Minnie the Moocher

"Minnie the Moocher" is ajazzsong co-written by American musicianCab Callowayand first recorded in 1931 by Calloway and hisbig bandorchestra, selling over a million copies."Minnie the Moocher" is famous for its nonsensicalad libbedlyrics, also known asscat singing(for example, its refrain of "Hi de hi de hi de ho"). In performances, Calloway would have the audience and the band members participate by repeating each scat phrase in a form of acall and response, eventually making it too fast and complicated for the audience to replicate.
First released byBrunswick Records, the song was thebiggest chart-topper of 1931.Calloway publicized and then celebrated a "12th birthday" for the song on June 17, 1943, while performing at New York's Strand Theatre. He reported that he was then singing the song at both beginning and end of four performances daily, and then estimated his total performances to date: "she's kicked the gong around for me more than 40,000 times."
In 1978, Calloway recorded adiscoversion of "Minnie the Moocher" onRCA Recordswhich reached No. 91 on theBillboardR&B chart.
"Minnie the Moocher" was inducted into theGrammy Hall of Famein 1999, and in 2019 was selected for preservation in theNational Recording Registryas "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by theLibrary of Congress.It has been argued that the record was the first jazz record to sell a million copies.
The song is based lyrically onFrankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon's 1927 version of the early 1900s vaudeville song "Willie the Weeper"(Bette Davissings this version inThe Cabin in the Cotton).
The lyrics describe the story of a woman known as "Minnie the Moocher", a "moocher" being American slang for a person who constantly asks others for money or who takes unfair advantage of generosity. She is described as a performer of the sexually-suggestiveHoochie Coochiedance. The lyrics are heavily laden withdrugreferences, and describe Minnie's vivid dreams after drug use. The character "Smokey" is described as "cokey", meaning a user ofcocaine; the phrase "kick the gong around" was a slang reference to smokingopium.The song ends with Calloway wailing "Poor Min!" insinuating an untimely end for the protagonist.The "hi-de-ho" scat lyrics came about when Calloway forgot the lyrics to the song one night during a live radio concert.
The November 22, 1951 issue ofJetmagazine claimed the song was partly inspired by a woman named Minnie Gayton who had recently died at the age of 85, and was known in the Indianapolis area due to her begging for food. However, Calloway's 1976 autobiography made no mention of Gayton.
"Minnie the Moocher" has beencoveredor simply referenced by many other performers. Its refrain, particularly thecall and response, is part of the language of Americanjazz. At theCab Calloway School of the Arts, which is named for the singer, students perform "Minnie the Moocher" as a traditional part of talent showcases.
In 1967, the song was covered again by anAustralian band, The Cherokees. A version by the Reggae Philharmonic Orchestra made number 35 in theUK Singles Chartlate in 1988.Tupac ShakurandChopmaster Jmade ahip hopversion of the song in 1989. The song can be found onBeginnings: The Lost Tapes 1988–1991from 2007. A contemporaryswingband,Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, recorded a cover on their 1998 album,Americana Deluxe. L.A.-based new wave/rock bandOingo Boingohas covered this song, as well as other Cab Calloway songs, during live performances throughout their career, dating back to their years as Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo.
On January 19, 2001,Wyclef Jeanopened his "All Star Jam @ Carnegie Hall" concert with this number, walking to the stage from the back of the audience, dressed all in white like Calloway's preferred white suit for performing. The song "The Mighty O" byOutkastis also heavily inspired by the "Minnie the Moocher".
The English singer-songwriterRobbie Williamsis famed (and often lightheartedly ridiculed) for his frequent tendency to engage in call and response with his audience. As a tongue in cheek retort to the criticism, he performed "Minnie the Moocher" on theTake the Crown Stadium Tour, albeit changing the lyrics to be about himself. He then released a studio recording of the song on his 10th studio album,Robbie Williams Swings Both Ways.
In 1992, rapperPositive Kmade a song called "Minnie the Moocher" for his 1992 album,The Skills Dat Pay da Bills.
During a performance on the first season ofAmerican Idol,Tamyra Grayperformed this song on "Big Band" night.
Hugh Laurie, in a 2006 interview onThe Tonight Show with Jay Leno, stated that his charitycover band,Band from TV, has the most popular recording of "Minnie the Moocher" available on theiTunes Store. Laurie also performs a part of the song in the first episode of the British comedy television seriesJeeves and Wooster, playing the role ofBertie Wooster, duetting withReginald Jeeves, played byStephen Fry. The episode first aired in 1990. A recording was later released on theJeeves and Woostersoundtrack.
In 2009, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy covered the song again on their Calloway tribute album,How Big Can You Get?: The Music of Cab Calloway.
Calloway performs the song in the 1980 comedy filmThe Blues Brothers,in which he also plays a supporting role.