Mah Nà Mah Nà facts for kids

"Mah Nà Mah Nà" is a very popular song created by Italian composer Piero Umiliani. It first appeared in an Italian movie called Sweden: Heaven and Hell in 1968. The song became a small radio hit in the U.S. and Britain. However, it became much more famous around the world because of its use by The Muppets and on The Benny Hill Show.

The song first became well-known in countries where English is spoken. This happened when it was used in a short, funny skit at the start of The Red Skelton Show. This skit was part of the 1969-70 season and first aired in October 1969.

A producer for Sesame Street, Joan Ganz Cooney, heard the song on the radio. She thought it would be perfect for the show. It was first performed on Sesame Street by Jim Henson (who played Kermit the Frog and others), Frank Oz (who played Fozzie Bear and others), and Loretta Long (who played Susan). This happened on the fourteenth episode of the show, broadcast on November 27, 1969. Soon after, Jim Henson and his Muppets performed the song on The Ed Sullivan Show. Seven years later, in 1976, the song was featured in the very first episode of The Muppet Show.

Starting in 1971, The Benny Hill Show began using "Mah Nà Mah Nà". It became part of a funny background music mix for their slapstick comedy skits. This music mix became a long-lasting tradition for the show.

The Muppets and "Mah Nà Mah Nà"

"Mah Nà Mah Nà" became very famous through its different versions by the Muppets. In 1969, the first season of Sesame Street showed a skit with two Muppet girls. They were voiced by Frank Oz and Loretta Long. They weren't sure what to do, so they decided to sing. Then, a unique-looking, shaggy-haired male Muppet appeared and started singing "Mahna Mahna". The girls joined in. At first, none of these characters had names. The male Muppet who led the song was later called Bip Bippadotta. This name helped tell him apart from the official Mahna Mahna character that came later. The original Mahna Mahna Muppet was performed by Muppets creator Jim Henson. Today, Muppeteer veteran Bill Barretta performs him.

On November 30, 1969, "Mahna Mahna" was performed on The Ed Sullivan Show. For this performance, three new, more detailed Muppet characters were used. The male Muppet was purple with wild, orange hair and a green furry outfit. The two female Muppets were identical pink alien creatures. They had horns and cone-like mouths with yellow lips that always stayed open. At this time, the male Muppet was named Mahna Mahna. The female alien creatures were called the Snowths. Their name is a mix of "snout" and "mouth," because their mouths also looked like noses. Both the Snowths were performed by Muppeteer veteran Frank Oz. The song "Mahna Mahna" was played slower and sounded more like a fun children's song. This was different from the earlier version, which had a bit of a 1960s Calypso feel.

In 1976, the first episode of The Muppet Show was recorded. It featured actress Juliet Prowse. The "Mahna Mahna" routine from The Ed Sullivan Show in 1969 was updated and used as the first skit. It had the same characters and a new recording of the music. The Muppet Show quickly became a big hit, and "Mahna Mahna" was a highlight of that first episode. During the skit, Mahna Mahna danced backstage and out of the Muppet Theater. He even called the Snowths after he left. At the end of the episode, he appeared in Statler and Waldorf's theater box.

As a result of The Muppet Show's popularity, the original Piero Umiliani recording finally became a hit in the UK. It reached number 8 on the UK music charts in May 1977. The Muppet Show soundtrack album, which had the Muppets' version, went to number one. It was at this point that the name "Mahna Mahna and The Snouths" was mistakenly spelled "Mahna Mahna and The Snowths." This spelling has been used ever since.

The song has appeared in other Muppet shows and movies:

• In the later Muppet TV series Muppets Tonight (1996–1998), there was a skit with Sandra Bullock. Kermit the Frog visited a doctor to complain about strange things happening when he said the word phenomena. The Snowths would suddenly appear and sing their part of the song.
• In the Muppets' version of "Bohemian Rhapsody", the Snowths make a quick appearance. They sing the main words of the song.
• The song is also performed in the 2011 Muppets movie. Various celebrities sing with the Snowths during the end credits.

Images for kids

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  Mah Nà Mah Nà (Cat No.: GRT 20003)

See also

In Spanish: Mah-nà mah-nà para niños