Jingle

This is the version most of us know.

Had no idea this version existed until 2007.  Don't know when it was produced or where shown.  Send info!

Here's a version someone did for fun, or something ...

Whatever it is I think I see

The world looks mighty good to me

'cause Tootsie Rolls are all I see

Whatever it is I think I see

Becomes a Tootsie Roll to me

Tootsie Roll how I want your chocolatey chew

Tootsie Roll I think I'm in love with you

Whatever it is I think I see

Becomes a Tootsie Roll to me.

More than thirty years on the air, this jingle continues to be shown on TV today, making it among the longest running commercials in television history. The classic commercial still plays and was part of a 2006 special on the "Food Network."  At least three generations of TV viewers know and love the jingle featuring the "Tootsie Roll girl."

The jingle was recorded in 1976 in NYC by a girl and boy, both the children of jazz musicians and friends of the jingle writer. In the original concept the boy was to sing the solo "whatever it is I think I see, becomes a Tootsie Roll to me." But at 13 his voice was changing and cracked on the high notes. The girl, 9, was then given that part, which took an entire day to record at the famed Blank Tape Studios in Manhattan. Both children were paid just $50 each in cash for their work and never received any residuals ("consistent" with Tootsie Roll Industries' "long standing policy" ). Thirty years later, the jingle can still be seen on television and millions of people, young and old, can sing the tune. The girl, now of course an adult, still has the original reel-to-reel recording of the jingle - perhaps the only remaining memento memorializing that day in 1976 which had such an impact on popular culture, and undoubtedly brought fortune to the company.

As it turns out the visuals were designed by a studio in New York called Tele-tactics.  Some of the graphic artists discuss the job at  http://www.cartoonbrew.com/tv/teletactics.html.