Every once in a while, we’re reminded to the fact that the Muppeteers were far more talented than anyone could have guessed. We get a glimpse of “brilliant comedian” over here, “fantastic singer” over there, maybe a “trained dancer” hidden in the corner, and I wouldn’t be surprised if a few of them had “licensed electrician” tucked in their belts. But one thing that never fails to amaze me is when you’re having a grand old time watching The Muppet Show or listening to a Sesame Street album and you realize that some Muppeteer has two voices. And he’s harmonizing with himself.
Here are some of my favorite examples of Muppeteers singing with themselves. I’m sure I’ve missed a bunch (there are a handful of Oscar/Big Bird duets on various Sesame Street albums, for example), so be sure to remind us of what we forgot over on the ToughPigs forum!
Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song
Frank Oz was pretty protective of his Muppet Show characters, which is why this song from season 1 always stood out to me as being impressive. They could’ve picked any combination of characters to sing this BJ Thomas tune, but they went ahead and had Piggy sing lead with a verse by Fozzie Bear. Not too shabby, Frank.
I Whistle a Happy Tune
Does it really get any more adorable than Grover getting over his fears? How about if the big, scary monster he’s so afraid of is just his old pal Cookie Monster? Frank pulls double duty again in this classic, and triple duty if you count the little boy at the end. Which you should, because he’s terrifying!
Pass It On
This duet is a little harder to spot, but it’s still worth noting. Jerry Nelson provides the voices for both Gobo Fraggle and Robin the Frog, and although they don’t sing together too much, Jerry still had to work extra hard to emphasize the nuances of each voice to show how they’re different. And they are very different if you’re paying close attention. So no, Robin did not pass his voice on to Gobo. Just a big ol’ rock.
Pigeons and Cookies and Trash
This is one of my all-time favorite Sesame Street songs. I love the vanity of the performance, I love the enthusiasm of these three very different characters, and I especially love Cookie Monster’s one-mindedness. Frank does a great job at helping us forget that he’s singing two-thirds of the song, leaving Caroll Spinney to work that much harder to keep up.
Do De Rubber Duck
Three Jims, two Jerrys, two Kevins, a Marty, a Richard, and a Caroll. That’s quite a roster, especially when the song calls for Ernie, Kermit and Guy Smiley to sing together, as well as The Count and Biff, and an extra helping of Elmo and Hoots. This is pretty much the apex of Muppeteer overdubbing, especially considering how classic this song became.
Something’s Missing
Here’s another Jerry Nelson duet, but the duet doesn’t come until the very end when the lonely man sings with his long-lost love. What gets me most about this is that they don’t just sing together, they harmonize. And they don’t just harmonize, but Jerry put an extra oomph into his performance to give each voice its own personality. If you’re not paying attention, you’d assume these were two different performers. Jerry Nelson is tricky that way.
Singing in the Shower
Here’s a good example of Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch singing together (also a good example of naked Olivia). They did this a lot in the early days, moreso when Caroll was one of the only Muppeteers working on the Street every day. I guess that’s why it doesn’t seem all that surprising to see Big Bird and Oscar in a scene together, but it’s no less impressive.
Muck and Goo
I’m sure there are more instances of Fraggle Rock Muppeteer duets, but this one stood out to me. (I originally posted it because I incorrectly remembered both Traveling Matt and Boober singing too, but it still works.) The difference between Gobo’s and Pa Gorg’s voices is extraordinary, and yet it all came from the same mouth. Jerry Nelson does it again!
Take a Rest
It’s the trifecta of Frank Oz Sesame Street characters, all in one song! Bert and Grover and Cookie Monster, not just singing together, but taking a nap together too! Which I’m sure takes more dexterity than you can imagine.
Chanson D’Amour
The Rich Little episode of The Muppet Show was the first episode to feature Louise Gold as a puppeteer. And what better way for her to make her mark amongst heavyweights like Jim and Frank than to triple loop her voice for a one-off sketch featuring some Whatnot puppets and Crazy Harry? That’s exactly what she did, as she recorded a close three-part harmony for this song, which is very difficult for me to pronounce.
Jingle Bell Rock (Elmo Saves Christmas)
I love seeing the looks on peoples faces when I tell them that the guy who performs Elmo also performs characters like Clifford and Leon and Hoots. (The best is the look on their face after I explain who Leon is.) They think there’s no way that the high-pitched Elmo is the same as the gravelly Hoots. But Kevin Clash has that kind of amazing range that allows him to play the gamut of Muppet character types. In Jingle Bell Rock, Hoots and Elmo jam together and pretty much blow your mind right out of your ear sockets.
I Hope That Something Better Comes Along
It’s the classic, the original, the one that has never once failed to impress anyone in the entire world. Kermit the Frog and Rowlf the Dog are just lamenting about women (and pigs and dogs) in a seedy bar, but Jim Henson must obviously have four arms and two sets of vocal chords, because the scene is 100% absolutely flawless. Not just that, but it’s and iconic and unforgettable part of The Muppet Movie. It’s perfect, and no one could have pulled it off except Jim Henson. And Jim Henson.
Click here to sing with both hands on the ToughPigs forum!
by Joe Hennes – Joe@ToughPigs.com
