Changes: Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear

Written by	Randy Newman
Date	1967
Source	Feelin' Groovy (Harpers Bizarre album)
Publisher	Little A Music; Unichappell Music Inc.

Revision as of 05:25, 2 September 2014

"Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear," written by Randy Newman and first recorded by the band Harpers Bizarre, was performed as "Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Bear" in episode 101 of The Muppet Show. All recordings of the Muppets' performance of the song are listed under this alternate title.

When Kermit refuses to change the name of the show from The Muppet Show to The Muppy Show, J.P. Grosse's favorite pet Muppy locks himself in his dressing room and refuses to perform his number with Scooter, "Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Dog." Fozzie Bear becomes a last-minute replacement, and the number changes to "Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Bear" instead. Fortunately for all involved, Newman's lyrics (such as "wear," "fair," "stare," and "everywhere") wouldn't have rhymed with "dog" anyway.

Dressed like a ringmaster, a mustachioed Scooter does most of the singing and dancing, while Fozzie, who is being led around the stage on a chain, hams it up all around him. Rowlf accompanies the duo on piano in the background, so it can be presumed that, in the worst case scenario, Scooter could have performed an a capella version of "Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Dog" with him had Fozzie not become available.

The same set would be used for the performance of "Lydia the Tattooed Lady" in episode 102. The reuse of the set might be due to the fact that both episodes were shot as pilots, months before the rest of the first season. This song was also done in Jim Henson's Memorial, performed by Richard Hunt and Frank Oz as Scooter and Fozzie.

Releases

Audio

Video

Fozzie's Muppet Scrapbook (1985)

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{song|image=Simon Smith & His Dancing Bear.JPG|writer=[[Randy Newman]]|composer=|lyricist=|date=1967|source=''Feelin' Groovy'' (Harpers Bizarre album)|publisher=Little A Music; Unichappell Music Inc.}}
-{{talk}}
-{{song|writer=[[Randy Newman]]|composer=|lyricist=|date=1967|source=''Feelin' Groovy'' (Harpers Bizarre album)|publisher=Little A Music; Unichappell Music Inc.}}
-[[Image:Simon Smith & His Dancing Bear.JPG|thumb|300px|Simon Smith & His Amazing Dancing Bear]]
-"'''Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear'''," written by [[Randy Newman]] and first recorded by the band Harpers Bizarre, was performed as "Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Bear" on [[Episode 101: Juliet Prowse|episode 101]] of ''[[The Muppet Show]]''.  All recordings of the [[Muppets|Muppets']] performance of the song  are listed under this alternate title.
+"'''Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear'''," written by [[Randy Newman]] and first recorded by the band Harpers Bizarre, was performed as "Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Bear" in [[Episode 101: Juliet Prowse|episode 101]] of ''[[The Muppet Show]]''. All recordings of the [[The Muppets|Muppets']] performance of the song are listed under this alternate title.
-When [[Kermit]] refuses to change the name of the show from ''The Muppet Show'' to ''The Muppy Show'', [[J.P. Grosse|J.P. Grosse's]] favorite pet [[Muppy]] refuses to perform with [[Scooter]] in the closing number, "Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Dog."  [[Fozzie Bear]] becomes a last-minute replacement, and the number changes to "Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Bear" instead (which is fortunate, as Randy Newman never wrote a song called "Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Dog.")  Dressed like a ringmaster, Scooter leads Fozzie around the [[Stage|stage]] on a leash while he sings and dances.  [[Rowlf]] accompanies the duo on piano in the background.
+When [[Kermit the Frog|Kermit]] refuses to change the name of the show from ''The Muppet Show'' to ''The Muppy Show'', [[J.P. Grosse|J.P. Grosse's]] favorite pet [[Muppy]] locks himself in his dressing room and refuses to perform his number with [[Scooter]], "Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Dog." [[Fozzie Bear]] becomes a last-minute replacement, and the number changes to "Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Bear" instead. Fortunately for all involved, Newman's lyrics (such as "wear," "fair," "stare," and "everywhere") wouldn't have rhymed with "[[Dogs|dog]]" anyway.
+Dressed like a ringmaster, a mustachioed Scooter does most of the singing and dancing, while Fozzie, who is being led around the [[stage]] on a chain, hams it up all around him. [[Rowlf the Dog|Rowlf]] accompanies the duo on piano in the background, so it can be presumed that, in the worst case scenario, Scooter could have performed an a capella version of "Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Dog" with him had Fozzie not become available.
-The same set would be used for the performance of "[[Lydia the Tattooed Lady]]" in [[Episode 102: Connie Stevens|episode 102]].  The reuse of the set might be due to the fact that both episodes were shot as pilots, months before the rest of the first season.
+The same set would be used for the performance of "[[Lydia the Tattooed Lady]]" in [[Episode 102: Connie Stevens|episode 102]]. The reuse of the set might be due to the fact that both episodes were shot as pilots, months before the rest of the first season. This song was also done in [[Jim Henson's Memorial]], performed by [[Richard Hunt]] and [[Frank Oz]] as Scooter and Fozzie.
-==Audio Releases==
-*''[[Muppet Hits]]''
-*''[[The Muppet Show (album)|The Muppet Show]]'' album
-*''[[The Muppet Show: Music, Mayhem and More!]]''
-==Video Releases==
+==Releases==
+;Audio
-*[[Playhouse Video]]: ''[[Fozzie's Muppet Scrapbook]]''
-*''[[The Muppet Show: Season One]]''
+*''[[The Muppet Show (album)|The Muppet Show]]'' (1977)
+*''[[Muppet Hits]]''
+*''[[Music, Mayhem and More!]]'' (2002)
+;Video
+*''[[Fozzie's Muppet Scrapbook]]'' (1985)
 [[Category:Muppet Songs]]
 [[Category:Muppet Show Songs]]


Written by	Randy Newman
Date	1967
Source	Feelin' Groovy (Harpers Bizarre album)
Publisher	Little A Music; Unichappell Music Inc.