The Nicest Kids in Town is the second song in Act I of Hairspray. It is performed by Corny Collins and the Council Members as the opening for The Corny Collins Show. It is performed in every version of Hairspray, except the original 1988 film.
The Nicest Kids in Town - Hairspray (2007)
Lyrics[]
(CORNY)
Hey there, Teenage Baltimore!
Don't change that channel!
'Cause it's time for the Corny
Collins Show! Brought to you by
Ultra Clutch Hairspray!
Ev'ry afternoon
When the clock strikes four
(COUNCIL MEMBERS)
bop-bee-ba, ba-ba-ba-ba, bee-ba
(CORNY)
A crazy bunch of kids
Crash through that door
(COUNCIL MEMBERS)
bop-bee-ba, ba-ba-ba-ba, bee-ba
(CORNY)
They throw off their coats
And leave the squares behind
And then they shake it, shake it, shake it
Like they're losing their mind
You'll never see them frown
(CORNY & COUNCIL MEMBERS)
'Cause they're the nicest kids in town
(CORNY)
Every afternoon
You turn your T.V. on
(COUNCIL MEMBERS)
na, na, na, na, na, na-na-na-na
(CORNY)
And we know you
turn the sound up.
When your parents
are gone, yeah
(COUNCIL MEMBERS)
na, na, na, na, na, na-na-na-na
(CORNY COLLINS)
And then you twist and shout
For your favorite star
And once you've practiced every step
That's in your repertoire
You better come on down
(CORNY & COUNCIL MEMBERS)
And meet the nicest kids in town
(CORNY)
Nice white kids
Who like to lead the way
And once a month
We have our
(CORNY & COUNCIL MEMBERS)
"Negro Day!"
(CORNY)
And I'm the man
who keeps it spinnin' round
Mr. Corny Collins
With the latest, greatest
Baltimore sound!!
So every afternoon
Drop everything
(COUNCIL MEMBERS)
bop-bee-ba, ba-ba-ba-ba, bee-ba
(CORNY)
Who needs to read and write
When you can dance and sing?
(COUNCIL MEMBERS)
bop-bee-ba, ba-ba-ba-ba, bee-ba
(CORNY)
Forget about your algebra
And calculus
You can always do your homework
On the morning bus
Can't tell a verb from a noun
(CORNY & COUNCIL MEMBERS)
They're the nicest kids in town
(CORNY)
Roll Call!
(AMBER)
I'm Amber!
(BRAD)
Brad!
(TAMMY)
Tammy!
(FENDER)
Fender!
(BRENDA)
Brenda!
(SKETCH)
Sketch!
(SHELLY)
Shelly!
(IQ)
IQ!
(LOU ANN)
Lou Ann!
(LINK)
And I'm...LINK!
(CORNY)
So, if every night you're shaking
As you lie in bed
(COUNCIL MEMBERS)
mony-mony, ooh, mony-mony
(CORNY)
And the bass and drums
Are pounding in your head
(COUNCIL MEMBERS)
mony-mony, ooh, mony-mony
(CORNY)
Who cares about sleep
When you can snooze in school?
They'll never get to college
But they sure look cool
Don't need a cap and a gown
(CORNY & COUNCIL MEMBERS)
'Cause they're the nicest kids in town
(CORNY)
They're the nicest. Nicest
They're the nicest, nicest
They're the sugar 'n' spicest,
The nicest
(CORNY & COUNCIL MEMBERS)
kids in...
Kids in town!
Hairspray - "The Nicest Kids In Town" & "Welcome To The 60s" - Broadway Cast (2003)
Reprise[]
There is a reprise of "The Nicest Kids in Town" once Tracy gets on the show. The song starts right before roll call, as Penny, Edna, and Wilbur turn on their TV to watch. The roll call goes exactly the same, except Tracy is introduced after Link.
Hairspray (2007)[]
In Hairspray (2007), the council was expanded to include an additional ten council members. They are introduced after Lou Ann and before Link in the following order: Joey, Mikey, Vicki, Becky, Bix, Jesse, Darla, Paulie, Noreen, and Doreen. These additional Council Members only appear in Hairspray (2007).
Nicest Kids in Town - Hairspray Live!
Hairspray Live![]
Like Hairspray (2007), Hairspray Live! also introduced additional Council Members that are exclusive to the live special. They are introduced after Lou Ann and before Link in the following order: Kooks, Corey, Belle, and Jon.