Released 1970 Recorded 1970 Length 2:25 | Format 7" Genre Children's, pop Label Columbia | |
"Rubber Duckie" is a song sung by the Muppet character Ernie (voiced by Jim Henson) on Sesame Street. The song is named after Ernie's toy, a rubber duck affectionately named Rubber Duckie.
The song, written by Jeff Moss and arranged by Joe Raposo, was released as a single and became a surprise mainstream hit, peaking at #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 on September 26, 1970. It was nominated for the Best Recording for Children Grammy in 1971 but lost out to the album The Sesame Street Book & Record, which contained the song. The song had follow-ups "Do De Rubber Duck" and "D-U-C-K-I-E" and was the centerpiece of 1988's "Put Down the Duckie", performed by Hoots the Owl but also featuring Ernie.
Little Richard performed a rock-and-roll version of the song as a guest on a 1995 episode of Sesame Street. Jane Krakowski sings the song on her live album The Laziest Gal in Town. The song made a brief appearance in a scene in Three Men and a Little Lady, and during an episode of Whose Line Is It Anyway?. Daveed Diggs, in costume as Mr. Noodle's Brother Mr. Noodle, performed a hip-hop infused version on Sesame's YouTube channel.