FEATURE:
The Digital Mixtape
Marking Thirty-Five Years of The Simpsons: The Musical Guests
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ONE of the greatest and most important…
comedies of all time turns thirty-five on 17th December. Although the first episode of The Simpsons did not air in the U.K. until September 1990, the U.S. got the first episode a week before Christmas. Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire was an introduction to the Simpsons family for many. Although there had been shorts of The Tracy Ullman Show, this was a full-length episode. Hard to believe it is thirty-five years old! Since its debut, 776 episodes of the show have been broadcast. It is the longest-running American animated series, longest-running American sitcom, and the longest-running American scripted primetime television series, both in seasons and individual episodes. In addition to the great voice cast – the main cast are Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria and Harry Shearer -, there is this Simpson family. Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie. The other residents of Springfield. The incredible writing and the way the show has won its way into our hearts though the years. Although its look has changed vastly since 1989, at the core is that family of five. Plus Santa’s Little Helper and Snowball II. The first episode centred around Homer not getting a work Christmas bonus and the family having to use savings to get a tattoo removed from Bart’s arm. Desperate to raise money to buy presents, Homer and Bart go to toe dog track and are at their lowest. That is until a greyhound, Santa’s Little Helper is kicked out of the stadium and into the arms of Homer. Though not among the funniest episodes, it is one of the most memorable and important episodes of The Simpsons. Another big part of the show’s endurance is the guest stars. Many of them been musicians. Huge names like Paul McCartney and The Rolling Stones have featured in the show. Because I run a music blog, I wanted to mark thirty-five years of The Simpsons by compiling a playlist of songs from some of the artists who have appeared in the show through the years. I will open and close with musical numbers from The Simpsons themselves! Here is a Digital Mixtape of thirty-five songs from thirty-five musical guests who have appeared on one of the greatest T.V. shows ever made. Sit back and enjoy…
A Simpsons-themed mixtape.