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Tommy the Cat
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Tommy the Cat
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Primus
| album = Sailing the Seas of Cheese
| released = 1991
| format =
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Funk metal, alternative rock, experimental rock
| length = 4:15
| label = Interscope
| writer = Les Claypool, Todd Huth, Larry LaLonde, Tim Alexander
| producer = Primus
| prev_title = Jerry Was a Race Car Driver
| prev_year = 1991
| next_title = Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers
| next_year = 1991
| misc =
}}
"'Tommy the Cat'" is a song by the American funk metal band Primus, released on their second album, 'Sailing the Seas of Cheese'.
Recording
The song contains spoken word portions (as the voice of Tommy the Cat) interspersed with the singing of Les Claypool. In their live performances Claypool does both parts himself, but singer Tom Waits provided the voice of Tommy the Cat on the studio version from 'Sailing the Seas of Cheese'.
Release
Primus released "Tommy the Cat" following their first major label single, "Jerry Was a Race Car Driver". In concert, Claypool started introducing all of their other songs by saying "This next song is 'not' Tommy the Cat", apparently due to the popularity the song had gained after a video was released and played on MTV.
The song was briefly featured in the 1991 film 'Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey' during the "Battle of the Bands" portion of the movie, where Primus was shown performing it.
The song was also used in the teaser trailers for 'South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut'.
A version called "Butters the Cat" was performed by Primus and Matt Stone at the South Park: 25th Anniversary Concert.
Music video
A black-and-white music video was made featuring live action and animation. Les Claypool is seen as a bartender pouring milk for an elderly man dressed as a cat and a smiling figure. The animation featured a female cat strolling into an alley filled with numerous tomcats while the titular Tommy relays what happened. Interspersed are occasional footage of the band playing the song.
References
Category:Songs about cats
Category:Experimental rock songs
Category:Primus (band) songs
Category:1991 singles
Category:1991 songs
Category:Songs written by Les Claypool
Category:Songs written by Larry LaLonde
Category:Songs written by Tim Alexander
Category:Interscope Records singles
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