Interview with the Chipmunks
just back from a world tour, Alvin, Simon and Theodore are caught at a restaurant, enjoying a plate of waffles. They’ve a lot to say about going to school, after being rock stars
WHAT is the biggest difference between being on the road and going to school?
Alvin: Staying home, there’s way more stuff to do, for sure. We still keep up with our music, but I also have to juggle sports practice and hanging out with the kids from school. The ladies love my animal magnetism so it keeps my calendar very full.
Simon: And the classes are great!
Alvin: Classes? Uh, not so much.
Theodore: Yeah, not for Alvin. He doesn’t take direction very well.
Alvin: But I do love recess!
Simon: I love Physics class. I’m studying how the amount of trouble Alvin is causing directly affects the shrillness factor of Dave’s voice when he yells, “ALVIN”.
You each seem to bring something special to the group. How would you describe your individual talents?
Alvin: Well, I don’t want to say that I’m the leader of our group
Simon: That makes two of us.
Alvin: But my brothers do look to me to make a lot of the decisions.
Simon: We don’t exactly look to him to make decisions. I’m the guy who has to point out the cold hard facts. Which some people don’t always want to hear.
Theodore (whispers): “Some people” is Alvin: He doesn’t like facts.
And what would you say you bring to the group, Theodore?
Theodore: I bring toys and snacks.
Simon: They’re asking how you support the group, Theodore.
Theodore: Oh. Well, I’m good at supporting Alvin’s decisions and Simon’s facts. (giggles)
We heard there’s a big music contest coming up at the school. How do you think you can beat The Chipettes?
Alvin: I’ve been working on some killer guitar riffs and I also plan to break out a couple of hot, new dance moves.
Simon: Yeah. Usually that’s not all he breaks. But I’ve gotta say, now that we aren’t touring, we’ve had more time to practice. We’ve never been better.
Theodore: Absolutely. We love coming up with new stuff. I’ve been flipping my drumsticks like this...
(Theodore flipped imaginary drumsticks, lost his balance and landed in a glass of water.)
Theodore (climbing out and shaking off): It’s much better when I have the actual sticks.
Simon: True. It’s flawless when he has the sticks.
Well, our readers would like to know if you have plans to do a big tour any time soon. When Ian Hawke was your manager, you had a non-stop schedule.
Theodore: We always love to be in front of our fans. But Ian wasn’t very nice. And all that coffee he made us drink...
Alvin: Let’s just say chipmunks and coffee is a dangerous combination.
Simon: Once we go on summer break, we plan to hit the road again. Just with Dave as our manager this time.
Well, good luck in the upcoming contest.
Alvin: Thanks! We hope you can come check us out. — Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
THE ‘MUNKS
Three of today’s hottest young actors — Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story’s Justin Long, Criminal Minds’ Matthew Gray Gubler, and pop sensation-actor Jesse McCartney — return in the Squeakquel to voice, respectively — Alvin, Simon and Theodore.
Producers Bagdasarian and Karman continue to be delighted with the work of all three performers. No small thing given that these two have been performing the voices of The Chipmunks and The Chipettes the past 30 years.
SHORT HISTORY OF THE CHIPMUNKS
A few years before, Bagdasarian began recording under the stage name, David Seville. So a new musical act was born — David Seville and The Chipmunks.
Although it was a bit of a struggle to get The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late) radio air play in the beginning, Bagdasarian found a small station in Minneapolis willing to play it before the Christmas season began.
The switchboards lit up, and word of mouth got the song rotation on more and more stations until it became the fastest-selling number one hit single up to that time, over four and a half million copies in seven weeks (that milestone was eventually surpassed by The Beatles with I Want To Hold Your Hand in 1964), and would go on to win three Grammy Awards and be nominated for a fourth.
The Chipmunks made their network television debut — as puppets performing with “Dave Seville” (Bagdasarian) — on The Ed Sullivan Show. Again, they were an immediate success.
After the 1960 release of the single, Alvin For President, Bagdasarian received a letter of support from then senator John F. Kennedy, a presidential candidate. Kennedy wrote back to Bagdasarian saying that he was glad to know he had at least one worthy opponent.
In three short years, The Chipmunks had sold 16 million records and won several Grammys among numerous nominations.
The Alvin Show debuted on television in the fall of 1961 and with it, a new look for Alvin, Simon and Theodore — and for that matter, Bagdasarian since the character of Dave Seville was now born into the world of animation. — Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
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