Last week, I said that one had to appear on The Simpsons in order to earn their place in pop culture history, but I might have been mistaken. It turns out that you can’t make it into anyone’s book of Who’s Who till you visit Sesame Street. Over the years, the show has hosted everyone from Kofi Annan to Tina Fey to Robert DeNiro. Celebrity guest stars are good; celebrity guest stars that sing while interacting with furry puppets are far better, and inspired this week’s Friday 5.
5. The artist: Squirrel Nut Zippers
Why it’s great: While the song “Put a Lid On It” is a perfectly acceptable piece of retro lounge pop, it was improved immeasurably when it became “Put a Squid On It” during an episode of Sesame Street. Set in a lounge called (of course) Birdland, this features a supremely cool song, dancing muppets, and a wide array of plush objects that you can put on your head. How can you resist?
4. The artist: REM
Why it’s great: Hate the song “Shiny Happy People”? Yeah, me too. Apparently, that’s because we were listening to the wrong version; it’s meant to be “Furry Happy Monsters.” In fact, I’m not sure that I’ve ever enjoyed an REM song more. The band often seems to take itself too seriously, and here its members look a bit uncertain as to how they should behave while surrounded by a bunch of two-foot-tall puppets. Check out Peter Buck’s face at the 1:38 mark. He has absolutely no idea what he’s doing there. The contrast of the band’s confusion with the gleefully dramatic puppets — complete with its own Kate Monster — is genius.
3. The artist: Johnny Cash
Why it’s great: Johnny Cash is arguably the coolest man that ever lived. He was cool when he performed in Folsom Prison, he was cool when he took Trent Reznor to school on his cover of “Hurt,” and he’s cool singing next to Oscar the Grouch. The song itself, “Nasty Dan,” is little more than a country ditty, but all Johnny needs to do is stand there, looking cool, and the rest takes care of itself. It was a tough choice between this and “Don’t Take Your Ones to Town,” but in the end, Oscar the Grouch swayed me.
2. The artist: Cab Calloway
Why it’s great: If there was a man cooler than Johnny Cash, it might just be this one. For this performance of “Hi De Ho Man,” he brings all the style and class for which he was famous to the stage. That would almost be enough on its own. But then…he scats. And that sets off a call-and-response with the muppets, who scat back. It’s Cab Calloway & the Jazz Muppets, and it is excellent.
1. The artist: Stevie Wonder
Why it’s great: Before I started writing a word of this post, I knew which song had to be number 1. Still, I dutifully watched every YouTube clip I could find, even suffering through The Backstreet Boys, in order to prove beyond any shadow of a doubt that this is the greatest moment in Sesame Street history. And you know what? It really is. There is nothing about this performance that is not completely awesome. The afros, the ‘tude, the rocking kid on the fire escape — it’s all perfect. Wonder performed “Superstition” in its entirety (all six minutes and forty-seven seconds), complete with a lengthy mid-song jam that brings the house down. Sesame Street hasn’t been rocked like this since.
Want more? You can find more duets between famous people and singing puppets in the 5 Best Guest Performances on The Muppet Show.
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April 25th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
I KNEW that Stevie Wonder would be no.1 I mean it couldn’t be anyone else, but as soon as I saw the title, I KNEW it. Brilliant.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
THAT’S BADASS!!! Way to go.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Bex, you’re absolutely right — no one else could have been No. 1 on this list.
Thanks, Prider! Glad you liked it.
April 26th, 2008 at 10:12 am
I’d have to give Norah Jones props for “I dont know why (Y didn’t come).” She really sells it.
Also, if there’s a list for _worst_ performances, I’d put Aaron Neville and Alison Krauss on the list.
April 26th, 2008 at 11:59 am
I knew about all of these, except Cab, I can almost bet if Belushi had lived, we would have eventually had the Blues Brothers on SS
April 26th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Duuude what happened to Billy Joel and ‘just the way you are’?
April 26th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Norah Jones’s performance was great. She was so sincere while questioning why the Y didn’t show.
Brad, I think you just hurt my head. I can’t quite picture Jim Belushi paying a visit to wholesome Sesame Street.
Turtle, that’s a good one, too, especially with Marlee Matlin signing along.
April 26th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Harry Belafonte. His Drum-off with Animal is one of my favorite Muppet moments. The Banana Boat song is hilarious with Fozzie interrupting him asking for explanations through the whole thing. He also sings “Turn the world around” which is a great song.
April 26th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
But Heather, that was The Muppet Show!
April 26th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
You forgot Luther Vandross & Ernie – I forget what the song was called – but it was incredible!
April 26th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Oh yes — how could anything but Stevie Wonder be number one? Awesome song, and awesome rendition they didn’t dumb down.
The “Furry Happy Monsters” makes me laugh so hard I cry every time I see it. The way one of the monsters yells, “We are just SO SAD!”, and the way that Michael Stipe encourages the monsters, is too funny.
April 26th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Supersition never sounded better, that’s for sure. But my favorite Sesame Street musical performance is Ladysmith Black Mambazo doing “Sing” with Big Bird. Classic Joe Raposo song, classic Sesame, and Ladysmith really takes a great song and moves it into the sublime.
April 26th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Heather, that was definitely on The Muppet Show, not Sesame Street — but it’s very likely there will be a Muppet Show Friday 5 next week.
Reyn, I couldn’t find that one on YouTube and never saw it when it aired, so I’ll have to take your word for it.
Becky, that line cracks me up every time.
Ladysmith is definitely a good choice, Keith. They also did a rendition of the ABCs with Kermit:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=hKaO_jZGjdQ
April 26th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Oops. I blame the last week’s extreme lack of sleep for that little blunder. It will baffle me for days how I mixed up The Muppet Show and Sesame Street. Actually, it shouldn’t surprise me given the insanity of my life right now. And on that note, break is over and the insanity begins again.
April 26th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
What, no “Put Down the Duckie?”
http://youtube.com/watch?v=dVtWXtSKJ9I
April 27th, 2008 at 2:09 am
Harry Belafonte is good and all but Buddy Rich’s appearance? Amazing!!!
I know he doesn’t sing, but you have to be good if Animal throws his kit at you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhbxN4NO38k
April 27th, 2008 at 3:34 am
Great list! My two picks for what I would(’ve) like(d) to see are a little bit morbid as they cannot happen considering the deaths of the two choices’ lead singers.
1). Nirvana. Not sure what song, but likely would make sense to have “Smell’s like Muppet Spirit.” I think this would have possibly gotten a smile out of Cobain. And I think Dave and Animal pretty much look identical in drum playing style in the video for the original version of the song.
2). Sublime. “What I Got.” These guys kind of look a bit like Muppets, and the song with a lyrical adaptions would actually sound a bit like a children’s song.
April 27th, 2008 at 3:37 am
Sorry. I realize that Animal wass not on Sesame Street officially, but the crossover reference was in relation to Henson’s work with both.
April 27th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Oh the Buddy Rich/Animal drum off is one of the best things I have ever ever seen. Totally deserves a top five of the Muppet Show.
April 28th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
You know what one I love, is James Taylor doing Jellyman Kelly. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P32Tnok65cI
Oooooooooh! Can he come home Jenny can he come home Jenny can he come?
April 28th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Dewton, “Put Down the Duckie” is indeed a classic. I remember having that song on a record when I was a kid (gotta stop dating myself like this). I was focusing on sketches with celebrity guest stars, if only to narrow down the choices a little bit!
G. Hall — interesting choices. Of course, I think the puppets would have needed to stage an intervention before Kurt would have been allowed anywhere near Sesame Street.
April 29th, 2008 at 4:17 am
Little Richard.. most definitely top five.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=DtgFVk70yMc
April 29th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Your choice for #1 is the only one it could be. When you hear Stevie Wonder, you hear a soul. People forget that riches aren’t really money. For one reason alone, I bought the SNL dvd, the Best of Eddie Murphy – the skit at the end, one of those where he imitates Stevie. Stevie is playing a wannabe Stevie Wonder imitator, but he talks in a super-nerdy voice and it’s great, because he just can’t be anyone but Stevie Wonder, and you are waiting for what’s going to happen. Stevie purposely butchers an imitation of himself to keep up the act, and Eddie goes, no man, Stevie does it like this. And he does that impression of Stevie that was always pretty good. Then, Stevie loosens up and sings the same thing, but when he finishes, the roar of the audience is so loud the mics were crackling. He only sang for about 20 seconds, and the audience roars so loud you think it’s the greatest thing they’ve ever heard, and it just floors me every time. I just sit in awe.
April 29th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Holy smokes! I had no idea so many awesome songs, singers, groups, etc. were on Sesame Street.
So now comes the most important question: how do I get these songs in non-You Tube versions? Do they sell compilation CDs?
April 29th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Robert, I wish I could help you. A quick search of Amazon turned up a number of DVDs, but the only CDs available are of classic Sesame Street songs, without the guest stars. I may have to keep looking, though.
April 30th, 2008 at 1:53 am
All 5 performances were great, however I think 3 and 2 should be switched.
May 1st, 2008 at 7:52 pm
They did put one out.
Songs from the Street
Songs from the Street, 35 Years of Music
Well worth the cost.
May 1st, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Chelle, you’re a star. I edited your link so it will fit on the page, but thank you for finding it!
May 1st, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Doh, sorry about that! And you’re welcome! I’m happy I could help out!
May 2nd, 2008 at 7:37 pm
I have been singing “Put a Squid on it” for a week now. Thank you.
May 3rd, 2008 at 12:21 am
Heather and Adrian, Buddy Rich can certainly be found on the follow-up post, the 5 Best Guest Performances on the Muppets. However, he didn’t quite make number 1.
Steph, I’m not sure if I should apologize or say you’re welcome.
May 22nd, 2008 at 8:40 pm
dont forget prince too, that ruled.
July 8th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Don’t forget about Patty Labelle singing ‘my x’ to the letter X.
August 12th, 2008 at 1:03 am
You’re missing one great “Sesame Street” performance, which is on the “Old School vol. 2″ DVD. Judy Collins sings her “Fisherman Song,” on a seashore, surrounded by Muppet fishermen.
It’s a great performance because Judy not only sings, she does masterful, vigorous music on the Autoharp. She’s a wonderful singer.
Here’s the YouTube link:
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=nY9-ZO98tm0
November 10th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
I recall seeing Los Lobos doing a counting song when I was already an adult, well at University. Great!