Variety Speak
"Variety Speak" is a song from the segment of the same name . The song discusses the lingo used in Variety magazine . The music and lyrics were written by Randy Rogel .
A version of the song with different lyrics was used in "Hooray for North Hollywood ." The song was also the first track on the album Variety Pack , as well as the first song performed by Rob Paulsen and Randy Rogel in their Animaniacs Live! shows.
Lyrics [ ]
Yakko :
In Hollywood, they have a different language that they speak
It's spoken by those folks who went to school for just one week
Dot :
It's found inside Variety , a magazine they use
Yakko and Dot :
And no one understands it when they read the movie news
Dot :
Like "Hix makes pix but the flick needs fix "...
Yakko :
Means someone made a movie that bombed
Dot :
"The veeps in charge are now at large"...
Yakko :
Means everyone involved is gone
Dot :
"The plot conflix, no beautiful chix"...
Yakko :
So it's comin' out on video soon
Dot :
"They're takin' their licks cause the critics say nix"...
Yakko :
And the editors are gonna try to fix it in the mix
Dot :
Well, "the stock sees green" on page 13...
Yakko :
Means Disney 's up a nickel a share
Dot :
"Stallone cuts deal for a major reel"...
Yakko :
Means Rocky Number VI , so beware!
Dot :
If you want the poop
Yakko :
Or ya need the scoop
Yakko and Dot :
On Hollywood Town this week,
You're gonna have to learn to talk that Variety speak!
Showgirls :
Bop-a-doo-bop, a-bop-a-doo-bah,
Bop-a-doo-bop, a-bop-a-doo-bah!
Dot :
"A boffo-smash makes Warner cash"...
Yakko :
Means there's gonna be a sequel next year
Dot :
But "Paramount hurts and they're losing their shirts"...
Yakko :
Means Schwarzenegger 's doing King Lear
Dot :
"Oliver Stone does next Home Alone "...
Yakko :
Means he's gettin' paid an arm and a leg.
The budget goes "crunch!"
Dot :
But his name "packs punch"
Yakko :
So they called up the accountants and they're gonna "do lunch"
Dot :
Well, "the ratings smile on the O.J. trial "...
Yakko :
Means a movie of the week to premiere
Dot :
"Universal cuts deal with Mr. Spiel "...
Yakko :
To do a hundred thousand movies a year!
The Warners :
You gotta play it smart
If y'wanna be part
Of the crowd that's hip and chic!
You're gonna have to learn to talk that Variety speak!
Showgirls :
Bop-a-doo-bop, a-bop-a-doo-bah,
Bop-a-doo-bop, a-bop-a-doo-bah!
Yakko and Dot :
Normal talk makes producers walk
You might as well speak Greek
You're gonna have to learn
Wakko :
Or the meeting will adjourn
The Warners :
Unless, my friend, you learn that Variety speak!
Showgirls :
Bop-a-doo-bop, a-bop-a-doo-bah,
Bop-a-doo-bop, a-bop-a-doo-bah!
The Warners :
Bop, doo, bop, doo, bop, doo, bah, dah!
Yakko :
In Hollywood, they have a different language that they speak
It's used by all the folks who went to school for just one week
It's found inside Variety , a magazine they use
Yakko and Dot :
And no one understands it when they read the movie news
Yakko :
Like "Hix makes pix but the flick needs fix "
Means someone made a movie that bombed
"The veeps in charge are now at large"
Means everyone involved is gone
"The plot conflix, no beautiful chix"
So it's comin' out on video soon
"They're takin' their licks 'cause the critics say nix"...
And the editors are gonna try to save it in the mix
Dot :
Well, "the stock sees green" on page 13...
Yakko :
Means Disney 's up a nickel a share
Dot :
"Stallone cuts deal for a major reel"...
Yakko :
Means Rocky Number VI , so beware!
If ya want the poop
Dot :
Or you need the scoop
Yakko and Dot :
On Hollywood Town this week,
You're gonna have to learn to talk that Variety speak!
Showgirls :
Bop-a-doo-bop, a-bop-a-doo-bah,
Bop-a-doo-bop, a-bop-a-doo-bah!
Yakko :
"Boffo smash makes Warner cash"
Means there's gonna be a sequel next year
"Paramount hurts and they're losing their shirts
Means Schwarzenegger 's doing King Lear
"Oliver Stone does next Home Alone "
Means he's gettin' paid an arm and a leg
The budget goes "crunch", but his name "packs punch"
So they called up the accountants and they're gonna "do lunch"
Dot :
Well, "the ratings smile on the O.J. trial "...
Yakko :
Means a movie of the week to premiere
Dot :
"Universal cuts deal with Mr. Spiel "...
Yakko :
To do a hundred thousand movies a year!
Ya gotta play it smart
If ya wanna be part
Of the crowd that's hip and chic!
The Warners :
You're gonna have to learn to talk that Variety speak!
Showgirls :
Bop-a-doo-bop, a-bop-a-doo-bah,
Bop-a-doo-bop, a-bop-a-doo-bah!
Yakko :
Normal talk makes producers walk
You might as well speak Greek
You're gonna have to learn
Wakko :
Or the meeting will adjourn...
The Warners :
Unless, my friend, you learn that Variety speak!
Showgirls :
Bop-a-doo-bop, a-bop-a-doo-bah,
Bop-a-doo-bop, a-bop-a-doo-bah!
The Warners :
Bop, doo, bop, doo, bop, doo, bah, dah!
Trivia [ ]
The "Boffo Smash Makes Warner Cash" newspaper is later referenced in the Pinky and the Brain episode "It's Only A Paper World ", and a brief snippet of "Variety Speak" even plays when the paper appears.
The album version and the North Hollywood version are sung in A major, while the original series version is sung in E-flat major.
Animaniacs (1993-1998)
Yakko, Wakko, and Dot
Animaniacs Theme Song • The Monkey Song • Yakko's World • Support the Scouts • The Acme Song • Yes, Brothers Warner We • I am the Evil Pirate Captain Mel • We Should Run and We Should Flee • I Am the Very Model of a Cartoon Individual • Yakko's Universe • Come See Us • The Studio Shrink • The Etiquette Song • Flipper Parody • What Are We? • You Can't Catch Us • Piano Rag • The Warner's Lot Song • The Candyman's Swell • Llama Llama Llama • Let the Anvils Ring (Prologue) • Anvilania's National Anthem • Let the Anvils Ring • In Dear Old Anvilania • Musical Chairs • This Means War(ners) • My Old Anvilanian Home • War Report Finale • Frere Warner • The Hills are Quite Full • Three Little Maids • Falderal • Our First Day of School • Frizzy Cola • We'll Clean Your Flue for You • Writin' Hooey • Call Dr. Yakko • The Ending • Wakko's America • Lincoln's Introduction • Lanky and Cranky • Be Careful What You Eat • We Haven't Got a Clue • Camelot • Early in the Morning • You're in Hades Now • Whiny Protest Song from the 60s • Purgatory, Here We Come • O Silly Mio • Planets Song • You'll Never Laugh Alone • Nice and Chubby Baby • Animaniacs Stew • We've Been Mixing Up the Scripts • We Found This Old Computer • We're the Musketeers • The King's Lullaby • Sam 'N' Ella's • In the Mall • The Senses Song • Mary Tyler Dot Song • Video Revue • The Goodbye Song • Ravioli, Pepperoni • The Warner Waiter Two • We Were Sitting Here Before You • Lake Titicaca • Many Years Ago • Mean Old Man • Lots to See • Little Drummer Warners • Slippin' on the Ice • Branimaniacs • Old MacDonald Had a Farm • Camptown Races • Chopsticks • I'm Cute • The Crickets and the Froggies • Dot's Quiet Time • Schnitzelbank • On the Home Front We're Marching Along • Feelings • Baa Baa Black Sheep • John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt • Jimmy Crack Corn • Oh My Darling, Clementine • Old MacDonald Had a Farm (Slackmer) • London Bridge Is Falling Down • Pop Goes The Weasel • This Old Man • Baloney and Kids Theme • The Imagine Song • The Anvil Song • Baloney's Goodbye Song • Digg'd i' the Dark • Oh, Lady! • Introducing the Warners • Buddy's Song • Make a Gookie • Hurtin' Our Feet • Romp • The Hunk from Upumema • I'm Mad • Serendipity • Super Strong Warner Siblings • A Quake! A Quake! • Variety Speak • Twelve Days Of Christmas • U.N. Me • Running From Our Fans • They Want To Laugh • The Surprises in Life • All The Words in the English Language • The Presidents Song • Multiplication • Burbank • What Do You Do With Children Like Us Warners? • Poison Oak • When I Am Afraid • Grumpy Chicken • Eat All Your Oatmeal • The Cats of Phantom Boulevard • Dental Avenue • Take a Nap Instead • Snack Time • Dough, Some Cash • Don't Shout at Us, Mr. Webby • Hello Googi • Beware the Big Bad Wolf • Googily Goop • The Snugglers Theme • The Angry Song • Wakko's Two Note Song • Panama Canal • Hello Nurse • The Ballad of Magellan • At the Big Wrap Party Tonight • Cutie and the Beast • That's Dot • Be a Pest • Deck the Halls • Noel • Is Wakkoum a Warrior? • Just the Same Old Heroine • John Smith and Company • Ice Cream • Bars of Gold are Forever • When You're Traveling from Nantucket • You Can't Sing When I Sing • Obese Orson • Night Traveler • Bones in the Body • Macadamia Nut • We Won't Ever Leave • The Warner Bunch • Here Comes Attila • Magic Guys • We're On Our Way to Go See Mr. Plotz • You Gotta Do the Schmooze • There's Only One of You • Variety Speak (HFNH) • Jam-A-Lot • L.A. Dot • It's New Year's Eve • We're On Our Way to Go See Mr. Plotz (Version 2)
Pinky and the Brain
Pinky and the Brain Theme • I'm a Little Teapot • My Empty Hollow Head • Telephone Repairman • King of the World • Play Fish With Me • Pinky's Minstrel Songs • Johnny Badnote's Song
Slappy Squirrel
Slappy Squirrel Theme • The Wonderful World of Walnuts • Bumbie the Dearest Deer • The Little Old Lady (from Pasadena) • The Slapper • Daniel Boone • Going up the Country • What Am I Singing For? • Crackers and Cheese • Would You Still Cheer? • Can You Hear Me? • Slappy's Polka • Star-Spangled Banner • It's Halloween • La donna è mobile • Food Song • Santa Lucia • Ride of the Valkyries • Slippin' on the Ice • Hall of Fame • Take Me Out to the Ball Game • Slappy Squirrel Theme (Three Tenors Version) • Rocket Rat
Goodfeathers
Goodfeathers Theme • Goodfeathers Song • Carloota • Scorsese's Head • I Feel Feathery • There's a Perch For You • Scorsese • Egg-hatcher, Egg-hatcher • If I Were the Godpigeon • Coo Coo Quack • Sasha, Squit • Do You Want Me? • Regis Philbin • Coo
Rita and Runt
Rita and Runt Theme • Humans Ain't What They Seem to Be • I, Camenbert • At The End Of My Fork • Look At Rita! • Flat in Gay Paree • I Am Definitely Runt • Rita and Runt • Do You Hear The Poodles Bark? • Dig Down • Bitten In The Butt • Runt and Camenbert • At the End of the Road • A Place Called Home • All Wrapped Up in Love • Let's Try For Two • Use Your Brain • A Hands On Kinda Gal • Let's Try For Three • Together • Milk Please Mama • I'm Nobody's Mama • Monterey • Happy Bob's Bunny Ranch • Stereotypical View • Bunny Bedtime • Miao • Florida • Cats Always Get the Short End of the Stick • I'll Go It Alone • Corn • Dizzy • Fraidy Cat • Is This My Destiny? • The Judge • There's Nothing Quite Like a Cat • Still There's Me and You
Chicken Boo
Chicken Boo Theme • Davy Omelette • Jingle Boo
Other
Hip Hippos Theme • La Behemoth • It's Not Pretty Being Me • Mr. Skullhead Show Theme • Katie Ka-Boom Theme • Mindy and the Brain • Pinky and the Cat • Dottie the Squirrel • Sister Slappy • Animaniacs Theme Song (Three Tenors Version) • Twelve Days Of Christmas (Blue Bird Edition) • Hello My Lady • Pinky and the Ralph • The Animaniacs Suite
Scrapped Songs
The Geologic Clock • Dear Mister Gingrich