If you’re a Christian of a certain age, chances are you grew up listening to Silly Songs with Larry. You’ll remember, singing along with the cucumber about cheeseburgers, water buffalo and of course, lost hairbrushes.
But there’s a different side to Bob and Larry, a somehow sillier side, that is not talked about enough. It appears that the top VeggieTales showmen also moonlight as cover artists in their downtime, taking the strangest genre fare of the ’70s, ’80s and Country, and giving them a fresh veggie twist.
That’s right. Over the last few years, the singing vegetables have released three absolutely insane cover compilation albums: Bob and Larry Sing the 70s, Bob and Larry Sing the 80s and Bob and Larry Go Country. From disco to country, the VeggieTales give these classic songs their signature twist, complete with ridiculous lyric changes and non-sensical ad-libs.
This seems like it came from an era when VeggieTales was making a major play for audiences beyond the Sunday School crowd, venturing beyond the gentle Bible lessons and into, well, this. The VeggieTales voice cast do an admirable job of sticking with their character voices while singing their spin on songs like “Jesus, Take the Wheel” and “I Will Always Love You.” But one thing that never quite gets explained is the why of all this. Maybe there is no answer.
With over 30 cover songs to choose from, we thought we’d highlight the top 10 songs you won’t believe are real.
Gourds Just Wanna Have Fun
Kidz Bop wishes they could come up with something as great as this.
Jesus, Take the Wheel
The ad libs in the beginning really elevate the emotion of the song.
Footloose
What really makes this extra special is knowing the vegetables have no feet to let loose.
The Lion Sleeps Tonight
Somehow it makes sense for the VeggiesTales to cover this song. The original feels like a distant cousin of one of Larry’s own silly songs.
Achy Breaky Heart
The only thing that would make this better is if Larry grew a mullet.
La Bamba
Can’t even express the extent to which this one delivers on its promise.
Life is a Highway
For no clear reason, this song starts with a Forrest Gump quote and things just get weirder from there.
Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys
Larry puts on a heavy country twang for this one, and it is truly something special.
Funky Town
Once you get through the full minute of the vegetables talking about having fun at a roller rink(?) you get to hear them produce some sick beets.
I Will Always Love You
First it was Dolly Parton’s song. Then it became Whitney Houston’s. And now, it’s the VeggieTales (just kidding. It’s still Whitney’s).
