Magic of the Little Chick Cheep: A Sudden Emergence of a Valuable Traditional Text Cover Image

“Tibupoeg Pio” maagia ehk väärtusliku traditsioonilise teksti ootamatust esiletõusust
Magic of the Little Chick Cheep: A Sudden Emergence of a Valuable Traditional Text

Author(s): Maria Zavjalova
Subject(s): Customs / Folklore
Published by: Eesti Kirjandusmuuseum
Keywords: counting-out rhymes; folklore; hits; mass culture; The Little Chick Cheep

Summary/Abstract: The article focuses on the song “Il Pulcino Pio” (in Eng. The Little Chick Cheep), which was released and became a real hit in Italy in 2012, analysing the reasons for its popularity. In a more detailed investigation of the ostensibly simplistic song with no special content, the author explains its deep semiotic meaning and derivation from the most ancient layers of consciousness. The analysis points to the main factors that helped the song get fixed in the minds of the general public: children’s song form reminding of cumulative fairytales, counting-out rhymes and primitive ditties; the chain structure of the alternating text and video; imitations of animal sounds and easily memorable rhythm, and an unexpected finale. The analysis elucidates the mechanism and purpose of “The Little Chick Cheep”: to derive exalted pleasure, free the mind from anxiety, by delving into a childish, primitive, primal state, which is generated by simultaneous visual, audial and semantic techniques directed at activating the archetypes of collective subconsciousness.

  • Issue Year: 2014
  • Issue No: 58
  • Page Range: 35-52
  • Page Count: 18