"The Alphabet Song" is a popular children's song in which the letters of the alphabet are sung to the tune of the French folk melody "Ah vous dirais-je, maman," more commonly known as the melody of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star." "The Alphabet Song" has been performed countless times on Sesame Street, including in street scenes, animated segments, filmed inserts, and by celebrities. One of its most memorable renditions is by Kermit and a kid named Joey on Episode 0426; Joey replaces several letters of the alphabet with "Cookie Monster."
Sesame Street Performances
- In an animated segment, a young girl named Gloria sings the song with an offscreen voice giving her commands. This early cartoon was seen in the Sesame Street Pitch Reel and Sesame Street Test Show 1.
- Big Bird sings "The Alphabet Song" in Episode 0298.
- Jim Nabors sang the song on Sesame Street. (First: Episode 0176)
- In an animated segment, a small piano player in a lunchbox sang this song, and was joined by two construction workers. (First: Episode 0449)
- Lena Horne and the Anything Muppets. (First: Episode 0575)
- Don Music once "wrote" this song in a Sesame Street News Flash sketch, with help from several Anything Muppets. (First: Episode 1227)
- George Benson sang the song on Sesame Street. (First: Episode 1357)
- Bobby McFerrin sang "The Alphabet Song" with Hoots the Owl, David and the Kids on Sesame Street. (First: Episode 2342)
- Bob and the cast performed the song in Episode 2443.
- Billy Joel and the Anything Muppets. (First: Episode 2562)
- Samuel Ramey appeared and sang an operatic version of the song. (First: Episode 3369)
- Officers Grover and Herry perform the song in the Monsterpiece Theater segment ABCD Blue to remind some forgetful citizens how it goes. (First: Episode 3516)
- A classical arrangement was sung by an operatic group of AM Monsters, conducted by Herry Monster. (First: Episode 3525)
- A number of celebrities, including Ray Charles, Michael Jeter, Tony Bennett, Shari Lewis, and Lamb Chop. (First: Episode 3526)
- Snuffy sings a variation of the tune to help remember the streets of Snuffleville, Ohio in Sesame Street Episode 3743. The song was written by Tony Geiss.
- In Episode 3893, Baby Bear sings the song.
- In Episode 3906, Baby Bear and the Porridge Lovers Club members sing the song as the “Porridge Alphabet Song.”
- In Episode 3948, Elmo, Big Bird and The Birdketeers sing the song both in English and meowing like cats.
- In Episode 3974, the monsters of Monster Clubhouse sing the song in both Monster and English.
- In Episode 3991, the monsters (including Elmo, Grover, Telly, Zoe, Rosita and Lulu) sing the song after Kofi Annan encourages them to sing together.
- Miss Walsh leads Miles and Gabi's kindergarten class in the songs during a flashback on Episode 4112.
- Ruben Studdard and Elmo sang a soul version of the song. (First: Episode 4066)
- Grover teaches a superhero class on Episode 4071, in which he makes his way through the basics of being a superhero, including a recitation of the alphabet set to a modified version of "The Alphabet Song."
- Baby Bear and Telly try to sing the song on Episode 3816, but Baby Bear's cousin Oliver keeps distracting him.
- In the Sesame Street direct-to-video Kids' Favorite Songs, Telly Monster performed the song, backed by Muppet letters A and Z.
- India.Arie sang the song with Elmo on Episode 4100.
- Old MacDonald and his All-Piggy Alphabet Band performed the song in Episode 4125.
- Abby Cadabby and Kayla (First: Episode 4146)
- The Two-Headed Monster and Jane Curtin once sang the song together.
- Leela sang the song while juggling an apple and an orange on Big Bird and Snuffy's Talent Show in episode 4171.
- Tilly and the Wall sang the song on Sesame Street. (First: Episode 4181)
Muppet Babies Performances
- The song is also featured in a Disney Junior Music: Nursery Rhymes video starring Baby Animal, Baby Kermit, Baby Gonzo, and Baby Piggy.
Other Performances
- The song was featured in Bear in the Big Blue House Live: A First Time for Everything.
Videos
Releases
Audio
- Big Bird Leads the Band (1977)
- Hickory Dickory Dock/Alphabet Song/Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (single, 1977)
- Sesame Street Sing-Along! (1982)
- The Best of Ernie (1983)
- Sing-Along Travel Songs (medley)
- Kids' Favorite Songs (1997) ("ABC Medley")
- Big Bird StoryMagic: Big Bird's Animal Alphabet (1987) ("My ABCs")
Video
- Learning About Letters (1986) (Lena Horne version)
- Sing-Along (1987) (Bob and the cast)
- Do the Alphabet (1996) (Billy Joel version)
- Kids' Favorite Songs (1999) (Telly's version)
- Sesame Sings Karaoke (2003) (New version with Elmo)
- All-Star Alphabet (2005) (New animated version, played over credits)
- The Best of Elmo 2 (2010) (Indie.Arie version)
- ABCs with Elmo (2010) (Indie.Arie version)
- Alphabet Songs (2014) (Celebrity version, Ray Charles part only; Jamie Foxx version)
- Singing with the Stars 2 (2017) (Jamie Foxx version)
- Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration (2019) (Indie.Arie version)
Online
- Sesamestreet.org
- Lena Horne version
- Ruben Studdard and Elmo version
- Abby and Kayla version
- Classical Alphabet
- India.Arie and Elmo version
- SesameStreet's YouTube Channel