Rainbows, Frogs, Dogs, And 'The Muppet Movie' Soundtrack At 40
The Muppet Movie is 40 now. And I could tell you that makes me feel old, but it doesn't. It oddly makes me feel just right. The music has been with me from when I was little until right now, and I can still listen to it and discover new things. How could you not? It has "Rainbow Connection" in it.
You probably know all this, but The Muppet Movie is a musical, and "Rainbow Connection" is what musical theater people would call its "I Want" song. It's an unusual one. Often, characters who want things in a musical, even if they're ultimately on a quest of self-discovery, express a desire for adventure and exploration (The Little Mermaid's "Part Of Your World") or greatness (Hamilton's "My Shot") or comfort (My Fair Lady's "Wouldn't It Be Loverly"). At their most philosophical, they tend toward restless searches for freedom from other people's expectations (Pippin's "Corner of the Sky").
This one is a little different. We swoop through the sky, through clouds and a rainbow, until we hear the banjo phrase — that at first goes unanswered. And as much as it will make you feel like a college first-year with an altered mind lying. Kermit longs not for stardom and riches, though he will embark on a quest for both. His "I Want" song is about hoping to learn that belief in the power of uncertain and ethereal things — rainbows, for instance — is not unfounded.
