By the Numbers - "The Magic Number"

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Remember when Butt-Head would try to read and be like “Uhhhhh, words…”? That’s me with math - “Uhhhhh, numbers.” So don’t worry, I’m not going in a math direction, but there are some great songs about numbers out there. “The Magic Number” is a tune from De La Soul’s boffo 1989 debut album, 3 Feet High and Rising (the record’s title honors Johnny Cash’s “Five Feet High and Rising;” the group also used a lyric from that tune in “The Magic Number.”) You should also recognize the song’s opening lyric, from Schoolhouse Rock. To the trio that made up De La Soul, it made perfect sense. They loved the song (didn’t we all, growing up?,) and since there were three dudes in the group, they wanted to make it a part of their album. While this fun track is not their biggest hit (“Me, Myself, & I,” anyone?,) “The Magic Number” does remain De La Soul’s biggest U.K. hit, peaking at #7. (Which begs the question - I see no evidence of “Me, Myself & I” being released in the U.K. Was it not, or did the Brits just not buy it? Either way, why? Someone dropped the ball on that one.) “The Magic Number” received a modern-day boost when it was used as the music for the end credits of the 2021 film Spider Man: No Way Home. R.I.P. Trugoy the Dove. Link is to the official promotional video: