I must say this list was not my idea, but rather a video that I watched which WatchMojo.com posted "Top 10 Muppets Songs". I love the Muppets and of course thought that this would be a nice watch before bed. I was wrong. I was so taken aback that most of my favorite Muppet songs were excluded from the list or even the honorable mentions that I needed to make a Muppet list to wash the bad taste out of my mouth.
Like their list, I am excluding Seaseme Street, Fraggle Rock and songs not originally written for the Muppets. Unlike their list, I am excluding songs that were written only for the Muppets films, so this list will not include The Muppet Show Theme, which we can all agree to is the one of the best. I will try to give an actual balanced look at the top tunes of the beloved Muppets.
(My eyes after watching their top ten list)
Click here to listen along with a YouTube playlist of the songs.
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10. Hey a Movie!- The Great Muppet Caper (1981): This is one of the many Muppets opening number songs on our list. This song from the follow up film of The Muppet Movie and sets the tone for a mystery movie. From the moment Kermit, Fozzie, and Gonzo land we are enveloped in the story right away. Now if they had only looked behind them once during the song this movie would have been a lot shorter.
9. I Hope That Somethin' Better Comes Along- The Muppet Movie (1979): One of my personal favorite Muppet tunes to date. I don't know if it's because of Rowlf (my favorite character) or because this song is so different from any other Muppet song, but it is played in the slower part of the movie and really keeps the movie interesting during the restaurant scene, although I bet Steve Martin could have done that anyway. It's a great tongue-in-cheek song about love and bad dates, which most men can relate to at some point in there life. As Rowlf would say, "You can't live with 'em, you can't live without 'em. There's something irresistible-ish about 'em,We grin and bear it 'cause the nights are long, I hope that somethin' better comes along."
8. Life's a Happy Song- The Muppets (2011): Another opening number to our list, and the first song on this list of this century. I cannot tell you how worried I was when I viewed The Muppets for the first time, but right off the bat I was so happy that the fun, silly, and excited spirit that I had seen during my childhood, which was missing for the better part of a decade, was very much present in this song. This song doesn't even have any classic Muppets, but you can tell how excited both Jason Segal and Peter Linz (Walter) are to return the Muppets to their former glory.
7. Together Again- The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984): Hey a opening number... Together Again immortalizes for me the fact that Jim Henson may no longer be with us, but whenever and where ever the Muppets get together they will be the same weird family that they have always been. Obviously Jim Henson was still alive when this movie was released, but to me, the song has much more significance since his passing. The Muppets Take Manhattan was a severely underrated Muppet movie. Many of my friends and family don't even remember this movie which is so sad because I think it is overall a better movie than The Great Muppet Caper.
6. Happiness Hotel- The Great Muppet Caper (1981): NOT AN OPENING NUMBER! Thank goodness that this was on the Watch Mojo list, cause I would have been downright upset if it was excluded. From the rat bellhops, to everyone's eyes dilated, this is such a classic.
You can never go wrong with The Electric Mayhem. Also The Swedish Chef and Dr. Bunsen Honeydew are terrifying with eyes. YOU ARE ALL WEIRDOS.5. Sailing For Adventure- Muppets Treasure Island (1996): It's hard to choose a favorite from Muppets Treasure Island because they honestly are all so good, but nothing will ever beat the lines "Every storm we ride is its own reward, and people die by falling overboard". Jim Hawkins angelic voice kinda freaks me out, which is partly why Something Better is on this list, but also due to Mr. Bimbo's solo which is epic. "Sailing for adventure on the big blue wet thing" is obviously a good time for everyone, especially if "there are bingo games every fun-filled day, and margaritas at the midnight buffet".
4. I'm Going To Go Back There Someday- The Muppet Movie (1979): This song was actually probably the main reason I wrote this list. If I was bold enough I would say that if this isn't in your top 5 Muppets songs, you are insane, but I'm not so your okay! While the Muppets are known for their comedy, their heart is just as big and this is the best example of that. Gonzo sings this rather serious and nostalgic inducing song, which is a peculiar choice but works perfectly. This song also unintentionally foreshadows Gonzo's heritage. If you haven't seen it, watch this clip of Dave Goelz (voice of gonzo) singing it at Jim Henson's funeral. All in all, probably my personal favorite Muppet song of all time.
If that weren't enough, you could really cry your heart out by watching Big Bird sing "It's Not Easy Being Green" here. Be warned, I actually had tears streaming down my face.
3. Man or Muppet- The Muppets (2011): This song may have proved without a doubt that the Muppets can survive another generation. There is really not that much I can say about it other than its wonderful and that my friend and I was duet-ing it days after its release. Interestingly, this was the only Muppet song to win the academy award for best original song. Good stuff.
2. Movin' Right Along- The Muppet Movie (1979): This song probably best represents what we think of as Muppet humor. It's catchy, running gags, cameos, banjo, a frog, a bear, and a studebaker, a Doc Hopper billboard, it has it all! Seriously, the most memorable song from any Muppet movie, and I dub this song the official road trip song. Is the fork in the road the best gag ever?!?
Honorable Mentions:
Thankful Heart- The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992): Michael Caine, who is possibly the best Scrooge in any adaption, learns of holiday cheer and spreads the wealth! Poor Been Bunny having to carry that turkey everywhere.
Professional Pirate- Muppet Treasure Island (1996): As Tim Curry say's "this is my only number" and makes sure we remember it. As my friend Brian Jones said, "He out-performs a cast of Muppets". I kinda wanted him to reprise his role in Pirates of the Caribbean
Can You Picture That?- The Muppet Movie (1979): The Electric Mayhem! I love the band, and I definitely felt bad not including them, but it just missed making the top ten.
1. Rainbow Connection- The Muppet Movie (1979): Really, again with the opening number? Yes, because this is Kermit's anthem (besides It Ain't Easy Being Green). Kermit is at home in his swamp and is dreaming of big things. Well we all know how that turned out. This song represents everything Kermit the Frog is about, hope, dreams, while still being humble, which is in a way the heart of the Muppets.
Well, thats the list! Thanks for reading guys! I'm currently working on a Twilight Zone Tower of Terror post which with any luck should be out soon.
