11 Bizarrely Unnecessary Sequels To Classic Songs
5. The Royal Guardsmen - "Snoopy Vs. Osama"
The Royal Guardsmen's "Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron" was entirely unlicensed, and they actually suffered a lawsuit over it. Nonetheless, Charles Schulz gave them permission to write more songs about Charlie Brown's canine pal - a decision he might have grown to regret had he still been alive and kicking in 2006.
Initial follow-ups to "Baron" were cute and harmless. Aside from The Royal Guardsmen's many references to Manfred von Richthofen's German heritage, they don't get too political. Snoopy and Richthofen fight again in "The Return Of The Red Baron," but become friends at the end of "Snoopy's Christmas." The Baron even casts the deciding vote in "Snoopy For President," having apparently gained American citizenship. Except for one minor space battle in 1969's "The Smallest Astronaut," the Red Baron and President Snoopy never fight again.
After his space adventure, Snoopy managed to enjoy a few decades of retirement. That ended when The Royal Guardsmen released "Snoopy Vs. Osama" in 2006. Charlie Brown joins the action this time around, but his participation is about as long-lived as his gridiron football career. Charlie steers his BFV into a bomb, and Snoopy has to search for Osama bin Laden on his own.
Luckily, Snoopy finds the terrorist leader just standing around, not doing much of anything. He quickly fires off his gun, and Osama - unlike Richthofen - is put out of commission for further sequels. With one gunshot, a saga that began with a beagle piloting his doghouse like a Sopwith Camel ends with a former president/astronaut writing a new chapter in the Global War on Terrorism. Good grief.