Mickey Mouse Shorts: Our Homespun Melody

Season 5, Episode 12: “Our Homespun Melody” 4/20/19

Starring: Mickey Mouse
Introducing: Piggy
Costarring: Donald Duck and Goofy
Setting: Rural America
Plot: A musical chronicling the rise, fall, and comeback of Mickey and his singing pig, Piggy.

Short Stuff

This short is the series’ second true musical episode after “The Adorable Couple” (S1, E18).

The same walrus-cow judge duo appears from “Dog Show” (S1, E11).  The walrus (sans cow) also appeared in “Carnaval” (S4, E12) and “Three-Legged Race” (S4, E7).

The Fine Art Hall that Piggy performs in is reminiscent of a building from Disneyland’s Main Street, USA. 

Also lending to the overall Midwestern feel of the short is Donald’s medical degree which places him in Marceline, USA.  Marceline, MO, of course, is Walt Disney’s hometown and the inspiration behind the aforementioned Main Street, USA.

Among Piggy’s albums are “Piggy’s Greatest Hits” and “Piggy Sings Christmas.”

Mickey dons the same flashy, western get-up that he wears in “Bronco Busted” (S2, E19).

According to the periodical, Amazement Business, Piggy’s aka “Hot Chops” future engagements include stops at real life fairgrounds including the Knox County Fair (Ohio), the Mid South Fair (Mississippi), the Blue Grass Fair (Kentucky), the UP Fair (Michigan), and the Golden State Fair (California).

The farm animals hanging in and around the barn are from Mary Poppins (1964)

Final Grade: A+
The transition from child star to adult can be tricky and Piggy’s journey is no less rocky.  However, the prize-winning pig bounces back from the awkwardness of growing up when Mickey embraces Piggy’s new baritone squeal in lieu of his long gone falsetto.

Music has always been a big part of the series but it’s rare we get a song from soup to nuts like we do here.  I’m not very well-versed in country music and the like but this type of storytelling strikes me as something that you’d hear at the Grand Ole’ Opry or on an episode of Hee Haw.  Either way, the episode was an absolute delight and really took you into that Summer-time, County Fair life.