Rockin' Through the Decades facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rockin' Through the Decades |
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| Created by | Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. (characters) |
| Written by | Ross Bagdasarian Jr. Janice Karman |
| Directed by | Steve Karman |
| Starring | Will Smith (host) Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. Janice Karman Ben Vereen Richard Moll Kenny Loggins Raven-Symoné Shelley Duvall Markie Post Little Richard Anneliese van der Pol |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Steve Karman Walt Kubiak Elana Lesser Cliff Ruby |
| Running time | 19 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Bagdasarian Productions Murakami-Wolf-Swenson |
| Release | |
| Original network | NBC |
| Original release | January 18, 1991 (as Rockin' Through the Decades) 1992 (as Rockin' with the Chipmunks) |
Rockin' Through the Decades is a fun TV special that mixes live actors with animated characters from Alvin and the Chipmunks. It was directed by Steve Karman and first shown on NBC on January 18, 1991.
This special takes you on a musical journey through different decades. It was later released on VHS in 1992 as Rockin' with the Chipmunks. You can also find it on DVD, as it was re-released on September 8, 2009, along with A Chipmunk Reunion.
Who's in the Show?
Many famous people appeared in Rockin' Through the Decades! Here are some of the stars:
- Will Smith - He was the host, known as Fresh Prince.
- Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. - The voice of Alvin and Simon.
- Janice Karman - The voice of Theodore and Brittany.
- Ben Vereen - Played himself.
- Richard Moll - Played himself.
- Kenny Loggins - Played himself.
- Raven-Symoné - Played herself.
- Shelley Duvall - Played herself.
- Markie Post - Played herself.
- Little Richard - Played himself.
- Michael Jackson - Seen in old video clips.
Songs and Music
The special features many popular songs from different decades. When it was released as Rockin' with the Chipmunks, some of the songs were changed.
Songs Featured
Here's a list of some of the awesome songs you'll hear:
- "Witch Doctor"
- Alvin sings this song in the styles of different famous artists like Little Richard, Elvis Presley, and Michael Jackson.
- "Tutti Frutti" / "Heartbreak Hotel" - These songs take you back to the 1950s.
- "Surfin' Safari" / "She Loves You" / "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" - A mix of hits from the 1960s.
- "Crocodile Rock" - A popular song from the 1970s.
- "Smooth Criminal" / "Beat It" - These 1980s hits even feature Alvin added into the original music videos!
- "Sleigh Ride" - A cool Christmas-themed hip hop song from the 1990s.
The special also includes clips from old shows like The Alvin Show and The Ed Sullivan Show. You can even hear "Alvin's Harmonica" playing in the background during the 1950s part of the show.
Soundtrack Album
| Rockin' Through the Decades | ||||
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| Soundtrack album by | ||||
| Released | January 25, 1991 | |||
| Recorded | November 1988 (track 1), July–September 1989 (tracks 2-11), December 1990 (track 12) |
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| Genre | Children's music | |||
| Label | EMI America (US), Virgin (International) | |||
| Producer | Tom Chase, Steve Rucker (track 1), Ross Bagdasarian, Janice Karman (tracks 2-11), Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis (track 12) |
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| The Chipmunks chronology | ||||
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Rockin' Through the Decades is also the name of a soundtrack music album by Alvin and the Chipmunks. It was released in 1991 and includes all the songs from the TV special, plus three extra tracks.
Album Track List
Here are the songs you can find on the album:
- "Witch Doctor (Decades Mix)"
- "Tutti Frutti"
- "She Loves You ('90s Reprise)"
- "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"
- "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" - Sung by The Chipettes.
- "Beat It ('90s Remix)"
- "Heartbreak Hotel"
- "Crocodile Rock"
- "Surfin' Safari"
- "Oh, Pretty Woman"
- "Johnny B. Goode"
- "Sleigh Ride"
