So here is the first post of several months of fun research! I am doing a small set of posts concerning the children’s show Phineas and Ferb (2007-2015). Why? Just for fun. I had never seen this show before. I know. I am just as surprised. But let me say it has been one of the more enjoyable projects I have done for a long time.
This post focuses on my favorite Phineas and Ferb musical numbers. For newcomers, one of Phineas and Ferb‘s best highlights are the many musical numbers. Every episode has at least one song from many different musical genres. I could say I loved them all, but people don’t read lists for cop-out answers like, “I loved all the songs so just watch the show.” There are over 200 songs, and most people don’t have time to listen to them all.
So first are the honorable mentions and then on to my list!
“Funhouse”, Misperceived Monotreme
“Professor Elemental Future Past”, Steampunx
Chap hop, with Rap Paul Alborough
“Dancin’ In the Sun”, Just Our Luck
Pop
“Doof’s Evil Hideout” Live and Let Drive
Jazz, Jill Whelan
“S’Winter”, S’Winter
Ballad
So on to the list! This took me a long time to make because. . . I liked most of the songs. And there were A LOT to go through. Appreciate my almost pointless sacrifice!
25. “Ferb Latin”, Ferb Latin
Pop, jazz fusion, reggae fusion, vaudeville
This song comes on my YouTube auto play quite often and I enjoy the layered singing parts, cute dancing, and the delightful key change at the end. It almost makes me want to try learning ferb latin just for the heck of it!
24. “I’m Handsome”, Quietest Day Ever
Blues Rock
This song makes me laugh every time I see it! His perfectly handsome face just doesn’t match his . . . not so handsome singing voice. I love the way he swings his cane around and the witty lyrics in the song. Also, his dance moves get to me, probably because he enjoys the new attention a little too much.
23. “You’re Going Down”, Rollercoaster the Musical
Doo Wap
I have so much to say about this song! I find it hilarious how Phineas and Ferb watched and danced to her song! Instead of showing any concern for her threat, they just boobed to the music, enjoying the song she chose for their experimental musical afternoon. I love the old-timey rhythm, Candace’s entourage as she sings, and her fantastical visions of her busting her brothers for real. But as we all know, it is for nothing.
22. “My Nemesis”, It’s about Time!
Baroque and Bubblegum pop
When I started seeing this show, this song stuck in my head for a week. Mostly just the line “My neme, neme, oooo… my neme, nemesis”. I thought the sixties Esque trio singing in the background and the choreographed thwarting were also super funny.
21. “A Backyard Beach”, Lawn Gnome Beach Party of Terror
Reggae, dancehall, sung by Danny Jacob
There is so much to like about this song: Phineas and Ferb dancing, Ferb singing reggae, the moving tiki heads in the background, and even just all the people enjoying the song. All in all, this song makes me want to dance, even if I don’t know exactly how to with this type of music.
20. “Intimate Get Together” Candace Gets Busted
Rap
I must say, Ashley Tisdale, who voices Candance, is quite the rapper. This song is all irony. Despite her best intentions, her intimate get together turns into a thoroughly enjoyable, choreographed dance party. (With an incredibly catchy tune.)
19. “E.V.I.L B.O.Y.S”, Jerk De Soleil
Blues rock
Another song dripping with irony! Candace is pouring her heart out through song, but instead of believing her, they turn her rant into a soulful, musical testimony that becomes the highlight of the knitting club. I love blues, and this song makes me bang my head! Then by the end, I forget what Candace was trying to say from the beginning.
18. “Zubada”, Tri-Stone Area
Pop, Parody
Oh gosh the main reason I love this song is the beginning with the creators Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh story boarding and dancing with the characters! Plus this song is so rhythmic I just can’t help but love it.
17. “Busted”, I Scream, You Scream
Pop, R&B
Ashley Tisdale and Oliva Olsen singing together is so catchy! Plus, their dancing during the chorus makes me want to move! It is a combination of two great busters hopefully singing out their intentions through unintentional harmony and choreography!
16. “I Love You Mom”, Mom’s Birthday
Bubblegum Pop
This song is so sweet. Someday, I want to send it to my mom on her birthday. Honestly, this song makes me remember how much I love her, an amazing woman who raised seven children and must have had a crazy time with all of us.
15. “My Cruisin’ Sweet Ride”, My Sweet Ride
Doo Wap, Dion and the Belmonts‘ “I Wonder Why“
This is yet another example of a sweet fifties inspired song I just can’t help but love. It is actually slightly based on Dion and the Belmonts‘ “I Wonder Why“. It is a romantic, nicely rendered tune reminiscent of the happy music other the fifties.
14. “There’s A Platypus Controlling Me”, Brain Drain
Hip Hop
Situational, beautiful humor and angsty teenagers misunderstanding context. That is the sum of it. I want to show this song to my mom. I think she won’t be able to stop laughing.
13. “Vampire Queens Love Pimpernels”, Druselsteinoween
Tango
I love this kind of haunting music. And I love it more when it has Ferb dressed to the nines singing to a bunch of teenagers who chose the same outfits by chance. The tango dancing was also a nice touch I think. Oh, Baljeet wailing in the background KILLED me the first time I saw it! Especially with Buford just standing accepting it with a stoic face.
12. “Disco Miniature Golfing Queen”, Put That Putter Away
Disco
This song is groovy to the max! Short and sweet it is so charming in how it displays so many outfits and dance moves from the seventies. Plus, I am just impressed with how Phineas and Ferb designed the room!
11. “Everything’s Better with Perry”, Across the 2nd Dimension
Soul, R&B, funk, pop
Ferb singing in the chorus and their cute dance with Perry between them just makes me smile! Perry really knows how to play the part of a compliant, lazy pet, even in the midst of a funky musical number.
10. “The Gordian Knot”, Knot my Problem
Pop
This song really grew on me the more and more I heard it. The chorus sometimes plays on repeat when I find myself eating licorice. Usually, the characters sing in harmony, but for this song, they all sang in unison. I think it is so fun! Enough to make me wonder if it would be a good enough adventure to be stuck inside a Gordian knot made out of licorice.
9. “Big Ginormous Airplane”, De Plane, De Plane
Traditional pop, Jazz (1940’s)
I love how the creators altered the sound of their voices like they used to do on the radios in the ’40s. I also found out it is a homage to the song Give Me The Simple Life from the 1946 movie Wake Up and Dream. As a classic movie, this song really makes me want to go out and see something like “Stairway to Heaven”(1946) or “The Wind Rises” (2013).
8. “Not So bad a Dad”, Finding Mary McGuffin
Jazz, lounge
This is my favorite song sung by Olivia Olsen. Maybe because it makes me think of my Dad, or maybe it is because I can picture myself singing it. Also, I just like how she had a cute song to reminisce about her own father.
7. “In the City of Love”, Summer Belongs To You!
Ballad
Poor, poor Isabella. She tried so hard to get Phineas to pay attention to her. To his credit, they are still very young. My favorite moment has to be the mime releasing the balloon at the end of the song and the balloon vendor running after him.
6. “What Might Have Been”, Act Your Age
Ballad, Pop
Ah young love, not realized till it seems the worse possible moment. I thought this was a very sweet song, despite its sad message. It was the first time Phineas showed his feelings. But again, I think it is better they finally figured it out after all the drama of high school was over.
5. “I Ain’t Got Rhythm”, We’re Getting the Band Back Together
Rock
This is one of those songs that just caught me from the very beginning! I am a sucker for drums, rhythm, and key changes, so I love how it has an awesome build-up in volume and complexity. Also, Ferb snapping and moving in the background is so addicting to watch! Also also, my Mom loved Phineas’s cute dance moves.
4. “Gitchee Gitchee Goo”, Flop Starz
Play on Bubblegum pop music
This song is CATCHY! Listen to it and see if I am not right. It will get stuck in your head and never leave. Well, it will be a pleasant experience despite that. My favorite part is the first verse Phineas sings between the chorus renderings. It is sort of ironic because he is so oblivious when it comes to his own romance life.
3. “Summer Belongs to You”, Summer Belongs To You!
Pop Rock
Hee hee hee. This song is one of my favorites because it reminds me of the musical Hairspray. But it is better because I like the characters more. I love how Phineas and Isabella sing together and the dancing before each chorus. I could tell they put a lot of work into this song. Also, it makes me want to just go on an adventure and learn new things!
2. “Hey Ferb”, Rollercoaster the Musical
Showtune
This song fills the nerdy musical self I don’t feed very often. An homage to Broadway musicals, this song is one of the few I hum regularly at work. No one knows what I am humming, but that makes it all the more fun. I love how this combines music, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance so smoothly in such a short amount of time. The chord AND key changes, plus the theme changes shown throughout, fascinate me!
Lets not forget also the different musicals listed throughout: Cats, The Phantom of the Opera, Oklahoma, Singin’ in the Rain, Fiddler on the Roof, West Side Story, The Music Man, Les Miserable, The King and I, Chicago and Cabaret.
1. “Watchin’ and Waitin”, Don’t Even Blink
Rock, or Hard Rock
It was hard deciding between this song and Hey Ferb, but I finally decided on this one as my favorite. Here is the main reason. I love picking apart this song musically and visually. I never get tired of it! For instance, I gradually noticed how they change guitars several times, how the music becomes increasingly complex as they reach the song’s climax, and even how Phineas is ambidextrous. Those are just a few things I enjoyed throughout it.
Thank you for reading and maybe enjoying the songs posted! Honestly though, the best way to enjoy the music from Phineas and Ferb is to watch the show! Understanding context changes things. Stay tuned for further posts.
From the Perspective of an Old Soul 