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"Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo" (which is also called "The Magic Song") is a novelty song, written in 1948 by Al Hoffman, Mack David, and Jerry Livingston. It was introduced in the 1950 film Cinderella, performed by the Fairy Godmother (Verna Felton). It was nominated for AFI's 100 years...100 songs, as one of 15 from Disney and one of 17 from an animated movie to be nominated. The ones that eventually made the cut were "When You Wish Upon a Star" (#7), "Some Day My Prince Will Come" (#19),"Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" (#36), "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" (#47), "Beauty and the Beast" (#62), and "Hakuna Matata" (#99).

Ilene Woods and The Woodsmen with Harold Mooney and His Orchestra recorded it in Hollywood on October 26, 1949. It was released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 31-00138B and by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalog numbers B 9970, SG 2371, HM 3755 and JM 2678.

A recording by Perry Como and The Fontane Sisters was the most popular. It was recorded on November 7, 1949 and released by RCA Victor Records as a 78 rpm single (catalog number 20-3607-B) and as a 45rpm single (catalog number 47-3113-B). The flip side was "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes". The recording reached #14 on the Billboard chart. The same single was released in the United Kingdom by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as a 78rpm single (catalog number B 9961). It was also released with catalogue numbers HN 2730, X 7279, SAB 8 and IP 615.

Another recording, by Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae, was released by Capitol Records as catalog number 782. The record first reached the Billboard charts on December 16, 1949 and lasted 7 weeks on the chart, peaking at #19. It was backed with "Echoes" on the flip side.

On the Cash Box Best-Selling Record charts, where all versions were combined, the song reached #7.

This song was included in the videos Disney Sing Along Songs: Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah and Disney Sing Along Songs: Collection of All Time Favorites: The Magic Years. "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo" was also one of the songs to which Ilene Woods auditioned for Cinderella. In the House of Mouse episode "House of Magic", Jafar and Iago use the famous magic spell Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo to return the House of Mouse after Daisy magically causes it to vanish, and were tricked by Mickey to receive Agrabah as a reward for their good deeds.

The lyrics of the song, as with the title, are composed nearly entirely of gibberish, featuring the title of the song. The 1948 recording, however, has several extra English lines that were not used in the animated film, including: "If your mind is in a dither, and your heart is in a haze, I'll haze your dither, and dither your haze, with a magic phrase", and "if you're chased around by trouble, and followed by a jinx, I'll jinx your trouble, and trouble your jinx, in less than forty winks." The tempo of the various recordings also differs widely.

Lyrics

Salago-doola
Menchicka boola
Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo
Put 'em together
And what have you got?
Bibbidi-bobbidi-Boo

Salago-doola
Menchicka boola
Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo
It'll do magic
Believe it or not
Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo

Now salago-doola means
Menchicka boole-roo
But the thingmabob
That does the job
Is bibbidi-bobbidi-boo

Oh...

Salago-doola
Menchicka boola
Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo
Put 'em together
And what have you got?
Bibbidi-bobbidi...
Bibbidi-bobbidi...
Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo

Other Appearances

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep

"Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo" was arranged by Yoko Shimomura and used as the field theme for Cinderella's world, Castle of Dreams.

Cinderella (2015)

In this version, it was sung by Helena Bonham Carter. It can be heard during the credits of the film.

Videos

Parodies and Puns

  • Akira Toriyama, creator of the popular anime and manga franchise Dragon Ball has stated that he is a fan of Disney films. As a result of his fanaticism, Toriyama has created three characters in his Dragon Ball series named after this song. The characters names were an evil wizard named Bibidi, his son Babidi, and the powerful demon they created, Majin Buu. Most Japanese merchandise spells Buu's name in the proper "Boo", just like the song.
  • The song is also parodied on the Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain episode "Narfily Ever After", a parody of Cinderella.
  • A parody version recorded by Mickey Katz is entitled "The Bubbe, the Baby, and You".
  • In the Hercules episode "Hercules and the Gorgon", Hades used the word itself to turn Medusa human.
  • In the House of Mouse episode "House of Magic", Jafar and Iago from Aladdin perform the song.
  • One Palace Pet, Cinderella's pony Bibbidy, gets her name from this song.
  • The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, found in several locations in the Disney Parks, is an obvious play on the song's title.
  • The Platinum Edition of the film refers to the bonus features as "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Bonus Features".
  • The song is referenced in one episode of the first season of the anime Little Witch Academia. The episode parodies the Cinderella fairy tail, with the three main characters using a spell to transform their school uniforms into dresses and a pumpkin into a three-man bicycle in order to sneek into a noble's galla, while the incantation for the spell being "Bubide-Bubbibabbi-Boo".


v - e - d
Cinderella logo
Media
Films: Cinderella (video/soundtrack) • Cinderella II: Dreams Come True (video) • Cinderella III: A Twist in Time (video/soundtrack) • Cinderella (2015 film) (video/soundtrack)

Shows: A Poem Is...Chibi Tiny Tales
Video Games: Disney Princess (video game)Cinderella's DollhouseCinderella: Magical DreamsDisney Princess: Enchanted JourneyKingdom Hearts Birth by SleepDisney InfinityDisney Princess: My Fairytale AdventureDisney Magical WorldCinderella Free FallDisney Emoji Blitz
Books: Royal WeddingsDisney Princess Beginnings
Cancelled projects: Cinderella Stories
Albums: The Lost Chords: Cinderella

Disney Parks
Castle of Magical DreamsCinderella's Fairy Tale HallCinderella CastleCinderella Castle Mystery TourDisney Animation BuildingFairy Tale ForestIt's a Small WorldMickey Mouse RevuePrince Charming Regal CarrouselPrincess PavilionStorybook Land Canal Boats

Entertainment: Cinderella's Surprise CelebrationCinderellabration: Lights of RomanceDisney's BelieveDisney Dreams: An Enchanted ClassicDream Along with MickeyFantasmic!Mickey and the MagicianMickey and the Wondrous BookMickey's Gift of DreamsMickey's Magical CelebrationMickey's Magical Music WorldOne Man's Dream II: The Magic Lives On!Royal Princess Music CelebrationThe Starlit Princess WaltzTwice Charmed: An Original Twist on the Cinderella Story
Restaurants: Cinderella's Royal Table
Shops: Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
Parades: Celebrate A Dream Come True ParadeDisney's Dreams On Parade: Moving OnDisney's FantillusionDisney's Magical Moments ParadeDisney's Party ExpressDisney Carnivale ParadeDisney on ParadeDisney Stars on ParadeDreaming Up!Festival of Fantasy ParadeFlights of Fantasy ParadeHappiness is Here ParadeJubilation!Magic HappensMain Street Electrical ParadeMickey's Rainy Day ExpressMickey's Soundsational ParadePaint The Night ParadeSpectroMagicThe Wonderful World of Disney ParadeVillains Cursed CaravanNightfall Glow • Minnie's Tiara of Dreams
Fireworks: Disney EnchantmentDisney in the StarsFantasy in the SkyMagic, Music and MayhemMagical: Disney's New Nighttime Spectacular of Magical CelebrationsMomentousOnce Upon a TimeRemember... Dreams Come TrueWishes: A Magical Gathering of Disney DreamsWonderful World of AnimationWondrous Journeys
Spring: Disney Pirate or Princess: Make Your Choice
Summer: Club Mouse BeatMickey's WaterWorks
Halloween: Disney Villains Wicked GatheringFrightfully Fun ParadeHocus Pocus Villain SpelltacularIt's Good to be Bad with the Disney VillainsMickey's Boo-to-You Halloween ParadeVillains Dance Party
Christmas: A Christmas Fantasy ParadeCinderella's Holiday WishDisney Winter Magic CavalcadeRoyal Christmas Wishes

Characters
Original: CinderellaJaq and GusPerla and SuzyMiceBirdsPrince CharmingFairy GodmotherBrunoMajorCinderella's FatherLady TremaineAnastasia TremaineDrizella TremaineLuciferThe KingThe Grand DukeHeraldMaryRoyal Guards

Sequels: Pom-PomPrudenceBeatrice and DaphneCountess Le GrandeThe BakerFlower VendorThe Queen
Remake: Cinderella's MotherLizard FootmenMr. GooseCaptainTown CrierSir Francis Tremaine
Deleted: JabberProfessor LeFoofSpink

Locations
Cinderella's CastleCinderella's ChâteauVillageKing's Castle
Objects
Glass SlipperPumpkinPumpkin CoachMagic WandCinderella's Dress
Songs
Films: CinderellaA Dream is a Wish Your Heart MakesSing, Sweet NightingaleWork Song (Cinderelly, Cinderelly)Bibbidi-Bobbidi-BooSo This is LovePut It TogetherFollow Your HeartThe World Is Looking Up to YouIt's What's Inside That CountsPerfectly PerfectMore Than a DreamI DoAt the BallI Still BelieveLavender's BlueStrong

Deleted: Dancing on a CloudThe Cinderella Work SongThe Face That I See in the NightThe Dress That My Mother WoreSing a Little, Dream a LittleI'm in the Middle of a MuddleThe Mouse SongI Lost My Heart At the Ball
Twice Charmed: All Because of a ShoeIt's Never Too LateIn a MomentBelieve in Me
Miscellaneous: The Art of Dressing Well

See also
As Told by Emoji
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