Here’s some random monkey and chimp trivia. I know that monkeys and chimps are different species but I thought it would be fun to include examples of both.

1.I was born in the Chinese Year of the Monkey (years include 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004).

According to my friend’s astrology website:

“Sexual and naughty, these cheeky imps have a witty response for everything. With one of the fastest minds on the circuit, you have intelligence and skills other people cannot match and being a bit of a show off, you let them know it. Aggressive and unpredictable, you can be tough opponents in any game which is just as well because you’re extremely competitive. Your sense of humour is what makes you so popular and you make a brilliant impersonator. Monkeys have such versatile talent they can succeed in any career especially in: writing, comedy performance, sports, art, design, education, PR, science, generally, something that keeps them interested.”

Famous Monkeys include Jerry Hall, Lucy Lawless, Michael Douglas, Michael Schumacher, Roseanne Barr, Will Smith, Brendan Fraser, Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, Kim Catrall, Lord Byron, Charles Dickens, Julius Caesar, Elizabeth Taylor, Leonardo da Vinci, Mick Jagger, Bette Davis, Celine Dion.

2. I grew up watching the hilarious series Monkey (or Monkey Magic as it was also known in the UK) in the early 80s. Do any of you remember it?

The series follows the journey of a young buddist priest, Tripitaka, as he makes his way from China to India to retrieve Buddist scriptures. He is escorted on his quest by three companions: Monkey (the mischievous monkey king), Pigsy (a pig monster with an eye for pretty ladies) and Sandy (a miserable water monster), who help to ward off the many demons and monsters that turn up on the way. The series is based on the classic 16th century Chinese epic ‘Hsi Yu Chi’ (’Journey to the West’). Strangely the buddhist priest is played by a beautiful girl.

3. The Black Eyed Peas fourth album was called Monkey Business.

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They also released a funky bonus track called Shake your Monkey on one of the singles from that album.

4. Michael Jackson had a chimp called Bubbles…

5. Ross from Friends had a monkey called Marcel. Marcel was cool for a while, until he matured into his horny stage and started humping anything he could. Phoebe took a tranquilizer dart in the butt for him, and he was eventually sent to live in a nice zoo.

6. Of course I must mention MoJoJoJo, the PowerPuff Girls’ nemesis. He was featured in my cartoon villians post a few weeks ago.

7. There’s a Spanish band called Monkeydo. They sound pretty good to me.

8. There was a period of my childhood when my Saturday mornings would not have been complete without seeing an episode of The Monkees. A cute 60s pop band messing about, what joy!

9. During my day trip to Nikko (Japan) I visited the Nikk? T?sh?-g? Shinto shrine which features carvings of The Three Wise Monkeys. They embody the proverb “see no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil”.

10. PG Tips a UK Tea company, have used chimps in their ad campaigns for several decades. Recently they have recruited the ex ITV digital monkey for their ads, but I prefer the old school ads. Here’s one I found online:

11. For a more comprehensive list of famous monkeys, check out Mr Monkey’s Index of Famous Monkeys

12. Some wise old Monkey-related Jamaican proverbs. (I picked up a book on them today, and was surprised that there were quite so many. (N.B. I’ve altered them slightly to make them easier for non-Jamaicans to read.)

• The monkey knows which tree to climb. (An adversary is the first one to be blamed or attacked, just as the monkey likes to climb its favourite tree.)
• The higher monkey climbs the more he exposes himself. (The more you put on affectations of class and superiority the more foolish you appear.)
• When the bull’s leg breaks he eats with monkeys. (When an influential person is humbled by a setback, he will then be willing to associate with his inferiors.)
• Softly-softly, catch monkey (You need patience to acquire difficult things.)
• The monkey hides, but his tail hangs down. (I know you are trying to conceal something from me.)
• And courtesy of my mother, “Two monkeys can’t be wrong.” (If you are all agreeing on this issue, perhaps you are correct.)

13. And here’s a couple of delightful pics, just for fun.

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