Brothers Honored For 'Chitty Chitty,' Other Ditties
Songwriting brothers Richard and Robert Sherman were honored at the White House Monday for all the songs they've written for family movies, including the theme for the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The brothers, who also wrote "It's a Small World (After All)," received the National Medal of Arts from President Bush.
Mr. RICHARD SHERMAN (Songwriter): So he said, OK. And he made this magical car. It made a funny sound. Chukka chukka boo boo. Chukka chukka boo.
RENEE MONTAGNE, host:
That is composer Richard Sherman describing the inspiration for a movie musical about a car. The car with the funny sound is "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang." And Richard and his brother Robert were honored yesterday at the White House for that theme song and all the other songs they've written for family-friendly movies. The Shermans were awarded the National Medal of Arts for a body of work that includes songs for "Mary Poppins," "The Jungle Book," "The Aristocats" and "The Tigger movie." The Shermans obligingly sang a chord from perhaps their most famous tune for our reporter.
(Soundbite of song "It's a Small World (After All)")
Mr. RICHARD SHERMAN & Mr. ROBERT SHERMAN: (Singing) It's a small world after all. It's a small world after all.
Mr. RICHARD SHERMAN: I figure people either want to kill us or kiss us for that song.
MONTAGNE: And perhaps in spite of that song, Richard Sherman was one of the honorees yesterday for the National Medals of Arts and Humanities at the White House.
(Soundbite of song "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang")
Mr. DICK VAN DYKE & Ms. SALLY ANN HOWES & Ms. HEATHER RIPLEY & Mr. ADRIAN HALL: (Singing) Chitty Bang Bang Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Oh you pretty Chitty Bang Bang, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. We love you, And our pretty Chitty Bang Bang. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang loves us too. High low anywhere we go, On Chitty Chitty we depend...
Copyright © 2008 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.