Milk, MI-ILK, Milk

04/29/2008

Back when I was a kid, Sesame Street was awesome. There’s so many classic 70′s Sesame Street moments that I couldn’t even begin to list them.

One that has always stuck with me was the short “Milk” film that ran over and over during my youth. To this day I still find myself singing the haunting, “Milk, Mi-ilk, Milk” thing (about 40 seconds into the video) when I pour a glass of milk. So much so, that my family knows that little bit.

I thought I was the oddball as I’ve yet to meet someone who truly knew and remembered that clip.

So this afternoon has been particularly boring and I was getting little man a bowl of cereal and started singing the “Milk” thing and figured I’d do a search. Turns out the film is indeed on YouTube in all 4 and a half minute of its original glory – just as I had remebered. Watching this makes me 4 again:

Even better, in the video info a link is provided to an interview with the composer of the song. Which begins with:

“Milk” is one of the most strange and powerful episodes to come out of the Children’s Television Workshop. It is impossible to imagine this film being made now. Here’s the pitch:

“Yeah…Jim. Look, I thought we would show how milk gets made with no script and no dialogue. Yeah. Let’s just go shoot footage of farmers and the milk truck, maybe throw in a crying baby and some weird, monotone music crafted by some composer who likes jazzy stuff played by a chamber ensemble. Sunny day? Nah. Let’s not make it cheerful or happy. We should make it gloomy and unsettling. Oh, and Jim? To do it right, we need some crane shots, a huge decal for the truck, and about four and a half minutes running time.”

That’s so true. Something like this would never get made these days. It’s weird…almost creepy. Haunting and bleak, really. The opening shot of the man and the ominous chord as it cuts to the cow – that’s right out of horror film 101. I cannot express how much I love this.

I feel like the Bee Girl in Blind Melon’s “No Rain” video when she finds all the other bee people. I had no idea so many people my age remembered this. Too awesome!

If you weren’t born in the early 70′s your life must suck.

There are 10 comments in this article:

  1. 04/29/2008Neuski

    I’m picturing you eating a bowl of cereal singling “Milk, MI-ILK, Milk” to yourself when your wife and kids walk it, evaluate their loon dad, shake their had, and move along.

    “Crazy fuckin’ Dad…”

  2. 04/29/2008Lord Gonchar

    I only sing it when I’m handling the milk. Once the milk is poured it is no longer milk and thus cannot be sung to.

  3. 04/29/2008Jeffy

    I love me some bass clarinet and synthesizer.

    In other news….maaaan you’re old!!! :)

  4. 04/30/2008Lord Gonchar

    Hey! I only have ten years on you.

    When you’re 25, 35 seems like so far away. When you’re 35, 25 seems like yesterday.

    I’m a fuckin’ poet.

  5. 04/30/2008jeffyjones

    The image I remember most is the cats drinking fresh milk. Weird what you remember.

    Jeffy needs to expand his musical horizons.

  6. 04/30/2008Tekno

    Did you ever see the article about how older episodes are now being sold with a disclaimer? I wish kids today were raised like most of us were…

  7. 05/1/2008Carrie

    A disclaimer…huh… yeah, like “Beware: If you watch this you may end up like Gonch!”

    “If you weren’t born in the early 70’s your life must suck.” That’s classic, I love it.

  8. 05/1/2008Lord Gonchar

    I have my moments. :)

  9. 05/2/2008joe

    I totally remember this, and what’s funny is now, I’m singing it all the time and coming up with dance remixes in my head.

    Damn thee, Gonch. Damn thee to hell. ;-)

  10. 05/2/2008Lord Gonchar

    The Milk remix would be terrific.

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