Three Is a Magic Number
Encyclopedia
"Three Is a Magic Number" is the pilot episode
of the Schoolhouse Rock!
series and the first episode of the program's first season, "Multiplication Rock."
Though the song is not as iconic to the Schoolhouse Rock series as later episodes such as "I'm Just a Bill
" and "Conjunction Junction", ("Three is a Magic Number" only ranks as the show's seventh most popular episode according to the 30th Anniversary VHS) the song, thanks to its more passive approach to teaching about the multiples of three than later episodes, has proven to be more popular as a standalone album. The music video for this version features clips from the original show.
This song originally appeared on the final episode of Curiosity Shop
.
Jeff Buckley
did a cover.
The song is well known to Irish
people for being the startup music to the television station TV3, ever since its inception in 1998.
The song is featured in the films Slackers and You, Me, and Dupree.
The song is also parodied by Jack Black in the movie School of Rock
, when Black accidentally refers to the number 9 as "a magic number".
De La Soul
used some of the original lyrics in their song "The Magic Number
", although this hip hop song was very different from the original.
A version by Jon Carter
, modelled after the De La Soul version, was used in channel idents for BBC Three
from its launch in February 2003 until January 2008.
The Three Mobile Company in Australia has used the song as its theme song during advertisements since the brand broke in to the Australian market. The song has also been covered by Greek singer Elena Paparizou
for the a Swedish Three Mobile advertising campaign in 2007.
Jack Johnson
also adapted the song to talk about the three R's (reduce, re-use, and recycle) for his soundtrack to the animated film Curious George
.
It is also featured in commercials for espn3.com
It was recently used for the Sony
Disney
DVD player.
The song is parodied on the MADtv
sketch "Public Schoolhouse Rock!" with a song about substitute teachers.
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
of the Schoolhouse Rock!
Schoolhouse Rock!
Schoolhouse Rock! is an American interstitial programming series of animated musical educational short films that aired during the Saturday morning children's programming on the U.S. television network ABC. The topics covered included grammar, science, economics, history, mathematics, and civics...
series and the first episode of the program's first season, "Multiplication Rock."
Though the song is not as iconic to the Schoolhouse Rock series as later episodes such as "I'm Just a Bill
I'm Just a Bill
"I'm Just a Bill" is a Schoolhouse Rock! segment, featuring a song of the same title written by Dave Frishberg. The segment debuted as part of "America Rock", the third season of the Schoolhouse Rock series, in 1975. The song featured in the segment is sung by Jack Sheldon and his son...
" and "Conjunction Junction", ("Three is a Magic Number" only ranks as the show's seventh most popular episode according to the 30th Anniversary VHS) the song, thanks to its more passive approach to teaching about the multiples of three than later episodes, has proven to be more popular as a standalone album. The music video for this version features clips from the original show.
This song originally appeared on the final episode of Curiosity Shop
Curiosity Shop
Curiosity Shop was an American children's educational television program produced by ABC-TV in 1971, capitalizing on the success of Sesame Street....
.
Jeff Buckley
Jeff Buckley
Jeffrey Scott "Jeff" Buckley , raised as Scotty Moorhead, was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He was the son of Tim Buckley, also a musician...
did a cover.
The song is well known to Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
people for being the startup music to the television station TV3, ever since its inception in 1998.
The song is featured in the films Slackers and You, Me, and Dupree.
The song is also parodied by Jack Black in the movie School of Rock
School of Rock
School of Rock, also called The School of Rock, is a 2003 American musical comedy film directed by Richard Linklater, written by Mike White, and starring Jack Black...
, when Black accidentally refers to the number 9 as "a magic number".
De La Soul
De La Soul
De La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York. The band is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres...
used some of the original lyrics in their song "The Magic Number
The Magic Number
"The Magic Number" is a 1990 single by De La Soul, originally recorded in 1988 and first released on their 1989 album, 3 Feet High and Rising, with the chorus based on a segment from the children's show "Schoolhouse Rock!", written by Bob Dorough. In the song, the trio state that the number three...
", although this hip hop song was very different from the original.
A version by Jon Carter
Jon Carter
Jon Carter is an Essex, England-born DJ who initially rose to prominence as a big beat electronica DJ. However, as his career progressed both his productions and his DJ sets became known for including a variety of musical styles.-Biography:...
, modelled after the De La Soul version, was used in channel idents for BBC Three
BBC Three
BBC Three is a television network from the BBC broadcasting via digital cable, terrestrial, IPTV and satellite platforms. The channel's target audience includes those in the 16-34 year old age group, and has the purpose of providing "innovative" content to younger audiences, focusing on new talent...
from its launch in February 2003 until January 2008.
The Three Mobile Company in Australia has used the song as its theme song during advertisements since the brand broke in to the Australian market. The song has also been covered by Greek singer Elena Paparizou
Elena Paparizou
Eleni "Elena" Paparizou , usually referred to abroad as Helena Paparizou, is a Greek-Swedish singer and occasional songwriter, who was born and raised in Sweden by Greek parents. She began her career there in 1999 as a member of the duo Antique, while she also worked briefly as a model for a...
for the a Swedish Three Mobile advertising campaign in 2007.
Jack Johnson
Jack Johnson (musician)
Jack Johnson was born May 18, 1975 is an American folk rock singer-songwriter, surfer and musician known for his work in the soft rock and acoustic genres. In 2001, he achieved commercial success after the release of his debut album, Brushfire Fairytales. He has since released four more albums, a...
also adapted the song to talk about the three R's (reduce, re-use, and recycle) for his soundtrack to the animated film Curious George
Curious George (film)
Curious George is a 2006 traditionally animated film adaptation of the children's stories by H.A. and Margret Rey. Will Ferrell voices Ted. Matthew O'Callaghan directed...
.
It is also featured in commercials for espn3.com
It was recently used for the Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
Disney
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
DVD player.
The song is parodied on the MADtv
MADtv
MADtv is an American sketch comedy television series. It licensed the name and logo of Mad, but otherwise had no connection with the humor magazine outside the animated Spy vs. Spy and Don Martin cartoon shorts and images of Alfred E. Neuman that the show featured during the late 1990s. Its first...
sketch "Public Schoolhouse Rock!" with a song about substitute teachers.