Monday Music: Manamanah

Some days, I want something magnificent to start my day, like Beethoven's "Ode to Joy," or something majestic and immense like "Also Sprach Zarathustra," by Strauss. On other days, The Muppets doing Manamanah is just the ticket!

And here is a bit of history behind the song, for some of you who may remember it from other venues. From Wikipedia:

"Mah Nà Mah Nà" is a popular song written by Piero Umiliani. It originally appeared in the Italian film Sweden: Heaven and Hell (Svezia, inferno e paradiso). It was a minor radio hit in the U.S. and in Britain, but became better known in English-speaking countries from its use in a recurring blackout sketch for the 1969-70 season of The Red Skelton Show, the fourteenth episode of  Sesame Street, and the first episode of  The Muppet Show.



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Monday Music: We Come from the Mountain: Harry Belafonte

Here is a treasure from The Muppet Show, but you have to wait for it. Picking up around 1.35 on the video, Harry Belafonte explains how he found inspiration for this song by visiting a village in Africa and talking to a man about their view of the world.

Monday Music: Danny Kaye on The Muppet Show

"Always be yourself." That's the advice I was given from early on, and it is good advice. Still, I must admit that part of me would like to be Danny Kaye - he was such a talent, full of grace, humor, and class. Since I cannot be Danny Kaye, I'll just enjoy this clip from The Muppet Show where he sings "Inchworm." Though this was late in his career, his voice was still strong and clear and he does a marvelous job with this children's classic from the movie, Hans Christian Anderson. (You can also see the original version of the song here)