402:
of the song reached MGM Records' New York office. The acetate became popular with the office's young people. Up to 50 people would listen to the song at lunchtime. The front office noticed, reconsidered their decision, and decided to release the song.
524:
features a cinematographer, Antlers Holst, who is hired to capture an alien on camera. While preparing to capture camera footage of the alien creature, Holst recites the lyrics from "The Purple People Eater".
791:
535:
held the “Name that
Holiday Pepper - Violet to Red” contest on Challenge.gov to name new varieties of ornamental peppers they had developed. The winning name for a purple pepper with
944:
284:"The Purple People Eater" tells how a strange creature (described as a "one-eyed, one-horned, flying, purple people eater") descends to Earth because it wants to be in a
291:
Much of the song's humor derives from toying with the listener's expectations. The creature is initially described as having "one long horn", suggestive of an
494:
marketed a children's game inspired by the song. Players competed to remove tiny "people" from the rubber Purple People Eater shell, using tweezers on a
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Likewise, challenging the listener's assumption that the creature is a purple-colored people-eater, the creature asserts that it eats purple people:
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The voice of the purple people eater is a sped-up recording, giving it a voice similar to, but not quite as high-pitched or as fast as,
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band. The premise of the song came from a joke told by the child of a friend of Wooley's; Wooley finished composing it within an hour.
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Says it should have been written "purple-people eater" to make clearer the apparent intent that "purple" refers to the people eaten.
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initially rejected the song, saying that it was not the type of music with which they wanted to be identified. An
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Wooley recorded another version of the song in 1967, titled "The Purple People Eater #2" and credited to his
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was produced in a similar fashion, as the saxophone was originally recorded at a reduced speed.
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A dubstep song under the title "Purple People Eater" by the
Swedish electronic music group
427:
268:
24:
1048:"Brother in the Land told me (at 10) why I wouldn't survive nuclear war | Owen Jones"
453:
chart after contractual reasons prevented Wooley's version being released in
Scandinavia.
349:
to portray the creature, listeners drew pictures that show a purple-colored people eater.
8:
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507:
365:
338:
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295:, yet the song ends with the creature playing music from the horn, implying that it is
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Says the "flying purple people eater ... ate purple people." Retrieved April 24, 2009.
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The enduring popularity of the song led to the nicknaming of the highly effective "
361:
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in foreign markets such as
Australia and Japan. In response to requests from radio
276:, reached No. 12 overall in the UK Singles Chart, and topped the Australian chart.
825:"JACKIE DENNIS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company"
683:
456:
Wooley re-recorded the song in 1979 under the title "Purple People Eater", which
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647:...plus "The Purple People Eater," Sheb Wooley's doo-wop style novelty number...
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435:& his Orchestra, issued as Capitol T 1118 (mono) and ST 1118 (stereo).
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259:
113:
82:
326:", a term which can be interpreted either as fierce or not easily chewed.
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945:"Pegboard Nerds Kick Off #NERDWEEK With "Purple People Eater" | Your EDM"
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1164:"'X-Men '97' Reveals Theo James' Mystery Villain with Big OZT Bombshell"
337:
portrayed a purple creature playing the single horn on his head like a
273:
228:, by Ben Colder, a.k.a. Sheb Wooley. MGM Records (1967). (2:33 minutes)
126:
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which activated an alarm if coming into contact with its metal jaws.
383:
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covered the song in 1958, and his version reached No. 29 in the UK.
1082:
899:"Barry Cryer OBE – Comedy Scriptwriter, Comedian & Broadcaster"
735:
Discusses this article, and notes lack of associativity in
English.
557:
850:"Judy Garland with Freddy Martin And His Orchestra - At The Grove"
971:
Pegboard Nerds - Purple People Eater [Monstercat
Release]
450:
196:, by Sheb Wooley. MGM Records (1958). (2:18 minutes, with lyrics)
87:
333:
in the song have persisted since its original release. The 1958
788:
Production Notes, Episode 16, Incident of the
Misplaced Indians
487:
defensive line of the 1970s, whose team colors include purple.
212:, by Sheb Wooley. Television performance (1958). (1:59 minutes)
376:
eventually covered "Purple People Eater" for their 1998 album
19:
This article is about the song. For the children's movie, see
776:. June 7, 2002 – via Newsbank (Article ID: 0206070061).
529:
322:
The creature also declines to eat the narrator "'cause so
874:"The Purple People Eater #2 / Undertaker's Love Lament"
553:
uses the song as a self-chosen theme song in the 2024
244:, by Sheb Wooley. Gusto Records (1979). (2:25 minutes)
1064:
471:
was released in 2018 and samples the original piece.
1142:"USDA ARS Challenge.gov Contest Winner Announcement"
425:
recorded the song on her 1958 Capitol
Records album
272:
pop charts in 1958 from June 9 to July 14, No. 1 in
313:He said eating purple people, and it sure is fine,
1067:"Young Adult Literature: Wars and Rumors of Wars"
772:"Some records are meant to make you bust a gut".
311:I said Mr. Purple People Eater, what's your line?
1198:
1106:"Nope's Easter Eggs & References Explained"
629:
445:A cover version recorded by British comedian
315:But that's not the reason that I came to land
151:"I Found Me an Angel" / "So Close to Heaven"
1124:"Can you help us name this holiday pepper?"
673:
671:
669:
490:From 1982, major British toy manufacturer
368:", another hit from earlier in 1958; and "
317:I wanna get a job in a rock 'n roll band.
1192:Singles listings on RCS Song Titles Index
1024:"PURPLE PEOPLE EATER - Trademark Details"
23:. For the American football players, see
805:
709:
666:
515:are nicknamed "Purples", from the song.
1152:
406:The Sheb Wooley version crossed to the
1199:
811:Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004
744:
630:Snyder, Michael (September 30, 2019).
602:
600:
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389:
1217:Billboard Top 100 number-one singles
1103:
793:Rawhide – The Complete First Season
597:
372:" which was released late in 1958.
13:
160:" / "I Can't Believe You're Mine"
14:
1278:
1262:Songs about extraterrestrial life
1185:
796:, Region 1, Disc 5, CBS DVD, 2006
660:"CHUM Hit Parade - June 16, 1958"
341:, and MGM used the same image on
1065:Nelms, Beth; Nelms, Ben (1986).
632:"Spooky, scary, and silly tunes"
606:
1232:Number-one singles in Australia
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813:. Record Research. p. 637.
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745:Pulfer, Mike (March 25, 2002).
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687:. July 7, 1958. Archived from
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442:Ben Colder, on the MGM label.
411:R&B Best Sellers in Stores
279:
1:
716:. AMS Bookstore. p. 77.
569:
533:Agricultural Research Service
474:
266:, which reached No. 1 in the
56:"I Can't Believe You're Mine"
1252:Songs written by Sheb Wooley
1104:Izay, Ryan (July 31, 2022).
947:. 2018-07-25. Archived from
542:was "Purple People Heater".
7:
413:chart, peaking at No. 18.
165:"The Chase" / "Monkey Jive"
10:
1283:
1222:Cashbox number-one singles
991:"The Purple People Eaters"
710:Behrends, Ehrhard (2008).
220:The Purple People Eater #2
21:Purple People Eater (film)
18:
16:1958 single by Sheb Wooley
584:"The Purple People Eater"
528:In Winter 2022/2023, the
262:written and performed by
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68:
60:
48:
37:
33:"The Purple People Eater"
32:
379:The A-Files: Alien Songs
329:Attempts to clarify the
747:"Ask a stupid question"
713:Five minute mathematics
374:Alvin and the Chipmunks
256:The Purple People Eater
204:The Purple People Eater
188:The Purple People Eater
158:The Purple People Eater
142: singles chronology
320:
1028:Trademarks.justia.com
920:"Purple People Eater"
679:"Purple, Man, Purple"
460:released through its
449:reached No. 1 in the
394:According to Wooley,
382:. The sound of a toy
308:
1267:Songs about monsters
1130:. December 21, 2022.
481:Purple People Eaters
428:Garland at the Grove
25:Purple People Eaters
1247:MGM Records singles
1148:. January 12, 2023.
1071:The English Journal
774:Beaumont Enterprise
751:Cincinnati Enquirer
691:on February 5, 2010
508:Brother in the Land
339:woodwind instrument
236:Purple People Eater
1162:(April 24, 2024).
1093:– via JSTOR.
829:Officialcharts.com
390:Notable recordings
1257:Comedy rock songs
1212:Sheb Wooley songs
1054:. August 7, 2014.
901:. Gordonpoole.com
723:978-0-8218-4348-2
560:streaming series
485:Minnesota Vikings
431:, accompanied by
370:The Chipmunk Song
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358:Pinky and Perky
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1186:External links
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1083:10.2307/818888
1077:(3): 106–108.
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1004:on May 2, 2008
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537:Cayenne pepper
518:The 2022 film
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469:Pegboard Nerds
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343:record sleeves
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951:on 2018-07-25
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609:"Sheb Wooley"
607:Eder, Bruce.
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549:supervillain
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458:Gusto Records
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433:Freddy Martin
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417:Jackie Dennis
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127:Songwriter(s)
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78:Rock and roll
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1207:1958 singles
1171:. Retrieved
1167:
1160:White, Brett
1154:
1145:
1136:
1127:
1118:
1109:
1099:
1074:
1070:
1060:
1052:the Guardian
1051:
1042:
1031:. Retrieved
1027:
1018:
1006:. Retrieved
1002:the original
996:Bob Lurtsema
994:
985:
975:, retrieved
970:
964:
953:. Retrieved
949:the original
939:
928:. Retrieved
923:
914:
903:. Retrieved
893:
882:. Retrieved
877:
868:
857:. Retrieved
853:
844:
832:. Retrieved
828:
819:
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792:
787:
783:
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754:. Retrieved
750:
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727:. Retrieved
712:
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693:. Retrieved
689:the original
682:
654:
646:
639:. Retrieved
636:Marina Times
635:
625:
615:September 4,
613:. Retrieved
588:. Retrieved
578:
561:
544:
527:
519:
517:
506:
501:In the 1984
500:
489:
478:
466:
464:subsidiary.
462:King Records
455:
444:
439:
437:
426:
423:Judy Garland
421:
415:
407:
405:
393:
377:
366:Witch Doctor
351:
347:disc jockeys
328:
323:
321:
310:
305:
301:instrumental
290:
283:
267:
260:novelty song
255:
253:
235:
219:
203:
187:
180:Music videos
157:
924:Discogs.com
878:Discogs.com
854:Discogs.com
492:Waddingtons
447:Barry Cryer
396:MGM Records
354:Mike Sammes
335:sheet music
331:ambiguities
280:Composition
264:Sheb Wooley
140:Sheb Wooley
133:Sheb Wooley
43:Sheb Wooley
1242:1958 songs
1201:Categories
1110:ScreenRant
1033:2012-05-28
977:2023-09-28
955:2023-09-28
930:2016-11-26
905:2010-11-23
884:2016-11-26
859:2016-08-29
611:. Allmusic
590:2018-09-14
570:References
475:Popularity
1173:April 24,
1128:Instagram
756:April 24,
729:April 24,
563:X-Men '97
513:cannibals
496:wire loop
440:alter ego
408:Billboard
384:saxophone
356:'s 1957 "
269:Billboard
1146:LinkedIn
834:27 April
809:(2004).
297:acoustic
64:May 1958
61:Released
1168:Decider
1008:July 1,
695:July 1,
641:May 28,
586:. 45cat
558:Disney+
551:Bastion
483:", the
451:Finnish
400:acetate
258:" is a
242:YouTube
226:YouTube
210:YouTube
194:YouTube
167:(1958)
162:(1958)
153:(1958)
88:doo-wop
1091:818888
1089:
926:. 1986
880:. 1967
720:
547:Marvel
505:novel
360:", or
274:Canada
97:Length
83:comedy
51:B-side
39:Single
1087:JSTOR
324:tough
114:Label
70:Genre
1175:2024
1010:2009
836:2021
758:2009
731:2009
718:ISBN
697:2009
684:Time
643:2023
617:2021
545:The
530:USDA
521:Nope
364:'s "
1079:doi
299:or
240:on
224:on
208:on
192:on
119:MGM
41:by
1203::
1166:.
1144:.
1126:.
1108:.
1085:.
1075:75
1073:.
1069:.
1050:.
1026:.
993:.
922:.
876:.
852:.
827:.
790:,
749:.
681:.
668:^
645:.
634:.
599:^
566:.
511:,
303:.
106:11
1177:.
1112:.
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887:.
862:.
838:.
760:.
733:.
699:.
662:.
619:.
593:.
254:"
156:"
104::
102:2
27:.
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