Phineas and Ferb: The Soundtrack to My Childhood
By Izzy Desmarais
A lot of people seem to think the shows they watched as a kid are infinitely better than the shows kids are watching today. It’s me, I’m a lot of people. I mean, just think about Disney Channel for a minute, circa the mid to late 2000s. We got Hannah Montana, Wizards of Waverly Place, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody…and don’t even get me started on their original made-for-television movies. High School Musical? Camp Rock? Lemonade Mouth? (Okay, I know Lemonade Mouth didn’t come out until 2011 but it is still a top tier Disney Channel Original Movie).
While shows and movies like this are entertaining to revisit from time to time, there’s no denying now that they were obvious cash grabs. Think about it: all those different clothing lines inspired by * actual outfits * Miley Cyrus wore on Hannah Montana, the toy replicas of Alex Russo’s wand, I even had a Build-A-Bear with High School Musical themed pajamas. They’re fun, but made with a huge capitalist intention. However, there’s one Disney show I can’t say that about: Phineas and Ferb.
I love Phineas and Ferb. I love the characters, the over-the-top storylines, the witty jokes, and, above all else, I love the music. I mean, who can forget absolute bangers like “Busted,” or “Gitchee Gitchee Goo,” or, of course, “S.I.M.P. (Squirrels in My Pants).”
Of course, Disney still generated plenty of revenue by making an atrocious amount of merchandise based off the show’s characters Phineas, Ferb, Candace, and Perry the Platypus. But there’s something about the show that keeps it from feeling like yet another capitalistic venture. Creators Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh are likely the reason for it. They first met as layout artists for The Simpsons and then wrote together for Rocko’s Modern Life.
Inspired by his childhood in Alabama, Povenmire brought his rough ideas to Marsh, and together they created a pitch for Phineas and Ferb. It took sixteen years for it to be picked up. Sixteen years! Most people tend to give up and move on to something new after being rejected so many times by multiple studios, but Povenmire and Marsh persisted. They truly believed in what they had created, and I’m so thankful that they kept trying. Phineas and Ferb was a formative part of my childhood, and I’m certain it was for millions of other people my age.
The best episode of the entire series, “Dude, We’re Getting the Band Back Together!” (S1EP14), features four musical numbers and every single one slaps. Here’s the sitch: Lawrence, Candace, Phineas, and Ferb’s dad, forgets that it’s his wedding anniversary. Typical men. Looking to help rectify her dad’s mistake, Candace asks if he has any special memories he can turn to for gift inspiration. Enter Love Händel: their mom’s favorite band of all time. As Lawrence fondly remembers his first kiss with Linda at the band’s farewell concert, Phineas and Ferb decide to reunite Love Händel for one last show and save their parents’ marriage. They even manage to get Candace in on it, which is huge because Candace is always trying to bust them for their crazy antics.
As they approach each member of the band, there is, of course, a song to narrate a particular message. Lead singer Danny’s “History of Rock,” divulges his passion for music through multiple genres, including the blues, psychedelic rock, funk, and metal. Bassist Bobbi Fabulous reaffirms his ego in an electronic power-pop disco anthem “You’re Fabulous.” Drummer Sherman, or “Swampy,” rediscovers his knack for keeping time in the best number of the entire episode, “Ain’t Got Rhythm,” a true R&B tune equipped with funky horn elements. This all accumulates to their final performance of their number one hit, “You Snuck Your Way Right Into My Heart,” an obvious spoof on cheesy ‘80s rock bands like Toto, REO Speedwagon, and Tears For Fears.
Even though it is often regarded as “just a kids show” on a channel whose main prerogative is to make wallets hurt, Phineas and Ferb presents important lessons in almost every episode, especially this one. With four musical numbers, “Dude, We’re Getting the Band Back Together!” teaches children about different genres of music, introduces the fundamentals of rhythm, and emphasizes the power that music has on our lives. It’s able to bring so many people together, like Lawrence and Linda Fletcher. I mean, just think about the last concert you went to. Being in a room together with a crowd of people, watching an artist you all love perform, is a magical experience. Sure, I might be embarrassed to admit that I listen to the Phineas and Ferb soundtrack regularly, but there’s no denying its sincerity.