Disney’s “The Muppets” soundtrack mixes fun new songs with old favorites

Jim Hill

13 years ago

Okay. If you're a longtime reader of JHM and/or if you saw
that two part Jim Henson's creative legacy story that I posted on the
Huffington Post last week, you already know that I'm kind of a Muppet geek. Which
is why – when Walt Disney Records sent me a digital review copy of Disney's "The Muppets" original soundtrack
yesterday evening – I literally dropped everything
that I was doing to then go give it a listen.

Why For? Because … Well, like a lot of Muppet fans out
there, I'm kind of concerned about Disney's "The Muppets." There's so much riding
on the success of this James Bobin movie. If it connects with a large enough
audience over the coming holiday season, the Mouse will then throw all of its
marketing might behind the Muppets. Which will then hopefully translate into a complete
creative rebirth of this once-hugely-popular franchise.

On the other hand, if Disney's "The Muppets" stumbles at the
box office next month … Given that the modern day Walt Disney Company already
has an awful lot on its plate (i.e. Pixar & Marvel & ESPN & ABC &
DreamWorks' live-action releases plus — of course — the ongoing revival of Walt Disney Feature
Animation), it could be quite a while before Miss Piggy & pals get another
shot at the spotlight at the Mouse House. Which is why it's kind of crucial
that Disney's "The Muppets" makes a very big splash next month.

And – of course – an original soundtrack which has a couple
of very hummable tunes would go an awfully long way towards helping to raise Disney's
"The Muppets" profile. Which is why – as I was downloaded my review copy of
this upcoming Walt Disney Records release – I crossed my fingers and quietly
said to myself "Please let this be good."

And after listening to the entire original soundtrack of Disney's
"The Muppets" as well as doubling back on the original songs that Bret
McKenzie of "Flight of the Conchords" wrote for this film, I was pleased to report
that this recording is surprisingly good. With Bret's new tunes being a
particular high point. Which (I'm hoping) bodes well for Disney's "The Muppets"
itself when this movie hits theaters next month.

Don't get me wrong. There are a few wrong-sounding-Muppets
sprinkled throughout this recording. Which will occasionally pull you out of a
song and/or a bit (One very big plus for this soundtrack is that it features
lots of interstitials which are loaded with great character interludes). But
taken a whole, the original soundtrack of Disney's "The Muppets" is a skillful
mix of new material, clever covers of old Muppet favorites with a couple of
1970s / 1980s hits (i.e. Paul Simon's "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" and
Starship's "We Built This City") thrown in for good measure. Which makes this upcoming
Walt Disney Records release eminently listenable.

I have particularly high praise for "Life's A Happy Song,"
the tune that McKenzie wrote which serves as both the opening & closing
number of this movie. Which just does a flat-out beautiful job of establishing
the proper tone for this motion picture. Putting you in just the right mindset
to watch a brand-new Muppet movie.

But if I had to pick a favorite out of the new songs
that have created for Disney's "The Muppets," it would probably be "Pictures In
My Head." Which wasn't actually written by Bret McKenzie. But — rather — Jeannie Lurie, Aris Archontis and Chen Neeman. This talented trio has produced a lot of great music for the Mouse House over the past few years (EX: the title songs for Disney's "Shake It Up" and "Sonny with a Chance." Not to mention those numbers that they wrote for that Disney Channel Original, "Lemonade Mouth"). They also contributed to ABC's 2005 TV movie, "The Muppets' Wizard of Oz."

Anyway … The rueful tune that Lurie, Archontis & Neeman have written for Disney's "The Muppets" is in the tradition of those Muppet classics "It's Not Easy Bein'
Green" and "I'm Going To Go Back There Someday." It's for that (SPOILER AHEAD) that moment in this movie where Kermit the Frog has to admit that he's been estranged from his old friends for quite a while. Which is why he first talks
about how "… my green is feelin' gray" and then admits that " … even frogs have
rainy days."

Mind you, there's one set of lyrics from "Pictures In My
Head," which – given everything that's riding on Disney's "The Muppets" – are particularly
poignant. Where Kermit, as he's contemplating getting the old gang back
together in order to save the Muppet Theater, wonders …

If we could do it all again,
Just another chance to entertain,
Would anybody watch or even care?

Well, me personally, I'm hoping that a lot of people will
watch & care once Disney's "The Muppets" rolls into theaters nationwide on
November 23^rd. I know that I'll be there on opening weekend to catch
this new Walt Disney Pictures release. And I'm hoping that a lot of JHM readers
will go out of their way to see this new Muppet movie as well. If only to see Kermit, Miss Piggy and what sounds like every Muppet on the planet sing a heartfelt rendition of "The Rainbow Connection."

Of course, if you'd like to see Disney's "The Muppets" ahead of everyone else, you should probably consider signing up for the Muppet Fan-A-Thon. Which will then put you in the running for some free tickets to a screening that will be held well ahead of this film's official release date.

The original soundtrack of Disney's "The Muppets" arrives in
stores and at online retailers Nov. 21, 2011.

The article was updated / corrected on October 21, 2011 to fold in additional information