The Shocking Truth About "We Are Siamese If You Please": 7 Facts On Disney's Most Controversial Song

Few Disney songs are as instantly recognizable as the playful, yet deeply unsettling, refrain of "We are Siamese if you please." This iconic line is the chorus of "The Siamese Cat Song" from the 1955 animated classic, Lady and the Tramp. However, as of December 2025, the song is no longer viewed as a simple children's tune; it has become a lightning rod for discussions about outdated media, cultural sensitivity, and the pervasive nature of racist stereotypes in classic Hollywood. The song’s modern legacy is defined not just by its catchy melody but by its problematic portrayal of East Asian people, leading to its complete removal from the 2019 live-action remake.

The history of "The Siamese Cat Song" is a complex blend of creative genius and cultural insensitivity, a perfect case study in how beloved films can carry harmful baggage. From the legendary jazz artist who wrote and performed it to the modern-day musician tasked with its replacement, here are the most crucial facts, the full biography of its creator, and the definitive story behind one of Disney's most controversial musical numbers.

The Creative Force Behind "We Are Siamese If You Please": Peggy Lee's Biography

The song's memorable music and lyrics were co-written by the legendary jazz and pop singer Peggy Lee (born Norma Deloris Egstrom) and her collaborator, Sonny Burke. Lee's contributions to the 1955 film, Lady and the Tramp, were far more extensive than many realize, solidifying her status as a crucial figure in Disney history.

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• Full Name: Norma Deloris Egstrom (Stage Name: Peggy Lee)
• Born: May 26, 1920, in Jamestown, North Dakota, U.S.
• Died: January 21, 2002, in Bel Air, California, U.S.
• Primary Role in Lady and the Tramp (1955): Co-songwriter and Singer. She co-wrote six of the film's songs with Sonny Burke, including "The Siamese Cat Song," "He's a Tramp," and "La La Lu."
• Voice Acting Roles: Lee provided the voices for multiple characters in the film, including the two notorious Siamese cats, Si and Am. She also voiced Lady's owner, Darling, and the Pekingese dog, Peg.
• Legacy: Beyond Disney, Peggy Lee was a celebrated artist with a career spanning over five decades, known for hits like "Fever" and "Is That All There Is?" She received 13 Grammy nominations, winning for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1969.

Lee's dual role as both a primary songwriter and the voice of the Siamese cats, Si and Am, is central to the song's history. She was deeply involved in crafting the entire musical landscape of the film, working closely with the Disney team and arranger Oliver Wallace.

Fact 1: The Song's Core Problem is Blatant Asian Stereotyping

The controversy surrounding "The Siamese Cat Song" stems from its use of a blatant and harmful East Asian stereotype. The characters, Si and Am, are visually and audibly designed as a racist caricature.

The two cats are depicted as cunning, destructive, and foreign "others" who invade the American home of Lady and her owners, Jim Dear and Darling. Their visual design features exaggerated, slanted eyes, and their voices, performed by Peggy Lee, use a contrived, mock-Asian accent.

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The lyrics themselves reference their origin: "We are former residents of Siam." Siam is the historical name for Thailand. The song's portrayal of the cats as sneaky, untrustworthy, and scheming animals who cause chaos is a direct reflection of racist tropes used in mid-20th-century media to depict East Asian people as malicious and untrustworthy.

Fact 2: The Original Film's Directors and Studio Have Been Criticized

While Peggy Lee and Sonny Burke wrote the song, the final execution and visual portrayal were the responsibility of the filmmakers. The animated film was produced by Walt Disney Productions and directed by a team including Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, and Hamilton Luske.

Critics argue that the studio, under the leadership of Walt Disney, knowingly approved the sequence, which was consistent with a pattern of cultural insensitivity found in other early Disney films. The scene is often cited alongside other examples of problematic content, leading streaming services like Disney+ to add content warnings to the original 1955 film.

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Fact 3: The Song Was Completely Replaced in the 2019 Live-Action Remake

The most significant and recent development concerning the song is its complete omission from the 2019 live-action remake of Lady and the Tramp, which premiered on the Disney+ streaming service.

Recognizing the historical controversy and the need for modern cultural standards, Disney made the decision to revamp the entire scene. The original Siamese cat characters, Si and Am, were entirely removed and replaced by new, non-Siamese cats.

The new musical number that replaced "The Siamese Cat Song" was an original track titled "What a Shame." This change was a direct response to the decades-long criticism, a move praised by many as a necessary correction to a problematic piece of media history.

Fact 4: Janelle Monáe Stepped in to Create the New Music

To ensure the new soundtrack was fresh, relevant, and culturally aware, Disney enlisted Grammy-nominated artist Janelle Monáe to contribute new music to the 2019 film. Monáe, a celebrated figure in modern R&B and pop, performed two new songs for the remake.

Monáe's song, "What a Shame," replaced the notorious "Siamese Cat Song." She also performed a new version of another Peggy Lee/Sonny Burke original, "He's a Tramp." By bringing in a contemporary artist, Disney aimed to create a musical sequence that maintained the film's playful spirit without relying on offensive stereotypes.

Fact 5: The Song's Popularity is Tied to Its Catchiness, Not Its Content

Despite the controversy, "The Siamese Cat Song" remains a well-known piece of music, largely due to its memorable, syncopated melody and the playful, if sinister, rhythm. The line "We are Siamese if you please" is often quoted, demonstrating how a song can become an earworm even when its underlying context is deeply flawed. The song's initial popularity helped cement its place in the Disney musical canon for decades, overshadowing the negative stereotypes for many viewers.

Fact 6: The Original Voice Cast Featured Other Disney Legends

Beyond Peggy Lee's extensive contributions, the original 1955 film featured a cast of iconic voice actors. Barbara Luddy voiced the title character, Lady, while Larry Roberts voiced Tramp. Other notable voices included Verna Felton (Aunt Sarah), and Stan Freberg. These figures, alongside the directors and animators, are all essential entities in the film's complex history.

Fact 7: The Controversy Reflects a Broader Discussion on Media Responsibility

The decision to replace "The Siamese Cat Song" in the 2019 remake is part of a much broader, ongoing cultural discussion about media responsibility. The song's legacy now serves as an example of how classic entertainment must be re-evaluated through a modern lens. The removal of the song and the addition of content advisories on the original film streaming on Disney+ signal a shift in how major studios manage their historical content, prioritizing cultural awareness over uncritical nostalgia.

For modern audiences, the iconic line "We are Siamese if you please" is no longer just a piece of film history. It is a powerful reminder of how subtle, yet damaging, racial caricatures were normalized in pop culture, and how contemporary creators and studios are working to correct those historical wrongs.