A few days ago Disney brought back a “one off” episode of The Muppets which seems to tap in to a universal and collective need for childhood nostalgia. The above sing a long with Kermit leading a 2000 strong audience in The Rainbow Connection is a testament to this fact, especially as the audience was quite willing for forgo the fact that the puppeteer was obvious to all that sang a long with a green felt frog.
Adults, quite simply have and retain their childish capacity for wonder, fantasy and innocence. Remember ten year old Imogen singing the glorious doll’s song from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the village Show rehearsals and how all of the grown ups suddenly became all bleary eyed and silent as we watched her open mouthed.
I remember once watching a homeless woman singing You are my Sunshine , my only Sunshine to her old sick dog , with so much passion and feeling on Colwyn Bay Promenade that it hurt like a punch.
I remember too sharing with my old Irish therapist that the song Moon River had a great significance to me and quietly she sang the words
“ two drifters off to see the world, there’s such a lot of world to see…..” in a thin, reedy alto by an eighty year old counsellor with “ we’re after the same…. rainbows end, waiting round the bend , my Huckleberry friend ..Moon River …and me…….”
And I joined in with the last line with my shaky bass…..the moment, raw and all rather special because we had sung it together.
That caught me out of the blue…..I’m moved
ReplyDeleteKeith
Xx
Oh, how wonderfully sweet. The first time I saw Kermit he sang "It's Not Easy Being Green" and the next day I couldn't find anyone who had also seen it. Just Rob and me.
ReplyDeleteJim Henson is someone who died far, far too soon.
Please consider yourself hugged just enough!
It was sweet “ Babs “
DeleteLee x
The only thing I miss about my ex husband is that we would sing together, in Welsh as well as English, at home, with my father-in-law, or at our local where one of my best friends was the resident pianist. The world needs more singing.
ReplyDeleteOh, I have been moved tonight. Those songs are two of my favorites. Though my father and I sure had our differences, "Moon River" was his favorite song, and when I hear it, I think of him. And the Rainbow Connection was a song I listened to whilst going through cancer treatments. Thank you John for posting these two songs.
ReplyDeleteThe Muppets are well-loved and I think they are still popular today. I know I am fond of them.
ReplyDeleteKermit the frog was my son's favorite.
Moon River - always and forever a favorite.
Are you saying that Kermit the Frog isn't REAL??????
ReplyDelete