The Whale Who Wanted To Sing At the Met | Make Mine Music 1946

This a whale, she's a swallow the opera singer! I find-a the great Signor Donatelli in the fish market. I discover the great Lilli Galli in the honky tonky. Then why not I find the opera singer in the belly of a whale? I do it! Oh, get me a great big schooner. And get me a good harpooner. Photographers and reporters from all the newspapers. Publicity! Publicity! NARRATOR: Publicity, yes. But to Whitey the sea gull, it was opportunity, the big opportunity for his friend, Willie the whale. There was no time to lose. He must bring these two together. Well, there was Tetti-Tatti now. And Tetti-Tatti was in for a wonderful surprise. Because Willie hadn't swallowed any opera singer. He could really sing. Listen. WILLIE THE WHALE [singing]: Mammy's little baby loves shortenin', shortenin'. Two little children lyin' in bed. One of 'em sick and the other most dead. Call for the doctor The doctor said: feed them children on shortenin' bread. Mammy's little baby loves shortenin, shortenin'. Mammy's little baby loves shortenin' bread. NARRATOR: After all these years of casting his shortenin' bread upon the waters, now, at last, success lay just over the waves. SEAGULL: Willie! Willie! Willie, look! That's you, Willie. He's looking for you. It's your big opportunity. NARRATOR: Willie's going to be a great star. Our Willie, going to sing grand opera! WILLIE THE WHALE [singing]: Good-bye, my friends I'm off to be discovered. I'm off to be discovered. NARRATOR: At last, the long years of patient waiting and the endless hours of faithful practice were about to be rewarded As Willie sped to his audition, he wondered what he should sing for his opening number What would impress this impresario? How about a bit of "Figaro"? Yes, sure, "Figaro." [Willie Singing In Italian] There she's a blows! Figaro! SHIP CAPTAIN: Shoot a the whale! Hurry up! Rescue the opera singer! Don't a worry! We'll a save you! ALL SAILORS: Bravo! NARRATOR: Ah, but they hadn't heard the half of it. Well, they hadn't even heard a third of it. For Willie was no ordinary singing whale. Willie could sing in three separate voices. WILLIE THE WHALE [singing]: La-la-la-la-la-la! NARRATOR: Tenor. WILLIE THE WHALE [singing]: La-la-la-la-la-la! NARRATOR: Baritone. WILLIE THE WHALE [singing]: La-la-la-la-la-la! NARRATOR: And bass. Why, Willie was a singing miracle! [Tenor Voice: Italian] [Baritone Voice Joins In] [Bass Voice Joins In] SHIP CAPTAIN: Mamma mia! He's a swallowed three opera singers! NARRATOR: Stubborn, deluded Tetti-Tatti. For right there before his very eyes was the biggest discovery in all musical history. Just imagine, a whale singing opera on the very stage of the Met. Bravo! WILLIE THE WHALE [singing]: Ah, mio core Ah, dolore Tristan Isolde Geliebter NARRATOR: Now Willie will never sing at the Met. But don't be too harsh on Tetti-Tatti. He just didn't understand. You see, Willie's singing was a miracle, and people aren't used to miracles. And you, faithful little friend, don't be too sad. Because miracles never really die. And somewhere, in whatever heaven is reserved for creatures of the deep, Willie is still singing in a hundred voices, each more golden than before. And he'll go on singing amid the applause and the cheering forever.