Although most movies based on TV shows fail to properly translate the formula from one medium to another, South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut was a tremendous success. The story is suitably grander in scope to accommodate a feature-length runtime, and making it a musical helped to set the movie apart from the series.
There are some really terrific musical numbers in Bigger, Longer & Uncut — including one that was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song — and they all have a catchy rhythm and memorable lyrics. So, we’ve ranked every song from the hit movie.
Uncle F***a
“Uncle F*cka” is a musical number that appears in the film-within-a-film, the Terrance and Phillip movie, which the boys go to see in the opening scene.
It does a good job of introducing Bigger, Longer & Uncut’s self-aware message about the swear-filled media’s impact on children, as the boys sing the song at school to impress their friends. But on its own, it’s not a particularly great song.
Eyes Of A Child
Performed by Michael McDonald, “Eyes of a Child” appears in the end credits of South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut. The song is a funny inversion of a typical McDonald track, complete with all the high notes.
Its conception of children as innocent and playful juxtaposes hilariously with the reprehensible, foul-mouthed children of South Park.
Hell Isn’t Good
“Hell Isn’t Good” plays when Kenny is transported beyond the gates of Hell and sees the souls of Hitler, Gandhi, and George Burns. It’s an intense rock song that you can really bang your head to.
James Hetfield of Metallica performed uncredited backing vocals on this song, providing it with a real heavy metal sound.
Wendy’s Song (There’s The Girl That I Like)
At the point in the series that the movie came out, Stan was still pining after Wendy, and throwing up on her whenever he got a chance to talk to her.
In Bigger, Longer & Uncut, this storyline was taken a few steps further as Wendy got an activist boyfriend that Stan had to compete with in a sort of love triangle. The romantic ballad “Wendy’s Song (There’s the Girl That I Like)” is an unusually sweet song for this movie, but it works.
I Can Change
The romance between Satan and Saddam Hussein is one of the most shockingly funny and controversial running jokes in the South Park universe. The two characters played a huge role in Bigger, Longer & Uncut, as Kenny helped Satan get out of his toxic relationship.
When he tried to get out, Saddam broke into song and belted out “I Can Change” in an attempt to win him back. Matt Stone’s Saddam and Trey Parker’s Satan are on point here.
It’s Easy, MMMKay
In “It’s Easy, MMMKay,” Mr. Mackey tries to teach the students of South Park Elementary how to phase out swearing from their everyday lexicon. It has a terrific beat, and the lyrics feature some really funny substitute swear words, like “buns-hole.”
There’s also a comic irony in the kids repeatedly singing “f*ck” in the chorus, when the point of the song is to get them to stop cursing. Plus, Mr. Mackey wears a straw boater to look like a member of a barbershop quartet, which is delightful.
Mountain Town
The opening musical number sees Stan walking through the town, picking up his friends along the way, as they head to the movie theater to see the new Terrance and Phillip movie.
It’s a delightful take on the kind of upbeat songs that introduce the audience to the characters and their worlds in Disney’s animated fare.
I’m Super
“I’m Super” is a feelgood song played by Big Gay Al at a U.S.O. show before the public executions of Terrance and Phillip. It’s extravagant, theatrical, and unforgettable.
It was a shame when Big Gay Al was retired from the show because he was a great character (and was even praised by GLAAD), but at least he went out with a terrific performance.
Up There
Sung by Satan, “Up There” is a pastiche of every heartwarming song in every Disney movie that the protagonist sings as they break through the trappings of their mundane life and set off on an incredible journey of self-discovery.
Aside from the fun irony that this kind of song is being sung by the Prince of Darkness, “Up There” actually works as an inspirational track. It hits all the right notes. Fun fact: for the high notes that Trey Parker couldn’t reach, Michael McDonald came in to give him a helping hand.
Kyle’s Mom’s A B****
This song represents the final nail in the coffin before Sheila Broflovski ratchets up her activism and has children fitted with anti-swearing devices.
Much to Kyle’s chagrin, Cartman launches into an enthusiastic song and dance about what a b*tch Kyle’s mom is. To be fair, at the time, she was leading the charge against the kids’ favorite TV comedy duo.
La Resistance
Named after the protest group that forms to save Terrance and Phillip’s lives, “La Resistance” is a brilliant homage to “One Day More” from Les Misérables. The song expertly sets up the climax of the story, and on top of that, it also plays as a memorable chantey.
What Would Brian Boitano Do?
Instead of reciting the classic “What would Jesus do?” refrain, the boys of South Park sing a song that asks, “What Would Brian Boitano Do?” In real life, Brian Boitano is an Olympic figure skater.
But according to the song, he fights grizzlies in the Alps and has magical fire breath and traveled to the year 3010 to save the human race from an evil robot king. The joke of the song is that it takes a figure skater to inspire the boys to do the right thing, and that joke lands.
Blame Canada
As the mothers of South Park decide to hold Canada responsible for their kids’ use of bad language, they rally together with “Blame Canada,” the catchiest song in the movie — and one of the catchiest songs in any film musical, to be honest.
This is the song that got nominated for an Oscar, and it’s easy to see why. It’s a beautifully absurdist satire of mass hysteria.