Sunshine Cake

Sunshine Cake - A Stop Motion Animation from CAIN on Vimeo.

I'm a sucker for clever animation and Frank Sinatra, so this stop motion animation video was a natural for me to post here.

Taking a fairly minor Frank tune from 1949, animator Samantha Cain creates a clever video on how to bake a cake accompanying the instructions contained in the song. Anybody who is a Frank fan is a friend.

Accompanying Frank on "Sunshine Cake" is Paula Kelly (of The Modernaires, she was a Glenn Miller protégé - The Modernaires were Paula, Johnny Drake, Francis Scott, Hal Dickinson, and Alan Copeland). Jimmy Van Heusen wrote the song with Johnny Burke.

From Samantha Cain's video page:

Baking a cake in stop motion animation, colourful and fun
Set to the tune of Frank Sinatra's 'Sunshine Cake'
1950s Inspired

Very clever and entertaining animation.

Oh, and I know you didn't ask... but here are the lyrics to the song, which came from a Bing Crosby tune in the movie "Riding High" (a Frank Capra remake of "Broadway Bill"):

"We ought to bake a sunshine cake,
It does more good than a big thick steak,
(Start with a tablespoon of trouble,)
(Then add a smile and let it bubble off.)
[We ought to bake a sunshine cake]
(It isn't really so hard to make)
Fresh tears upon the tomb of pleasure,
(Kind words you needn't use a major cut)
It's not from a recipe book,
You don't have to be a good cook.
(Or run to the oven and look)
[With such a simple dish, all you do is wish.]
[So why not bake a sunshine cake,]
Of course it may keep your dreams awake.
Friends say there's nothing like the flavor,
Don't wait to do your friends a favor,
[And for goodness sake, let's bake a sunshine cake.]
It's got vitamins A, vitamins B
(Vitamins L-O-V-E)
If you're fat, it's for that,
(If you're thin, stuff it in)
[What's wrong if you get a lot of grin,]
[We ought to bake a sunshine cake.]

It's not from a recipe book
(You don't have to be a good cook.)
[Or run to the oven and look]
[With such a simple dish, all you do is wish.]
[So why not bake a sunshine cake,]
[Of course it may be your dreams awake,]
Friends say there ain't nothing like the flavor,
(Don't wait to do your friends a favor.)
[And for goodness sake, let's bake a sunshine cake.] "

The song is available on Disc 10 of The Columbia Years 1943-1952: The Complete Recordings box set, plus:
* The Essence Of Frank Sinatra
** Super Hits

Here is the full song. Frank's voice was at its peak during this period:


Here's the Bing Crosby version, with Coleen Gray and Clarence Muse from "Riding High" (1950). Note that this version is pretty complex for a musical number (note the clever radio call signal Bing rings about halfway through), though the music itself doesn't come anywhere near the quality of Frank's version (of course).


There, hopefully, I've answered in advance any questions you likely had about this song.

2014