Sesame Street Music: The Top 7

Sesame Street has been on the air since 1969. In the 38 years since Sesame Street has hit the airwaves, many a classic song has been sung. I am of the age that not only have I grown up with the television show, but the Sesame Street Muppets have all been a favorite of my children at different times. With the recent releases of "Sesame Street: Old School," my interest in these songs has increased - and of course, my son's interest in Sesame Street has as well.

Doubtlessly, anyone approaching age 40 probably remembers the "Lady Bug Picnic" or the "1-2-3-4-5..." pinball number count.

Over the course of those years, I've come to grow fond of certain songs in the Sesame Street catalog; some because of the music, most of what the music means to me as an adult...or at least that's what I tell myself when I ask why I'm listening to this stuff when I don't have to.

This is a list of my Top 7 Favorite Sesame Street songs. These are the songs you're likely to hear over my car radio if you happen to stop next to me at a stop light...whether or not there is anyone else in the car with me. What you'll find are themes of self-identity, race, habits of mind and confidence.

The List

#7 - "Fuzzy & Blue (and Orange)" sung by Grover, Cookie Monster, Herry Monster and Frazzle

The song itself isn't as fun or as powerful as some of the other songs in the catalog or in this list, but it has an important message that I love. It's a message that I like how I look, and not only that, I wouldn't look any other way. It's a point of celebration, an unabashed self-acceptance of how I look.

Lest the message go too far toward an exclusionary theme or lest it sound overly parochial, the conversation gets re-centered on the idea of being happy about who you are; Frazzle wants to join the song but he's fuzzy and Orange. No matter. He is allowed to join and the message gets tweaked; "We all are fuzzy and blue (and orange)."

You can be proud of who you are and what you look like and still be inclusive of others who don't look like you do. It's a powerful message of which society could use a little more.

#6 - "Put Down the Duckie" sung by Ernie & Hoots the Owl

This is just one of those songs that you just can't help but to tap your foot to. Ah, but those pesky social messages come through, don't they? You've got to give up those habits that interfere with where you want to go. You can't simultaneously lose weight AND eat chocolate.

Some things directly interfere with achieving your goals - holding on to a rubber duck while playing the saxophone; alcohol abuse and maintaining a relationship or job. Other things indirectly interfere because they're inconsistent behaviors; spending a few dollars every day on a cup of coffee keeps you from reaching your desired outcome of being debt free.

#5 - "Sing"

I remember my mother singing this song to me as a child and it's just one of those things that you just don't out grow. The message is simple: give yourself a positive message, don't be afraid to sing it out, and don't worry about what other people have to say about it. It's one of those quiet songs of strength we can all use every now and again.

As I get older and realize all the negative influences children can have thrust upon them, how remarkable the 30 or so words that make up this song are.

#4 - "I Don't Want to Live on the Moon" sung by Ernie

Children can have so much uncertainty in their life and have no control over things such as where they live - what neighborhood, what city. I was - and I believe my own children to be - fortunate; I had a permanent home, with steady role models. Not all kids do, and I can imagine them wishing to be somewhere far away...or at least somewhere else. Anywhere else. Alas, we lose sight of all the good things that aren't somewhere else - people you love, friends, places that make up our lives. It's important to remember those positive things - particularly if there aren't many and particularly if you don't have control of everything in your life.

#3 - "The Monster in the Mirror" sung by Grover

"... do nothing that you would not like to see him do
'Cause that monster in the mirror he just might be you"

It takes a bit to get to the meat of the message here, but what a fun little ride getting there. Remember that your behavior reflects upon you and if you wouldn't like to see someone else doing something, you shouldn't either. For me, it speaks to the importance of acting in ways that will reflect well upon you. "Wubba, wubba, wubba" could be any nasty little thing you could think of - "do not wubba me or I will wubba you."

#2 - "Being Green" sung by Kermit the Frog

Another song about race and identity book ends my list. While "Fuzzy & Blue" comes right out and tells the world how happy the monsters are being blue, Kermit does take his time getting around to accepting his "green-ness."

The song strikes me as a journey he goes through coming around to feeling happy with his identity. Perhaps he's been on the journey that would have him feeling alienated because of his color, but has come to understand all the redeeming qualities his color offers as well - big like an ocean or important like a mountain.

The song ends with "I am green and it'll do fine, it's beautiful! And I think it's what I want to be." His color is inherently beautiful. A fine place to be, indeed, but he isn't quite sure - he thinks it's where he wants to be, indicating that perhaps he remains somewhat alienated. A feeling not unlike anyone else coming to some resolution of self-doubt or identity issues.

#1 - "I Love Trash" sung by Oscar the Grouch

There's really not much a positive social agenda going on with this song; after all, living amongst squalor is a recipe for disease and other ills. But it's what Oscar is most passionate about, and isn't that what we all seek - something to be passionate about?

I tend to look at it through the lens of "different strokes for different folks," a children's version of the Travel Channel's "Bizarre Foods." Just because trash isn't my thing, it's Oscar's and he feels passionately about it: his mother gave him a ratty old sneaker and he loves it.

There you have it. A series of positive social messages cleverly disguised as a good time. I loved Sesame Street as a child, but the more I think about it as a parent, the more I like it as an adult.