What's New Pussycat? (song)


"What's New Pussycat?" is the theme song for the eponymous movie, sung by Welsh singer Tom Jones, and written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1966, it lost to "The Shadow of Your Smile". It was Jones' third UK top 30 record, and peaked at number 11. In the US, "What's New Pussycat?" peaked at number 3, and was Jones' second entry on the Top 40.
The original single included a 13-second instrumental introduction, ending in the sound of shattering glass, but later issues omitted this introduction.
It has also been performed by Bobby Darin, Steve Lawrence, Anita Kerr, The Wailers and The Four Seasons. Barbra Streisand performed several lines in her "Color Me Barbra Medley" from the TV special and album Color Me Barbra.

In popular culture and cover versions

The song was covered by Alvin and the Chipmunks in their 1965 album Chipmunks à Go-Go.
The song was used in the films Paulie and the end credits of Cats & Dogs and Flushed Away.
It has also been referenced in John Mulaney’s popular segment “The Salt and Pepper Diner,” the last segment in his stand up routine The Top Part.
Wendy Carlos recorded a version performed with a moog synthesizer on her album By Request. This version features cat's meow voices imitated with a synthesizer.
A metal version of the song was recorded by Leo Moracchioli for his YouTube channel, Frog Leap Studios.
The song was also at the episode of The Simpsons where Milo plays the Korean-language version.