A song whose purpose is to educate.
It need not be strictly educational (for instance, in the context of a work of fiction, it may also serve to further the plot).
Educational songs are expected to crop up a lot in
science shows or
edutainment shows.
Often takes the form of a
List Song.
Examples
- The various children's songs about the alphabet, colours and numbers.
- Pinky and the Brain featured songs about the U.S. states, and about areas of the human brain.
- The Galaxy Song in Monty Python's The Meaning of Life is surprisingly educational for a Big Lipped Alligator Moment in a Monty Python film.
- Tom Glazer and Dottie Evans' Space Songs album had a variety of children's songs about science, with a focus on astronomy. You can read the CD booklet here
.
- The songs in Schoolhouse Rock.
- They Might Be Giants made a few of these.
- Animaniacs had lots of these, including songs for all the U.S. presidents up to Bill Clinton, the 50 states and their capitals, and of course, the famous Nations of the World song.
- Some of Rockapella's full-length songs on Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego? used when the show ran short. There was one about the five largest islands in the world.
- Songs on Sesame Street, The Electric Company and Square One TV, obviously.
- The various songs at the end of every episode of Bill Nye the Science Guy.
- Parodied by Avenue Q and the infamous The Internet Is For Porn.
- In Horrible Histories (the live-action show), there is plenty of these.
- Tom Lehrer also created some of these including The Elements Song, New Math, and Silent E.
