [2:19 minutes]
We end with my favorite cat song, Stray Cat Strut from the band, Stray Cats. [4:31 minutes]
Elton John's Honky Cat is one of them. I found it turning up on a lot of my personal play lists over the years and it's a nice way to get blood pumping on a Sunday morning – lively but not too much so. [4:58 minutes]
The Siamese Cat Song from the Disney movie Lady and the Tramp is a classic sung and co-written by Peggy Lee. I found this vintage promotional film, narrated by Walt Disney, about how the song was written. [6:48 minutes]
/>Here is another of what are supposed to be children's songs. But we know better, right? This is The Cat Came Back from The Muppet Show. [2:44 minutes]
This is the late Freddie Mercury of the British rock band Queen singing about his beloved cat, Delilah. No video - just lyrics. [3:32 minutes]
In all the years I lived in New York City, my mother visited only once while she and a friend spent a summer traveling the U.S. by rail. Mom was never shy with her opinions: she didn't like New York and she didn't like the musical, Cats. She asked why there was so much trash on the stage. Oh, Mom, gimme me a break - what's not to like. This is Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats from the famous musical. [7:11 minutes]
Harry Chapin wasn't singing about a cat with this tune, but it was one of his top hits. Cat's in the Cradle [3:43 minutes]
What's New Pussycat, written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David was the theme song of a 1965 comedy film of the same title starring Peter Sellers. It made Tom Jones a star. [2:19 minutes]
We end with my favorite cat song, Stray Cat Strut from the band, Stray Cats. [4:31 minutes]