The Muppets with Dr. Teeth and the Electric Meyhem have created original classics we love like Mah Na Mah Na, Can You Picture That, Rainbow Connection, It's Not Easy Being Green and Movin' Right Along.
I grew up with these songs and love them, but the Muppets have also made quite a few Covers and some of them I enjoy more than the originals. This Tuesday I will share three that are fun to listen to and maybe better than the original.
Mr. Blue Sky -
This is a fun song from the Electric Light Orchestra originally released in 1977. The original Electric Light performance is light and positive. It seems like they tried to create a science fiction futuristic song.
But the Electric Light Orchestra didn't have Janis (Richard Hunt) or Zoot (Dave Goelz). It's just that Dr. Teeth and the Elctric Meyhem are just so much more fun that the Electric Light Orchestra and they managed to finish the five minute song in about three minutes. The flower puppets and Zoot (Dave Goelz) the Blue saxophone player make this a very special song.
There is a surprise ending from our favorite drummer.
Jungle Boogie
Kool and the Gang do get down in the original 1973 recording. I can never forget that song that starts with a gong crash and then moves into various levels of screaming following an intense Funk bass line.
It really seems like Kool and the Gang were the original Muppets, but how can the Muppets do a remake of Jungle Boogie when it was already Funky to the max?
Honestly the Muppets' Dr. Teeth and the Electric Meyhem are not as Funky as Robert and Ronald from Kool and the Gang. Yet, the Muppets have the electric screams of Dr. Teeth and Animal and the Valley Girl, Janice.
What really makes this song a winner is Sam the Eagle's refusal to "Jungle Boogie". Then something happens that makes Sam have a sudden change of attitude. Later it is eluded to have been his "Mai Tai" experience.
He "feels the funk".
Kokomo -
I've always looked for this place off the Florida Keys called "Kokomo", but never found it.
It seems that the Beach Boys just made up this place. They list some of my favorite places in this song Aruba, Jamaica, Key Largo, Montego, Bermuda, Bahama, Martinique, even Port au Prince.
It's funny that they wanted to get a glimpse of Port au Prince. Haiti is a beautiful country, but that city is barely livable. Even in 1988 when the Beach Boys released this song, Port au Prince was in turmoil. Somehow the Muppet version manages to leave out Port au Prince from the list of relaxing Caribbean places.
Anyway, the song has always made me feel relaxed and reminds me of times of sun shiny beaches, snorkeling and salt water in my nose. The sounds of the Caribbean echo in the song.
What could make this song better?
Kermit the Frog!!
The Muppets covered the Beach Boy's song the same year it was released in 1988. They made an album called "Muppet Beach Party". The music video also appeared on "The Muppet Sing Along" on Nickelodeon.
I like the steel drums in the song. I like fish that sing on dry land and pigs buried in the sand. The Muppets' version just makes me feel more relaxed than the Beach Boy's original version. I think the secret is Kermit the Frog.
In 1988 that Kermit the Frog voice must have been Jim Henson and it is not easy being green. He was so tall so he has this special voice that just makes people feel relaxed.
These were three covers from the Muppets. All I knew they covered was Bohemian Rhapsody, but now I found a few more. These three are fun and will probably make you smile.
These tunes are for the Three Tunes for Tuesday challenge. Check out the last prize post from @ablaze.
Kimchi characters are original work by me.