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

Muppet Retro Reviews: Rocky Mountain Holiday

Michael Wermuth, Jr. - The Muppet Retro Reviews article series is among my favorite Muppet Mindset articles (along with Weekly Muppet Wednesday and The Great Muppet Survey), but one thing I've noticed about the article series is that, as of this writing, all of the reviews have been positive. Well, I'm gonna attempt to change that. So today I'll review one of my least-favorite Muppet specials, Rocky Mountain Holiday. It's not a bad special, but it's also one of my least-favorite pre-1990 Muppet productions. It was only broadcast once, in 1983, and when it was first released on DVD ten years ago, I was happy to have this once-rare special, and yet all of the problems I have with it now I had even back then.

Anyway, Rocky Mountain Holiday is the second of two "John Denver and the Muppets" specials. This one doesn't have much of a plot, which can be summed up in one sentence: John Denver takes the Muppets on a comping trip to the rocky mountains, and they sing many songs. There are a few other running gags and "plot" points--Statler and Waldorf also camp out in the Rockies and observe the Muppets, Fozzie has trouble interacting with nature, and there's a nice bit where John gets mad at Robin for only setting up the clothesline as high as John's ankles, causing him to trip, but then apologizes because that's as high as Robin could reach. But most of the special is singing, with a number of flashbacks thrown in. The second half takes place at nighttime, where they sing more campfire songs, and John tells a story about a giant man-eating chicken, and then becomes surprised when he learns that the giant man-eating chicken is real.

I'll talk about what I dislike about this special first, before I get to what I like. First of all, the special kinda drags a bit after the first 15 minutes or so. While John Denver is a good singer, he gets a few solo numbers which are hard to sit through, made even more hard to appreciate when his singing plays over wildlife footage. Some moments feel a bit awkward, such as when (after being there for at least half an hour) the gang suddenly notices bad odor from a letter Miss Piggy had given Fozzie to give John, only for John to have Kermit read the letter, which concerns a previous camping trip Kermit didn't know about, with some suspiciously romantic language, and ends with Piggy asking John not to let Kermit read (too late!). That's just... a really awkward scene.

Another thing I don't like is the small group of characters. John only brings a small amount of major and secondary characters (and Rizzo, who was a minor character at the time) on the trip. Specials don't really need a lot of characters to be great, but many of my favorite specials have a lot of characters, major and minor. It would have been great to have seen Bunsen, Beaker, Link, Sam, Beauregard, Sweetums, Lew Zealand, and The Swedish Chef on this trip, and I feel they would have all fit in with the camp setting. I especially wish that the whole Electric Mayhem would have gone on the trip. Floyd, Janice, and Animal are the only members who go on the trip, though for some reason Zoot makes a random appearance playing the saxophone at one point (though it is one of the specials best scenes). It would have been great if Dr. Teeth joined them, and of course I really wish Lips was in this special. I'm not bothered by the fact that Miss Piggy only appeared in a couple of flashbacks, though, as she was never one of my favorites (though I appreciate her better now), and I am glad that Lubbock Lou and His Jughuggers made a cameo.

And now it's time for what I liked about this special. Well, I like the first fifteen or so minutes, which contains four great numbers, which all belong on a comprehensive collection of Muppet music (if one ever comes out). I especially like "Gone Fishing", sung by John Denver and Floyd, and the environmental "Take 'em Away", performed by the Jugband. This was the Jugband's last number, and it's a great last appearance. A few scenes feature an animatronic version of Robin, which is cool, and it's great to watch Miss Piggy riding on a real horse. While I am bored with the numbers that feature John's vocals over wildlife footage of the Rocky Mountains, I do like to watch the nature setting, especially during the nighttime scenes. There's also quite a few scenes where we see full body shots of Rowlf. That might not be much, but it's not often we see Rowlf's legs.

And that's Rocky Mountain Holiday. It's not the greatest special ever, but I recommend seeing it if you can. And if there's ever a "John Denver Mindset" I'd like to see a review from a John Denver fan.

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

Muppet Retro Reviews - John Denver & the Muppets: A Christmas Together

Ryan Dosier - Last night for the first time I did something I've been meaning to do for a long time... no, not call my Aunt Myrtle--I finally watched the 1979 Christmas television special John Denver & the Muppets: A Christmas Together. After being a Muppet fan for many years, I obviously adore the Christmas album of the same name. The music is uplifting and beautiful, so much so that it is an annual tradition for my family to listen to it every year when the holiday season begins (mostly because of my insistence).

But this was the first time I had ever sat down to watch the special. If you've been following The Muppet Mindset for awhile, you know that the other special the Muppets did with John Denver, Rocky Mountain Holiday, is not exactly my favorite Muppet production. Because of this I was only cautiously hopeful about the special, but with my love of the album, and knowing that some of the songs from the album crossover to the special, I knew it couldn't be all bad. I was right, of course, because when the Muppets meet Christmas good things are bound to happen.

The special begins with John and the Muppets performing "Twelve Days of Christmas," which has now become one of the most classic renditions of the song. After this, the special really kicks into gear with John and the Muppets sitting around a table and reading the script for the special. Confused yet? Just wait. After Miss Piggy makes her grand entrance, for some reason John leaves to imagine a Christmasy town complete with extras and back-up dancers as he sings "The Pleasure of Your Company."

After this number, John wanders through the woods and tells the story of Alfiie the Christmas Tree then sings "It's in Every One of Us." It's a nice little story, but the song is wonderful, especially with John singing it. John continues through the woods until he finds Kermit sitting sadly in a bush. Kermit tells John that he's homesick and tells a few funny stories about Christmas on the pond. Kermit cheers up and sings what is possibly my favorite of his Christmas songs, "The Christmas Wish." On the album Kermit sings this solo and it's perfect, but here he duets with John and it's still lovely.

Later John visits Miss Piggy in her dressing room as she harangues him for more screen time. Miss Piggy is really, really hysterical here. John even starts laughing at one point when Piggy does a funny take. Frank Oz was on fire as Miss Piggy in this special. She's all over John, but only for more screen time, and it just showcases her true star power at the peak of said powers. A bit later, John sings "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" with Rowlf. It's yet another beautiful, peaceful moment that will always impress me. It's incredibly simple but endlessly charming.

Before they jump into their final carol sing, John and the aforementioned extra back-up dancers perform a toy soldier number with Miss Piggy in the role of Fifi. They sing a few songs, they dance, it's weird... but it ends relatively quickly and we move on. The special starts to come to an end with all of the Muppets sitting with John around a decorated living room. John begins singing "The Peace Carol" and soon Scooter joins in. Anyone who has heard this song on the album knows how perfect it is. John and Richard Hunt's voices mix gorgeously and it makes for one of the special's highlights.

After the song, John recites the story of the Nativity with puppet versions of Mary, Joseph, Jesus, and the rest who make up the story. It's a poignant scene, but not as poignant as the next, when the Muppets sing "Stille Nacht," which is "Silent Night" in German, as John tells the story of how the song came to be. They soon shift into the English version of the song and are joined by an entire studio chorus of children. The special ends with a quick rendition of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and everyone wishing each other a Merry Christmas.

So that's the special that the album you all know and love was derived from. It's a lot of fun, a lot of songs, a lot of heart, and some oddities. Two of the numbers don't strike a chord with me, "The Pleasure of Your Company" and the toy soldier number. However, any time the Muppets are on screen--especially with John--it's magical. John has great chemistry with the characters. His scenes with Rowlf, Kermit, and Miss Piggy are delightful, and singing him so believably singing with Scooter and the others is wonderful. I think Miss Piggy completely steals the show in this special, but Kermit is right up there too. You can't beat the frog when he's being heart-warming.

This special is nowhere near as good as A Muppet Family Christmas, but it is a terrific entry in the Muppet Christmas canon (not to be confused with Gonzo's Christmas cannon) from the golden age of the characters. Jim, Frank, Richard, Jerry, and Dave were all completely at the top of their games when this special was made, and it shows. Don't believe me? You can watch the entire special for yourself on YouTube!

As they say in the special... Peace on Earth and Good Will towards men, women, frogs, chickens, dogs, bears, and Dizzy Gillespie!

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

Happy New Year (Not Quite Yet)

Hello.

I do not know when I will get a chance like this again, so I am going to post quickly while it is still 2011 and hope that its the thought that counts (and not the days that are counted). Your regular host, Ryan, has fallen asleep on his keyboard after what appears to be much Christmas partying (recognisable by the paper hat on his head, the faint odour of Turkey, and the fact he is wearing an utterly ridiculous Christmas jumper...goodness...who knew there was knitwear so ugly...Hmm...perhaps someone gifted it to him...)

ANYWAY! As he has fallen asleep, I have snuck through the skylight on a rope made out of the lime green stockings that I had to wear as an undercover Elf and safety executive at the North Pole where I was checking in on the production of Muppet Bobble Heads for next year's Christmas stockings (which I realize is a very elaborate explanation for the reason that I was wearing lime green stockings in the first place, but probably still not believable...so...let's just go with it).

ANYWAY, as previously established, I have dropped into Ryan's room and nudged him aside so that I can quickly write all you marvelous Muppet fans a quick New Year's message from the United Kingdom (and suburbs of the same).

The Muppets themselves will be one thing connecting 2011 and 2012 in a unique way this year as the release of their movie on this side of the pond (UK direction) will not be until after the ball drops on your side of the pond (USA direction). For that reason alone, I already know that 2012 is going to be a great year for me (maybe my best yet!) and I hope that it will be a simply fantastic year for everyone else as well (Note: I realize also that this post seems far too cheerful for something to have been posted by TBC, but what can I say? This has been one of my favourite Christmases ever, what with receiving Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas on DVD, seeing John Denver and The Muppets: A Christmas Together online and receiving more Animal Muppet mugs than I will ever need to drink out of from people who felt the Miss Piggy mugs were too pink for me).

ANYWAY, the end of 2011 brought us so much in the way of TV appearances, internet releases, and special merchandising throughout America, and I am sure this will continue well into 2012, so we will all have plenty of goodies to look forward to in the upcoming year!

On the downside, one of my new year's resolutions is to give up chocolate. So, yeah. That's it for cheerful TBC. Coming January the 1st, the grumpy, site-stealing, Moopet loving, villian reviewing, never-contraction-using, Big Mean Carl analysing, stiff-upper-lipped British Correspondent will be back...

Until then, I hope your Christmas was Merry and Happy, etc, and that you will have a SUPPER DOOPER AWESOME FANTASTIC FABULOUS New Year!!!

- TBC

(P.S. These fireworks remind me of Kermit crossed with Mickey Mouse...)

Twelve Favorite Muppet Christmas Songs

Ryan Dosier - I know what you're thinking, "A list of things? That's Michael Wermuth, Jr.'s territory!" Well, that's true... but we've got nothing else to use for a post today, and it's almost Christmas, and I felt the need to list some of my personal favorite Muppet Christmas songs! These span from various Muppet Christmas productions (Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas, Christmas Eve on Sesame Street, A Muppet Family Christmas, The Muppet Christmas Carol, It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie, Letters to Santa) to Muppet Christmas albums (John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together, Green and Red Christmas, Merry Christmas from Sesame Street), and other places! So get your music ready, and prepare to have a listen to these wonderful Muppet Christmas favorites!

12.   "My Best Christmas Yet," The Muppets, A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa
Say what you will about this 2008 special, but I just love this song. It's Paul Williams, it's Muppets, it's Christmas... it's hard to go wrong. The Muppet-filled finale gives us solo verses from the likes of Rowlf and Robin the Frog, the latter of which had not been heard since It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie. But aside from that, this song stands on its own as fun both lyrically and tunefully. Kermit and Gonzo leading the vocals works brilliantly and showcases the wonderful voices of Steve Whitmire and Dave Goelz. What I love is all the little side-plots going on during this song: Swedish Chef revealing to the turkey that he made a tofu turkey for dinner, Zoot lighting a menorah, Fozzie giving Clare and Clare's mom Christmas sweaters, rats in stockings, Bunsen dancing with Beaker... everywhere you look is fantastic Muppet mayhem. 

11.   "Everyone Matters," Kermit the Frog and Gonzo the Great, It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie
Another showcase for the beautiful vocals of Steve Whitmire and Dave Goelz, this song is the obvious emotional highlight of It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie for me. Yes, Kermit returning to the theater is fantastic, but nothing can top this beautifully sad, yet eventually uplifting song. The imagery of a down-trodden Gonzo singing with Kermit on a park bench is great. The message and lyrics and everything about this song is moving... "If only I could go back/and take another crack at/all the things I've left undone/I'd do them right" is such a great lyric, and speaks to us all in different ways. It's a crying shame that this song lost when it was nominated for an Emmy... I'll forgive, but only because it's Christmas.

10.   "Merry Christmas Baby," Pepe the King Prawn, The Muppets: A Green and Red Christmas Album
I believe this marks Pepe's first solo song ever, and it came on this great album released way back in 2006. Honestly, who knew Pepe could sing this well? I guess anyone that knows how unbelievably talented Bill Barretta is would realize that. This song is catchy, fun, and unbelievably well-performed and suited perfectly for Pepe, who joins the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Ray Charles, who also performed this song. I'm such a fan of this that I listen to it even when it's not Christmas, just for Pepe's fantastic vocals. Besides, how often do you get to hear Pepe call out to Zoot for a rockin' sax solo?

9.  "Little Saint Nick," Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem, John Denver and The Muppets: A Christmas Together Album
One of the Electric Mayhem's greatest performances is this Christmas classic from the Beach Boys. Dr. Teeth and Janice's leading vocals have never been better, and Floyd's repetitive back up singing is perfection. This song more than almost any other just sounds like Jim, Frank, Jerry, Richard, and Dave were having a ton of fun. I had a hard time choosing between this song and "Jingle Bell Rock" from A Muppet Family Christmas for my favorite Electric Mayhem Christmas song... but "Little Saint Nick" just barely wins out for having more Floyd. I love me some Floyd Pepper.

8.   "True Blue Miracle," The Sesame Street Cast, Christmas Eve on Sesame Street
There are so many great songs and performances in this near-perfect Sesame special (and this isn't the only one you'll find on this list), it's impossible not to include some of them on any list of the greatest Muppet Christmas moments. This song performed by Bob, Olivia, Gordon, Susan, Maria, Luis, Mr. Hooper, David, Bert, Ernie, The Count, and more classic Sesame Street favorites is absolutely beautiful. You would really be hard-pressed to find a song that sings the beauty of the Christmas season better than this. Lyrics like, "Once a year, the street I live on sparkles like the sky--all hung with lights for Christmas!" make this song stand out as one of the true greats. And if that isn't a true blue miracle, I don't know what one is.

7.   "It Feels Like Christmas," The Ghost of Christmas Present and The Muppets, The Muppet Christmas Carol
It is so unbelievably hard to pick out just a few great songs from The Muppet Christmas Carol. Let's face it, they're all good. "One More Sleep 'Til Christmas" is a great showcase for Kermit, "Bless Us All" is one of the most beautiful songs ever... but "It Feels Like Christmas" always takes the cake for me. It's the real show-stopper of the movie, plus it boasts great vocals from Jerry Nelson as the Ghost of Christmas Present. It's another example of a fun Muppet number that you can't help but smile during. Also... Michael Caine tries (and fails) to dance at one point. How do you beat that?

6.   "The Christmas Wish," Kermit the Frog, John Denver and The Muppets: A Christmas Together Album
This song is not only one of my favorite Christmas songs ever, but one of my favorite Kermit songs ever. Jim Henson is so perfect here (as he so often was) and Kermit really never sounded better. Everything about this song is beautiful. It's a song of acceptance, it's a song of love, it's a song of peace. When Kermit sings, "I don't know if you believe in Christmas/or if you have presents underneath the Christmas tree/but if you believe in love/that will be more than enough/for you to come and celebrate with me," he's telling you and me and all of us that no matter who we are, as long as we love, we're okay with him. It's a message on par with any other message Kermit delivers. I love it.

5.   "Carol Medley," The Muppets and the Sesame Street Cast, A Muppet Family Christmas
When choosing a song from A Muppet Family Christmas, it might seem incredibly difficult... but it's not. The nine minute medley that closes out the special features a million Muppets, a million songs, and shines the spotlight on nearly every main character. It's amazing how confident Jerry Juhl, Jim Henson, and the rest were in these characters by this point... so confident, that they knew the audience would sit and adore a nearly ten minute medley of songs. The Muppets were really at their peak at this point, and this medley exploits it brilliantly. Whether you have the slightly cut version released on most home video, or the full version from TV broadcast... it really is hard to top this.

4.   TIE: "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," Kermit the Frog, A Green and Red Christmas Album, and Bert and Ernie, Christmas Eve on Sesame Street
Yes... it's a tie on the same song, but anyone who has heard both of these will surely agree with me. It's impossible to declare either of these versions better than the other. Steve Whitmire's sweet, calming, and loving voice as Kermit gives me shivers every time I hear it, and Jim Henson and Frank Oz never had a better duet as Ernie and Bert than in the culmination of their "Gift of the Magi" story. It also helps that this song is so perfectly suited for the Muppets that they've done it over 15 times (according to Muppet Wiki)... but none of them top the beauty and perfection of Kermit or Bert and Ernie.

3.   "Keep Christmas With You (All Through the Year)," The Sesame Street Cast, Christmas Eve on Sesame Street
Music, lyrics, vocals... all of them come to the forefront in this tour de force of Christmas caroling. Sam Pottle and David Axlerod completely outdid themselves with this perfect piece first debuting on the album Merry Christmas From Sesame Street, and used beautifully--twice--in Christmas Eve on Sesame Street. I love the magic of Bob and the kids singing it while doing sign language with Linda, but then the finale version which brings the whole cast together to sing... perfect. Honestly, I think I would love any version of this song... and I'd really like for the Sesame gang to sing it again soon.

2.   "When the River Meets the Sea," Emmet Otter and Ma Otter, Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas
What is there to say about this Paul Williams song that hasn't been said before? It's perfect, it's beautiful, it's breath-taking, it's amazing. Numerous versions of this song have been done, including an exceptional rendition by John Denver and Robin, but none can ever beat the original. Jerry Nelson's Emmett and Marlyn Sokol's Alice Otter carry the tune like no one else. This song is also amazing for not pigeon-holing itself as an exclusively Christmas song. You can listen to "When the River Meets the Sea" anytime, anywhere, and still be moved by its beauty. Look for Kermit and Robin to sing the song on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on December 23rd!


1.   "The Twelve Days of Christmas," John Denver and the Muppets, John Denver and The Muppets: A Christmas Together Album
Is anyone surprised by this song being number one? I hope not, because it really doesn't get better than this. John, Fozzie, Gonzo, Robin, Piggy, Scooter, Lew Zealand, Rowlf, Bunsen, Beaker, Statler, Waldorf, Beauregard, and Kermit sing this song with such gusto and hilarity that it can't be beat. From Miss Piggy's hysterical "ba-dum-bum-bum" to Gonzo singing about three French hens, to Lew Zealand singing at all... this is a wonderful piece through and through. Every time this song comes on in the car, I attempt to sing it in the voice of each Muppet... and it ain't easy. I also love the performance of this that the Muppets did with Jimmy Fallon a few years ago, featuring Sam Eagle, Pepe, Rizzo, and Animal, along with all the others. Hysterical, wonderful, perfectly sung... there is no better Muppet Christmas song... and perhaps no better Christmas song period.

Did your favorite Muppet Christmas song make the list? Tell us yours in the comments below!

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, ryguy102390@gmail.com