News Update: June 19, 2014

JUNE 19, 2014

The biggest news this week is that Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy will be appearing on PBS's annual A Capitol Fourth special celebrating the 4th of July. Kermit and Piggy will perform "Rainbow Connection" with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of conductor Jack Everly. The appearance will be in conjunction with the promotion for Muppets Most Wanted on Blu-ray and DVD August 12th. A Capitol Fourth airs at 8:00pm EST on PBS on July 4th!

The O'Neill Puppetry Conference is one of, if not the most important puppetry conference and gathering of puppeteers. The Henson family, especially Jim and Jane Henson, were and are integral parts of the conference and have been since its inception. In honor of that, and Jim and Jane's influences on puppetry, The O'Neill Puppetry Conference will erect a new building named in honor of Jim and Jane Henson. According to our friends at ToughPigs.com, The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford, Connecticut is currently constructing a new building to dedicate to the Hensons, set to be unveiled in 2015.

Last week, we reported that The Muppet Movie and The Great Muppet Caper had been added to Netflix instant streaming. We also said that they should add the other Muppet movies to Netflix... and lo and behold, The Muppet Christmas Carol and Muppet Treasure Island were added this week! Now, The Muppets, Muppets From Space, and Muppets Most Wanted are the only remaining Muppet features not on Netflix. Hopefully we'll see those and other Muppet productions will be added soon. But for now, you have no excuse not to watch Muppet movies!

As part of the promotional run for I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story, The LA Times profiled Caroll in a wonderful new article. The article shows, once again, how truly incredible Caroll is, stating that there's no way his final season performing on Sesame Street is coming anytime soon. "If you rest, you rust," Caroll says in the article. The article also sheds more light on Caroll's understudy for Big Bird, Matt Vogel, and has more info on the documentary that Muppet fans are dying to see. Be sure to give the exceptional article a read.

Yesterday Sesame Workshop announced an exciting new development for the future of Sesame Street. For their 45th season, Sesame Street will air both 60-minute and 30-minute versions of the show daily on PBS. The 60-minute show will continue to air in the mornings, with the 30-minute show airing in the afternoon. This allows Sesame Street to be watched by kids at home both in the mornings and afternoons. Below is some info from the official press release:

Furthering a commitment to using the power of media to educate and entertain America’s children, PBS KIDS and SESAME STREET will introduce a bonus half-hour program this fall on-air and on digital platforms. Starting Monday, September 1, the additional half-hour program will air on weekday afternoons on PBS stations, complementing the one-hour series that airs weekday mornings (check local listings). For the first time, selected full episodes of the 30-minute show will also be available for free online at pbskids.org/video, on the PBS KIDS Video App and on the PBS KIDS Roku channel.  By offering this bonus half hour of SESAME STREET in an additional timeslot and through a growing number of digital services, PBS KIDS hopes to reach even more children with one of America’s most beloved and educationally powerful children’s series.

“We’re thrilled to extend our reach on PBS. What better way to celebrate our 45th anniversary season than to touch more children’s lives,” added Terry Fitzpatrick, Chief Content and Distribution Officer at Sesame Workshop. “These days, families expect to be able to connect with their favorite SESAME STREET friends at any time of day. The new afternoon show is a great complement to our continuing efforts to reach more kids with engaging lessons that will help them grow smarter, stronger and kinder.”

The half-hour version of SESAME STREET will help kids learn a variety of skills, including the school readiness skills – such as impulse control and socio-emotional lessons – for which parents are increasingly seeking resources.

Each half-hour episode of SESAME STREET is a shortened version of each one-hour program and will include a “Street Story,” a “Word on the Street” segment, a celebrity vocabulary segment, songs, spoofs, dance breaks and popular segments like “Cookie’s Crumby Pictures” or “Super Grover 2.0.”

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, muppetmindset@gmail.com

Rachel Herrick Reviews... The Muppet Christmas Carol

Rachel Herrick is back with yet another one of her fantastic Muppet movie reviews! This installment sees Rachel tackling her favorite Muppet movie: The Muppet Christmas Carol--just in time for the holidays! So sit, back, relax, throw another yule log on the fire, and enjoy!








The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, muppetmindset@gmail.com

120 Awesome Muppet Songs, Part 6

Ryan Dosier - Wow. I really can't believe we've been showcasing this list of Awesome Muppet Songs for six weeks. We've already gone through so many classics it's hard to believe there's still 45 songs left! Well, believe it, and check out the 15 songs that make up this week's list. And don't miss out on Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5 for all of the Muppet song goodness!

76.   “Twelve Days of Christmas” from John Denver and The Muppets: A Christmas Together
Okay, if any of you reading out there can tell me that this isn't the greatest performance of this song ever recorded... well, you're wrong. There is nothing more satisfying than the Muppets and John Denver rattling off the 12 Days of Christmas is beautiful harmony. It's fun, it's charming, and it's darn funny when Miss Piggy starts off on her "ba dum bum bum." Everyone is in beautiful voice here--yes, even Lew Zealand--and it's the perfect Christmas carol. Special shout-out to the version the Muppets performed with Jimmy Fallon a few yeas ago as well. Favorite lyrics: "Fiiiiiive goooooold riiiiiiings... Ba dum bum bum!"
77.   “Fuzzy and Blue (and Orange)” from Sesame Street
It's hard to top Grover, Herry, and Cookie Monster with canes and top hats performing this soft-shoe delight. The trio is just so proud of being fuzzy and blue that they simply had to perform this cute little song about it. But then, of course, Frazzle comes in and confuses everything by being orange. It's okay though, because Grover is accepting of the ravenous Frazzle (mostly because he's ravenous) and adjusts the lyrics accordingly. I love this song for the fact that it's Frank Oz and Jerry Nelson harmonizing with each other and themselves. Favorite lyrics: "Fuzzy and blue/Me said me fuzzy and blue/From head to bottom of shoe/That right me fuzzy and blue!"
78.   “C is for Cookie” from Sesame Street
When you think about it, it's both hysterical and amazing that Cookie Monster sings as many wonderful songs as he does. He doesn't have proper grammar, but he sings with the best of them. Take his anthem, theme song, and greatest number for example. "C is for Cookie" is such a simple idea that Cookie Monster (with help from Joe Raposo) spun into this joyful song. It spells out Cookie's love for cookies, his understanding of the third letter of the alphabet, and his desire to eat the moon. It's simple elegance. Favorite lyrics: "C is for cookie/That's good enough for me/C is for cookie/That's good enough for me/Oh! Cookie cookie cookie starts with C!"
79.   “Things That I Remember” from Sesame Street
This is one of my very favorite modern Sesame Street songs. If you've never heard it, stop reading and take a few minutes to listen and watch this beautiful song from Bert and Ernie. The timeless duo reminisce their wonderful adventures and goofy happenings. This song works on so many levels. First, it's a beautiful tribute to Jim Henson and Frank Oz since all the clips shown were performed by them. Second, it's one of the final songs Sesame master songwriter Jeff Moss wrote for the show. Finally, it's just a beautiful and perfect Bert and Ernie moment. Favorite lyrics: "Each day has its memories/And when the day is through/Things that I remember/Are the things I did with you."
80.   “Follow Me” from Fraggle Rock
The best song from Fraggle Rock was in the first episode of the show. By no means does that mean the rest of the songs used throughout the course of the show weren't brilliant... but "Follow Me" is just the best. It is such a perfect duet between Traveling Matt and Gobo. The lyrics and music are pure magic and pure Fraggle. The innocent, beautiful acoustic guitar used in the entire song is awesome. It doesn't get better than this. Major shout-out to the special extended version written for Jerry Juhl and available on the bonus features for Fraggle Rock Season 2 on DVD. Favorite lyrics: "While the sun goes round I'll still be found/Followin' the sound/Somethin's callin' me/When the world goes driftin' back to bed/Memories in my head/Wonders follow me."
81.   “To Morrow” from The Muppet Show
The silliness of this song is amazing. And yes, if you're wondering, Morrow is an actual place in numerous states in the US. Jim Henson and Jerry Nelson sing so wonderfully in this song it almost distracts from how incredibly goofy the lyrics are. The County Trio is such a brilliant idea and this is undoubtedly their best performance. The song is a great duet for Jim and Jerry but it is Frank who gets the biggest laugh croaking out "I don't get it" at the end. Favorite lyrics: "If you had gone to Morrow yesterday now don't you see/You could've gone to Morrow and returned today at 3/For the train today to Morrow, if the schedule is right/Today it gets to Morrow and returns tomorrow night."
82.   “One More Sleep ‘til Christmas” from The Muppet Christmas Carol
Another perfect Christmas song, this one sung beautifully by Kermit. Looking back on this song, it's truly amazing that it is the first song Steve Whitmire performed as Kermit, because Kermit is in prime voice here. Yes, in a few spots he sounds slightly off, but 20 years later there is no doubt that this is Kermit. Another Paul Williams masterpiece, this is yet another song that deserves radio time every holiday season. It's beautiful and charming and perfectly Kemity. Favorite lyrics: "There's somethin' in the wind today/That's good for everyone/Yes faith is in our hearts today/We're shinin' like the sun/Yes everyone can feel it/The feelin's runnin' deep/After all there's only one more sleep 'til Christmas."
83.   “Blackbird” from The Muppet Show
This is my favorite Floyd Pepper song, and I will always assert that it is better than the original Beatles version. I told Jerry Nelson that once, and being the wonderfully humble man he is, he thanked me but disagreed. Still, Floyd has never been more soulful or impressive than he is in this beautiful song. He croons with such heartfelt wonder that you can't help but love it. Favorite lyrics: "Blackbird singin' in the dead of night/Take these broken wings and learn to fly/All your life/You were only waiting for this moment to arise."
84.   “My Best Christmas Yet” from A Muppet Christmas: Letters to Santa
Boy, that Paul Williams sure does write a lot of Christmas songs for the Muppets! And thank goodness he does, because they're gems. Even the songs from the not-too-beloved Letters to Santa are wonderful. "My Best Christmas Yet" is the stand-out, simply because it features so many Muppets and duets between Kermit and Gonzo, Kermit and Robin, Kermit and Fozzie, and Kermit and Piggy. You can't beat that. Plus, Rowlf, Zoot lighting a menorah, Lew Zealand hanging a fish on the tree, tacky sweaters, and more. Favorite lyrics: "The skies are filled with wishes tonight/The skies are filled with prayers/The night is full of hope/And of promises kept/Because somebody cares."
85.   “Put Down the Duckie” from Sesame Street
Hoots the Owl was so prominent in the late 80s on Sesame Street that he even got to sing a song with Ernie! And boy, what a song it is. I guess Ernie doesn't really get to do much singing, and it really is Hoots' song, but it's still amazing. That saxophone mixed with the Rubber Dukie squeaks is awesome and surprisingly fitting. Hoots is so great when he sings and this is the best example of him rocking a song hard. Favorite lyrics: "Ya didn't hear a word I said!/Ya gotta get it through your head/Don't be a stubborn cluck/Ernie lay aside the duck!"
86.   “Pass it On” from Fraggle Rock
Casual Muppet fans probably best know this song from A Muppet Family Christmas, but it was first used in the Fraggle Rock episode "The Perfect Blue Rollie." It features some of Wembley's best harmonizing noises and lyrics sung by Gobo, Mokey, and Red. But really, it's Wembley that steals this song. With his goofy grunts and excited shouts of "Pass it on!" Nobody does it like Wembley. Favorite lyrics: "When I give a gift to you/I know you're gonna give it too/That's why givin's what we do/When we... Pass it on!"
87.   “One Fine Face” from Sesame Street
A semi-obscure choice, perhaps, but I adore this song. A rare duet between Ernie and Elmo, this silly-but-educational song is adorable. Ernie sings about the part of his face while Elmo helps by repeating them. Of course, Elmo doesn't have ears, but it doesn't really matter. Elmo steals the show here and Ernie gets the rare opportunity to play the straight man. Favorite lyrics: "You've got a chin/But what a chin does/You just can't tell/(Just cannot tell!)"
88.   “Fraggle Rock Theme” from Fraggle Rock
Is there a song with more perfectly placed claps? I can't think of one right now, but I doubt there is. Another perfect theme song for a Henson show, and one that perfectly describes the series, its characters, and its world. We see Fraggles dancing their cares away, Doozers working their cares away, encounter Gorgs, Doc in his workshop, and more. It's truly an amazing feat of both song writing and storytelling in a very short song. Favorite lyrics: "Dance your cares away!/Worries for another day!/Let the music play!/Down at Fraggle Rock!"

89.   “Happy Tappin’ with Elmo” from Sesame Street
Ahh, my favorite Elmo song! Not only is this little number 100% adorable, it's also insanely catchy and well-written. The lyrics and rhyme scheme are fantastic and perfect for Elmo. Also note the few times that Elmo actually says "me" in this song--that's how you know this is vintage Elmo goodness! I absolutely love this song and it never fails to make me want to dance. Favorite lyrics: "Happy's such a neat emotion/It'll give your feet that happy notion/If your toes get tired rub in some lotion/And they'll feel swell so come join Elmo!"
90.   “Man Or Muppet” from The Muppets
How perfect that we end today's list with the most recent Awesome Muppet Song and the only Muppet song to win an Academy Award! And what a deserved win it was. Bret McKenzie's fantastic power ballad duet between Walter and Gary (Jason Segel) is magnificent. Plus, this song got the biggest laugh in the movie when Jim Parsons walked out as human Walter. This song would give Muppet fans a new identity crisis... and an amazing new song to never get out of their heads. Favorite lyrics: "I look into these eyes/And I don't recognize/The one I see inside/It's time for me to decide/Am I a man?/Or am I a Muppet?"

Well that's it for today! Don't miss next week's continuation of the list. Only two more installments left of 120 Awesome Muppet Songs!





The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, muppetmindset@gmail.com

120 Awesome Muppet Songs, Part 5

Ryan Dosier - 60 songs in, and I'm still loving doing these installments every Tuesday. I hope you're still loving it too, Muppet fans. If you need to play catch up, don't miss out on Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 of our 120 Awesome Muppet Songs series. Tune up the instruments and get ready to jam!

61.   "When the River Meets the Sea" from Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas 
How have we never noticed that Paul Williams writes the most beautiful, profound, and perfect Muppet songs? What's that? We have? Oh, good. Well anyway... the greatest song from Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas is one of the greatest Muppet songs ever. It is poignant, it is powerful, and it is the perfect song for Jerry Nelson. Jerry performed the song as Emmet Otter, Robin the Frog, and himself with Louise Gold at Jim Henson's Memorial Service, adding to the beauty of the song. Thank you Jerry, and thank you Paul Williams, for this perfect piece of music. Favorite lyrics: "Though our minds be filled with questions/In our hearts, we'll understand/When the river meets the sea."
62.   "Steppin' Out With a Star" from The Great Muppet Caper 
One of the few songs to feature the awesome trio of Kermit, Fozzie, and Gonzo, "Steppin' Out With a Star" is the most fun anyone ever had getting ready for a date with a pig. I love the interplay between the three guys in this song. I adore Kermit when he is peppy and fun and dancing in a tuxedo (okay, sure, I love Kermit all the time, but still). It's such a great moment in The Great Muppet Caper that lets us escape from the caper plot with a bouncy number. It's fantastic. Favorite lyrics: "Have I got style?/Have I got taste?/On someone else/I swear, this savoir faire/Would be such a waste!"
63.   "Couldn't We Ride" from The Great Muppet Caper 
Another song from The Great Muppet Caper! Gotta love that iTunes shuffle. Thank goodness it's another brilliant, beautiful number. (Aren't they all?) One of the most technically amazing feats in Muppet history... I honestly still have no idea how some of the bike stunts were done--and I don't want to know. It is a true example of pure Muppet magic. Kermit standing on one leg on his bike is a moment I'll always see as perfectly Jim Henson. The song features some wonderful imagery and beautiful music. It never fails to make me want to go ride a bike. Favorite lyrics: "It all seems so right/It all feels so rare/Summer soft, sudden breeze/Watch the wind play tag in the trees/The world is so bright/So perfectly fair."
64.   "Easy is the Only Way to Go" from Fraggle Rock 
Perhaps an obscure choice, but I adore this song. This is one of the few songs on this list that is performed by a one-off character, Phil Fraggle, who was voiced by Fraggle Rock songwriter Phil Balsam. In the show, the song comes after the Fraggles make Mokey their new oracle so they don't have to risk visiting the Trash Heap. The song features a magnificent guitar instrumental that pairs perfectly with Balsam's vocals. It's rollicking and joyful and makes for a great anthem anytime good things happen. It may be repetitive, but it's repeating great lyrics. Favorite lyrics: "We found a way/To live on easy street/No more troubles/No more cares and woe/Oh happy day/It's made our lives complete/'Cause easy is the only way to go."
65.   "It Feels Like Christmas" from The Muppet Christmas Carol 
How can you not positively adore this song? Jerry Nelson and the Ghost of Christmas Present make this a truly show-stopping, major production number for The Muppet Christmas Carol when it definitely needed one. This song is a stand-out in an otherwise somber film, that celebrates the joy of the Christmas season with amazing music and lyrics. I have no idea why this isn't a timeless classic on the radio every Christmas season... it's a crying shame. Thank goodness we Muppet fans know it and love it all year round. Favorite lyrics: "It is the season of the heart/A special time of caring/The ways of love made clear/And it is, this season of the spirit/The message if we hear it/Is make it last all year!"
66.   "Doin' the Pigeon" from Sesame Street 
Oh, Bert. The nerdiest of the nerds, the dweebiest of the dweebs. Bert so weird but so reserved and delightfully boring. Who else would develop an entire song and dance around the way pigeons move? Thank goodness he did, though, because "Doin' the Pigeon" is the defining song for Bert--his "Rubber Duckie," if you will. I believe this song says everything you need to know about Bert as a character: he's passionate about odd things and he's one "coo" cat. (Get it?!) Favorite lyrics: "Every time I feel alone and slightly blue/That's when I begin to think it's what I'd like to start to do/So though it may not be the kind of thing that's quite your cup of tea/I recommend you pay attention to the little dance you're gonna see."
67.   "Eye to Eye" from Fraggle Rock 
So far this is the only song on the list that wasn't available in some fashion on YouTube. So if you have Fraggle Rock Season 3 on DVD, pop in "The Cavern of Lost Dreams" to hear this great song. Led by Cotterpin Doozer with back up from ancient Doozers Yeaster and Crusty, it's one of my favorite Doozer songs. The trio sing about how coming together and connecting makes things so much better. It is a great message that should be adopted all over. Favorite lyrics: "I felt so helpless, yes, I felt so blue/I never dreamed that I'd see eye to eye with you/But hallelujah, we've made the whole thing new/I'm gonna see eye to eye to eye with you."
68.   "Happy Feet" from The Muppet Show 
Besides "Rainbow Connection," this is probably my favorite Kermit song. He is just so happy when he's singing "Happy Feet" (fitting, I know). The idea behind this sketch on The Muppet Show, that we never see Kermit's feet, is brilliant, but it's Jim Henson's vocal performance that really stands out here. I love seeing Kermit cut loose and have fun performing--which he was born to do. "Happy Feet" is one of the best examples of that. Favorite lyrics: "Weary blues can't get into my shoes/Because my shoes refuse/To ever grow weary/I keep cheerful on an earful of music sweet/'Cause I've got hap-hap-happy feet!"
69.   "Bless Us All" from The Muppet Christmas Carol 
Boy, Paul Williams is all over this week's list. Thank goodness, because he rocks, of course. "Bless Us All" might just be Paul's most beautiful song. Coming at a time when the world had just lost Jim Henson and Richard Hunt, this beautiful and thankful song is really powerful. This song is another great vehicle for Robin, who never sounded better. Jerry Nelson gets to harmonize here with Steve Whitmire and Frank Oz, and it's truly wonderful. It's touching, it's uplifting, and it's magic. Favorite lyrics: "Life is full of sweet surprises/Everyday's a gift/The sun comes up/And I can feel it lift my spirit/Fills me up with laughter/Fills me up with song/I look into the eyes of love/And know that I belong."
70.   "Bohemian Rhapsody" from YouTube 
One of my favorite Muppet moments ever is this truly amazing 2009 video parodying the Queen classic starring... everyone. Opening with Gonzo and the chickens, then Animal, the song spotlights nearly every single major, secondary, and minor Muppet character. There are so many moments that make this song so great, but my favorite is when the Electric Mayhem comes in and brings down the house. It was a triumphant return for my favorite band. Also of note: silhouetted Pepe, Big Mean Carl eating Rizzo, Mahna Mahna, Lew Zealand, and literally every moment of this video. Favorite lyrics: "So they told us this video was going to fly/All I know is we're not getting paid tonight/Oh, baby, can't do this to me baby/Just gotta get out/Just gotta get right outta here!"

71.   "Love Led Us Here" from Muppet Treasure Island 
You know what's amazing? How few Kermit and Miss Piggy duets there are. Yes, there's "The First Time It Happens," but there really aren't many others. Thankfully, there's "Love Led Us Here," the beautiful romantic duet from Muppet Treasure Island. It's crazy that Kermit and Piggy performed this song entirely upside down. But really... Steve Whitmire very much hit his stride as Kermit by this point and the blending of Kermit and Piggy's voices is perfect here. Thank goodness they have this great duet that spells out their love since there are so few out there. Favorite lyrics: "Was I dumb?/Or was I blind?/Or did my heart just lose its mind?/Why'd I go and throw/Our perfect dream away?"
72.   "Friendship Song" from Fraggle Rock 
It seems like every time someone talks about Fraggle Rock and notable episodes of the show, "Marooned" always comes up. It absolutely should, because "Marooned" is the pinnacle of the show's power to connect emotionally to the viewers. By pitting Red and Boober in such a dire situation, we also got the beautiful "Friendship Song." This wonderful duet between the two polar-opposite Fraggles warms the heart completely. It's soft and lilting and completely beautiful. The definition of a tear jerker should be this song. Favorite lyrics: "You work all night/You work all day/You still can't keep/Those worried blues away/Try a little longer/For your friends/Try a little stronger/For your friends."
73.   "Pukka, Pukka, Pukka Sqeetily Boink" from Fraggle Rock 
Yay! More Fraggles! And it's a song by my favorite Fraggle! Wembley can do no wrong in my eyes, and his nonsense song is no exception. It's so delightfully goofy and abstract. The song also showcases Steve Whitmire's weird, wonderful noises he squeaks and squawks as Wembley. Steve is such a great singer on deep, powerful songs, but I just love moments like this when he gets to be goofy and wacky. Favorite lyrics: "I believe in magic words/I believe in love/I believe in buried treasure falling from above/One more time the world goes round/One more magic day/Now I've learned the magic sounds/That speed it on its way!"
74.   "I'm Going to Go Back There Someday" from The Muppet Movie 
I'm going to be honest right up front here... this is my favorite song of all time. Not just Muppet song... song, period. The hauntingly beautiful lyrics, the emotionally gripping music, Gonzo's soul-searching movements and emotions... every single thing about this song is perfect. Paul Williams has scribed so many masterpieces for the Muppets (four of them in this week's list alone), but I don't think I could ever love a song more. Gonzo's words speak to me, and I'm sure they speak to all Muppet fans. Favorite lyrics: "There's not a word yet/For old friends who've just met/Part heaven, part space/Or have I found my place?/You can just visit, but I plan to stay/I'm going to go back there someday."
75.   "Turn the World Around" from The Muppet Show
The perfect closing number for The Muppet Show becomes the perfect closing number for the list this week. Harry Belafonte was one of the Muppets' great collaborators and a good friend of Jim Henson, and this song he scribed specifically for the show is truly amazing. Harry sings so powerfully and the African mask puppets built for the song are incredible. I love the message of this song, showing how the world is all connected. Favorite lyrics: "Do you know who I am?/Do I know who you are?/See we one another clearly/Do we know who we are?"






The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, muppetmindset@gmail.com 

120 Awesome Muppet Songs, Part 2

Ryan Dosier - I'm back! (Not that I really ever went anywhere.) I've brought 15 more songs to add to my list of 120 Awesome Muppet Songs, which I started last week in Part 1. I encourage you to check out Part 1 before we charge forward with the next 15 songs, if you haven't already. You won't want to miss a beat! (Get it?!)

16.   "Disco Frog" from Sesame Street
One of my favorite Kermit songs, period, is this fun, danceable tune from Sesame Street and later performed on The Muppet Show. My favorite version of "Disco Frog" comes from the album Sesame Disco!, which is fantastic in its own right but reaches new heights with this Kermit hit. The instrumentation here is amazing and Kermit's vocals are wonderful. Favorite lyrics: "Soon the water ripples catch their eye/And the ladies hush and breathe a sigh/On a lilypad all dressed in white/He appears there."

17.   "The People in Your Neighborhood" from Sesame Street
This song has been performed so many times by so many different people and in so many different ways. For me, the original remains the best. Bob McGrath singing to two anything Muppets and clearly having a great time. It's Bob, who is the best, and Jim Henson and Frank Oz, who are the best of the best. It's an undeniable classic that is as fun to learn from as it is to listen to. Favorite lyrics: "Who are the people in your neighborhood?/They're the people that you meet/When you're walkin' down the street/They're the people that you meet each day!"

18.   "Everyone Matters" from It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie
The only song from It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie that I enjoy is also one of the Muppets' best. It works really well as a Christmas song but is also great (for the most part) to listen to all through the year. It also has the rare beauty of being one of the few duets between Gonzo and Kermit (honestly it's the only one I can come up with right now). Dave Goelz and Steve Whitmire's voices blend so well. The song's message that "Everyone Matters" speaks true to the Muppet message perfectly. Favorite lyrics: "If only I could go back/and take another crack at/all the things I left undone/I'd do them right."

19.   "The Bear Cha-Cha-Cha" from Bear in the Big Blue House
Don't worry, I didn't feel obligated to include at least one song from Bear in the Big Blue House, I legitimately adore this number. Having not seen much Bear, this song is one of my few entries into the show. It is arguably the most fun song in this post today. The joy in Bear's voice as he sings about the joy he feels when he lets loose and dances is palpable. Noel MacNeal is such a brilliant singer and it shows wonderfully in this song. Favorite lyrics: "You might notice some people stop and stare/You can explain to them you're an honorary bear/Everybody now!/Cha-cha-cha!"

20.   "Oscar Don't Allow" from Bert & Ernie Sing-Along
I am perturbed that I couldn't find this song on YouTube. I might have to put it up myself just so people who haven't heard it can sing it. The video I linked to is "Mama Don't Allow," which this song is based on. For those of you who don't own a copy (physical or digital) of the album Bert & Ernie Sing-Along need to mend that. This song is one of the best songs on the album. David, Ernie, Luis, and Big Bird sing about how Oscar don't allow sing-along-singin', piano-playin', drum-drum-drummin', or banjo-playin' here. You can tell that the entire cast is having so much fun singing this song. Favorite lyrics: "Oh we don't care what Oscar don't allow/cause we do some sing-along-singin' now/Oscar don't allow no sing-along-singin' here!"

21.   "I'm the Baby (Gotta Love Me)" from Dinosaurs
Baby Sinclair is the baby, and you've gotta love him. Same goes for this song--it's so hard not to love. Before Kevin Clash was the most popular character on Sesame Street, he was also the most popular character on Dinosaurs, the amazing 90s sitcom from Disney and Henson. This was one of the only songs on the show, and it's so great. The music video is also great, but our friend Davide Maugeri's animated tribute to the song is even better. Favorite lyrics: "Mama says it's too much sugar/Daddy is all perplexed/ABCDEF-gee, you never know what/I'm gonna do next!"

22.   "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from The Muppet Show
My favorite performance of this song, hands down, goes to Robin the Frog. Jerry Nelson is my favorite Muppeteer singer and it shows through so brilliantly in this song. This delightfully cute moment from the otherwise eery Alice Cooper episode of The Muppet Show is one of Robin's finest performances. He sings with such heart and soul that it's impossible not to want to give the little guy a hug. Favorite lyrics: "If happy little blue birds fly/Beyond the rainbow/Why, oh why, can't I?"

23.   "I Hope That Something Better Comes Along" from The Muppet Movie
Oh my goodness, it's my anthem! This song is the perfect song for single guys and there's no one better to illustrate that than Rowlf the Dog and Kermit the Frog. This double Jim Henson duet is one of my very favorite songs of all time. It's bouncy and entertaining while still being about disgruntled guys. Rowlf and Kermit make a great duo and this song is some of Rowlf's finest work both vocally and on the piano. Favorite lyrics: "You can't live with 'em/You can't live without 'em/There's somethin' irresistible-ish about 'em/We grin and bear it 'cause the nights are long/I hope that somethin' better comes along."

24.   "Pictures in My Head" from The Muppets
I couldn't make this list without including Kermit's most recent heart-wrenching ballad. Kermit is one of my favorite balladeers, and "Pictures in My Head" was perfect for him. Steve Whitmire's performance in this song is one of hist best, period. This is probably the moment in The Muppets that made most Muppet fans tear up. It speaks so fully to the plight of the Muppets in recent years and I'm so glad Kermit got to deliver it. Favorite lyrics: "If we could do it all again/Just another chance to entertain/Would anybody watch or even care?/Or did something break we can't repair?"

25.   "The First Time it Happens" from The Great Muppet Caper
Ah, the quintessential Muppet love song. This gem from The Great Muppet Caper is so beautifully Joe Raposo. The instrumentation and choral performances in "The First Time it Happens" are truly amazing--there's a reason it was nominated for an Academy Award! Miss Piggy's dance number is breath taking and her sweet, soft duet with Kermit at the beginning of the song is a perfect contrast to the lively step routine it becomes. Favorite lyrics: "The first time you see her/No magical change/No angels appearing/No dreams to arrange/It's warmer and colder than springtime or snow/The first time it happens, you know."

26.   "The Monster in the Mirror" from Sesame Street
Is this our first Grover song on this list? I think so! Oh, I am so happy for him! Furry, adorable Grover has many, many songs on Sesame Street, but "The Monster in the Mirror" is definitely one of his very best. The song evokes the classic There's a Monster at the End of This Book with Grover being concerned about a monster in the mirror that is actually him. But really, this song is great if only for the "Wubba wubba wubba wubba woo woo woo!" Favorite lyrics: "Told the monster in the mirror, 'No I am not scared'/Then I smiled at him, and thanked him for the song that we had shared."
 
27.   "Marley and Marley" from The Muppet Christmas Carol 
I'll go ahead and reveal now that this is the only Statler and Waldorf song on the list of 120. But... of course it is. It's such a classic, beloved moment from an equally classic and beloved movie. Statler and Waldorf as Jacob and Robert Marley singing this song about chains (or change, I could never tell) to Scrooge. It's brilliant, it's funny, and it's just plain well-written. Paul Williams proved with this song that he could write a song for any Muppet. (Except maybe Beaker...) Favorite lyrics: "We specialized in causing pain/Spreading fear and doubt/And if you could not pay the rent/We simply threw you out!"

28.   "Can't Get Along Without You" from Kermit Unpigged
This odd little album from the 90s features only two songs that don't include a shoe-horned celebrity vocal cameo. The first is "She Drives Me Crazy" with Kermit and Piggy, and the second is this beautiful, perfect duet between Kermit and Robin. The song was written by the producers of the album and, honestly, it's a true wonder. It's so unknown and underrated but it would be right at home in any Muppet production. The love that Kermit and Robin show for each other in the song is amazing and speaks volumes about their relationship. Plus... it's a chance to listen to Jerry Nelson sing, something one should never pass up.

29.   "Dixie Wailin'" from Fraggle Rock 
This is my favorite song from Fraggle Rock. I know it's an unconventional choice, but I have my reason. It was "The Challenge" episode that completely sold me on Fraggle Rock. It was so joyous, funny, fun, and the characters are just perfect. Red and Gobo have convinced Junior Gorg that he's dead, so of course Boober sings a funeral dirge, and of course Junior wants to liven it up, and of course Red and Gobo are happy to comply. I honestly would love it if my friends sang this song at my funeral. Same tempo. Favorite lyrics: "When it's time to say goodbye/All my friends will sit and cry/And they'll watch the coffin rockin' round and squirmin'/Then they'll raise a mighty shout/When my bones come marchin' out/And I raise myself and preach the final sermon!"
 
30.   "I Don't Want to Live on the Moon" from Sesame Street
Oh I'm so glad that this week's selection ends with the most beautiful Ernie song ever written. Ernie's longing for adventure and discovery is matched by his reluctance to abandon what he knows. And is that not true of all of us? Jim Henson's vocals are perfect here. Ernie is also one of the only Sesame characters who could sing this song. He is as poetic as he is silly, and this song is the perfect example of that. Favorite lyrics: "Though I'd like to look down at the Earth from above/I would miss all the places and people I love/So although I may go, I'll be coming home soon/'Cause I don't want to live on the moon."

Well that's it for this week, Muppet fans! Stick with us next week for Part 3 and 15 more Awesome Muppet Songs!





The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, muppetmindset@gmail.com