Yankee Doodle is a well-known British/American song, whose origins are unclear. Originally sung by British military officers to mock the colonial "Yankees," the song has become patriotic in America, and is the state anthem of Connecticut.
The painting The Spirit of '76 is also known as Yankee Doodle, and like the painting, the song has been referenced numerous times by the Muppets.
References
- Kermit helps Don Music finish the "Yankee Doodle" song, then because Don finds the idea of calling feathers macaroni ridiculous, they rewrite it to be a song in which Yankee Doodle stays at home cooking for his pony, puts "fat spaghetti" in a pot, and calls it macaroni.
- In the episode "Out-of-This-World History" of Muppet Babies, the Babies sing a musical number with the repeated phrase "Do the Yankee Doodle Rock/Rock-a-Doodle."
- In Sesame Street Episode 3125, Gina and Telly Monster encounter Yankee Doodle when she arrives at Hooper's Store, sticks a feather in her hat, and says, "Macaroni," and argues with her horse that they have arrived at Sesame Street and not London. The pair split up, and she proceeds to attempt to use other animals (including a rabbit, a sheep, and a turtle).
- Two girls sing a clap song about the letter D to the tune of Yankee Doodle on Sesame Street. (First: Episode 3305)
- In the coloring book Great Muppets in American History, Mr. Poodlepants appears as "Yankee Poodlepants."
- In the episode "Look What I Made" of Bear in the Big Blue House, Shadow tells the story of Yankee Doodle, or rather tries to.
- In the Sesame Street video Let's Eat!: Funny Food Songs, Grover waits on Mr. Johnson at Planet Storybook and at one point serves him a "Pasta Surprise," which turns out to be a hat with a feather in it. In keeping with the song, Grover calls it macaroni.