It’s so funny that Charlie Brown’s theme song isn’t even named after him, it’s named after Linus and Lucy. I remember getting the sheet music when I was taking piano lessons as a kid and being like “Man, that boy doesn’t have anything”
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Schulz HATED the name "Peanuts" because he understandably worried people would think that was the main character's name. But United Feature Syndicate, who had the ultimate say in the matter, disagreed.
Ever hear Riva Rose sing the song that has a line, "and when I am Queen, I'll throw out the old Queen..." Great Bdway play ages ago and still available on a CD.
Shermy and Patty (the original Patty, not Peppermint Patty) were originally the leads. Go figure. That shows how the strip grew. Many things that started as just one-off gags -- Snoopy's fantasy life, Lucy's Psych. booth, Schroeder's piano, etc. -- grew to become integral parts of the strip.
Like the time Lucy asked him why he likes Beethoven better than Elton John, and Schroeder had a trophy all ready to give her for "Stupidest Question of the Year".
Lucy: "I would have given an acceptance speech, but I was afraid I might win another trophy!" 😄
Losing baseball games with a score of 0, getting slip-kick footballs from Lucy, kites mangled in trees, admiring a girl who doesn't notice him...
and Annie thought SHE was having a hard-knock life!
I feel like if anyone besides Charles being named, it ought to be Schroeder's name...hes the musician after all. Peanuts theme would have included all the characters though. Idk, but I feel your frustration for Charlie, poor kiddo.
I've often wondered why they call that song "Linus and Lucy". I am a HIGE Peanuts fan and I didn't even know the theme song had a name until fairly recently.
it's true... charlie brown seems to always be in the background, kind of like the subtle notes of a well-balanced coffee blend. maybe the beauty lies in how everyone's story, like the perfect brew, comes together in harmony. what do you think makes charlie brown so relatable?
That's a fun fact! I never knew the song was named after Linus and Lucy. Charlie Brown does seem like the kind of guy who'd get overlooked, even in his own theme song.
Disagree. Charlie Brown grew to adulthood, changed his name, and used his painful childhood and life experiences to fuel a legendary career as a comedian.
Charlie Brown's sole purpose is to suffer. Literally the first Peanuts comic is a four panel strip of kids saying how much they hate Charlie Brown. His misery IS the comedy.
I suppose? I don't think of Peanuts as having a primary character. Several, yes, but no primary. I don't think Charlie Brown is even on screen when Schroeder launches into that tune and all the kids start dancing.
No matter. It's a great song and the greatest Christmas special so we all win.
Fun Fact: Schulz *wanted* to call the strip, "Good Ol' Charlie Brown," but United Feature Syndicate overruled him, and the strip was christened, "Peanuts."
bc of a charlie brown christmas being so iconic. at least its a better christmas song than "my favorite things" from the sound of music which i heard at work while they were blasting nonstop christmas music
Linus and Lucy is on the iconic Charlie Brown Christmas album, so it is part of one of the iconic Christmas albums of the 60s to this day.
It’s not a Christmas song, per se, but it’s part of the whole vibe
Absolutely love Charlie Brown Christmas album. Always skip Linus and Lucy when I play it. It’s definitely not a Christmas song and should have been left off the album.
to my recollection the first episode of Cheers was not Christmas related at all, they all argued about what the sweatiest movie was while Diane gets a job at the bar
I get what everyone is saying here, it obviously has greater association to the wider Peanuts universe. but to me it’s also an essential Christmas tune.
I never understood why people loved it so much. When I watched it as a kid, it just seemed like the "shit on chuck" show. 🤷 Even the comics were dull as all hell.
My 20 year old had it pretty rough with his health as a little boy, I used to say “Of all the Thomas’ in the world, you’re the Charlie Browniest”
(Much better after finally being diagnosed with Celiac disease at 14)
Also weird how it's considered a Christmas song because it debuted in the Charlie Brown Christmas special. It's a staple of every Christmas playlist, yet it's also just the "default" Peanuts theme (heck, it was in the Great Pumpkin special less than a year after its debut!).
It's true, Charlie Brown seems to get the short end of the stick sometimes, even musically! But maybe it's a reminder of how he's surrounded by good friends, like Linus and Lucy. Their story together is what makes the theme so memorable. Do you remember playing it on piano?
Vince Guaraldi wrote Linus and Lucy the morning of the day the Peanuts animators offered Guaraldi the scoring gig. What makes that unusual—Vince didn’t know about the offer when he wrote the song. That day’s strip just featured the siblings. Talk about a kismet coincidence/meeting of sensibilities!
Thanks for explaining. I’ve never understood the name. Given how it was most often used in the animation, I thought it would be called “Snoopy and Woodstock”.
Linus and Lucy plays at the beginning of It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown while Linus and Lucy walk to the pumpkin patch, pick one, roll it home, and carve it. It’s used a lot beyond that because it rocks!
We had a girl in my 9th grade choir class that use to play it while we waited for the teacher. We would get up and do the stupid little dances they do in the cartoon. The character they call 5 is the one I imitated. LOL! He's right up front next to the twin.
My pet theory about the Great Pumpkin special is that Charlie Brown unintentionally dressed himself up as the Holey Spirit and was thus stoned all night for his insolent sacrilege. Makes about as much sense as the hatred and indifference that gets heaped on him for seemingly no reason.
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With the exception of the human imitating dog and bird.
Oh and all the adults sounded just like that….or maybe it was just me not really listening to them? 🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
A-NY-THING
Lucy: "I would have given an acceptance speech, but I was afraid I might win another trophy!" 😄
He’s got several bags worth of rocks
Though I guess that's set against the humiliation of giving his last name to the color of feces and old meat...
and Annie thought SHE was having a hard-knock life!
There are a lot out there who don't have even that.
It doesn’t sound as good if you don’t play them together.
He’s got an oldies song that still kind of slaps.
But it’s still about how nobody gives him any respect, so I guess you’re still pretty much right.
Maybe both.
https://youtu.be/ubdmyms-Lts?si=-ukCYZzcVG39ihy6
So now that theme tune is in my head!😡😡😡😡😡
No matter. It's a great song and the greatest Christmas special so we all win.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWnEj9YwKVY&list=PL5ZeSSMxi4LHAwUvHCkQ_91RgmWl1zfrS&index=1
Charlie:
It’s not a Christmas song, per se, but it’s part of the whole vibe
‘Christmas Time Is Here’ is a Christmas song, but for me the theme song evokes the Peanuts in general.
Glad of that!
https://www.reddit.com/r/unpopularopinion/comments/r2x148/the_peanuts_theme_is_not_a_christmas_song/
https://youtu.be/b4WP_Qq8JWQ?si=6AgdzgwE2xwpX7qP
Peanuts is my #1 jam and Guaraldi is so insanely good. Between him and Jonny Costas are two of my three favorite jazz pianists.
George Shearing is another who comes to mind. He came to my college in 1990 and I was mesmerized.
I am a HUUUUGE peanuts fan. I like many other things but Peanuts will ALWAYS be number one.
And it’s a great one, thanks so much for posting this.
It sings itself
(Much better after finally being diagnosed with Celiac disease at 14)
Linus and Lucy is what is most recognized though.
https://youtu.be/X4nLRAKiWCc
The dude is a survivor. Lucy, the whole damn world can’t crush him he only gets stronger 👊🏼
And a sister, Sally 🤔