Resurrecting the Muppets: The Green Album

Many 30 and 40 year-olds are experiencing flashbacks to the glory days of children’s television. We’re talking about “the most sensational, inspirational, celebrational” Muppet Show, and more specifically, we’re talking about the music of The Muppet Show.

Walt Disney Records released an album on Aug. 23, 2011 called Muppets: The Green Album, which features covers of songs from the playful children’s program by everyone from OK GO, to Andrew Bird, to My Morning Jacket and Weezer (go figure that one). The Muppet Show originally ran for five years from 1976 to 1981, and then later became a series of straight-to-DVD movies, theme park rides and stuffed toys.

The capering puppets from the show taught children (and adults) to enjoy life, live without regrets and build lasting relationships with those around you, and they often did it through music. Alice Cooper, Johnny Cash and Elton John were only a few of many musical guests that showed up alongside the Muppets, introducing children to pop culture and music from metal to country. But today we can hear those songs once again from the perspective of newer artists. Expect some interesting twists on the classics, such as OK GO’s electronic-rock version of the opening theme, Jim Jame’s folk-like vocal rendition of “Our World” and Andrew Bird’s fitting whistlin’ harmony of “Bein’ Green.” You can almost see Bird floating on the log with the guitar propped up on his knee.

From this resurrection of the beloved Muppet tunes, to the new Muppet movie directed by Jason Segel with music by Flight of the Conchord’s Bret McKenzie, the Muppet’s future is looking pretty green.

Stream the whole Muppets: Green Album through NPR’s First Listen. And you can watch the music video for OK GO’s version of “The Muppet Show Theme Song” below.

–Robert Miller