Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Christmas With the Muppets

Two weeks ago our Twisted Mix Tape was favorite Christmas songs.  I had a heck of a time narrowing it down to 5, so I decided to leave my favorite fur balls, the Muppets, off the initial list.  I did this because I knew our wonderful hostess was providing us with a dealers choice, allowing me an all Muppet Christmas list.

I have a lot of fond Christmas memories around the Muppets, and indeed the gang have provided my favorite versions of more than one carol, not to mention some  original classics as well. Have a listen.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas--John Denver and Rowlf



A lot of great performers have done this song since Judy Garland introduced it in Meet Me in St Louis, but this version is the best as far as I'm concerned. 

 
 
Little St Nick Dr Teeth and the Electric Mayhem out rock the Beach Boys. Particularly enjoy Animal coming in on the "Run Run Reindeer" part.


Pretty much anything in A Muppet Christmas Carol Marley and Marley, Where Love Has Gone, Scrooge, Thankful Heart and on and on. This program, which was the first Muppet project to hit theatres after Jim Henson's Death, Michael Caine plays it totally straight as Scrooge and gives a great performance. Kermit is a natural choice for Bob Cratchit, as is Robin as Tiny Tim. Fozzie Bear as Fozziewig, Miss Piggy as Mrs Cratchit, Statler and Waldorf as the Marley Brothers are all wonderful, but my favorite casting is The Great Gonzo as Charles Dickens. It was tough picking one song, but I decided on "One more Sleep Till Christmas."
 
The Christmas Song--Big Bird and the Swedish Chef

The Swedish Chef is just about to use Big Bird as the Thanksgiving Turkey ("Gobbler Gobbler Humungous" he says.) when the jumbo canary wins him over with a gift of bird seed, and sympathy that he is so far from Sweden on Christmas.
 
The Christmas Wish Kermit

Now for my very favorite.  John Denver and the Muppets, a Christmas Together first aired in 1979, and that year my sister got me the album for Christmas. I loved it all, but especially this song, which may sum up more than any other how I feel about the winter holidays.

"If You believe in love
That will be more than enough
For you to come and celebrate with me"

 
 
And one more for the road....The Muppet Family Christmas brought together all of Jim Henson's creations from the Muppet Show, Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock.  At very end of the show, he appeared in a brief cameo, watching his "children" having fun and cleaning up after them as well.  Its my favorite mental image of this genius who left far too soon.
 
 
This post is part of Twisted Mix Tape 38. If you would like to link up, or see what other bloggers chose, click here. 
 
 
My Skewed View

16 comments:

  1. Even being a Grinch this year, I can still smile at the Muppets. All hope isn't lost. Great mixtape!

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    1. The Muppets work all ovcasions in my grinchiest momenrs I love " Marley and Marley" and"Mfr Scrooge."

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  2. I've always loved The Muppets' performance of "Twelve Days of Christmas." Makes me smile every time.

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    1. 12 days was on my short list, but missed the cut. Love Piggy's "five golden rings."

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  3. I love the muppets! What a great idea for this week's mixed tape! Just watched Muppet Christmas Carol over the weekend & it never gets old. I wish they'd show Muppet Family Christmas more often. I only remember the one time it was on tv & I watched our VHS version til the tape broke!

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    1. I have Family Christmas on DVD but its missing some of the songs, including the Muppet Babies number and Piggy singing "No.place like Home for the Holidays". Apparently that show is a copyright nightmare as different group have rihts to the Muppets, Sesame St, and Fraggle rock. Sadly with Jim Hemson gone theres no one around to pull it all together.

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  4. I love me some Muppet music. FUN choice for this week!

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    1. Thanks Cheri, glad you enjoyed it. I'm always up for Muppets.

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  5. I remember watching that John Denver with the muppets!

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    1. JD did several specials with them, plus an episode of the Muppet Show. He was on the Muppets Celebrate Jim Hensom too. Lots of favorite moments there.

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  6. Oh my! This is such an excellent list. I love love love the muppets and all things Jim Henson, and I love that you made this your list this week. All these songs totally made me smile - have a great (muppet-filled) holiday!!

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    1. Thanks surprisemama. Jim Henson was the great genius of or time as far as Im concerned. I got to.listen to some great music putting this together.

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  7. I LOVE the John Denver and the Muppets Christmas CD. My husband thinks I overplay it. It's always my first choice. The the Elf soundtrack. Then The Carpenters Xmas. Then Anne Murray Xmas. I'll stop now.

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    1. Before John Denver all the Christmas music we had at home was classic stuff like Bing Crosby and Gene Autry. Then I got Rocky Mountain Christmas and Muppet Christmas. Both were great.

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  8. Love the muppets, so I absolutely love these songs!! Thanks for a muppets list!

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    1. Thank you Michelle,so glad you enjoyed it.

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