Kermit the Frog - Rainbow Connection (P. Williams, K. Ascher) ~ Erwin Lazaro 038

The Muppet Show aired from 1976 - 1981; five glorious seasons; 120 episodes. I watched every episode. I was 13 when the show was cancelled and I WAS FURIOUS!  How could they do that to all of us who looked forward to The Muppet Show every week!  I just couldn't understand it!  I adored everything Muppets.  The music ... My goodness.  Too many memorable songs to mention, except for one; my ALL-TIME favorite Muppet song: "Rainbow Connection".  As far as I'm concerned, Kermy sings "Rainbow Connection" much better than I ever will.  I believe that this is so because of the spirit from which Kermy sings.  Kermit the Frog ALWAYS represents HOPE.  He is the glass half-full, pure-spirited, gazing at the stars, down to earth, leader that we should ALL strive to be. Granted, Kermit the Frog sprouted from the wonderful imagination of Jim Henson.  But, that's why Kermit is sooooooo WONDROUS!  Kermit represents the BEST in each of us.  Kermit is a model spirit.  I obsessively looked forward to The Muppet Show, every Tuesday night, at 7:30 p.m., on channel 7, right before turning to channel 4, for Happy Days.  It WAS my FAVORITE show!  I loved all of the characters.  I'm certain that EACH unique character was THE favorite for one child or another.  My wife's favorite character on The Muppet Show was Sam the Eagle.  Apparently, she had a CRUSH on him - something about the eyebrows.  That might actually be the reason why she fell in love with me; especially my overactive left brow.  Okay, don't continually stare at my left brow from now on.  Ah.  Ah.  Look away from the eyebrow.  Well, I guess it's okay.  My brow will distract you from my KaraTE left hand.  AYYYY HYA!  Especially Jef!  ;] Alrighty then ... Kermy was my favorite.  No brainer.  I didn't want to BE Kermit.  I looked up to Kermit.  I looked up to HOPE.  Because of the foundation I've clearly laid out for everyone to understand, "Rainbow Connection" will ALWAYS hold VERY deep-rooted significance for me, for two reasons.  "Rainbow Connection" represents the HOPE, my trail of breadcrumbs, that led me back home from my journey of self-rediscovery, in August 1998.  And, because of my renewed vigor for life from that triumphant voyage, I was CERTAIN that when I sang "Rainbow Connection", as the second song to my mom, at her bedside, at Northwest Hospital, I WAS CERTAIN; I WAS SURE that my mom was going to open her eyes and let me know everything was going to be okay.  "Rainbow Connection" brought me back to life.  It was going to bring my mom back to MY life.  I was so sure ... After I sang the last word, I waited.  Nothing changed.  But, I didn't lose hope.  Maybe, it wasn't the right song.  I moved on.  I moved on to sing the song that would surely make my mom open her eyes and acknowledge me.  THAT song would NOT fail me.  And, THAT song will be presented another time.  As for "Rainbow Connection", I still sing "Rainbow Connection" for my mom.  Within me, HOPE continuously burns BRIGHTLY, written across my face through my SMILE, acknowledging my prayer to be reunited with my mom in Heaven, God willing.  If I am worthy and our Lord God in Heaven has mercy on me, I will wrap my spiritual arms around my mom and give my mom the BIGGEST hug IMAGINABLE!  For now, I'm comforted by HOPE.  I have HOPE. =)

From Wikipedia:
"Rainbow Connection" is a popular song written by Paul Williams and Kenneth Ascher and originally performed by Kermit the Frog (Jim Henson) in The Muppet Movie in 1979. By extension, as evidenced in the TV special, The Muppets at Walt Disney World, the song has come to epitomize the ideals and artistic spirit of Henson and his company as much as "When You Wish Upon a Star" represents Walt Disney and his company. Kenny Ascher and Paul Williams received Oscar nominations at the 52nd Academy Awards for the score of The Muppet Movie and for Rainbow Connection, which Allmusic described as an "unlikely radio hit ... which Kermit the Frog sings with all the dreamy wistfulness of a short green Judy Garland" and went on to add that "'Rainbow Connection' serves the same purpose in The Muppet Movie that "Over the Rainbow" serves in The Wizard of Oz, with nearly equal effectiveness: an opening establishment of the characters' driving urge for something more in life." The song was also nominated for the Golden Globes for Best Original Song in 1979, but lost both Oscar and Globe to It Goes Like It Goes from Norma Rae, a win that some critics decried. The song's name has been used by a number of charitable organizations wishing to evoke its message, including a children's charity similar to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a summer camp for seriously ill children, and a horseback riding camp for people with disabilities. The American Film Institute named Rainbow Connection the 74th greatest movie song of all time in AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs.