Music / Kermit Unpigged

Kermit Unpigged is a 1994 Concept Album by The Muppets. Its plot is simple: the Muppets get lost in a recording studio, and end up recording duets with the various celebrities they meet there. Its opening track, a cover of "She Drives Me Crazy", got a music video release around this time as well. A trailer for the album appeared on the VHS of Muppet Classic Theater.

Track listing:

1. "She Drives Me Crazy" (Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy)
2. "Daydream" (Vince Gill and Kermit the Frog)
3. "On Broadway" (George Benson, Clifford, and The Rhythm Rats)
4. "All I Have To Do Is Dream" (Linda Ronstadt and Kermit the Frog)
5. "Born To Be Wild" (Ozzy Osbourne and Miss Piggy)
6. "Mr. Spaceman" (Jimmy Buffett, The Great Gonzo, and Rizzo the Rat)
7. "Bein' Green" (Don Henley and Kermit the Frog)
8. "Wild Thing" (Animal, Floyd, and Kermit the Frog)
9. "Can't Get Along Without You" (Kermit the Frog and Robin)
10. "All Together Now" (The Muppets with Harry Smith)

Unpigged tropes

• Comically Missing the Point: While Gonzo and Rizzo wander the halls of the recording studio they notice a door which says "Jimmy Buffet", causing Rizzo to think there is a buffet to eat there. A bit later, he comes to the same conclusion upon seeing a door that says "Meatloaf" (Unlike Jimmy Buffett, Meatloaf doesn't actually appear on the album though).
  • Miss Piggy's monologue as the album fades out falls under this too, because she seems to think "Unpigged" means "Sans pig," and that apparently hurts her.
• Concept Album: The Muppets visit a recording studio and all tracks are about the stuff they encounter when each one of them opens a door there. They usually find a famous musician there and perform a duet with them.
• Cover Album: Nearly all tracks are covers. "She Drives Me Crazy" was originally by Fine Young Cannibals, "Daydream" by The Lovin' Spoonful, "On Broadway" by The Drifters, "All I Have To Do Is Dream" by The Everly Brothers, "Born To Be Wild" by Steppenwolf, "Mr. Spaceman" by The Byrds, "Wild Thing" by the Troggs and "All Together Now" by The Beatles. The only exceptions are "Bein' Green" and "Can't Get Along Without You" (and even then, the former was originated by Kermit as early as the first season of Sesame Street).
• Covers Always Lie: It's not just Kermit we hear, but other Muppets also make an appearance.
• Face on the Cover: Naturally Kermit appears on the cover.
• Let's Duet: Most songs are duets. The most bizarre must be the one between Ozzy Osbourne and Miss Piggy.
• Obsession Song: Kermit's performance of "She Drives Me Crazy" about Miss Piggy.
• Pep-Talk Song: Vince Gill cheers Kermit up by singing "Daydream" with him.
• Pop: All songs are easy listening pop songs.
• Pun-Based Title: The title is a pun on the then popular "Unplugged" craze, where rock musicians would bring out acoustic versions of their normally loud rock songs.
• Record Producer: Robert Kraft and John Boylan.
• Self-Titled Album: Kermit is mentioned in the album title.
• Special Guest: Vince Gill, George Benson, Linda Ronstadt, Ozzy Osbourne, Jimmy Buffett, Don Henley and Harry Smith all sing duets with various Muppet characters. Actress Lily Tomlin appears as the receptionist.
• Spoken Word in Music: Several songs are intercut with funny dialogues between the Muppets.
• Touched by Vorlons: Near the end of "Mr. Spaceman" Jimmy Buffett travels into space by UFO, and it's implied he indeed is from space. He invites Gonzo and Rizzo to come along, and Gonzo is eager but Rizzo (who is less enthusiastic about the whole thing) tells him he can't because he has to be there for the end of the album.

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