"I Wan'na Be Like You (The Monkey Song)" is a song from Walt Disney's 1967 film, The Jungle Book. The song was sung by Louis Prima and written by songwriters Robert and Richard Sherman.[1]
Richard Sherman said he and his brother aimed for a jazz sound, with a Dixieland-like melody. The instrumentals were originally recorded by Prima - who also played the trumpet - and his band, Sam Butera & The Witnesses, but the music was replaced by one written by the film's composer, George Bruns, and orchestrated by Walter Sheets. The "scat dialogue" between Baloo and King Louie was the result of two recording sessions. Louis Prima recorded first, with the intent that Baloo - played in his recording by Butera - would simply repeat what Louie scatted, but Phil Harris decided not to imitate Prima's recording and made up his own. The song was released the same date as the motion picture itself.[2]
Pinky and Perky recorded a version for their Film Parade album in 1970 and also released the song as a single. On the 1990 collection "Stay Awake: Various Interpretations of Music from Vintage Disney Films," the song appears on "Medley Two" as recorded by Los Lobos, who play the song occasionally in their live shows. On 4 May 1994 Phish performed a truly Phish-styled version at The Metropolis Concert Hall in Montreal, Quebec. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy did a cover of this song on the Swingers soundtrack, even though the song does not appear in the film. The band later released the song on their 1999 album, This Beautiful Life. Voodoo Glow Skulls recorded a ska version of the song for the 2002 Japanese-Exclusive album Dive into Disney. The Jungle Book 2, released in 2003, featured the band Smash Mouth on the soundtrack singing this song. In the Australian version, Nikki Webster covers the song, which is also featured on her Best of album. A version by the Turnpike Cruisers appeared on the second Blood on the Cats LP. The 2005 album En Vivo by Gabriel Ríos contains a cover of the song. In 2007, a pop rock cover was recorded by the Jonas Brothers for Disneymania 5. Los Lobos recorded a version for the tribute album Stay Awake: Various Interpretations of Music from Vintage Disney Films; this version also appeared on the compilation album Just Another Band From East L.A. - A Collection.
In 2010, Portsmouth based band 'The Founders Of'' covered the song in a funk/punk version of the song included on their set lists from the 31st March. The band continue to welcome praise from peers and fans alike for the distinct, snappy take on the song. Also in 2010, Amsterdam based British singer Lucy Woordward recorded a version on her third album " Hooked!"
In The Jungle Book 2, a remix version of this song is played in the end credits.
British pop singer Paolo Nutini performed "I Wanna Be Like You" at the 2007 Glastonbury Festival.
On 23 October, 2010 X Factor contestant, Katie Waissel pleased the judges with her surprise selection of the song.
London based electro-rap-swing group The Correspondents rap over "I Wanna Be Like You".
The indie artist Dan Houser not only created a cover (MP3), but a political parody with fun but serious undertones.
In 2009, "I Wan'na Be Like You" was used in a British anti-smoking public information film. It showed children copying everything their parents did (for example, boys putting shaving cream on their faces, girls dressing up in their mothers' best clothes and both genders washing the car), and "I Wan'na Be Like You" is playing throughout the advertisement, but it stops when a girl puts a crayon to her mouth in imitation of her mother smoking. It stops with the voiceover saying, "If you smoke, your children are more likely to."
In 2010, "I Wan'na Be Like You" was used as the inspiration for a house music track by Abeer Sheikh. It was released on Dantze Records, Germany and its remix by Talal & Zoi reached the Beatport top 10 charts.
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