Crazy as a rocket
December 10, 2013 4:42 PM   Subscribe

The Electric Mayhem (previously) perform "Can You Picture That" (SLYT)

Fun fact: The song was co-written by Paul Williams and Kenny Ascher, who also were responsible for "The Rainbow Connection."

(via BoingBoing)
posted by Gelatin (23 comments total) 15 users marked this as a favorite
 
Paul Williams is responsible for basically ALL the great Muppets songs.

Except Mahna Mahna, which is from a swedish soft-core porn.
posted by hippybear at 4:47 PM on December 10, 2013 [7 favorites]


There is never not a good time for this song.

But am I mistaken or does this not rock as hard as the original? Is it just the lack of Muppets in the background, or are the vocals really different?
posted by Countess Elena at 4:51 PM on December 10, 2013


No, that is the exact original track. I've heard it so many times, all I have to do is start it playing and I know it's exactly what is on the Muppet Movie soundtrack album.
posted by hippybear at 4:55 PM on December 10, 2013 [2 favorites]


Some of you may know Paul Williams better as "Little Enos" from the Smokey & the Bandit films.
posted by entropicamericana at 4:57 PM on December 10, 2013 [1 favorite]


But am I mistaken or does this not rock as hard as the original?

Compare for yourself (actual song starts at 4:39, but before that there's 4⅔ minutes of Muppet Movie so you probably don't want to skip it)
posted by aubilenon at 4:59 PM on December 10, 2013 [1 favorite]


Oops, the link to Kenny Ascher should go here. Sorry!
posted by Gelatin at 5:02 PM on December 10, 2013


The new version sounds like it's in a higher key than the movie one aubilenon linked but maybe that's a sound quality issue. If you compare the bit after the first verse (5:07 in the old one vs. 0:30 in the new one), you can hear it.

No idea how the album sounds though, so.
posted by emjaybee at 5:25 PM on December 10, 2013


Yeah, I'm no audiophile, so I can't say what it is, but it sounds like the old one just has something extra. Probably psychological. The point is: Muppets.
posted by Countess Elena at 5:32 PM on December 10, 2013 [2 favorites]


"Aurora Borealis / Shining down on Dallas" is the most audacious rhyme of its generation and I still love it.
posted by delfin at 5:39 PM on December 10, 2013 [8 favorites]


The new version has a brighter EQ and is slightly lower in pitch, though that is probably a factor of either the VHS tape the movie version was recorded from or the speed of the film itself. In the movie version, the drums are mixed hotter and there was more bus compression applied, which often makes things "rock harder."

One of MC Frontalot's early tunes used this track for the beat.
posted by grumpybear69 at 5:40 PM on December 10, 2013 [1 favorite]


The way he says "See it in your MIND" is a narrative of very heavy-duty proportions all on its own.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 5:41 PM on December 10, 2013 [4 favorites]


This audio is from the soundtrack album. All the tracks are mixed slightly differently from the film itself. I know this because as a kid I nearly wore out the grooves listening to this record.

Speaking of Mah Na Mah Na, the same guy did this. Wrap your head around that.
posted by evilcolonel at 5:58 PM on December 10, 2013 [1 favorite]


Ringing of the Bells
posted by mikelieman at 6:00 PM on December 10, 2013


Except Mahna Mahna, which is from a swedish soft-core porn.

Ahem—Piero Umiliani is the master of the minor key science fiction groove, not just some porn composer, you know. Put on an Umiliani album and the world is your Space: 1999.
posted by sonascope at 6:14 PM on December 10, 2013 [4 favorites]


That said, I like to start all my road trips with "Movin' Right Along."

Whilst traveling by motorcycle, I belt it out in my helmet.
posted by sonascope at 6:18 PM on December 10, 2013 [1 favorite]


Vaguely related via Frank Oz: The La Choy Dragon. Click if you need to smile.
posted by grumpybear69 at 6:43 PM on December 10, 2013 [1 favorite]


Y'all have seen the new Food Fight correct?
posted by edgeways at 7:28 PM on December 10, 2013


Reminds me of Dr. Hook.

Northern Lights kept under his hat, eh? BC hydro FTW.
posted by five fresh fish at 9:22 PM on December 10, 2013


Dallas Borealis would be a great band name.
posted by DigDoug at 5:12 AM on December 11, 2013


Paul Williams is responsible for basically ALL the great Muppets songs.

I made a comment on twitter once about Emmet Otter, and Paul Williams himself responded to me. Instant nerdgasm.
posted by DigDoug at 5:14 AM on December 11, 2013 [3 favorites]


I had the wonderful good fortune of meeting Paul Williams earlier this year at an event where he spoke about his experiences with substance abuse. He was an absolute joy and getting to meet the man who put so many wonderful songs in the mouths of the Muppets and getting to thank him for doing so is a memory I will never forget.
posted by BrianJ at 8:12 AM on December 11, 2013 [1 favorite]


I like the way they call it "frog-e-oke", implying it can be used for karaoke, and then deliver something completely useless for an actual karaoke situation.
posted by egypturnash at 8:14 AM on December 11, 2013


I had the wonderful good fortune of meeting Paul Williams earlier this year at an event where he spoke about his experiences with substance abuse. He was an absolute joy and getting to meet the man who put so many wonderful songs in the mouths of the Muppets and getting to thank him for doing so is a memory I will never forget.

If you haven't seen Paul Williams: Still Alive, I cannot recommend it enough. A celebrity profile documentary which not only has a twist in its approach but which I found deeply moving, perhaps even epiphanous. (Is that even a word?) I keep waiting for the Paul Williams revival to happen. Maybe Daft Punk helped a bit.
posted by hippybear at 8:48 PM on December 11, 2013


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