The Enduring Echo: "We Are Siamese If You Please"
Few musical numbers from classic animated films leave as indelible a mark as "The Siamese Cat Song" from Walt Disney's 1955 masterpiece, Lady and the Tramp. With its mischievous melody and cunning lyrics, the phrase "we are siamese if you please" has resonated through generations, instantly conjuring images of two conniving felines, Si and Am, as they wreak havoc in Aunt Sarah's meticulously kept home. This seemingly innocent tune, however, carries a complex legacy, intertwining nostalgic charm with a crucial dialogue about representation in media.
From its memorable chorus, "we are siamese if you please / we are siamese if you don't please," the song immediately establishes the unyielding nature of these feline antagonists. Penned by the legendary Peggy Lee and Sonny Burke, this track, officially known as "The Siamese Cat Song" (sometimes simply "We Are Siamese"), is more than just a catchy tune; it's a pivotal moment in the film, driving the narrative and embodying the chaotic energy that disrupts Lady's serene world. But beyond its narrative function, the song has sparked significant discussion, prompting a deeper look into its cultural implications and its place within Disney's vast animated canon.
Table of Contents
- The Genesis of a Mischievous Melody: Behind the Scenes
- Peggy Lee: The Voice and the Vision
- Unraveling the Lyrics: "We Are Siamese If You Please"
- Si and Am: Disney's Conniving Felines
- The Cultural Controversy: A Critical Lens
- Disney's Evolving Stance on Problematic Content
- The Song's Enduring Legacy and Relevance
- Musical Composition and Impact
The Genesis of a Mischievous Melody: Behind the Scenes
The creation of "The Siamese Cat Song" is a fascinating chapter in Disney's musical history. Words and music were crafted by Peggy Lee and Sonny Burke, two pivotal figures in the film's soundtrack. Peggy Lee, a renowned jazz and pop singer, not only co-wrote several songs for Lady and the Tramp but also lent her distinctive voice to multiple characters, including Darling (Lady's owner), Peg, and, most famously, the mischievous Siamese cats, Si and Am. This dual role as both songwriter and performer gave her a unique connection to the material, allowing her to imbue the characters with a specific vocal personality that perfectly matched their on-screen antics.
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The song was designed to introduce Si and Am as the primary antagonists during Aunt Sarah's visit, quickly establishing their cunning and destructive nature. The original lyrics of "We Are Siamese If You Please" capture their immediate disdain for Lady and their predatory instincts. As the cats sing, "now we lookin' over our new domicile / if we like we stay for maybe quite a while," they immediately set a tone of unwelcome intrusion and impending chaos. The animators worked closely with the songwriters to ensure the visuals and music were seamlessly integrated, creating a memorable sequence that has become one of the film's most discussed moments. The track—whose chorus is "we are siamese if you please / we are siamese if you don't please"—is sung by conniving felines Si and Am, and has long been considered to be perpetuating stereotypes, a point we will delve into further.
Peggy Lee: The Voice and the Vision
Peggy Lee's involvement in Lady and the Tramp was far more extensive than just performing a few songs. Her creative input as a songwriter, alongside Sonny Burke, was instrumental in shaping the musical landscape of the film. Lee's distinctive vocal style, characterized by its cool, sophisticated, and often subtly playful delivery, was perfectly suited for the diverse range of characters she portrayed. For Si and Am, she adopted a nasal, slightly off-key, and harmonized tone that amplified their unsettling and manipulative personalities. This vocal choice, while effective in conveying the characters' nature, later became a focal point of the controversy surrounding the song.
Biographical Sketch: Peggy Lee
Born Norma Deloris Egstrom in Jamestown, North Dakota, Peggy Lee (May 26, 1920 – January 21, 2002) was an American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, composer, and actress. Her career spanned over six decades, earning her widespread acclaim and numerous accolades, including a Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement. Lee was known for her cool, sophisticated vocal style and her ability to interpret a wide range of musical genres. Her collaboration with Disney on Lady and the Tramp remains one of her most iconic contributions to film. She was not just a singer; she was a meticulous artist who deeply understood character and narrative through song.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Norma Deloris Egstrom |
| Known As | Peggy Lee |
| Born | May 26, 1920 |
| Died | January 21, 2002 (aged 81) |
| Occupation | Singer, Songwriter, Actress |
| Genre | Jazz, Pop, Traditional Pop |
| Notable Works (Film) | Lady and the Tramp (voice, songwriter), Pete Kelly's Blues (actress) |
| Awards | Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement, Academy Award Nomination (Best Supporting Actress) |
Unraveling the Lyrics: "We Are Siamese If You Please"
The lyrics of "The Siamese Cat Song" are a masterclass in establishing villainy through seemingly innocent observations. The opening lines, "we are siamese if you please / we are siamese if you don't please," immediately convey an unyielding, self-important attitude. This phrase is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing their determination and disregard for others' wishes. The cats introduce themselves as "former residents of Siam," a detail that grounds their identity and hints at their exotic, perhaps even alien, nature within the domestic setting of Lady's home. They proudly declare, "there is no finer cat than I am," showcasing their arrogance and self-proclaimed superiority.
As the song progresses, the lyrics detail their mischievous intentions. They observe a goldfish, singing, "do you seeing that thing swimming round and round / maybe we can reaching in and make it drown." This line, often cited for its dark humor, reveals their predatory instincts and lack of empathy. Their plan to divide the spoils – "if we sneaking up upon it carefully / there will be head for you a tail for me" – further highlights their conniving nature and collaborative villainy. Later, they hear a baby cry, and their immediate thought turns to milk: "where we finding baby there's milk near by and if we look in baby buggy there could be plenty of milk for you and also some for me." This sequence perfectly illustrates their self-serving motives, always looking for personal gain, whether it's food or mischief. The full lyrics paint a vivid picture of their disruptive presence: "We are siamese if you please we are siamese if you don't please now we're looking over our new domicile if we like we stay for maybe quite a while do you see that a thing swimming round and round maybe we can reaching in and make it drown if we sneaking up upon it carefully there will be head for you a tail for me do you hear what i hear a baby cry." This lyrical journey from observation to malicious intent is what makes the song so effective in its narrative role, even as it draws criticism for its portrayal.
Si and Am: Disney's Conniving Felines
Si and Am are not just background characters; they are pivotal antagonists in Lady and the Tramp, embodying the chaos that Aunt Sarah brings into Jim Dear and Darling's home. Their design, characterized by slender bodies, sharp features, and slanted eyes, was unfortunately a product of the era's common, often stereotypical, portrayal of East Asian characters. Their actions in the film—destroying the house, framing Lady for their misdeeds, and their general air of malicious glee—cement their role as clear villains. The "Siamese Cat Song" serves as their theme, a musical declaration of their intent and personality. They are portrayed as cunning, manipulative, and utterly without remorse, a stark contrast to the loyal and loving Lady.
The original lyrics of "We Are Siamese If You Please" are sung by these
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We are Siamese if you please... | Siamese cats, Lady and the tramp, Siamese
We Are Siamese (If you Please) - YouTube
We Are The Siamese If You Please Digital Art by Lirene Girl
