This is the third of my series of tribute posts in honor of Sesame Street’s 40th Anniversary.
While looking for clips to watch with my son, I noticed a trend of celebrity musicians coming to the Street and singing to Oscar the Grouch. I have the twin characteristics of identifying with Oscar perhaps more than other Muppet but also liking songs a lot too, so these resonate with me.
Johnny Cash leads things off with “Nasty Dan”:
Billy Joel and Marlee Matlin get really mushy with a Grouch they like “Just the Way You Are”:
Up on the rooftop, James Taylor appreciates “Your Grouchy Face”:
Totally unrelated to Oscar the Grouch, here are three more celebrity musician appearances on Sesame Street that totally rule.
Stevie Wonder rocks the Street with “Superstition,” a rare performance where the lyrics aren’t altered for the kids:
I never liked the original version of this R.E.M. song, but “Furry Happy Monsters” validates its existence:
Finally, there’s Feist’s performance of “1,2,3,4” another Sesame Street version that is an improvement over the original:
Panorama of the Mountains 