He's So Unusual

"He's So Unusual"
Single by Helen Kane
Released	June 14, 1929
Label	Shapiro, Bernstein & Co. Inc.
Writer(s)	Al Sherman, Al Lewis, Abner Silver
Helen Kane singles chronology
"I'd Do Anything for You" (1929) "He's So Unusual" (1929) "Ain'tcha?" (1929)

"He's So Unusual" is a song from the late 1920s performed by Helen Kane, who was the inspiration for the Betty Boop character. The song was written by Al Sherman, Al Lewis and Abner Silver. Released on June 14, 1929, "He's So Unusual" was featured in the motion picture, Sweetie. Shapiro, Bernstein & Co. Inc. are the publishers of record.

Helen Kane

This song is one of the Boop-styled songs which Kane sang. This is evidenced in the signature line featured in the lyric. This song and "I Wanna Be Loved by You" are two notable "Boop" songs, although there were several other songs which Kane sang in this persona as well, such as "Button Up Your Overcoat," "That's My Weakness Now," and more.

“

Others would be tickled pink to boop-boop-a-doop-a-doop! He don't even know what boop-boop-a-doop's about! He says love is hokum, Oh, I'd like to choke, choke, choke him! He's So Unusual that he drives me boop-boop-a-doop!

”

Homage

The song is referenced in the 1962 Academy Award-nominated animated short Disney musical film, A Symposium on Popular Songs during the song, "Charleston Charlie", written by Al Sherman's songwriter sons: Robert & Richard Sherman.^[1]

Cyndi Lauper - She's So Unusual

"He's So Unusual" was later covered by Cyndi Lauper, in a short (45 second) version, as the title song of her Grammy Award winning, signature album, She's So Unusual. The sung lyrics continue in the background of the song "Yeah Yeah", while the beginning of the song plays before "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" in the song's music video.

References

1. Sherman, Robert B. Walt's Time: from before to beyond, Santa Clarita: Camphor Tree Publishers, 1998.