The highly recommended 40 minute album kicks off with the familiar “The Muppet Show Theme”, a tune which one can never grow tired of. This is followed by a collection of new and old songs. Tracks like Paul Simon’s “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard” and Starship’s “We Built This City” remind you of the key scenes in the movie. Then there are songs like Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and Cee Lo Green’s “Forget You” which are covered hilariously by The Muppet Barbershop Quartet and Camilla and The Chickens respectively.
We are also loving the new songs written by Bret McKenzie - “Life’s a Happy Song” (listen out for Canadian singer songwriter Feist’s signature voice in a cameo appearance), “Pictures in My Head” (we never expected to actually feel moved by a song performed by Kermit) and “Man or Muppet” (Segel performs a touching duet with his on screen brother Walter). Elsewhere, Adams is amusing performing “Me Party” with Miss Piggy, while Chris Cooper left us in stitches with his rapping in “Let’s Talk About Me”.
Beloved classics like are also revisited in this album. “Rainbow Connection” (did you know that the song written by Paul Williams and Kenneth Ascher was nominated for an Oscar in 1979?) is performed lovingly by The Muppets (featuring Kermit and his banjo, of course), and in a funny parody, by The Moopets as a sleazy bar tune.
Interspersed by comical dialogue tracks, the songs are fun, and more importantly, have got lots of heart. You will want to revisit the soundtrack over and over again. And nope, the producers did not forget the entertaining “Mah Na Mah Na”, making it the last track on this wonderful album.
ALBUM RATING:
Recommended Track: (3) Life's A Happy Song Review by John Li