The Muppet Show Theme (5/5)- If you don’t know this theme, where have you been?? It is time to play the music, and light the lights. NOTE: The Sat. morning show Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show did a ripoff of this that goes: ‘Overtuuuuuure, curtain, lights/This is it, the night of nights.’ Remember it anyone?
Mahna Mahna (5/5)- The late, great Jim Henson was the voice of this creature that only said ‘mahna mahna’ and various other scatting noises. I hope the sketch was as brilliant to watch as the song is to hear.
There’s a New Sound (2/5)- The nerd gopher Scooter was the underdog of the show, it seems. He doesn’t help his case with this repetitive tune about worms. Added on is a sketch showing that Fozzie’s tricks don’t translate well on record/CD.
Lady of Spain (3/5)- As performed by the Amazing Marvin Suggs (basicaly a Mexican Fozzie) and the Muppaphones, who made music whenever they were bopped on the head by Suggs. Afterwards, you can hear commentary from the real stars of the Muppet Show, the balcony hecklers Statler and Waldorf.
Trees (3/5)- Some poor sap tries to sing the famous ‘I think that I shall never see’ line, but is interrupted by a falling tree.
The World’s Funniest Joke (4/5)- I love this monologue. Even though Kermit the Frog was the main host, his comedic timing sucked, and he repeatedly messed up Fozzie’s bad joke.
Bein’ Green (3/5)- Kermit?s famous ballad of the color of his?felt. It had been around since the early ?70s on Sesame Street, and some see it as a real touching song on accepting yourself no matter your skin color. Good message, but the song is kind of too awkward, with Kermit spitting too many lyrics in one meter. Aren’t I a nerd-o???
Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Bear (4/5)- Scooter does Randy Newman! What a fun melody and tune, makes me wanna hear Pouty Newman.
Tenderly (3/5)- Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem were the house band on the Muppets Show, and they roughen up an old chestnut here. The joke goes on a bit too long, however.
Wishing Song (2/5)- Don’t get me wrong, Gonzo is cool. I just don’t like his depressing tune, nor the voice of Grandma Chicken trying to cheer him up.
What Now My Love (2/5)- Let me just say this right now: I don’t care to hear Miss Piggy sing. That’s why Kermit was reluctant to introduce her at the beginning of the skit.
Happy Feet (2/5)- Kermit sings and shows off his tap-dancing skills. But we don’t get to see the happy feet, making the song worthless, a sentiment shared by Sirs Statler and Waldorf.
We Got Us (4/5)- The Muppets in a nutshell. They often disagree, but they’re a happy family through it all.
The Muppet Show Closing Theme (3/5)- Basically an instrumental of the opening theme, made worthwhile by some more Statler and Waldorf comments at the end.
Rainbow Connection (4/5)- Off of their best movie Muppet Movie, this is the most beloved of all Muppet songs. This banjo ballad sung by Kermit actually cracked the Top 40 in ‘79! No joke! It gave way to many cover versions, most notably from Old Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra.
Movin’ Right Along (5/5)- So “Rainbow” is famous, yeah yeah yeah. I still lean towards this jaunty Kermit and Fozzie duet from the same movie, as they travel across the country in a Studebaker.
Can You Picture That? (4/5)- Another Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem showcase, also from Muppet Movie. We hear from Dr. Teeth himself, bassist Floyd, guitarist Janice (‘ferrr suuuure’), Zoot on sax, and the legendary Animal on drums on this cool boogie.
Magic Store/Rainbow Connection (reprise) (2/5)- The Muppets finally realize their dreams as movie stars on this Muppet Movie finale. Unfortunately it doesn’t work on CD, and the beat verges on disco, dating the song instantly.
Hey, a Movie! (4/5)- The Broadway-style opener from Great Muppet Caper sees the Muppets promising us a hail of a movie.
Happiness Hotel (4/5)- Never before has such a crappy hotel had such a happy advertisement such as this, also from Caper. NOTE: You can hear Janice (from the Electric Mayhem) say the word ‘hell.’ Yikes! For a G-rated movie? Scandalous!
The First Time it Happens (2/5)- Some dumb jazzy interlude when Miss Piggy falls for Kermit at a socialite event in Caper.
Together Again (3/5)- The closing/opening/whatever theme from the Muppets’ musical within the movie Muppets Take Manhattan. Goes on a bit too long before you hear the Muppets. But that piano line is nice.
I?m Gonna Always Love You (4/5)- This song begat the Muppet Babies. It was on some weird imaginary sequence in Manhattan where Miss Piggy wonders, ‘what if we met when we were babies?’ The result: the damn guiltiest pleasure ever, as Baby Piggy croons to a retro background and a chorus of ‘mama, dada, poo poo, shoo waa waa.’
He?ll Make Me Happy (2/5)- The sappy closer from their Manhattan musical, where they got married, But did they get married for real, or not?? We may never know.
One More Sleep ‘Til Christmas (3/5)- Muppets Christmas Carol is the first movie after Jim Henson?s death, and this song is a nice seasonal song sung by Kermit, but not the best song from the movie. I would know, I’ve seen it 5,000 times with the family.
Love Led Us Here (2/5)- This torch ballad from Muppets Treasure Island (ne’er seen it) shows the new Kermit hitting notes Jim Henson never could. Other than that, ehh.
I’m Going to Go Back There Someday (new version) (1/5)- WHAT THE F***??? Whose idea was it to take Gonzo’s vocal highlight from Muppet Movie and turn it into a Babyface-style ‘90s ballad? All that’s missing is ‘ooh baby’ and ‘ooh yeah.’ Supposedly from the Muppets from Space soundtrack.