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"Cruella De Vil" is the theme song of the villainess featured in the 1961 Disney animated feature film One Hundred and One Dalmatians and its 1996 live-action remake. In the original animated film, it is written by Roger Radcliffe who had just finished the melody for the song and was inspired by Cruella's name to write a jazz song about her.
It was first performed by Bill Lee as the singing voice of Roger Radcliffe, a character from the movie. It has been re-recorded by Dr. John (which was used in the closing credits for the 1996 live-action remake), Lalaine, Skye Sweetnam, Hayden Panettiere, and Selena Gomez for various releases in the DisneyMania album series. Additionally, the Mad Hatter sang the song in a game of musical chairs at Disneyland, but instead changed a number of the "Cruella De Vil's" to "Alice De Vil" to criticize his friend.
"Cruella De Vil" is the only song from the original film to be featured in the Animated StoryBook adaptation.
The song was re-imagined with new lyrics by Jack Feldman for 102 Dalmatians, as a song about Cruella's supposed "change of heart." It is sung by Camara Kambon.
An instrumental version of the song can also be heard in the Once Upon a Time episode "Sympathy for the De Vil". When Cruella hears the song, she exclaims how much she loves it and persuades Isaac Heller to dance to it with her.
The original version is briefly heard during the mid-credits scene in Cruella where Roger begins composing the song for it.
•"Cruella De Vil" and "The Phony King of England" are one of the few songs about a villain that are made by the protagonist characters to mock the villain.
•In 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure, the song can briefly be heard when Cruella turns on her car, but she destroys the radio in annoyance. This shows that Cruella simply hated Roger's song about her.
•In 101 Dalmatians Animated Story Book, the song was featured along with other sing along songs. In page 2, the song instrumentally plays in different orders along on each picture of Cruella wearing different outfits as it scrolls off when you click on it, and in page 3, if you click on the church in the background, the bell rings to the tune of song. Also in page 11, after you clicked on Cruella's car enough times when the peaces come apart, the horn toots to the song of it as you click again.
•The lyrics "She ought to be locked up and never released" reflects on how Cruella was arrested for her crimes for animal cruelty in the films and sequels of both the animated and live-action.
•A snippet of the song is heard in the theme song of 101 Dalmatians: The Series.
•The song can be heard twice in 101 Dalmatian Street:
- 2 min
Sep 11, 2023 · The song “Cruella de Vil” by Dr. John is a captivating masterpiece that captures the essence of one of Disney’s most iconic villains. Released in 1961 as part of the soundtrack for the animated film “101 Dalmatians,” the song serves as the villain’s theme and explores the depths of her wickedness.
Lyrics transcribed by Disneyclips.com. Written by Mel Leven. Performed by Bill Lee as Roger. Lyrics to the song Cruella De Vil by Bill Lee as Roger from Disney's 101 Dalmatians.
