While it wasn’t sung by a famous artist, never topped music charts, and barely received radio airplay, “It’s a Small World,” also known as “It’s a Small, Small World” or “It’s a Small World (After All),” might just be the Most Played Song Of All Time, boasting an estimated play count of nearly 50 million times. This ubiquitous tune, celebrating its 50th anniversary in April 2014, has embedded itself into the global consciousness in a way few other songs have.
Popular contenders for the title of most played song often include classics like The Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’,” estimated to have over eight million radio and TV plays, and The Beatles’ “Yesterday,” with at least seven million plays in the U.S. alone, and countless more worldwide. Irving Berlin’s timeless “White Christmas,” popularized by Bing Crosby in 1942, is another strong contender, dominating airwaves every holiday season. And while Patty and Mildred Hill’s “Happy Birthday to You” (originally “Good Morning to You”) is undoubtedly performed more frequently than any other song, its private nature and copyright restrictions complicate comparisons, as public performances require royalty payments to Warner/Chappell Music.
This is where “It’s a Small World” enters the conversation. Composed by Disney staff songwriters Richard and Robert Sherman for the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair, specifically for the Pepsi-sponsored UNICEF pavilion ride officially named “PEPSI Present’s Walt Disney’s ‘It’s a Small World’ — a Salute to UNICEF and the World’s Children,” the song’s sheer repetition in Disney theme parks gives it a unique edge. Nigel Harrison, in his 1998 book Songwriters: A Biographical Dictionary with Discography, declared it “the most performed composition in the world.” Richard Sherman himself also believes this to be true.
But how did we arrive at the staggering figure of 50 million plays for what could be the most played song ever? Let’s delve into the history and the math behind this claim.
From the World’s Fair to Global Theme Parks: The Journey of a Ubiquitous Tune
On April 22, 1964, the New York World’s Fair in Flushing Meadows, Queens, opened its gates, and Disney’s UNICEF pavilion quickly became a star attraction. Envisioned by Disney “Imagineer” Mary Blair, the “small world” ride offered visitors an enchanting 11-minute boat tour. Passengers floated through elaborately designed halls representing different continents, populated by hundreds of animatronic dolls joyfully singing the Sherman brothers’ simple, yet incredibly catchy, melody. This repetitive and memorable children’s chorus became the ride’s signature.
Image: A vibrant display of animatronic dolls from the It’s a Small World ride, showcasing diverse global cultures and festive attire.
After two successful six-month seasons at the World’s Fair, the ride found a permanent home at Disneyland in Anaheim. As Disney expanded its empire, opening Walt Disney World in Florida in 1971, Tokyo Disneyland in 1983, Disneyland Paris in 1992, and Hong Kong Disneyland in 2008, “it’s a small world” became a staple in each park. Like kudzu, the ride and its endlessly looping song spread, embedding themselves into the minds of millions of visitors worldwide.
For those unfamiliar with Disney theme parks, the incessant repetition of “It’s a Small World” might be surprising. But for anyone who has experienced the ride, the tune is indelibly etched in their memory. This four-chord jingle, promoting international unity and brotherhood, begins with the verses: “It’s a world of laughter / A world of tears / It’s a world of hopes / And a world of fears / There’s so much that we share / That it’s time we’re aware / It’s a small world after all.” This leads into the famously repetitive chorus: “It’s a small world after all / It’s a small world after all / It’s a small world after all / It’s a small, small world.”
Image: Walt Disney and Joan Crawford at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Pepsi Pavilion at the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair, highlighting the collaboration behind It’s a Small World.
Interestingly, Disney’s involvement in the 1964-65 World’s Fair was extensive. They also created the Carousel of Progress for General Electric, an animatronic Abraham Lincoln for the Illinois pavilion, and an early version of the PeopleMover for Ford. The “It’s a Small World” project for Pepsi came together relatively quickly. Legend has it that movie star Joan Crawford, wife of Pepsi CEO Alfred Steele, played a key role in connecting Walt Disney with Pepsi to initiate the project.
The Sherman Brothers: From Novelty Tunes to a Global Anthem
Robert Sherman (1925-2012) and Richard Sherman (born 1928) inherited their musical talent from their father, songwriter Al Sherman, known for Depression-era novelty songs. Al Sherman’s compositions included “(Potatoes Are Cheaper, Tomatoes Are Cheaper) Now’s the Time to Fall in Love” and “You Gotta Be a Football Hero.” Robert and Richard followed in their father’s footsteps and joined Disney, composing hits like “Let’s Get Together” and “Tall Paul” for Mousketeer Annette Funicello. They also earned an Oscar for their score for Mary Poppins. Beyond Disney, their notable hits include Johnny Burnette’s chart-topper “You’re Sixteen” and the songs for the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Initially, the “small world” ride featured dolls singing different national anthems. However, Richard Sherman described the result as a “cacophony.” In the shadow of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, the Sherman brothers conceived “It’s a Small World” as a Cold War peace anthem, emphasizing shared humanity amidst global anxieties. As the ride expanded to international Disney parks, the song adapted, incorporating choruses in French (Paris), Japanese (Tokyo), and Cantonese, Korean, Putonghua, and Tagalog (Hong Kong), further solidifying its global reach. Despite current global challenges, the message of unity in the song remains universally relevant. It’s worth noting that as contract songwriters for Disney, the Sherman brothers likely did not receive royalties for this incredibly popular song.
The Math Behind the Millions: Calculating the Play Count
Now, let’s examine the calculation that leads to the estimated 50 million plays, solidifying its claim as perhaps the most played song of all time. As of the article’s writing in 2014, “it’s a small world” had been operating in Disney parks for a combined 149 years and eight months. Accounting for park closures and ride maintenance, and adding the 12 months at the New York World’s Fair, the estimate becomes a conservative 148 years of operation. Multiplying this by 365 days per year gives 54,020 days.
According to a Disney fact sheet, the song plays approximately 1,200 times a day during a 16-hour operating day. This would result in a staggering 64,820,000 plays. However, considering that parks often operate for less than 16 hours daily, especially during off-seasons, a more realistic average is around 12 hours. Using this 12-hour average, a conservative estimate of 48,618,000 plays is reached. Rounding this up, we arrive at “nearly 50 million” plays.
“It’s a Small World” on the Big Screen: A New Chapter?
The story of “It’s a Small World,” potentially the most played song of all time, may be entering a new phase. Disney announced plans for a movie adaptation of the ride, directed by Jon Turteltaub (National Treasure) and written by Jared Stern (known for Disney animated films like Bolt and Wreck-It Ralph). While a movie based on a ride with no plot and a single, repetitive song might seem unusual, the success of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, which generated $3.7 billion worldwide, suggests otherwise.
Disney is hoping that “It’s a Small World” can replicate this success, launching a new movie franchise. If this happens, the most played song in music history might become even more deeply ingrained in popular culture than it already is. Whether you find it charming or inescapable, the legacy of “It’s a Small World” and its iconic song is undeniable.
