Sesame Songs Home Video

From the Audiovisual Identity Database, the motion graphics museum


Background

The Sesame Songs Home Video label was created in 1990 by Random House Home Video. Under this label, eight VHS programs were produced from 1990-1993. These programs were compilations of Sesame Street songs and skits. After Sony Wonder obtained the rights to Sesame Street, a ninth VHS, Big Bird Sings!, was released in 1995. This VHS included the logo, but was not an official Sesame Songs release.

Logo (May 12, 1990-July 25, 1995)


Visuals: Cookie Monster, Bert (holding a small microphone), and Ernie appear above a blank Sesame Street sign with a purple musical eighth note at the top right. The note moves side to side as the words "SESAME SONGS" rise up letter by letter in white, followed by "HOME VIDEO" fading in below in yellow. The note stops, and several multicolored notes pop up around the screen and begin to dance. The words "SESAME SONGS HOME VIDEO" fade out to show the title of the program.

Trivia: Some of the VHS/Betamax releases' lids and reels are colored green, similar to the E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial VHS/Betamax.

Variant: On Big Bird Sings!, a custom title card for the video flies in, completely covering the logo.

Technique: 2D computer animation, with chroma-keying for Bert, Ernie and Cookie Monster.

Audio: An instrumental version of "Sing", ending with a child saying "Sesame Songs presents... [title of program]!"

Audio Variant:

  • On Sing-Along Earth Songs, Grover's voice reads the title.
  • On Big Bird Sings!, Big Bird and Snuffy sing throughout the logo.

Availability: Seen on the eight VHS/Betamax programs under the Sesame Songs Home Video label and Sony Wonder's release of Big Bird Sings!.

  • Subsequent releases of the original eight programs also retain the logo, except for Big Bird Sings!, due to it not being an official release.
  • It is also preserved on the 1992 UK VHS release of Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Silly!/Monster Hits from The Video Collection.