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Film: The Muppet Movie
Album: McCartney II
Format: NTSC
Discovered By: Andrew C. Wendland
Set Up: Start the album after any production logos, when the movie actually begins. (When the spinning globe appears atop the World Wide Studios sign).
Length of Sync: 95 Minutes
Notes: Skip any bonus tracks. Be sure to have a CD copy of the album, for most online versions of this album have been ripped poorly.

Connections

  • At one time, Paul McCartney and Wings were considered for a guest appearance on The Muppet Show. However, due to budgeting issues and conflicts in schedule, the episode was never filmed.
     
  • The music video for Waterfalls contained imagery reminiscent of scenes in the film. The beginning of the video shows Paul playing a piano through a window. The window of the building itself looks like an old church, similar to the one in which Kermit and Fozzie meet The Electric Mayhem.
     
  • Later in the video Paul is shown standing on part of a merry-go-round. The Muppets go to a carnival/fairground in key scene of the film. Notice also how the merry-go-round itself has different types of cars. Throughout the film, The Muppets go through a lot of different cars (and car chases!) to get to Hollywood.

Lyrical/musical connections

Coming Up

  • The song suits the mood of the opening scene well as all of the Muppets await the premiere of their movie.

Temporary Secretary

  • This song doesn't really much up during the famous "Rainbow Connection" song, but it will sync up later in the movie! Trust me!

On the Way

  • Song starts as the “Rainbow Connection” musical number ends.
     

  • “Every moment that I try” - Kermit tries to catch a fly, and misses.
     

  • “Well we’ve been traveling for a long time, and we’ve finally finished here” as Dom DeLuise’s character explains that he’s an agent who flew in from Hollywood in search of talent.
     

  • “I hope you don’t mind the things I say” - he shows Kermit a newspaper ad for a film studio looking for “Frogs wishing to become rich and famous”.
     

  • “On the way” - as Kermit begins his journey to Hollywood.

Waterfalls

  • “Jumping waterfalls” - The camera cuts to Kermit sitting on a paver vehicle, after jumping up to narrowly avoid being crushed between a moving steamroller and the street paver.
     

  • “...to go away” as the woman in the red dress leaves Kermit at the bar table.
     

  • “Some big friendly polar bear” as the piano player (played by Paul Williams) introduces Fozzie Bear’s act.
     

  • The whirring sound heard at the end of the song resembles the sound of the fan Kermit is caught on.

Nobody Knows

  • “...what it is I’m looking at. Anyone who can has gotta be a crazy cat” - Fozzie distracts the patrons of the bar by telling them that “drinks are on the house”. They all misinterpret this as meaning that there are drinks literally on the top of the bar, and head up to the roof.
     

  • “A crazy pair” describes Kermit and Fozzie.
     

  • “I’ll still find somethin’ to eat” - Doc Hopper introduces himself to Kermit, who intends to use Kermit as the spokesman for his chain of frog legs fast food restaurants.

Front Parlour
Summer's Day Song

  • “...a summer's day” - Despite the fact that Kermit and Fozzie are driving along on a beautiful summer day, they somehow end up driving through a snowstorm.

Frozen Jap

  • This instrumental track could emulate the music Electric Mayhem are playing as Kermit and Fozzie enter the church.
     

  • Animal hits the drums in time with some of the synth drum beats heard in the song.
     

  • Faint voices can be heard as Scooter speaks in the film.

Bogey Music

  • The rock n’ roll feel of the song fits well to the montage of The Electric Mayhem painting Kermit and Fozzie’s car as they sing “Can You Picture That?”
     

  • “You know it, suckas!” - As Doctor Teeth says to Kermit and Fozzie, “But when you get rich and famous, maybe we’ll show up and exploit your wealth!”

Darkroom

  • The song starts exactly as the scene transitions.

One of These Days

  • “I’m gonna look around and see” - The used car salesman (played by Milton Berle) turns around and sees Fozzie’s car and Gonzo’s truck pull in.
     

  • “I’m gonna look around and see” during an aerial, panning shot of the county fair.
     

  • “See what’s right” as the beauty pageant announcer looks at his watch.

Second Play-through

Coming Up

  • “(Like a flower) Coming up!” as the announcer introduces Miss Piggy to the crowd.
     

  • “I know that we can get together. We can make it, stick with me!” - The scene transitions to Miss Piggy's fantasy of her and Kermit together, during the “Never Before, Never Again” musical sequence.
     

  • “Like a flower” - during a shot of Miss Piggy and Kermit among a bed of flowers.
     

  • Lyrics of the last verse and chorus fit and often describe the scene well.
     

  • “Like a flower” as Miss Piggy throws a bouquet of flowers behind her toward the end of the scene.
     

  • The musical number ends more or less when this song ends and transitions into “Temporary Secretary”

Temporary Secretary

  • “...send her quick” as Miss Piggy rushes off.

On the Way

  • “...out of fear” - All of the Muppets scream as their car loses control and crashes straight into a billboard.
     

  • “...on the way” as the Muppets rescue Gonzo and once again avoid Doc Hopper and continue their Journey to Hollywood.

Waterfalls

  • Overall mood of the song fits the scene quite well.
     

  • “If you ever should decide to go away” as Steve Martin’s character tells Miss Piggy that there’s a telephone call asking for her.
     

  • “Please stay…” - Miss Piggy tells Kermit to stay at the table while she answers the telephone call.

Nobody Knows

  • Mood of the song fits well over Kermit and Rowlf singing, “I Hope That Somethin’ Better Comes Along”.
     

  • “...a crazy pair” as Kermit and Rowlf are shown singing together.
     

  • “That includes you honey!” is shouted exactly when Doc Hopper’s henchmen point their guns at Kermit.

Front Parlour

  • Song starts with the introduction of Mel Brooks’ character, the mad scientist.

Summer's Day Song

  • “...a bad dream” could describe the scenario that Piggy and Kermit are in.

Frozen Jap

  • The song begins when the Swedish Chef fixes the film and fires up the projector which begins the second half of the film.

Bogey Music

  • “Bogey on to the street” as the Muppets set up camp on the side of the road after their car breaks down.

Darkroom

  • “Lights are low” during a dimly lit shot of Gonzo as he sings “I’m Going to Go Back There Someday”.
     

  • “Come along with me…” - as Kermit separates from the group and wanders off alone.

One of These Days

  • “...and see” - Kermit rejoins the group to find that The Electric Mayhem and Scooter have found their roadside camp after following the script Kermit had left behind.

Third Play-through

Coming Up

  • Kermit seems to walk in rhythm with the song at times.

Temporary Secretary

  • “If she comes along and can stay a spell” - as The Electric Mayhem’s bus drives past the Hollywood sign.
     

  • The chorus referenced by the song title plays when the Muppets arrive at the Hollywood film studio and meet the producer’s secretary. (See! I told you it'd end up working!

On the Way

  • “Well we’ve been traveling for a long time. And we finally finished here” - Kermit explains to the producer (played by Orson Welles) that they have traveled all the way to Hollywood in search of fame.

Waterfalls

  • This song and “Nobody Knows” play over the final reprise of “The Rainbow Connection” and the ending credits.

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