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| Written by | George Weiss and George Shearing |
| Date | 1952 |
| Publisher | EMI Longitude Music |
"Lullaby of Birdland" was the closing number in episode 201 of The Muppet Show. Fozzie Bear is helping Kermit run the show, and he selects the song for the Electric Mayhem to perform as the closing number. The band is so happy that they give him shades, and make him an honorary hip person.
When Floyd Pepper notes, shortly before the number, that they need a bass player because he'll be playing the vibraphone, Fozzie sends on guest star Don Knotts. Predictably, Don is too square for the band, and at the end of the number his bass blows up as he attempts to keep up with the frenetic pace. The disgusted band votes to de-shade Fozzie.
Other versions
Mahna Mahna scats a portion of this song in The Muppet Show version of "Mahna Mahna".
The song was also mentioned in the proposal for the unfinished special Johnny Carson and the Muppet Machine, where it would have been performed by Johnny Carson on the titular machine.
In a Sesame Street sketch, Robin Williams and a robin show how they're different and the same. Williams notes that the high-pitched robin is a much better singer and the robin (now with a deeper voice) starts singing the song to prove it.
Audio releases
- The Muppet Show (1977)