The one and only Pee-Wee Herman is making his big movie comeback some 28 years later with the upcoming Netflix movie Pee-Wee’s Big Holiday. The new movie — which is a sort of “spiritual sequel” to the Tim Burton classic, Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure — finds Pee-Wee hitting the road with his new best friend, Joe Manganiello. It’s set to hit the streaming service on March 18th.

While doing the promotional rounds for his new movie, Pee-Wee, a.k.a. Paul Reubens, stopped by Los Angeles radio station KCRW and was part of their Guest DJ Project. Host Mathieu Schreyer asked him to pick five of his favorite songs for a special playlist. Most of Pee-Wee’s favorite music, it turns out, is classic funk and soul, which shows that he has amazing taste in music. And no, before you even think to ask the question, “Tequila” by the Champs is not on the list. You gotta imagine even Pee-Wee’s sick to death of that one.

So which songs did Pee-Wee pick? For starters, he picked “Cool”, the early ’80s hit from Morris Day and the Time, written and produced by Prince. Why “Cool?” According to Pee-Wee, “I think it kind of defines me.” (You’ll get no argument from us.)

Next he picked the hit 1958 version of “Fever” by Peggy Lee. “It doesn’t get any cooler than “Fever” in my opinion,” said Pee-Wee of his choice. “Although I guess Fever isn’t cool, it’s hot,” he added.

The legendary James Brown got a nod on Pee-Wee’s list, with his song “Hotpants.” Pee- Wee expressed his love for Brown by saying, “At home when I have my cape on, I always do James Brown, dropping the cape. It doesn’t get more incredible than James Brown, and it doesn’t get crazier than ‘Hotpants.'”

Continuing on the funk tip, Pee-Wee included the theme from “Superfly” from Curtis Mayfield. Mostly because the term superfly is a word that Pee-Wee said “has been used to describe me many times.”

Finally, Pee-Wee chose a little known song called, appropriatley enough, “Pee Wee” from Ike and Tina Turner and the Ikettes. According to Pee-Wee, “I couldn’t not include this song, for obvious reasons, since it’s named after me.”

You can have a listen to Pee-Wee’s Playlist (sounds like a new show?) below:

What do you think of Pee-Wee’s funky music choices? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

—

HT: KCRW

IMAGE: Warner Brothers 

Hungry? Here’s a Pee-Wee Pumpkin Pie!