26 Jim's Favorite Songs - The Muppet Performers (Jim Henson's Memorial Service)

[@emirlsanchos6302]

Poor Frank Oz. You can tell he was still grieving during The Coddleston Pie song and the opening of "Just One Person". Of all the muppet performers, Jim's death hit him the most. It really is like if Bert woke up one morning and realized Ernie was gone and never coming back again.

[@PRINCESSROCKYT]

Am I the only one that when they brought their Muppets onstage, even though you cleary see them being manipulated, you still saw them come alive as if their puppeteers weren't even there? This moment let me know that I'm a true child of being raised with Sesame Street. We love you forever, Jim Henson.

[@TripKangaroo]

This is something that's always struck me. Watching them during videos like this, during conventions, talk shows, or whatever else, even when you can see them being manipulated and see the voice being done (compared to, say, a ventriloquist act), they're still *alive*. It's the magic of the Muppets, the magic of what Jim, and Frank, and Jerry, and COUNTLESS others created. It'll always be there (Fraggle Rock put it best: *You cannot leave the magic*) no matter where you are or what you're doing. And even when the performer is there beside the puppet, the puppet is just as alive at 35 as they were when you were 5 watching Sesame Street. I'll always love that, and that's why the Muppets will always be special.

[@Bliffenstimmers]

Even when they were singing in the Muppet’s voices without undying the puppets, I could clearly picture the puppets moving and dancing even though I hadn’t heard a few of the songs. Their voices are just so distinct and amazing and connected to their characters that they come alive without even being there.

[@seanlynott9033]

I felt that too; whether they sing or did the finale with each respective muppets/puppet.

[@jccw227]

Nobody could pull off funny and moving at the same time the way these guys could. I could only imagine how difficult it must've been for them to keep it together. You can hear the sadness in their voices.

[@shadicTPZ]

Joe Weatherford Well, I didn't feel the sadness in Hunt during Simon Smith, but Oz, it's noticeable. But I get what you mean, some songs were changed to fit a sad tempo, but Halfway Down the Stairs was already at a sad tone, why did they need to change it?

[@kylemorello4787]

Especially Frank Oz. He was so upset that his friends had to pick him up to help him through his number.

[@CcMusicAndMore]

@@kylemorello4787 I enjoyed that part.

[@benanderson3029]

When all of them came on stage during "Just One Person".....I just lost it. It was too much.

[@slapshot68]

They should of had the human cast come onstage too,

[@edselby]

"There's not a word yet for old friends that just met" Hits me in the feels every time

[@mesquitegirl2013]

YES!

[@alyssaf1008]

I always shed a little tear when Frank breaks character in Coddleston Pie

[@Shark20167]

It hits so hard

[@declanseeleymusic]

Those butterfly puppets they gave the audience are cute and they really show Jim's personality

[@lau_sol24]

Jim henson (1936-1990)😢 Richard Hunt (1951-1992)😢 Jerry Nelson (1934-2012)😢 Jane Henson (1934-2013)😢 John Henson (1965-2014)😢

[@KidSnivy69]

We've lost too many people who helped make the Muppets the Muppets.

[@brattenhugo5643]

Don’t forget jerry juhl joe raposo eren ozker

[@Asukenick]

@@brattenhugo5643 She was only with the Muppets for a about year. Sad she died young though.

[@brattenhugo5643]

Adam Sukenick yeah but she should’ve went to the memorial and performed Hilda from the first season of the muppet show just so she could perform one last time and maybe could’ve been in the muppet Christmas Carol

[@iHeartsNostalgiaPit]

@@brattenhugo5643 she was one of the additional performers in the muppet movie and came back for the Emmet Otter special

[@DreamDancer82]

I wonder if Jim Henson cracked a smile from Heaven when they all performed the chicken version of "Baby Face." I know I did. I also thought that Kevin Clash singing "Lydia the Tatooed Lady" in his Elmo voice was pretty funny, too. I loved this, because it was just the right mixture of both sad, and happy. Sad because Jim is gone (and because Richard Hunt and Jerry Nelson are also gone now), but happy because his legacy still lives on. Not to mention Steve Whitmire's green suit is a nice tribute. Though I have to wonder if Frank Oz was expecting Steve, Kevin, and Dave Goelz to lift his chair up like that during "Cottleston Pie." My guess is no, because of his reaction. Even though Jim has been gone for twenty-six years now, I still love him and his work.

[@sailormewmewinuluver1238]

DreamDancer82 especally cause Steve took over as Kermit it was a final bid to him that the Muppets and Kermit were in good hands

[@TherealRNOwwfpooh]

Until Steve was fired this year. So they have to find someone else be Kermit.

[@mesquitegirl2013]

:)

[@disneyfan94themuppetsforev95]

@@TherealRNOwwfpooh apparently the Henson family wanted Whitmire out allegedly he was starting to let his ego get out of hand and acting like a big shot and refused to train an understudy for Kermit

[@TwoWholeWorms]

@@disneyfan94themuppetsforev95 Right, but his vocal tone is completely wrong for Kermit. :/ Also, I'd totally have turned up in a snot-green suit too. I mean, the guy _literally_ asked people to do it.

[@RatOfTheWoods]

I'm not crying, I just have something in my eyes... Tears... Tears are in my eyes

[@SEFYH]

That last song gets me choked up everytime...

[@isabelsummers8017]

#SEFYH me too I'm doing this one song for my Christmas present for my Mom's brother passed away last year on his birthday week 😭😭🙉

[@slapshot68]

Wished they had Sonia Monzano, Emilio Delgado, Bob McGrath, n Roscoe Orman sing the last song with them

[@Jokelben493]

@@slapshot68 do you know if they even attended the memorial?

[@slapshot68]

@@Jokelben493 I assumed they did

[@deniceetterholehan7653]

I’m going to go back there someday…😢 I bawled thru this! Such amazing memories!

[@kaylaruthhall38]

I feel Frank Oz pain .... Every one has gone up and down .

[@marcblack1]

Chocking up, tear's in my eyes, these are my childhood memories being sang by those actor's whom brought Jim Henson's Dreams of the "Moppets", to life, I'm singing along with every song.. OMG, I know these song's..

[@TherealRNOwwfpooh]

MUPPETS.

[@lebronkenney7443]

When I first saw this I had no idea who the dude with the glasses was. Then he sang I'm going to go back there someday and I knew he was Dave Goelz

[@andreapatane4204]

Funny you said that, because my cousin and her husband went to his daughter's graduation a long time ago and saw Dave Golez in person.

[@freddyrichards878]

Andrea Patane did he have Gonzo or was he nicely there?

[@jerry-skids]

I don't how I ended up here, being that I was watching Louie bellson, then Pearl Bailey on a performance with him, then somehow Pearl Bailey on the Muppet Show, Ethel Merman , then this. But I'm glad I did. It really tugged at the heart and I needed that. Thanks to these talented folks, the regular show, the movie they were in, and of course Jim Henson (May God rest his soul).

[@abigalebuss5277]

I never saw this before. It made me cry. Especially that last number. I have always been a huge Muppet Show fan.

[@isabelsummers8017]

I'm loving Muppet so make Puppet

[@TwoWholeWorms]

I've seen it many times. It drives me to tears every time. :(

[@alfredbrown72]

Jim Henson would love hearing this from heaven

[@jumaineadams9152]

30 Years Later and we Still Miss The Genius Mind Of Mr. Jim Henson.

[@TheLongjohntim]

I really loved that someone were a Kermit Green suit.

[@CcMusicAndMore]

You were referring to whitmire, right?

[@karagreen6327]

I just felt my whole childhood leave 😢 what a wonderful man to engrave joy to so many children’s lives . My favorite was always Oscar

[@MissLizaMay]

Oh Lord, Frannie at 14:35 she looks like she just got hit by a truck. Lord love you, Fran.

[@kaylaruthhall38]

they will always remember this ..

[@alyxg2764]

All amazing talents and I love them all so much it’s amazing how they bring the characters to life with or without the muppets on their arm. it kills me to hear Oz break in coddleston pie but I do love to see the others lift him up in his chair to help him get through. Jim created an amazing family with his crew and performers and changed the world. The just one person song at the end is particularly beautiful considering how deeply he changed all of their lives and set off their careers. Still missed to this day🖤🖤🖤

[@hiwot1234]

I love these songs☺☺☺

[@kaylaruthhall38]

I'll never forget this cause watch this on here .

[@mikestrauss8613]

I'm not crying, you're crying!

[@knotheadusc]

This makes me cry every time!

[@pemdas927]

Hi. Long time viewer. First time commenter. I think Frank needed that literal pick-me-up. I always get so emotional listening to this and any time Jim sang. I love seeing Steve and Jerry. They seem like another Jim and Frank. So much more to say, but not much that hasn't been said hundreds of times over the decades.

[@CcMusicAndMore]

This is absolutely lovely.

[@andreapatane4204]

This moment is so 🆒 and sad at the same time. I wonder if the Muppet performers got nervous to sing in front of people 29 years ago. It's hard to understand the 🐔 singing bit, because I can't understand the clucking for "👶🏻 Face". I can't believe that the people who attended Jim Henson's funeral in New York 🌆 that day are laughing, because some moments at rituals are funny sometimes. 👍🏻 if you laughed at Frank Oz being Horrah lifted by the other Muppet performers in the "Cottleston 🥧" number @ 07:30.

[@isabelsummers8017]

That's is my favorite part of video on video part last song from this video is for My mom's brother on passed away last year on his birthday week do

[@andreapatane4204]

Really? I’m sorry to hear that.

[@isabelsummers8017]

@@andreapatane4204 yes

[@isabelsummers8017]

My favorite song from him is just one person and for Frank Ox Cottlesston pie

[@TherealRNOwwfpooh]

Well, Cottleston Pie was taken from A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh (the books before Disney turning the silly old bear into a merchandising machine) & sung by Rowlf on The Muppet Show, so it's almost fitting another bear (Fozzie) is singing a Pooh song.

[@batmous]

If I ever get to meet one of these guys, I just gotta ask "Have you ever caught yourself having an entire conversation with one of the puppets you perform?"

[@visualgagging]

Oof, I noticed Jerry Nelson missed his parts a couple times.

[@morganmusto361]

Possibly sad

[@blancaw6280]

12:36 I had a poodle with the exact same haircut as this guy! Can't believe he chose to wear that lime green outfit to a memorial service! How demure!

[@briantwiss9078]

Blanca W It was at the request of Jim himself that the people in attendance wear bright, happy colors. If you look at the shots of the audience, you’ll see no one is wearing black.

[@safetyman4967]

@@briantwiss9078 also that was Steve whitmire Kermits puppeteer after Jim he may have been wearing green in tribute to Jim and the character he gave him

[@elmofan12341]

yes he does girl he played cliffard the purple catfish rememebr

[@TherealRNOwwfpooh]

He was also THE BABY on Dinosaurs ("Not the mama! I'm The Baby, you gotta love me!") & was Splinter on the 3 TMNT movies (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Secret of the Ooze & Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III). REPLY

[@sholabolaji2975]

He was also Baby Natasha Hoots the owl Benny Rabbit Wolfgang the seal Dr. Nobel Price

[@slapshot68]

It would hav ben nice if they had Orman, Delgado. McGrath, Monzano, Long, n the rest of the human cast go onstage for “Just One Person”

[@emmayoung6024]

How come they didn’t sing “The Rainbow Connection”?

[@rubenshidalgo660]

10:07

[@ExclusiveLM]

I didn't know that Robert Plant from the band Led Zepellin was a muppet.

[@kaylaruthhall38]

does Kevin clash do another voice besides Elmo ?

[@mistermayank]

KaylaRuth Hall Yup, he did Hoots and Clifford, among others. He does a different voice on You Are My Sunshine in this tribute to Jim.

[@TherealRNOwwfpooh]

He was also THE BABY on Dinosaurs ("Not the mama! I'm The Baby, you gotta love me!") & was Splinter on the 3 TMNT movies (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Secret of the Ooze & Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III). REPLY

[@kylemorello4787]

As well as several retired characters on Sesame Street from the nineties: a seal named Wolfgang, a high-strung rabbit named Benny (think someone with the frustration of Bert but the grouchiness of Oscar), and the baby of the owners of the Furry Arms Hotel (a wacky hotel), Nagasha. As much as I adored the 50th anniversary special of the show, I would have loved to see the three characters appear, but I guess there's only so many characters that can fit in one special. At least we got Hoots again, doing an awesome rendition of Put Down the Duckie with Ernie.

[@panagiotisgkountoumas9022]

@@kylemorello4787 Baby Natasha her parents Ingrind and Humphrey met at the Fury Arms hotel

[@sholabolaji2975]

Yes he has Hoots The Owl Baby Natasha Clifford Benny Rabbit Dr.Nobel Price Wolfgang the Seal Mel(Monster Clubhouse)

[@sailormewmewinuluver1238]

I notice from songs 2 -9 they follow a pattern but one and ten dont

[@shadicTPZ]

sailormewmewinuluver 123 What's the pattern?

[@kaylaruthhall38]

does Kevin clash do another voice besides Elmo ?

[@chrismetzger8875]

He does Clifford.

[@kaylaruthhall38]

Okay any one else does besides Elmo ?

[@DreamDancer82]

He did a character named Hoots the Owl who was on Sesame Street in the 1980's (you can hear him using the voice during "You Are My Sunshine") and a character named Clifford who hosted "Muppets Tonight."

[@kaylaruthhall38]

Okay thank you

[@TherealRNOwwfpooh]

He was also THE BABY on _Dinosaurs_ ("Not the mama! I'm The Baby, you gotta love me!") & was Splinter on the 3 TMNT movies (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Secret of the Ooze & Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III).