Man it's been 20 something years... but I'm glad I found a piece of my childhood!!!! My teacher used to have the balloon Letter People and she would hang one up on the Alphabet board every now and then... MEMORIES!!!!
Mr. J FTW. This song is great! A comment below suggested the style is Greek; my wife thinks it might be Hungarian. Either way, definitely some sort of Eastern European.
Oh...and tell me this guy doesn't sound like Dion...from Dion and the Belmonts from the 60s....? Srsly. I'm sold! I wanna hear Mr. J sing "runaround sue"
Ethnic, yes...this has a definite Greek sound to it. To the guy below me decrying african music not being introduced, I submit Mr M...blues and jazz. Clearly African American influences.
As for the Mr J....it falls into Greek, but I'm thinking more Gypsy. (whoa, sounds like it starts with a 'j' sound!) This is what kids should be learning in Kindergarten...not that it's OK to have two mommies. GD liberals.
it is interesting, there are a lot of ethnic sounding songs in this series, but they are always eastern european flavored. think about it: J, H, R, H, U, Z...maybe more? but there are no asian or african inspired songs at all. they made a point to include "worldly" music, but it all sounds like the same part of the world. am i right? I only just started watching these again after 20 years.
I had a dream about the letter people last night...and low and behold, I found them here! Seriously...this takes me back 23 years....and it was Mr. N that I remembered the most...but Mr. J has to be the new fave! My kids will have this when they are old enough...none of this new-age liberal PC crap.
Wow!! I don't think I've seen this character or heard this song since I was about 6 years old. I remember watching the Letter People in Kindergarten everyday and Mr. J (Jumbled Junk) was my favorite. Not because my name starts with a J (My name is Andy) but because I always thought he was the coolest looking Letter Person. Not a bad song either...^_^
This episode seriously gave me nightmares when i was a little kid. I think it was the drawn out pronunciation of "juuuumbled juuuunnk" and the frantic Romani sounding music. That and the dismal grey, rundown background that was perhaps a little too similar to the beat-down, rural rust belt places i grew up around. I loved the letter people in general, but looking back, they sure did make some freaky kids shows back in the 80s, just look at Zoobilie Zoo. The content was good though.
I thought he looked like leftover lycra from a "Cats" costume, with junk piled on top of it. Or better yet, the love child of the Tin Woodman from "The Wizard of Oz" and Marjorie the Trash Heap from "Fraggle Rock".
YES!!!! I love both CATS and the Letter People! (I once went to a website that said he looked like he was made from an old Munkustrap costume, and you just reminded me of that.) I think he's slightly scary-looking, like things that are so cute they're creepy; look at those eyes and say with a straight face that you don't agree! Mr. J has always been my absolute favourite Letter Person ever since the first time I watched this in kindergarten.
I was the one who brought up that idea that Mr. J looked like leftover Munk fabric with junk piled on top, although to tell you the truth, he reminds me more of Mistoffelees because of those spins he does. I actually think he's the best-looking puppet out of all of them, and his eyes are kind of cool, they allow him to convey a few more emotions than some of the other Letter People.
Some of the other Letter People remind me of CATS characters too.
Let's see, Mr. H is a bit like Munkustrap because of his take-charge attitude on the TV series. Mr. R reminds me a lot of Growltiger, especially if you listen to his duet with Miss O on the Chatter Album. Mr. V reminds me a lot of Bustopher Jones--self explanatory, as is Mr. S, who reminds me of the Great Rumpus Cat. (Now class, what starts with 'S'? Can we say 'startrap'?)
Miss O is more like Grizabella, I thought, since she has the whacked-out diva thing going. Mr. C also reminds me of the Rum Tum Tugger (temperamental rock star)...in fact, I've even suggested that John Partridge play him, in a costume similar to the Tugger's, only with pink and blue fur.
Some people have to critize everything but..ya know, I was four and that's my childhood up there and it didn't have to be state of the art. I loved it anyway. Also, the spins and dance moves made me realize there is a Gypsy sound to the music that hadn't caught my ear before.
wow. what a flash from the past. they need this 4 the kids today. made learning fun
jfear420 3 months ago
Little did he know, Mister J would spawn a generation of hoarders
drunkensnowleopard 4 months ago
He's kinda freaky looking but the song is awesome, it sounds kinda of like if Bob Dylan sang a jig.
Voodooapple 5 months ago
I had to drag empty cans behind while listening to this song as a child in school. This douche is the reason for that?
forgottenprince 7 months ago
Man it's been 20 something years... but I'm glad I found a piece of my childhood!!!! My teacher used to have the balloon Letter People and she would hang one up on the Alphabet board every now and then... MEMORIES!!!!
BouncekDeLemos 8 months ago
jiggle my jello...? I don't remember Mr. J, I should have because my middle name is JOY!!!!
joyjoy70301 1 year ago
What is with the letter people singing songs that sound like sea shanties all the damn time?
dukeoftheshire 1 year ago
Hah, the ones I could actually remember from back then were J, M, and A
faithm 1 year ago
I Love that each letter had different styles of music. It made me appreciate music on an entire scale. I think i'm a musician today because of it.
AfuaRichardson 1 year ago
JUMBLED JUNK!!! COLLECTING!!!
RidinSpinaz04 1 year ago
I wonder what Officer Jabberwocky wanted with Mr. J?
Iamb180 1 year ago
You'd think that Mr. J would remind me of the Tin Man....but I'm reminded more of the Scarecrow
LittleLambsTLC 1 year ago
@LittleLambsTLC
Hey, me too....
DConS81 1 year ago
Mr. J FTW. This song is great! A comment below suggested the style is Greek; my wife thinks it might be Hungarian. Either way, definitely some sort of Eastern European.
JacobLW 1 year ago
My middle name starts with J. It's Joyce and I love it.
lilbeatlesfangirl4 2 years ago 2
My middle name starts with J. Its Joseph and I love it.
spike354 2 years ago 2
That's wonderful! We love our middle names that start with J.
lilbeatlesfangirl4 2 years ago
So does my middle name. It's John.
Garrettk41 1 year ago
I love the mandolin interludes in this song.
vedicger108 2 years ago
i thought mr. J is joker lol
GamersHangOut 2 years ago
I ♥ Mr. J!!!
nonpareil72 2 years ago 3
For such a low budget show, they do have a great production value and impressive puppet dancing. Too bad Mr. J was not used in the show much.
EarlofRochester 2 years ago 4
Mr. J will be played by Jake Gyllenhaal
darkangeldj2006 2 years ago
W O W I forgot how talented the singers and voice actors were back in the 80s! my cat could sing better than the shit today!!!
coolbluelights 2 years ago 3
Oh...and tell me this guy doesn't sound like Dion...from Dion and the Belmonts from the 60s....? Srsly. I'm sold! I wanna hear Mr. J sing "runaround sue"
Fatewithheld 2 years ago
Ethnic, yes...this has a definite Greek sound to it. To the guy below me decrying african music not being introduced, I submit Mr M...blues and jazz. Clearly African American influences.
As for the Mr J....it falls into Greek, but I'm thinking more Gypsy. (whoa, sounds like it starts with a 'j' sound!) This is what kids should be learning in Kindergarten...not that it's OK to have two mommies. GD liberals.
Fatewithheld 2 years ago 3
it is interesting, there are a lot of ethnic sounding songs in this series, but they are always eastern european flavored. think about it: J, H, R, H, U, Z...maybe more? but there are no asian or african inspired songs at all. they made a point to include "worldly" music, but it all sounds like the same part of the world. am i right? I only just started watching these again after 20 years.
bseventeen 2 years ago
What's up with the riverdance moment? lol
LittleMissCooper 3 years ago 2
@LittleMissCooper Since this song is Greek in style....maybe they were attempting the Zorba dance...:)
efil4own1 1 year ago
Bit of a Greek flavor to Mr. J? OOOOOOOH, Now i want to JUMP to a Greek JOINT! See he taught me something.
NiceGreenGirl 3 years ago 2
OPA!
efil4own1 3 years ago
Mr. J will be played by Macaulay Culkin from Home Alone.
guysmileyiv 3 years ago
I had a dream about the letter people last night...and low and behold, I found them here! Seriously...this takes me back 23 years....and it was Mr. N that I remembered the most...but Mr. J has to be the new fave! My kids will have this when they are old enough...none of this new-age liberal PC crap.
Fatewithheld 4 years ago 8
Do that junkyard thing, Mr. J!
efil4own1 4 years ago 3
YES!!!! I REMEBER THIS! it used to scare me too. I'm like whoa.
DillieVlog 4 years ago
there's something about his voice
skipperspyyt 4 years ago 2
Wow!! I don't think I've seen this character or heard this song since I was about 6 years old. I remember watching the Letter People in Kindergarten everyday and Mr. J (Jumbled Junk) was my favorite. Not because my name starts with a J (My name is Andy) but because I always thought he was the coolest looking Letter Person. Not a bad song either...^_^
jango52577 4 years ago
This episode seriously gave me nightmares when i was a little kid. I think it was the drawn out pronunciation of "juuuumbled juuuunnk" and the frantic Romani sounding music. That and the dismal grey, rundown background that was perhaps a little too similar to the beat-down, rural rust belt places i grew up around. I loved the letter people in general, but looking back, they sure did make some freaky kids shows back in the 80s, just look at Zoobilie Zoo. The content was good though.
hillbillyradicalrick 4 years ago
Did anyone else notice Mr. J starts laughing before he says "jolly old jumpropes"? For some reason I find that hilarious.
Lycanthrope777 4 years ago
what's a jampot?
stevenrf69 4 years ago
mr. j defiantely has one of the best songs of all of the letter people.
NSUDemonchipmunk 4 years ago 3
Doesn't Mr. J look like one of those scary "parking garage" things from "The Wiz?" :)
Hunnybee72 4 years ago
I thought he looked like leftover lycra from a "Cats" costume, with junk piled on top of it. Or better yet, the love child of the Tin Woodman from "The Wizard of Oz" and Marjorie the Trash Heap from "Fraggle Rock".
efil4own1 4 years ago
YES!!!! I love both CATS and the Letter People! (I once went to a website that said he looked like he was made from an old Munkustrap costume, and you just reminded me of that.) I think he's slightly scary-looking, like things that are so cute they're creepy; look at those eyes and say with a straight face that you don't agree! Mr. J has always been my absolute favourite Letter Person ever since the first time I watched this in kindergarten.
Lycanthrope777 4 years ago
I was the one who brought up that idea that Mr. J looked like leftover Munk fabric with junk piled on top, although to tell you the truth, he reminds me more of Mistoffelees because of those spins he does. I actually think he's the best-looking puppet out of all of them, and his eyes are kind of cool, they allow him to convey a few more emotions than some of the other Letter People.
Some of the other Letter People remind me of CATS characters too.
efil4own1 4 years ago
Other Letter People remind you of CATS characters? Do tell, I'm quite curious...
Lycanthrope777 4 years ago
Let's see, Mr. H is a bit like Munkustrap because of his take-charge attitude on the TV series. Mr. R reminds me a lot of Growltiger, especially if you listen to his duet with Miss O on the Chatter Album. Mr. V reminds me a lot of Bustopher Jones--self explanatory, as is Mr. S, who reminds me of the Great Rumpus Cat. (Now class, what starts with 'S'? Can we say 'startrap'?)
efil4own1 4 years ago
Yeah, I own a CD of the Chatter Album and have heard the Growltiger-esque song. Does that mean Miss O reminds you of Griddlebone?
I kind of figured the Mr. V/Bustopher Jones similarity. (I also kinda saw a Mr. M thing going on, what with all the eating...)
Lycanthrope777 4 years ago
Miss O is more like Grizabella, I thought, since she has the whacked-out diva thing going. Mr. C also reminds me of the Rum Tum Tugger (temperamental rock star)...in fact, I've even suggested that John Partridge play him, in a costume similar to the Tugger's, only with pink and blue fur.
efil4own1 4 years ago
Pink and blue Rum Tum Tugger? That is the funnest thing I've heard all day and I may just have to draw it now...
Lycanthrope777 4 years ago
I like his song and his voice, and those spins WERE impressive!
TheMayasandtheAztecs 4 years ago 3
Mr. J's another of my favorite Letter People. All the different forms of junk he's wearing and his song is really cool too. :)
culpit 4 years ago
He's one of the better looking puppets. I'm just glad they made him seem younger and more mobile--most pictures show him holding a cane.
efil4own1 4 years ago
I am so excited that I can share such a huge part of my childhood with my toddler, thanks to the magic of technology. THANK YOU!
jennnk 4 years ago
no i am totally into the letter people... i was just sayin.. :)
pomurphy 4 years ago
Some people have to critize everything but..ya know, I was four and that's my childhood up there and it didn't have to be state of the art. I loved it anyway. Also, the spins and dance moves made me realize there is a Gypsy sound to the music that hadn't caught my ear before.
Sportielf 4 years ago
Actually, it's Greek. I figured this out after hearing a song that sounded very similar in the movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding".
efil4own1 4 years ago
A lot of it is the rhythm, in 7/8 time (3+2+2). Which is a hell of a thing to play for kindegartenrs!
tuttlemsm 4 years ago
gypsy?
stevenrf69 4 years ago
spins? the puppet is on a stick... these puppets are pretty primitive... do you know the muppets?
ilovemayo123 4 years ago
these are hand or rod puppets so hands can be seen here if u look close
DRUMMERMAN77 4 years ago
yes...more prevalent if you look close during Mr. F's theme song more than anyone else's. :)
efil4own1 4 years ago
Mr. J was the man! Whoever was performing him did an awesome job with those spins...
efil4own1 4 years ago