| Category | Segment / Song | Guest Star(s) | Key Educational Objective |
| Singing | "I Can Sing" | Elmo | Vocal Expression & Pitch |
| Singing | "Songs" | Sugarland | Genre Awareness (Country/Folk) |
| Singing | "Let's Go Driving" | Taye Diggs | Narrative Sequencing |
| Dancing | "Choreographer" | Melissa McCarthy | Planning & Motor Sequences |
| Dancing | "Dancin'" | Alicia Keys | Free-form Creative Expression |
| Dancing | "Muevete" | Juanes | Spanish Vocabulary & Global Rhythm |
| Math | "Measure" | Drew Brees | Standards of Measurement (Units) |
| Math | "Addition Expedition" | LL Cool J | Basic Arithmetic (Sums) |
| Math | "Five By" | Train | Skip Counting by 5s |
| Math | "Ate My Red Two" | Elvis Costello | Subtraction & Digit Recognition |
| Friends | "Include" | Mila Kunis | Social Inclusion & Empathy |
| Friends | "Don't Know Y" | Norah Jones | Phonics (The Letter Y) |
| Friends | "Quiero Ser Tu Amigo" | Romeo Santos | Bilingual Friendship Skills |
| Believe | "The Power of Yet" | Janelle Monáe | Growth Mindset & Grit |
| Believe | "Don't Give Up" | Bruno Mars | Resilience & Persistence |
| Believe | "Believe in Yourself" | Michael Bublé | Self-Esteem & Confidence |
Facts
The third volume, The Best of Elmo 3, was released on 3 March 2015, following the success of the previous two. This one is all about the "modern era" of the show, with high-def segments and loads of A-list celebs from the early 2010s. The DVD is split into five sections, each with a different theme: Singing, dancing, maths, friends and believing in yourself.
Janelle Monáe performed "The Power of Yet" in a segment that went viral. This song brought in a psychological idea called a "growth mindset," which says that skills can be improved if you're dedicated. The production had a bright, pop-inspired set with backup singers to match Monáe's real-world musical style.
The "Math" section had a parody of the song "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes" by Elvis Costello. In this version, called "(A Monster Went and) Ate My Red Two," Costello sang about a monster who ate his favourite number. The segment had a surrealist visual style, with giant numbers and 1970s-inspired rock-and-roll lighting.
Taye Diggs sang "Let's Go Driving" with Elmo, using a green screen to make it look like they were driving through a cartoon landscape. This bit was all about pre-literacy skills, like knowing what things are called and where they're located. The car prop was just a stationary shell that the puppeteers shook to make it look like a car was moving.
Alicia Keys and Juanes brought the international flavour to the "Dancing" section. Alicia Keys performed "Dancin'" in a soulful R&B style, while Juanes performed "Muevete," a high-energy Latin track. Both segments had real Muppets on stage, which let them do moves like hand-clapping and finger-snapping that matched the music.
Melissa McCarthy was in a segment about being a "Choreographer." This bit relied on physical comedy and slapstick, as McCarthy tried to teach Elmo a series of increasingly difficult dance moves. They used a wide-angle lens to capture the full range of McCarthy's movements alongside the Muppets on the studio floor.
The DVD had a parody of a well-known iPod commercial on it. This bit had Elmo and the other Muppets as black silhouettes dancing against bright, solid-coloured backgrounds. To get this effect, the characters were filmed on a brightly lit set and then digitally "crushed" in post-production to remove all detail except for their outlines.
The "Believe in Yourself" bit ended with Michael Bublé singing the classic anthem of the same name. They filmed Bublé's appearance in a classic "crooner" style, with a stand-up mic and a soft spotlight. This song has been a mainstay of the show since the 70s, but this version was reworked with a big band for the 2015 release.
Parent's Guide
Drew Brees and Elmo help your child understand measurement through the song "Measure, Yeah, Measure." LL Cool J is leading a project called "The Addition Expedition" where they're showing how numbers work in the real world. These segments are really useful for getting to grips with maths. When the Harlem Globetrotters demonstrate the number 3, they use spatial reasoning and physical movement. This approach, which uses multiple senses, helps preschoolers learn to match one thing with another and gets them ready for arithmetic.
The "Believe in Yourself" bit has some great social-emotional learning. Janelle Monáe performs "The Power of Yet," teaching kids that not being able to do something now doesn't mean they won't do it later. This encourages a growth mindset and persistence. Bruno Mars' "Don't Give Up" is perfect for when you're feeling frustrated. Your child will learn to handle challenges with a positive attitude, thanks to their growing emotional intelligence.
Elmo shows off his "Snazzy Shuffle" in a parody of a classic tech commercial. This encourages physical literacy and the joy of spontaneous movement. Your child will learn that being active is a great way to stay happy.
The "Friends" section is all about cultural awareness and making sure everyone's included. Romeo Santos joins Elmo for "Quiero Ser Tu Amigo," which introduces Spanish vocabulary and the value of having friends. Elmo shows how to put yourself in someone else's shoes by performing with stars like Whoopi Goldberg and Norah Jones. This helps to develop children's social skills from an early age, teaching them to include others and build a welcoming community.
The "Dancing" section is a masterclass in gross motor skills and self-expression. Melissa McCarthy plays a choreographer helping Elmo find his rhythm. "The Elmo Slide" gives you a hands-on guide to following directions and coordination. Alicia Keys and Juanes bring a lot of different rhythms to the street, which makes processing sound even better. Dancing is a great way to get your STEM on and understand patterns and body mechanics. Your child will gain the confidence to move their body in space.
The "Singing" category focuses on literacy and phonics through music. The "Sesame Street Alphabet" and "One Small Voice" are great for helping kids develop their phonemic awareness and language skills. Singing along with guests like Sugarland or Taye Diggs is a great way for preschoolers to practise vocal modulation and memory. These musical numbers turn reading readiness into a lyrical adventure. Catchy tunes make sure that letters and sounds are easy for a child to remember.
Summary
Some of the Segments and songs in Sesame Street The Best of Elmo 3 are:
Let's Go Driving is sung by Elmo and Taye Diggs. In the clip, the two of them get into an animated car. This scene was first broadcast in Episode 4502.
The song Quiero Ser Tu Amigo is sung by Romeo Santos in The Best of Elmo 3. It was featured in an Anything Muppet and Elmo in the story of the song. This song is first released in Episode 4408.
The Power of Yet is a song sung by Janelle Monáe. Sesame Street characters such as Elmo, Cookie Monster, Abby Cadabby, Big Bird, Bert, Rosita, Leela and Chris are also featured in the song's video. The song, which was first released on Sesame Street Episode 4502, was also featured in the videos for "Dance Party", “The Best of Elmo 3” and "50 Years and Counting".
The Choreographer word is presented by Elmo and Melissa McCarthy in the word of the day section. This segment first aired in Sesame Street Episode 4321.
Drew Brees and Elmo present the word Measure in the segment The Word of the Day. Will Drew Brees be able to measure Elmo's length? This segment is aired for the first time in Sesame Street Episode 4274.
Mila Kunis and Elmo present the word Include in Sesame Street The Best of Elmo 3. The sheep help Mila Kunis and Elmo. Introducing the word include first airs in Episode 4265.
Five By is a song sung by Train, Elmo and The Count. The song, with lyrics by Joey Mazzarino, first aired in Sesame Street Episode 4301.
I Can Sing is a classic song performed by Anything Muppet and Herry Monster in Episode 2976. The version of this song featured in The Best of Elmo 3 is performed by Abby Cadabby and Elmo. I Can Sing is also featured in the "Sing It Elmo" video.
Snazzy Shuffle is a song performed by Sesame Street characters such as Segi, Elmo, Big Bird, Abby Cadabby.
Elmo's Got the Moves is a song performed by Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Big Bird, featured in "The Best of Elmo 3". Elmo's Got the Moves first appears in Episode 4268.
Believe in Yourself is a song performed by Michael Bublé and features Elmo, Abby Cadabby and Murray Monster in the music video. Believe in Yourself first aired on Episode 4513.
The Elmo Slide is a song sung by Elmo and he shows how to dance. Celebrities like Usher, Alton Brown, Ryan Reynolds and Terrence Howard dance in the music video for the song. The Elmo Slide first aired in Episode 4220 and was included in The Best of Elmo 3.
Elmo Feels Proud is a song that reflects the feelings of Elmo, who was able to shoot a successful basketball. Leela and Abby accompany Elmo in the song, which was first broadcast in episode 4309.
Don't Give Up is a song performed by Bruno Mars advising not to give up in The Best of Elmo 3. In the music video for the song "Don't Give Up", Sesame Street characters such as Elmo, Rosita and Cookie Monster are also featured. Don't Give Up first airs in Episode 4272.
The Addition Expedition is a song sung by Elmo and LL Cool J, first released in Sesame Street Episode 4172.
A Monster Went and Ate My Red Two is a song sung by Elvis Costello and Elmo and first aired in Sesame Street Episode 4267. In the clip, Cookie Monster accompanies them and it turns out that he ate the number 2.
Dancin' is a song performed by Alicia Keys and Elmo, featured in specials such as "40 Years of Sunny Days", "Singing with the Stars", "The Best of Elmo 3".
Muevete is a song performed by Juanes in Spanish, and parts of the body are taught in the song. Rosita, Elmo and a group of kids are also featured in the music video for the song, which was first featured in Sesame Street Episode 4262.
The Harlem Globetrotters is a segment about number 3, featuring Globetrotters such as Kevin Daley, Anthony Atkinson, Rodriguez and Elmo. The segment appears in season 42 of Sesame Street and The Best of Elmo 3.
Two is You and Me is a song first featured in Sesame Street Episode 0375 and performed by Joe Raposo. There are also different versions of Two is You and Me sung by Elmo and Abby Cadabby.
Don't Know Y is a song sung by Elmo and Norah Jones in Sesame Street The Best of Elmo 3. The song, which first appeared in Episode 4081, was also featured in the "All-Star Alphabet" , "Singing with the Stars" , "Alphabet Songs" and "Awesome Alphabet Collection" specials.
Somebody Come and Play is a classic song that was originally sung by Joe Raposo and has different versions. One of these versions of the song was sung by Elmo and Whoopi Goldberg. The song Somebody Come and Play sung by Whoopi Goldberg and Elmo first appears in Sesame Street Episode 3971.
Confidence is a word introduced by Evan Lysacek and Elmo in The Word of the Day segment. This segment first appeared in Episode 4421 and then in Sesame Street The Best of Elmo 3.
"Measure, Yeah, Measure" is a song sung by Elmo and Justin Bieber Muppet, and first appeared in Episode 4257, then appeared in the Big Elmo Fun, The Best of Elmo 3 videos.
The song One Small Voice is performed by Elmo.
"The Sesame Street Alphabet" is a popular song sung by Sesame Street characters such as Elmo, Bert, Ernie, Cookie Monster, Grover, Oscar the Grouch, Murray, Abby Cadabby, and first appears in Episode 4413.
You can watch Sesame Street The Best of Elmo 3 video on our website.
