Weekly Muppet Wednesdays: Yolanda the Rat

Written by Abigail Maughan.

YOLANDA THE RAT

Performed by…

Karen Prell (The Muppets Take Manhattan, The Muppet Show On Tour: 2nd Edition)
Camille Bonora (Muppet Studios Presents: You’re the Director)
Julianne Buescher (Muppet Classic Theater)
Alice Dinnean-Vernon (The Muppets Kitchen with Cat Cora)

First appearance...
The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)

Most recent appearance...
The Muppets (2011)

Also known as...
Yolanda Steel

Best known role...
Rizzo the Rat’s girlfriend and occasional partner in crime; diner cook; head of production at studio Not-2B; rat

Memorable quote...
"Hey, Pete, here you go! Two zeroes on a trampoline with a side of Joan of Arc."

WHO IS YOLANDA THE RAT?

Yolanda is one of many rats that inhabit the Muppet universe, and the only named female one. Sporting a blond ponytail, purple eyelids with lashes, and a higher-pitched voice with a slight nasal, Yolanda has no constant performer, or even role, in Muppet productions, but has been featured frequently throughout the years, often paired with Rizzo or in a large group of rats.

Yolanda made her debut and had her current biggest role in 1984’s The Muppets Take Manhattan, where she was performed by Karen Prell. Here, Yolanda is recruited by Rizzo to work with him at Pete’s Luncheonette, along with fellow rats Chester, Masterson, and Tattooey. She works in the kitchen, serves up orders, aids Kermit the Frog in one of his attempts to sell his musical, and sings a verse of the finale with Miss Piggy, Camilla, and Janice.

Throughout The Muppets Take Manhattan, Rizzo unashamedly attempts to flirt with her, vocally admiring her physique and otherwise making hopeful advances. Yolanda remains unimpressed, at one point responding by socking him in the gut. However, the two prove their effectiveness as a team by working together during Kermit’s whispering campaign at a fancy restaurant, which they also ultimately ruin by looking for food and startling patrons. Yolanda and Rizzo also sit together during Kermit and Miss Piggy’s marriage scene, in cute little wedding garb of their own, oddly, and again during the carol sing-along in Muppet Family Christmas. They are mentioned to be dating in Muppet Classic Theater, at least within the context of the story. So obviously the two are close, but to what degree? Their underdeveloped but potentially intriguing relationship could be one worth expounding on in some future Muppet production.

After The Muppets Take Manhattan, Yolanda appeared in the background of many major Muppet projects that decade, including A Muppet Family Christmas, The Muppets at Walt Disney World, and The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years. She was also used in The Muppet Show on Tour: 2nd Edition, her vocals once again provided by Karen Prell.

In 1988, she appeared as the no-nonsense head of movie studio Not-2B in a VHS tape video game called Muppet Studios Presents: You’re the Director, here christened Yolanda Steel. Throughout the game, she pops up to remind her employees and the director of the studio’s tight schedule and budget. Her efforts are in vain, however, and at the end she has no choice but to join the rest of the cast in singing the depressing ditty “We’re Gonna Go Broke.”

A prominent appearance for Yolanda came in the 1994 direct-to-video production Muppet Classic Theater, which involved Muppets reenacting fairy tales. Here, performed by Julianne Buescher, she joined Rizzo and a rat named Montague in playing the antagonists of the story “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” working together to hoodwink Emperor Fozzie out of his money and get him to traverse about in his underpants. Before the rats receive their comeuppance in prison, Yolanda notably has several lines to herself in the musical number “Nothing’s Too Good for You.”

Since then, Yolanda’s appearances have become more and more sporadic.  Her only speaking part in the last twenty years was in an episode of the 2010 web series The Muppets Kitchen with Cat Cora, in which she helped construct a giant sandwich and was played by Alice Dinnean-Vernon. She appeared in illustrated form with Rizzo near the end of The Muppet Show Comic Book: Family Reunion that same year, but didn’t speak. Although apparently not invited back for the sequel, Yolanda most recently sang in the big finale of The Muppets with Beauregard, Rizzo, and an entourage of other rats.

WHY DO THE MUPPETS NEED YOLANDA THE RAT?

As miniscule as her varied appearances are, Yolanda has one consistent trait: she’s a hard worker. From breaking social boundaries as a rodent cook, to running a movie studio, to working as a con woman, to being a construction worker, she is always engaged in productive activity, and always seems to be at least moderately successful at what she does. The Muppets need an equal balance of both pandemonium and practicality, and Yolanda seems like she could supply quite a bit of the latter, while occasionally veering into the former, like many Muppets do.

I can think of many reasons to bring Yolanda the Rat back to being a tertiary Muppet character, or even promoting her to a secondary one like Rizzo himself. More female Muppets are never a bad thing, and Yolanda has been around for a long time. Her performers are always changing, so recasting or rehiring would be a piece of cake. Other than her previously discussed stick-to-itiveness and her relationship with Rizzo, she’s somewhat of a blank slate, and thus could very easily be written to be almost anything without violating those two other characteristics. Even if she’d started off small like in The Muppets Take Manhattan, Yolanda the Rat could easily be integrated into the Muppets today.

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

Rachel Herrick Reviews... The Muppets Take Manhattan

It's here! Rachel Herrick's third entry in her Muppet movie video reviews leading up to the March 21st release of Muppets Most Wanted. This go around, Rachel tackles The Muppets Take Manhattan. But don't read about it--watch about it!



Special thanks to Rachel Herrick for her awesome work!






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

120 Awesome Muppet Songs, Part 8

Ryan Dosier - Can you believe it? The final installment of our 120 Awesome Muppet Songs series is finally here! It's been eight weeks since Part 1 was posted and we've come full circle with the 15 final songs on the list. I hope you've been able to keep up by creating a playlist of all these great songs, Muppet fans. It makes for some fantastic listening. Before we jump in to the final installment, don't miss out on Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, and Part 7! Let's rock.

106.   “Saying Goodbye” from The Muppets Take Manhattan 
I'd bet if you asked 50 Muppet fans their opinion on the saddest Muppet moment ever, 45 of them would say this tear-inducing number in The Muppets Take Manhattan (and the other five would be reduced to blubbering messes thinking of this song). Each and every character sings with more deep sadness and longing than ever. It's truly heart breaking and a beautiful, beautiful song that echos feelings of old friends gone away. Favorite lyrics: "Saying goodbye, why is it sad/Makes us remember the good times we've had?/Much more to say, foolish to try/It's time for saying goodbye."

107.   “You and I and George” from The Muppet Show 
From the sad to the silly, we bring you now that timeless classic, "You and I and George." I honestly think Rowlf's introduction to this song might be funnier than the song itself. But then the song happens and it builds up sweetly and innocently... and then George falls in and drowns himself and it becomes pure hilarity. No Muppet could sing this the way Rowlf does. It's like it was tailor-made for him. "My own mother turns down her hearing aid when I sing this song!" is one of the greatest lines of all-time. Favorite lyrics: "Then we passed a brook/And George fell in and drowned himself/And floated out to sea/Leaving you alone with me!"

108.   “We’re Not Gonna Stop” from The Muppets at Walt Disney World 
This gem from the shockingly under-appreciated and relatively unknown 1990 special The Muppets at Walt Disney World is an amazing group number. Not only do we get Kermit and Piggy and the usuals, but Link Hogthrob, Beauregard, Robin, Fozzie's Ma, Bean Bunny, and more fantastic secondary characters. It's the perfect cap to the special and is a fantastic anthem for the entire Muppet oeuvre. Favorite lyrics: "When the curtain goes up/And we hear the applause/It's the moment we live for/And you were the cause/We're gonna keep on singin'/If you keep bringin'/Your laughter and mayhem/Wahoos and guffaws."

109.   “Rainbow Connection” from The Muppet Movie
How much can I really say about this classic, timeless, unbeatable song that hasn't already been said before? I can hear Kermit's banjo plunks in my head just after reading the name of the song. This song is forever tied to Jim Henson, Kermit, and the Muppets. It's a goal, it's a way of life, it's everything the Muppets represent. There is no song that more fully highlights the dreamy, wistful, beautiful ways of the Muppets than "Rainbow Connection." Favorite lyrics: "Who said that every wish/Would be heard and answered/When wished on the morning star/Somebody thought of that/And someone believed it/Look what it's done so far."
 
110.   “I Love Trash” from Sesame Street 
Ah, going from the sacred to the trashy. Oscar's anthem is, in my opinion, one of the great love songs ever written. There aren't many people who love something as much as Oscar loves trash! Caroll Spinney's purposeful poor singing as Oscar is fantastic here. You can tell he's having a tun of fun. This delightful song is another gem from Jeff Moss and truly one of the best. Favorite lyrics: "I have here some newspaper thirteen months old/I've wrapped fish inside and it's smelly and cold/But I wouldn't trade it for a big pot of gold/I love it because it's TRASH!"

111.   “Get Goin’” from Fraggle Rock 
Another brilliant Jerry Nelson song is this short, insanely catchy and fun little ditty from "Gobo's School for Explorers." Gobo sings the song to recruit Fraggles for his new-found school of exploring. Wembley helps (sort of), but it's this song that really ropes them in. If you've heard it, you'll understand why. It's so catchy and bouncy and fun. You can't really say no! Favorite lyrics: "There's a story goin' 'round 'bout a hero of history/Well I guess I better tell you that the hero of the story is me/And if you wanna understand all the hullabaloo/Then it's time that'cha heard what I'm sayin' to you."

112.   “ABC-DEF-GHI” from Sesame Street 
No one wrote nonsense songs like Joe Raposo, and this Big Bird standard is no exception to nonsense. Yet it is so in-character for Big Bird to think the alphabet is just one really long, hard to pronounce word. Early recordings still retain that "dumb" Big Bird voice that Caroll Spinney used in Season 1 of the show. But it's still so goofy and Big Bird-ish that it's hard to resist this one. Favorite lyrics: "It might be kind of an elephant/Or a funny kind of a kazoo/Or a strange, exotic turtle you never see in a zoo/Or maybe a kind of doggy/Or particular shade of blue/Or maybe a pretty flower!/Nah... not with a name like that."

113.   “The Kermambo” from Muppets.com 
Here's another strange choice for this list. "The Kermambo" is a rollicking dance number performed by a computer-generated Kermit for MuppetWorld.com back in 2000. Oddly enough, it was written by Michael Giacchino, now best known for his scores for films like The Incredibles, Up, and Mission: Impossible. Bet you didn't realize he wrote a lot of music for the Muppets too! (And quite frankly I didn't either.) Anyway... this song is delightful and Kermit is having a fantastic time, which is always fun to hear. Favorite lyrics: "I can no longer feel my lower thighs/And I've gone mad--look at my eyes!/The dance floor is completely mine/The bad news is I've wrenched my spine!"

114.   “Life’s a Happy Song” from The Muppets 
Yes, this is my favorite Muppet song from the post-Jim Henson era. I could not believe that this one wasn't nominated for the Academy Award last year. Yeah, the voting system was wonky, but I think this one is superior even to "Man or Muppet." But that's just me. The finale version with all of the Muppets is the better version, in my opinion. The opening is longer, yes, but it needs more Muppets. But really, both versions are completely perfect. The lyrics are fun and funny and uplifting, the music is equally uplifting, and it just screams Muppet. Favorite lyrics: "Everything is great, everything is grand/We've got the whole wide world in the palm of our hand/Everything is perfect, it's falling into place/I can't seem to wipe this smile off my face!"

115.   “Is It True?” from Fraggle Rock 
Never heard this incredible Richard Hunt-led song from "The Wizard of Fraggle Rock"? Stop reading and listen to it right now! It really is an amazing song and yet another example of Fraggle Rock's keen ability to tap into something deeper and more adult than its premise suggests. The lyrics ask truly hard questions and poses some interesting ideas--which any great song does. Favorite lyrics: "Is it true there is magic that we have never known?/Is it true there are powers that we can call our own?/Is it true there is someone whose wonders stand alone?/Is it true what they say, is it true?"

116.   “The Christmas Wish” from John Denver and The Muppets: A Christmas Together 
Kermit and John Denver did a duet of this song in their 1979 Christmas TV special, but I much prefer the album version which is just Kermit solo. There are only a handful of Kermit songs that are as poignant, beautiful, and meaningful as this song. This is not only one of my favorite Kermit songs, but one of my favorite Christmas songs as well. I can honestly listen to it all year round. It is hopeful and deep and all-around wonderful. Favorite lyrics: "For the truth that binds us all together/I would like to say a simple prayer/That at this special time/You will have true peace of mind/And love to last throughout the coming year."


117.   “Six String Orchestra” from The Muppet Show 
Scooter doesn't have nearly enough great songs under his belt, but thank goodness he does have "Six String Orchestra." Scooter, alone in his room, practices guitar and imagines what it would be like to be a real rock star and his imaginations come to life with Floyd, Janice, Zoot, and Animal. In the end they're all wearing sparkly, colorful, overtly-70s outfits. It's charming and a side of Scooter I love to see. Favorite lyrics: "I'm taking guitar lessons/But my teacher just took leave/It was something about a breakdown/Or needing a reprieve/I know I'll find my future/So I will persevere/And hold on to my dream of making music to their ear."

118.   “Count it Higher” from Sesame Street 
I'm sure even Little Chrissy and his Alphabeats would be impressed by how high we've counted on this list. I'm sure he'd be even more impressed that his song was this high up. This rockin' number is one of those fun Sesame songs that is both educational and entertaining to sing. It's rock and roll, it's arithmetic, it's brilliant! The terrific Christopher Cerf is responsible for this great song. Favorite lyrics: "You went and counted higher, huh!/You really went and counted all the way to ten/You went and counted higher, huh/Now go back to one and start to count again!"

119.   “One Little Star” from Follow That Bird 
Boy, there sure are a lot of truly beautiful songs present on this list this week. This song sung between Big Bird, Mr. Snuffleupagus, and Olivia is one of many emotional highlights of Follow That Bird. The song communicates the plights of all three singers. Big Bird is lonely, Snuffy misses his best friend, Olivia is worried, and all of these emotions come through in one simple song about one little star. The song shines as brightly as that star. Favorite lyrics: "One little star in the darkening blue/Do you long for another/Just the way that I do?"

120.   “Hey a Movie!” from The Great Muppet Caper
Well, here we are, the final song on the list, the finale if you will. Funny that the last song is the first song in The Great Muppet Caper. This number might just be my favorite opening of any Muppet movie. It does an incredible amount plot-wise, introducing Kermit, Fozzie, and Gonzo as newspaper employees, stealing Lady Holiday's jewels, and showing off Nicky Holiday. Plus, Sweetums falls in a manhole, Richard Hunt drives a cab, and Gonzo takes a picture of a chicken. What more could you want?! Favorite lyrics: "There'll be spectacle, there'll be fantasy/There'll be daring-do and stuff like you would never see/Hey a movie!/Yeah, we're gonna be in a movie/Starring everybody--and me!"

And that's that! 120 Awesome Muppet Songs complete and ready for you to listen to forever and ever. For curious minds, I've run the numbers, and Jerry Nelson led or dueted in the most songs on the list (as I predicted last week), Jim Henson came in second, Steve Whitmire in third, and Frank Oz in fourth. Surprising? You tell me! Sound off in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter to tell us which awesome Muppet songs you're upset that we might have missed! Because with so many fantastic Muppet songs to choose from, I guarantee you we had to exclude at least one. Thanks for joining us in the fun, Muppet fans!





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

120 Awesome Muppet Songs, Part 3

Ryan Dosier - Our countdown of 120 Awesome Muppet Songs, presented in completely random order, continues today! Be sure to check out the first 30 songs on Part 1 and Part 2 before jumping in to the 15 we've got for you today. Remember, the song order was chosen by iTunes shuffling, which explains why there are three Fraggle Rock songs in a row (not that there's anything wrong with that). Tune up and get down!

31.   "Merry Christmas, Baby" from The Muppets: A Green and Red Christmas
Oh goodness I adore this little number. Bill Barretta and Pepe have never been in better voice than they are in this classic, rocking Christmas tune. Pepe is clearly in yuletide heaven as he sings with a backup chorus of girls. This song is so perfect and fitting for everyone's favorite King Prawn. It's a crying shame that Pepe doesn't get to sing more, because when he does, he absolutely kills it. Favorite lyrics: "Santa came down the chimney, half past three/With lots'a little presents for my babies and me!"

32.   "Fun is Here to Stay" from Fraggle Rock
Brace yourselves, we've got four songs from Fraggle Rock in Part 3. Blame the shuffling iTunes! Anyway, "Fun is Here to Stay" is both an exceptionally accurate title for the song and a magnificent motto for Fraggle Rock as a whole. Led by Boober's alter-ego Sidebottom as he manipulates Junior Gorg into thinking he's a Fraggle, the four other Fraggles join in as well. It's rollicking and joyful and uplifting and great. Favorite lyrics: "Fraggles come for fun from near and far/Fraggles know that fun is what they are!/No one could be dumb enough to say/Fun could come in any other way/Any Fraggle's brave enough to say--Fun is here to stay!"

33.   "Petals of the Rose" from Fraggle Rock
This song is so incredibly beautiful. With this song alone, Jerry Nelson shows unequivocally that he is the greatest singer the Muppets ever had. Gobo's heart-wrenching lyrics and the melodic ups and downs of his voice are just pure perfection. This is the song that made me cry the first time I listened to it after Jerry passed away last year. It's so fitting and it will break your heart every single time. I still tear up listening to it. I probably always will. Favorite lyrics: "Ain't it just the way it seems/We pull the petals off our dreams/Our hearts can say we're here to stay/But we always say goodbye/We always say goodbye..." 

34.   "Wemblin' Fool" from Fraggle Rock
(Please ignore the odd YouTube video.) Another one of Gobo's best songs also happens to be one of Wembley's best too. This is a personal favorite--maybe in my top ten Muppet songs--and it was one of Jim Henson's as well. Jerry Nelson and Steve Whitmire sang this song at Jim's public memorial. The song is bouncy and lively and fun as heck. Wembley's trademark grunts are fantastic, Gobo's scatting is great, and the entire song plays perfectly every time you listen to it. Favorite lyrics: "When we're wemblin' south/We stick our feet in our mouth/And we just wemble, wemble, wemble as we ride!"

35.   "Sing After Me" from Sesame Street
If there is a more hysterical Grover sketch out there, someone please let me know. My favorite blue monster's antics and banter with Madeline Kahn in this song are top notch. Frank Oz was truly at the apex of his powers here, even cracking up a seasoned pro like Kahn. But Madeline was no straight-woman, she gives it back to Grover just as much and just as hilariously. The lyrics are sort of nonsense, but the performance makes it a true classic. My favorite lyrics actually aren't lyrics, they're just a line spoken near the end by Grover, who says, "You've got to be putting me on!" after Madeline hits an amazing note.

36.   "It's Hard to Be Humble" from The Muppet Show
This may be the most random song choice in the entire list, but this song performed by Mac Davis and Link Hogthrob on The Muppet Show is another of my favorites. The duo sings about how difficult it is to remain humble when one is as handsome and perfect as they are. It's such a defining song for Link to sing and Jim handles it deftly. For the final chorus, a bunch of Muppets join in. It's fairly ironic for Lew Zealand to sing "I can't wait to look in the mirror, 'cause I get better lookin' each day," but I love it. Favorite lyrics: "To know me is to love me/I must be a hell of a man/Oh lord, it's hard to be humble/But we're doin' the best that we can."

37.   "Dance Myself to Sleep" from Sesame Street
One of the greatest Ernie and Bert songs ever. It defines their relationship perfectly. Bert is sound asleep, but Ernie fall asleep. What does he do? A soft-shoe tap dance around his bed while playing the bugle and enjoying the company of the Boogie Woogie Sheep. This wakes Bert up, and he is just completely baffled by the whole thing. Eventually he's taken out of the room by the sheep and left outside. It's funny, it's fun, and it allows Bert to ask the immortal question, "When did sheep get tap shoes?" Favorite lyrics: "Well I'm gettin' kinda drowsy so the moment has come/To grab my Rubber Duckie while the sheep take my chum/Time to shuffle off to dream-land, got a date to keep/I'll dance myself to sleep!"

38.   "New York State of Mind" from The Muppet Show
Right now I cannot come up with a Jerry Nelson/Floyd Pepper song that I enjoy more. I truly believe that this is far and away the best version of this song ever performed--and I adore this song. Floyd sings with such soul and such longing that it is incredibly difficult to match. I'll give a shout out to Rowlf's version from Old Brown Ears is Back, but Floyd is still king. Jerry owns this song completely when he performs it. Pure perfection. Favorite lyrics: "Come down to reality and it's fine with me 'cause I let it slide/Don't care if it's Chinatown or rounded riverside/I don't have any reasons, left them all behind/I'm in a New York state of mind."

39.   "Ode to Joy" from YouTube
The new-age Beaker classic that first brought attention back to the Muppets with their hugely popular viral videos. This 2008 piece of brilliance might be Beaker's best vocal work (but don't worry, "Feelings" is coming later on the list). His obvious dedication to performing properly is a really interesting aspect to Beaker's character. He longs to be a great singer but at the end of the day he's just a squeaky red head with awful luck... and we wouldn't have it any other way. Favorite lyrics: "Mee me mee me/Me mee me mee/Me me me me mee me me."

40.   "One Small Voice" from Sesame Street
One of the most beautiful and touching songs written for Sesame Street. It has been performed a handful of times over the years, but my favorite is from Elmopalooza sung by Kenny Loggins, joined in by the kids and, more importantly, Big Bird. The lyrics are indescribably great, singing the importance of both music itself and knowing you can do anything. The music video for the song (which you can see above) makes my spirit soar every time I watch it. I dare you not to feel totally moved when Big Bird says, "Alex, you did great!" and Alex replies, so honestly, "Thanks Big Bird, I had fun!" Favorite lyrics: "No tune is too simple/No voice can be wrong/Music can come from any heart/And anyone's voice can lead the song."

41.   "Imagination" from Sesame Street
Another classic Bert and Ernie song. This beautiful tune is all about finding comfort and happiness by retreating into your own imagination and I think that's a wonderful notion. What I think makes this song truly special is that it is Bert, not Ernie, who first sings of the power of an imagination. One would think Ernie would be in touch with his imagination already, but I love that it is Bert who puts him in touch with it by singing him this song. Also... "I like big balloons!" is a line that is delivered perfectly. Favorite lyrics: "Here in the middle of imagination/Right in the middle of my mind/I close my eyes and the night isn't dark/And the things that I lose, I find."

42.   "Together Again" from The Muppets Take Manhattan
I wish that I could whistle well, if only so I could whistle the opening to this lovely tune. It's fun and pretty free-wheeling. I love the colorful vests the Muppets wear in the movie when they sing this. But mostly, this song works as a perfect reminder of the fact that the Muppets will always get back together. This is easily proven by my favorite lyrics: "I just can't imagine that you've ever been gone/It's not starting over, it's just going on./Together again, now we're here and there's no need remembering when."

43.   "Convincing John" from Fraggle Rock
It's strange to think that Convincing John was only on Fraggle Rock three times. The amount of energy and fun that Jim Henson poured into the character makes it seem like he was there constantly. John was never better than when he sang his titular song. It's fast, it's lively, it's erratic, and it's just plain awesome. Jim performed this song incredibly well and I can't imagine what a strain it must've put on his voice to sing it. And what would the song be without the Fragglettes providing back-up? I absolutely love it. Favorite lyrics: "C'mon listen to me Fraggles/With your Fraggle mouths a'waggle/You can chew a Doozer tower till you're blue/But there's a mighty day a'comin'/When the food'll hit your tummy/And you'll know that what I'm tellin' you is true!"

44.   "What's the Name of That Song?" from Sesame Street
How am I supposed to talk about this song? It just says "What's the Name of That Song?" If we don't even know the name of that song, how am I supposed to know which song to talk about?! It's confusion like this that makes this song so delightfully wicked and incredibly fun. In fact, the entire 35th anniversary DVD special What's the Name of That Song? is based around this confusion. My favorite version of this Sesame classic is probably from Bert & Ernie Sing-Along with the whole cast, but I also love the more recent version that Bert and Ernie sing. Favorite lyrics: "I've heard it said with words and music, a fella can't go wrong/So la de da de dum, la de da de dum... What's the name of that song?"

45.   "Just a Dream Away" from Fraggle Rock 
This is one of the few songs on this list that is sung by a one-shot character. In this case, it's the Mudbunny, who appears to Wembley in an episode of Fraggle Rock. Performed by Richard Hunt, this creature had a very interesting life cycle that played out in the episode. Before all that, however, the Mudbunny sings this gorgeous, much too short song. Richard Hunt's voice has never sounded better than it does here. He sings with such mystery and even some omnipotence. It's gorgeous. Favorite lyrics: "Once I wasn't here and then I suddenly appeared/And now I seem to be at home in earth and air/Just like water flowing, I know where I'm going/Look beneath your boots and I'll be there."

Well that's it for today, Muppet fans! Check back next week, same time, same place, for 15 more tunes on our countdown of 120 Awesome Muppet Songs!





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

120 Awesome Muppet Songs, Part 1

Ryan Dosier - For a long while now I've wanted to write up an article celebrating Muppet music but I've always been held back by the enormous scope of the Muppets repertoire. From Sam and Friends to the present, the Muppets have performed countless songs. It's truly dumbfounding to think about how many musical performances have occurred on The Muppet Show, Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, and the many Muppet movies and specials in almost 60 years. How do you narrow it down? Where do you start? Can you even fathom ranking them? The answers I came up with: Slowly, the beginning of the alphabet, and no.

So I went through my iTunes library (which, admittedly, doesn't have everything the Muppets have ever sang) and picked out 120 of my personal favorite songs performed by the Muppets. I put them all into a playlist and shuffled it, to organize them completely randomly. And now I present, with my own added commentary, 120 Awesome Muppet Songs, presented in eight separate articles highlighting 15 songs at a time--in no specific and entirely random order.

1.   "Somebody Come and Play" from Sesame Street
It's hard to argue with a song as fun and happy as "Somebody Come and Play" being the first one on the list. A wonderful tune by Joe Raposo, this song as been performed multiple times in Sesame Street's 43 years. Some favorite versions of the song include Ernie (see link above), Elmo and Whoopi Goldberg, Bob from the album Bob's Favorite Street Songs, and, of course, Joe Raposo himself. If I had to pick a favorite, though, it would be Ernie's version. He sings with such longing for someone to play with but remains his perfectly goofy self. Who among us hasn't been there, just wanting someone to play with? Favorite lyrics: "Somebody come with me and see the pleasure in the wind/Somebody come before it gets too late to begin."
2.   "Can You Picture That?" from The Muppet Movie
Rock on, man! In my book, you absolutely, unequivocally cannot beat this Electric Mayhem staple. There will probably never be a song that rocks harder or better suits Dr. Teeth and the rest of the band. Paul Williams and Kenny Ascher outdid themselves with this number. Every line is perfectly suited to each member of the Electric Mayhem that sings it. And Animal's shouts and Zoot's silence fits them perfectly as well. They may not look like Presbyterians, but the Electric Mayhem proved that they sure can rock a church. Favorite lyrics: "I lost my heart in Texas, Northern Lights effect us/I keep it underneath my hat/Aurora Borealis shinin' down on Dallas/Can you picture that?"
3.   "Bein' Green" from Sesame Street and The Muppet Show
Is there any need for explanation on this one? "Bein' Green" is everything the Muppets represent: loving yourself and being yourself no matter what. How appropriate that Kermit, who also represents everything the Muppets are, sings this beautiful Joe Raposo tune. Of course, Kermit isn't the only one to tackle the song. Ray Charles' version (as seen in Sesame Street: 20 and Still Counting) is exceptionally beautiful as well and Big Bird's version (from Jim Henson's memorial service) is unbelievably sad and perfect. But, c'mon, no one does it better than Kermit... and Jim Henson, of course. Jim sang the song like no one ever will. It is straight from the soul. There was no distinction between Jim and Kermit when "Bein' Green" was performed. It was just naturally beautiful perfection. Favorite lyrics: "I'm green, and it'll do fine/It's beautiful and I think it's what I wanna be."
4.   "Mahna Mahna" from The Muppet Show
Doo do doo do doo! Sorry... force of habit. Really, though, anytime someone says the words "Mahna Mahna" and I hear it, I have to respond in the only logical way. First performed by the Muppets on The Ed Sullivan Show and later on Sesame Street, the greatest version by far (in my opinion at least) was performed on the first episode of The Muppet Show. It is an enduring and undying classic performed by Jim Henson and Frank Oz. What Jim did with this odd little song is unbelievable and shows, once again, how he could take something weird and make it perfect. The character of Mahna Mahna also speaks to Jim's personality. The character's sense of pure joy when scatting is a thing of true beauty. Favorite lyrics: "Mahna Mahna!!"
5.   "I'm Gonna Always Love You" from The Muppets Take Manhattan
Ah, the first appearance of the Muppet Babies. This appearance alone would spawn the Muppet Babies TV series, tons of merchandise, and loads of casual-fan confusion about the characters. But that's okay, because it's a fantastic song. Jeff Moss (known mostly for his Sesame Street songs) scribed this fun little ditty. You've gotta love the baby voices Jim, Frank, Richard, and Dave created for the Muppets. It's really, really hard not to love this song. It's also really, really hard (maybe impossible) not to find it cute when a little boy sings it while playing ukulele at a school talent show. Favorite lyrics: "Gonna be a movie star, and I'm gonna learn to drive a car/Gonna be a veterinarian too, and I'm gonna always love you!"
6.   "Keep Christmas With You (All Through the Year)" from Christmas Eve on Sesame Street
The first of two Christmas Eve on Sesame Street songs in this week's list (blame iTunes), and my favorite Christmas song of all time. I can't get enough of this gorgeous song written by Sam Pottle and David Axlerod for the special. Olivia and Bob hit all the right notes but everyone sings gorgeously--which isn't a surprise at all. It's a crying shame that this isn't a perennial classic for the rest of the (non-Muppet obsessed) world at Christmas time, because it absolutely should be. My favorite version of the song comes from the album Merry Christmas from Sesame Street!, which features the entire cast, including Muppets. It's gorgeous and if you don't already have a downloaded version... find one and thank me later. Favorite lyrics: "Christmas means the season of giving/Peace and joy to you/The goodness of loving, the gladness of living/These are Christmas, too."

7.   "Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Bear" from The Muppet Show
Originally seeming like the punchline to a bad joke on the first episode of The Muppet Show, this song by Randy Newman (of all people) has fantastic lasting appeal. Richard Hunt's dynamic vocals as Scooter are perfect in this snappy, funny song. Fozzie's interjections throughout the song (and hysterical interpretation of what a dancing bear does) make it a true Muppet classic, however. Without Frank Oz's knack for hilarious line-delivery, this song would not be nearly as great. I also adore the version that Frank and Richard performed at Jim Henson's memorial service. It showcases the love and friendship between them that we rarely get to see. Favorite lyrics: "I may go out tomorrow if I can borrow a coat to wear/Oh, I'd step out in style with my sincere smile and my dancing bear!"
8.   "The Magic Store" from The Muppet Movie
Another obvious inclusion in the list. The finale from The Muppet Movie features some of the most quotable lyrics about entertainment and working your way to the top. The film could have easily ended with Orson Welles signing Kermit the Frog and Company to the standard rich and famous contract, but the inclusion of this song makes the movie perfect. Everyone comes together to make a movie about the movie we just saw... and sing this great song My favorite lyrics are probably everyone's favorite lyrics... "Life's like a movie, write your own ending/Keep believing, keep pretending."
9.   "The Rhyming Song" from The Muppet Show
Oh my gosh I love this song. Performed by Fozzie, Scooter, Link Hogthrob, and Annie Sue, this complete nonsense song is hilarious and perfectly weird. Did you know that it was written by Frank Oz? Because it was! What a perfect selection of characters to sing this as well. Scooter is usually so organized but now he can't even keep the rhyming lyrics together. Fozzie gets frustrated with everyone. Link whines and moans. Annie Sue tries to keeep things positive. It's wonderful. Favorite lyrics: "The stars are twinkling in the sky/The rhyming song, the rhyming song/There's no hot water in my hotel/The rhyming song."
10. "True Blue Miracle" from Christmas Eve on Sesame Street
The second Christmas Eve on Sesame Street song on today's list is this truly marvelous piece written by Carol hall. The song speaks of the wonder of the Christmas season and how everything and everyone seems to come together in beauty and joy. The song represents Sesame Street Christmases perfectly. And if that isn't a true blue miracle, I don't know what one is. Favorite lyrics: "But the greatest wonder of them all is not what's happening around you, it's the way you start to lead/Yes, the greatest wonder of them all is how your heart is filled with love, you start to light up like a Christmas tree."

11. "Never Before, Never Again" from The Muppet Movie
Miss Piggy's greatest number is written by Paul Williams and Kenny Ascher. It not only speaks true to her unbridled passion for Kermit, but it is also just a fantastic love song. The subsequent fantasy sequence starring Kermit and Piggy features some of the greatest puppetry and funniest visuals that the couple has ever experienced. But the reason these things work is because of the fantastic lyrics and music placed on top of them. Miss Piggy deserves another song this great soon... and not another "Me Party." Favorite lyrics: "And where to find the words to sing its worth?/This love was bound for heaven, not for earth/This love was meant to light the stars/But when we touched, we made it ours."
12. "It Feels Good When You Sing a Song" from Sesame Street
This may not be Sesame Street's most well known song (or even in the top 20), but it is one of my personal favorites, again by Sam Pottle. Originally performed by Olivia and David back in the early days of the show, my favorite version of the song is the one linked to above featuring Hoots the Owl and John Legend from Season 37. They jazz it up and make the song even more exciting and fun. Favorite lyrics: "It can't be bad, even if it's sad/Sing it loud, sing it strong/It feels good when you sing a song."
13. "Wonderful Me" from Sesame Street
Written by Sam Pottle and Tony Geiss, "Wonderful Me" is a fantastic anthem sung by Big Bird explaining how much he loves being himself. He sings about all the wonderful things about him--his feathers, his ability to read, etc. It's a great declaration of happiness for kids (and kids at heart) everywhere. Oddly enough, there's also an Oscar the Grouch song called "Wonderful Me"... but it isn't as well written as this one. Favorite lyrics: "Who is at home when I sit in my nest? Me!/Who wears no clothes but is beautifully dressed? Me!" (Forgive the weird video above. Just listen to the song.)
14. "Perfect Harmony" from Fraggle Rock
One of Marjory the Trash Heap's best numbers (And our only Fraggle Rock song in today's list? Dumb iTunes.), "Perfect Harmony" is a wonderful blend of Jerry Nelson's amazing vocals and music and lyrics by Phil Balsam and Dennis Lee. Marjory sings of her dream of a world where Fraggles, Doozers, and Gorgs can get along in perfect harmony. The song is from the episode "The Great Radish Famine" and also features a few lyrics by Mokey Fraggle, Junior Gorg, and Flange Doozer. Favorite lyrics: "I can almost see a world of harmony/Music in the air, friendship everywhere/Ties of love uniting you and me." (Again, excuse the weird video.)
15. "Share it Maybe" from YouTube
Cookie Monster's summer 2012 classic parodying the ear-candy tune "Call Me Maybe" quickly became one of my favorite Cookie Monster songs. David Rudman's vocals are fantastic here, making me think that he really needs more opportunity to sing as Cookie. I adore the goofy lyric parodies (written by Joey Mazzarino) that Cookie sings, referencing snickerdoodles, Girl Scouts, and Betty Crocker. The video is awesome, the song is great, and the parody aspect is perfection. Favorite lyrics: "You took you time with the bite/Me trying to stay polite/Me start to really freak out/Please someone call the Girl Scout/Me no grumble or grouse/This take its toll on me house/Me going off me rocker/Please feed me Betty Crocker!"

Well, there you have it! Our first 15 of 120 Awesome Muppet Songs! What is your favorite one from this list, Muppet fans? Tune in next week for 15 more songs and get ready to jam!





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