DCappella Perform "Rainbow Connection" with Kermit!

DCappella teamed up with Kermit the Frog on a new acapella reedition of "Rainbow Connection." 

You can watch the lyric video below:

And download/buy/stream the song at https://dcappella.lnk.to/ArtistPage

Kermit Honors Paul Williams at Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction!

Prolific songwriter Paul Williams was recently inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and none other then Kermit the Frog helped honor the frequent Muppet collaborator. 

Williams received the prestigious Johnny Mercer Award.

Kermit, in a pre-taped video homage, said of the famously height-challenged Williams, “He has a very special relationship with Muppets — he understands Muppets, true, because he’s only a little taller than us.”

Kermit's intro was followed by Ingrid Michaelson performing “Rainbow Connection"  and a pair of songs sung by Williams collaborator Gustavo Santaolalla.

Video of the event hasn't been posted online, but according to Variety: 

Williams delivered a deeply impassioned yet often hilarious acceptance speech, showing his famous sense of humor by saying, “Songwriters can be shy about pitching their songs, but publishers are shameless. I’ve heard my songs pitched during shivas and when brides were walking down the aisle.”

But the climax of this brilliant songwriter’s emotional speech came at the end, when he recalled the time he briefly met the man for whom his award was named, over 50 years ago. Williams had attained some success at the time but was in awe of Mercer and intimated, so the meeting amounted to just a few words and a wave. Williams, a longstanding and active recovery advocate, spoke of how his retelling of the incident became more and more exaggerated and flattering toward himself over the years. But he made amends by saying to Mercer, who died in 1976, “I wanted so much to be loved by you that I lied about it."

More info about about Paul Williams in the Songwriters Hall of Fame can be found here. 

Loungefly Muppet Lovers & Dreamers Collection!

  Loungefly has a new line of exclusive Muppet items for the lovers, the dreamers, and you!

So far the line includes a limited edition mini backpack and wallet.

Limited Edition Exclusive - The Muppets Rainbow Connection Mini Backpack

Help Kermit find the Rainbow Connection with this exclusive The Muppets Rainbow Connection Mini Backpack. On the front, Kermit strums his banjo and sings, surrounded by blue water, vibrant lily pads, and delightful dragonflies. In fact, the water scene is die-cut to form a charming, wavy front pocket for extra storage. This accessory makes for a colorful complement to any Disney outfit. Act fast to collect this Loungefly.com exclusive accessory; supplies are limited.

Backpack features include shiny gold hardware, vegan leather (polyurethane), a hard enamel zipper charm in the shape of a banjo, adjustable straps, side pockets, and printed details. Note the coordinating lining.

Backpack dimensions: 9” W x 10.5” x 4.5” D 

Exclusive - The Muppets Rainbow Connection Zip Around Wallet

Help Kermit find the Rainbow Connection with this exclusive The Muppets Rainbow Connection Zip Around Wallet. On the front, Kermit strums his banjo and sings. On the back of wallet, bright rainbow stripes appear on the other side. This accessory makes for a colorful complement to any Disney outfit. Act fast to collect this Loungefly.com exclusive accessory; supplies are limited.

Wallet zips closed and features include shiny gold hardware, vegan leather (polyurethane), four card slots, a clear slot for holding your ID, and applique and printed details. Note the coordinating lining.

Wallet dimensions: 6” W x 4” H 

Customer may purchase up to one per household. Neither item qualifies for discounts or promotions.

You order your using the links above from Loungefly. 

EPCOT Debuts “Rainbow Connection” Points of Light Show!

As part of EPCOT's International Festival of the Arts, Spaceship Earth will feature a "spectrum of light" along with The Muppets singing “Rainbow Connection."

Walt Disney Imagineering posted the following on their Instagram: 

"Debuting for EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, Spaceship Earth will be painted nightly in a spectrum of light. As we celebrate the artistry of the world around us during this festival, color and imagination play an important role and our latest lighting design reflects those ideas. The core values of EPCOT and the optimistic symbolism of Spaceship Earth are perfectly complemented by The Muppets singing “Rainbow Connection” with this new look!"

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Walt Disney Imagineering (@waltdisneyimagineering)

 

Update: Watch a video of Spaceship Earth's  “Rainbow Connection" below:

The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts runs Jan 14 – Sun, Feb 13.

Watch Kermit and Nina West's "Connection"!

Disney+'s first ever This Is Me Pride Celebration Spectacular, hosted by Nina West debuted Friday night on YouTube and Facebook. 

Kermit appeared throughout the special looking for the proper out for the occasion, disapproving of costumes he wore in the past including his Manhattan Melodies outfit from The Muppets Take Manhattan. 

Judging by the outfits and costumes worn by the specials other guests, the blue and purple glittered tuxedo would have been tame in comparison. It was also a bit of out character. Even though the special is all about acceptance and Kermit truly is "himself" when not wearing anything but his collar, that doesn't that mean that wearing something you typically wouldn't makes you any less you.

West, who is a drag queen, makes MULTIPLE outlandish costumes changes throughout the special. Does each outfit diminish her for not being her true self? The message is messy and poorly executed. 

Disney's corporate synergy team also doesn't want you to forget that each song is from a production available on Disney+, as we are reminded at the bottom of the screen during each song.

We get it, this a giant ad for Disney+

Further proof that Disney's version of "inclusion" only extends to their IPs, is Alex Newell, who performers a blistering rendition of The Little Mermaid's "Poor Unfortunate Souls" (The Little Mermaid Now Streaming on Disney+) with no mention that they are from the non-Disney owned series Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist.

The other wise charming special culminates in Kermit and West duetting on "Rainbow Connection."

You can watch the whole " Celebration Spectacular" below:

The Muppet Movie, The Muppet Show, and The Little Mermaid (but not this special made by Disney+) are now streaming on Disney+. 

Streisand Releases Lost Kermit "Connection"!

Barbra Streisand has been digging through her archives and found a lost "connection" for us Muppet fans.

It turns out Streisand recorded a duet rendition of “Rainbow Connection” with Kermit originally intended for her album Wet.

Since it was recorded in 1979, we're fairly certain that Streisand recorded this version with the ordinal Kermit himself, Jim Henson. 

The song will be one of many unreleased tracks on the upcoming album Release Me 2.

Along with its digital versions, the CD version will include a 32-page booklet featuring liner notes as well as a vinyl version.

Release Me 2 will be released Aug. 6.

Watch Willie Nelson & Kacey Musgraves Perform "Rainbow Connection" at CMA Awards!

Last night Willie Nelson and Kacey Musgraves performed "Rainbow Connection" at the CMA Awards.

While no Muppets were there to join them, they performed it beautifully.

You can watch their entire performance below.