Honestly, if you grew up in the late 2000s, there’s a specific kind of nostalgia that only a high-pitched, three-part harmony can trigger. We’re talking about that era when every major pop hit eventually got the "chipmunk treatment." But while most of those covers were just fun, throwaway tracks, the Chipettes Put Your Records On cover somehow managed to capture a vibe that feels surprisingly grounded.
It’s weird to think that a song sung by CGI rodents could have any emotional depth. Yet, here we are in 2026, and people are still searching for this specific version. Maybe it's the breezy, acoustic nature of the original Corinne Bailey Rae track or the way the voices of Brittany, Jeanette, and Eleanor blended together. Whatever it is, the song has outlasted the initial hype of the Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel movie it was born from.
The moment the Chipettes Put Your Records On became a thing
The year was 2009. The Squeakquel was hitting theaters, and the franchise was at its peak. In the movie, this song serves a pretty specific purpose. The Chipettes—Brittany (voiced by Christina Applegate), Jeanette (Anna Faris), and Eleanor (Amy Poehler)—are trying to impress the villainous Ian Hawke. They perform the song in a hotel room, and it's meant to show off their raw talent compared to the more chaotic energy of the Chipmunks.
The song itself is a masterclass in mid-2000s "coffee shop soul." Corinne Bailey Rae wrote it as an anthem for self-acceptance, specifically about letting your hair down and not stressing over things you can’t control. When the Chipettes took it on, they kept that laid-back arrangement. It wasn't over-produced with heavy synths like their version of "Single Ladies" or "Hot N Cold."
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Instead, it leaned into the harmonies.
Why the vocals actually worked
You might think that putting the "chipmunk filter" over a soulful track would ruin it. Usually, that’s the case. But with the Chipettes Put Your Records On, the producers did something right. They allowed the different "personalities" of the sisters to shine through the pitch-shifting.
- Brittany takes the lead, providing that confident, pop-star edge.
- Jeanette fills in the lower harmonies, which gives the track some much-needed warmth.
- Eleanor adds the high-end sweetness that makes the chorus pop.
It’s actually a fairly complex vocal arrangement. If you listen closely to the bridge—the part where they sing about being "blue as the sky, sunburnt and lonely"—the layering is genuinely impressive. It’s not just one voice sped up; it’s a full vocal stack that respects the melodic structure of the original 2006 hit.
The cultural lifespan of a "Squeakquel" track
Most movie tie-in songs die the moment the DVD hits the bargain bin. That didn't happen here. Part of the reason is the 2020 revival of "Put Your Records On" on social media. When Ritt Momney’s indie-pop cover went viral on TikTok, it sent a whole new generation down a rabbit hole.
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Gen Z and younger Millennials started rediscovering the older versions. For many, the Chipettes’ version was the "original" they remembered from childhood. It became a staple of nostalgic "core" playlists. It’s a bit of a "comfort food" song. You put it on when you want to feel like it’s 2009 again and the biggest problem you had was finishing your homework before SpongeBob came on.
Comparing the versions: Rae vs. Chipettes
Let’s be real: Corinne Bailey Rae is a legend. Her version is untouchable in terms of artistic merit. It won a Grammy nomination for a reason. However, the Chipettes version serves a different audience. It’s brighter. It’s faster. It’s designed to be "cute," but it doesn't sacrifice the "soul" of the lyrics.
One of the coolest things about the Chipettes' take is how it introduced younger kids to neo-soul. Most eight-year-olds weren't listening to British soul-pop in 2009. They were listening to whatever was in the movie. By covering a track like this, the music supervisors for The Squeakquel—including the legendary Ali Dee Theodore—actually gave kids a taste of sophisticated songwriting.
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Finding the song today
If you’re looking to add this to your rotation, it’s officially titled "Put Your Records On" by The Chipettes on the Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack). You can find it on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. Interestingly, the soundtrack version is longer than the one used in the movie scene, featuring a full second verse and an extended outro.
Interestingly, despite being a "kids' song," it has millions of streams. It’s one of those rare tracks that transcends its origin as a marketing tool for a movie about talking animals.
Next steps for your nostalgia trip:
If you're diving back into this era, your next move should be checking out the full soundtrack for The Squeakquel. While "Put Your Records On" is the chillest track, the Chipettes' cover of "No One" (originally by Alicia Keys) features some equally impressive vocal work. You might also want to look up the "original" Corinne Bailey Rae music video to see where the "three little birds" inspiration actually came from. It’s a great way to see how a song can travel from a soulful UK hit to a global animated phenomenon.
Don't just stop at the hits; look into the production credits of these covers. You'll find that some of the best session singers in the industry were behind those high-pitched harmonies, which explains why they still sound so polished decades later.