Bears

I went down a rabbit hole while researching my 5000 Fingers of Dr. T shrine. One of the songs from the movie, "Because we're kids" ened up recorded by jazz singer Tony Bennett for his 1998 kid's album The Playground.

When we went to listen to the album, we made a surprise discovery! The Muppets are here! And so is Rosie O'Donnel!

First Tony sings a duet of "Little Things" with Elmo (probably my favorite Joe Raposo song outside of Rag Dolly).

He also sings "Bein' Green" with a Steve Whitmire Kermit, though more at Kermit than with him. It's a little silly if you follow the lore that that is Kermit's song that he wrote and debuted, and this famous jazz singer is singing it to him. It's still really sweet though (runner-up for my favorite Joe Raposo song).

After the song though.

Kermit goes "there's still some room on the tape, should we go another?" and Tony goes yeah, let's do one for Piggy! And they sing Firefly together!

Firefly has its own interesting history. It was originally written by Cy Coleman as an audition to compose for [the Mama Rose musical that shall not be named], and was eventually cut from the show. Tony Bennett recorded it for his own album in 1959, and both he and the song rose to popularity from their asocciation with each other. Up until his death, it was a song he returned to over and over again.

So it's sweet! First they sing the song that Kermit is inseparable from, and then the song inseparable from Tony Bennett. The track also has so much energy, Steve is hitting impressive notes in the Kermit voice, I'm putting it in my back pocket for future puppet performances.