After a lifetime of entertaining the masses and moving on to become a political ambassador, child star Shirley Temple has passed away at the age of 85, leaving a massive legacy behind her.
For me, Shirley Temple was always someone I could relate to as a little girl. Growing up as a curly haired, bouncy tot in Ohio, I always had a sense of adoration for Temple, who looked not totally unlike me and could entertain me endlessly for hours. I'd rush to the local video store and rent her tapes, watching in awe at the singing and dancing girl. Temple's brand of entertainment was wholesome, happy and truly timeless.
As a lifetime lover of music, more than anything, I loved Temple's songs. Be it the signature "Animal Crackers In My Soup" or a clogging dance from Heidi, the music was always what would make me smile.
To celebrate Shirley Temple's life, let's take a look back at her five most endearing, celebrated performances.
"Magic Wooden Shoes"
It's really silly to think that a pair of Dutch clogs can take you anywhere in the world, but Temple manages to sell the concept in this almost too-adorable song. She stomps around in her new shoes and sings about the places she can go, even if only in her mind.
“Goodnight My Love”
Temple had a thing for playing orphans – she did it in Heidi, Stowaway, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, Curly Top, Bright Eyes and in countless other films. “Goodnight My Love,” a lullaby Temple sings to herself in Stowaway is the lone song that really captures the emotions of those youthful moments of loneliness, and it manages to do so while being incredibly poignant.
“When I Grow Up”
Being incredibly cute and smiley and endearing was just Shirley Temple’s thing as a child actress/singer. And there’s something next level adorable about a her singing about being a big girl, going to the ball and dreaming of her wedding day, all of which happens in Curly Top, the rushed music mixed with the wishful, simple mentality of Temple’s Elizabeth Blair made for one of her signature tracks.
"Animal Crackers In My Soup"
Wild animals never seemed quite so innocent as they did in "Animal Crackers In My Soup." Sung in Curly Top, the song chronicles the difficulties of living in an orphanage, likening the mean ol' men to animal crackers. It's a goofy song that showcases that even in hardship, kids can make a joke. Plus, who doesn't sing this when eating some animal crackers?
"Good Ship Lollipop"
There's no signature Shirley Temple song quite like "On The Good Ship Lollipop," which has transcended the child star and become an American music staple.Sung during a plane trip during Bright Eyes, the Temple-choreographed track is everything a Shirley Temple song should be: cutesy, dreamlike and filled with fun candy references. Need we say more? Let's just land over on a chocolate bar.
RIP, Shirley Temple.
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