"We're not writing for children. We're writing for the child in all of us" I'm not crying. I'm making refractions in my eyes. Maybe just a sad day for me. But it happens to the best of us. I guess all we can hope is that today's tears cast tomorrows rainbows.
Sean, I am with you...a Profoundly Beautiful Song, and your share was so Eloquently written. Sending you Love ❤️ in hopes you are seeing those rainbows 🌈 Thank You 🙏
It's sad in a way for any one of us whom has true heart and feeling. We all miss those beautiful rare first time memories we had as children. It means that you are always growing in compassion, understanding, depth and true heart. Those are the memories u will eventually take with you from then, and now and eventually to the rainbow
@@saskiaisskra3240 It's so true. The older I get, I feel like my life is more a collection of memories rather than dreams. I cherish my memories but all are tinged with pain. There are so many things I've yet to do or experience, Idk why I shouldn't have dreams. Perhaps all dreams seem a hollow mist when you can't share them with the one you love.
This was always Henson's approach to the Muppets. A few months ago, I stumbled across a cache of RU-vid vids with some entire episodes of _The Jimmy Dean Show._ In the second episode of the first season, Dean had Rowlf on the show to promote National Dog Week. Rowlf was such a hit, he came back the next week, and never left. Rowlf was the first nationwide Muppet star, and I was one of his 7-year-old fans. Live variety shows were great, but no other host had a smart-mouthed, ad-libbing hound dog.
The biggest travesty in the entire history of the Academy Awards is that "Rainbow Connection" did not win Best Original Song in 1979. The winner that year was an entirely forgettable song that disappeared from our culture instantaneously, while this is still one of the greatest movie songs of all. "Over the Rainbow," another of those songs about rainbows, and "When You Wish Upon a Star" are really the only other contenders.
Robert Spretnak. Sadly must agree. While the other song had a powerful message in its movie, and it was done by some greats, it did not stand the test of time. Good posting, sir.
Two songs that move me to tears every time are Over the Rainbow from Wizard of Oz and the Rainbow Connection. As I am approaching the end of my time here, they have both become more meaningful, bringing hope to my heart and soul. I do not seek the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, it is traveling in that beautiful light. Thank you!
As much as I love hearing Karen Carpenter sing this beautiful song, Kermit will always have such a special place in my heart, reminding me of my childhood.
Respect to Karen Carpenter but Kermit blows her away on this one. One of the greatest songs ever written, and Kermit’s performance (not Jim’s, Kermit’s, as Paul says) is absolutely mesmerizing.
@@ejrosenthal I've read that Karen would agree with you. She had actually not wanted to record it. But Richard wanted to, to give a loving and respectful nod to Kermit, Miss Piggy, and the Muppets, and Jim Henson. Karen loved them, too, and so they did it to honor Jim Henson and his Muppet family. Karen was a huge Disney, Mickey Mouse fan, too. But yeah, I've read in the Carpenters' history and notes, and quotes from Richard, that she was not keen on recording it, but did it anyway. Who could sing it better than Kermit? Nobody.
I sing rainbow connection to every child I ever held in my arms. This song calms a child immediately. The child could be screaming but if I sing "why are there some many songs about rainbows" the child calms down immediately. It's like magic! Thank you for writing such a sweet and truly magical song! It brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it.
It is a lullaby, after all. Deceptively, simple, but so profound. It went completely over my head for probably 25 years. And I am now discovering how wonderful it is.
@@sallymjmj750 Just yday I played for my 3yo grandson. He rarely sits still but we cuddled for 30 minutes and he began to sing along in many parts. I think it was our closest moment so far. There will be many more moments in the upcoming weeks as the holidays come. I'm gonna throw in Rubber Ducky in a few days....another great song from the Muppets. It hit the radio when I was in 9 grade. It actually charted at #16. I adore The Muppets
My 43-year-old daughter just said that this is "our song." We'd play the Muppet Movie tape on road trips when she was little, and this evokes so many wonderful memories. We still considering "our song."
This was our first dance as a married couple. We brought it with us, put our earbuds in, and danced to Kermit singing Rainbow connection, under the Eiffel Tower
This is our wedding song as well! Except our doofy DJ couldn't "find" it so we had to settle for It Had to Be You, but in our hearts, this is THE song!
Long after Jim Henson died, I forget why I was there, but even as a professional actor, I just happened to be in front of that glorious gate at the Jim Henson Workshop in Los Angeles, and I couldn’t help but stop and be in awe, to feel the magic. I’ve been around A-List, historic and unforgettable stars every day for work many years, but standing on the sidewalk in front of that gate was special. The only person I can compare Jim Henson to is Steven Spielberg, best boss I ever had.
John Ohkuma Thiel, that was such a great comment to post!!! Thank you so much!!! I was just picturing you standing on the sidewalk in front of the gate that led to the Jim Henson's workshop!!! Wish I could go back in time and meet you there!!!
A national treasure is right. The Rainbow Connection is one of those songs that nobody can ruin when they sing it. I have never heard a bad version. One of my all time favorite songs.
I worked with Paul Williams back in 2005 and 2006 on a stage musical version of HAPPY DAYS. He is truly one if the kindest, most generous humans I've ever met. A true musical genius.
Lorraine Myers I get the same way too. Have you seen the RU-vid vid a newer one with Kermit singing it - search “ a special performance of Rainbow Connection” it’s so cute with him turning on and off the video
I met Paul on a cruise when we went into town. I told him he was the greatest songwriter ever!! Had I known he wrote my most favorite song in the world... I would have probably been to afraid to say hello to him!!
Me too..my sister loved Kermit(as a kid she wanted to marry him) and this song reminds me of her..she died in 1990 so this song holds a special place in my ❤
“If frank has miss piggy there, and Jim has Kermit, there are five of you in the conversation”. I love this, and can sorta back it. I was lucky enough that one day at my work, the actor who played Cookie Monster came to our office and we got to meet him. And I swear, it took less than 10 seconds of conversation before I unintentionally found myself talking to the muppet instead of the human. I was in my early to mid 30s, but it’s like some childhood trigger of familiarity just clicked, and I couldn’t stop myself
We have the plush Kermit that sings “the rainbow connection”, it belonged to our elder daughter and she passed it down to our newborn daughter. Now they both love it.
This man is a genius. My mom had a vinyl record of his work in his own voice and instruments. I remember I had a little cheap record player with a built in speaker, but just good enough to listen. Magic. I always associate his music with my childhood.
I believe I have that same record. The white one, eh? Listened to it till the needle wore through. For all the genius of the many other artists that recorded his music, Paul was the master. His own versions are the essence.
Yesterday was 12/21/20, the day of the great conjunction and winter solstice. Over a million people were meditating on peace. Today the rainbow connection popped into my head and listening to the words after so many years, it made more sense today.
I've always thought that The Muppets were (no, ARE) so creative and so great to watch at any time. There's so much to gain from the stories for each of our lives. May they never disappear from the Earth.
Most people probably aren’t aware of how many hit songs Paul Williams wrote that were performed by other artists. But I really like the songs he wrote and performed himself.
I heard the music in that movie when I was younger but didn’t really listen until I was older. Like it wasn’t until I was an adult that I’m Going To Go Back There Someday really hit me.
Wonderful interview and beautiful story about a truly special song. I really appreciate the humility of Paul Williams; I'm so glad to hear about his sobriety. I wish him God's continued blessings into the future.
Jim Henson was an introvert and was rather shy and self-deprecating in most of his interviews. But when he picked up Kermit, Rowlf, or another of his Muppets, the change was immediate. You're talking to the character and not Henson, because all his characters were projections of himself. I saw the Muppet Movie in the theatre in 1979 and never forgot this song.
I was 5 years old when I saw it in the theater. I remember it like I saw it yesterday. When we watch it as a family, all 6 of my warrior children cry when Kernit sings that song. And I cry with them.
My son's kindergarten teacher, taught her class this song for a Spring concert, age 5 and that was 11 year's ago he used to sing this every morning for 2 month's, but it never got old :)
I feel the connection to the music in my very soul. I still remember the very first time I heard The Rainbow Connection. It was like hearing a rainbow for the first time
I’ve loved this song for almost as long as I’ve been alive. As a kid watching the Muppets I really wanted nothing more than to be Debbie Harry sitting in a robe backstage in a theatre with Kermit singing Rainbow Connection. Now the line ‘rainbows have nothing to hide’ is one of my touchstone quotations. Thank you for blessing the world with this song. I shall have it at my funeral (hopefully a long way away yet) as it is perfect.
I always thought "someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection...the lovers, the dreamers and me." meant all the divisions between the races will realize the different colors make a wonderful rainbow. That we are not just colors that we are all just lovers, and dreamers and the message Jim Hensen always stressed, you are an important part of this world just as you are. That's what the song meant to me. Hope for peace.
One of my all-time favorite songs, and I've never heard anyone do it better than Kermit the Frog. It definitely should have won the Academy Award for the best song. The Academy almost always has had a bias against family-type movies, no matter how great the music.
I can never even remember which song won against it but it was something I remember being thoroughly unimpressed with from a movie I've still never seen...
@@princezzpuffypants6287 The song was "It Goes Like It Goes" from the movie "Norma Rae" It also beat out "Through the Eyes of Love" from "Ice Castles" as well as a couple others I've never heard of.
I just had the urge to listen to the song and pulled up the video here on RU-vid. That led me to this video. There's so much love, faith, and talent intertwined with this song. THANK YOU Paul Williams, Jim Henson, and thank you Tennessean for this interview. You brought a tear to my eyes hearing this.
(Armchair guitarist picking out the surprisingly difficult melody): TRC may be simple enough for a frog, but musically it's quite sophisticated--unconventional, interesting intervals. Thanks to the creators.
I remember watching the Muppet movie in the movie theater when I was 10 years old and it was fun. I loved watching the Muppets TV series too. I enjoyed listening to Rainbow connection. I love Miss. Piggy and Kermit.
One of those rare songs that gets better every time you hear it. Just listened to it 5 times on the trot by different artists and my heart is smiling, even though some renditions weren't that good. The song is so great it doesn't matter if the singer is dire. Pure joy and hope set to music. X
These two guys are awesome. To this day, I still have a love for Paul Williams and Brian De Palma's _Phantom of the Paradise_ rock opera, a guilty pleasure I sometimes listen to when I need a mood lift. I know every song, lyric for lyric, note for note.
I was 15 when it was released but I have such a connection to Paul Williams of my childhood. Even in grade school I knew who he was because he was behind the writing of like 70 percent of the hit music back then, and his comic timing is just so spot on. He had me rolling in smokey n the bandit. Again I will only listen to him singing this song. But much respect to Kermit.
What a beautiful interview!! Thank you for this. And I’ve really enjoyed reading all of the wonderful comments people have left. This song has touched to many people. It’s truly magical.
I sob every time I hear the song, especially seeing Kermit sitting n the swamp. Like millions of others in history, I was a creative kid who became an artist. I dream every day, and this song reminds me of how i started
Rainbow 🌈 connection is one of my all time favorite songs! I think it embodies hope. Kermit speak🥰 another favorite was sung by Cantus. Henson was a genius and he collected amazing people around him. Thank you for sharing this story.
there’s so much philosophy and recognition of human magic in this song, it’s top of my list on a bad day to remind me of the kindness and faith in humanity
Karen Carpenter sang a beautiful version of Rainbow Connection.. Paul Williams also wrote the songs Rainy Days And Monday's.. And We Only Just Begun for the Carpenter's.. I know that Paul will always be thankful that Karen's voice sang his songs..
I have a personal connection to this song too.... One day, in the early '80s, I was working in my stained glass studio and listening to the radio....I was toying with the idea of actually starting a business making glass items and also giving stained glass lessons... But I needed a name for the business.... Guess what song came on the radio at exactly the same moment I was searching for a name.... YUP... The Rainbow Connection! Perfect name for a business that produced 'rainbows'....Thanks Paul and Kermit....
Paul is amazing. Kindness is in all of us. It's actually a human superpower, to live in kindness, without judgement of others, or ourselves. Forgiveness is the greatest gift we can give.
This song always brings tears to my eyes as it reminds me of my children in their early, innocent days. Love Rainbow Connection and forever grateful for the genius who brought it to me.
Absolutely love this song, cannot help but sing along every time I hear it and it gets stuck in my brain for weeks at a time. Beautiful, lovely tune and sentiment.❤❤❤❤❤ Paul Williams - THANK-YOU!!!
I’ve loved Paul Williams for so many years he’s a very rare talent. This is a great interview I’m loving every word. Thank you Paul you’re my Rainbow Connection I’m a songwriter too. Love NSAI also. 💗😁🎶
I first heard this song while watching the Muppet Movie in 1979 as a child..... I knew when I left the theater that I would NEVER forget it. I got my mom to buy it for me on a 45 for me to play in my room. This song is just wonderful...
Paul Williams IS a treasure. Truly. Very few people have had, or will have such a broad influence on culture. His music is known and loved worldwide. Paul Williams is a champion for musicians and their art. He stands against censorship. His music and contributions to musicianship are immeasurable. Squidly, From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
