The Greateset Muppets' Song Of All Time Came From a Documentary about Swedish Lesbian Porn (NSFW)

By Dustin Rowles | Mindhole Blowers | September 10, 2016 |

There is no greater Muppets song than “Mahna Mahna” (though, I will grant that their “Bohemian Rhapsody” is a not too distant second). As a kid, I worshipped this song, so much so that when other Little League teams were chanting “Hey batter, batter!” at opposing players up to bat, I would lead my team on renditions of the Muppet song. There is nothing more unnerving when you’re an 11 year old trying to concentrate on keeping your eye on a 42 mph fastball than 9 kids all singing “Mahna Mahna Do Doo Do Do Do” at you as loud as they can.

As a parent, it’s also one of the very first YouTube videos I inflicted upon my kids, and even two year olds understand how hilarious musical gibberish can be.

What I recently found out, however (thanks Seth) is that “Mahna Mahna” is not a Muppets original. In fact, f you want to understand just how subversive Jim Henson was back in the late 1960s, you need only understand that the nonsense song was originally composed by Piero Umiliani for an Italian documentary called Sweden: Heaven and Hell.

That documentary is now best known for originating “Mahna Mahna,” but if you’re curious, here’s the description of the 1968 doc from Wikipedia:

The film which is made up of nine segments focuses on different aspects of sexuality in Sweden such as lesbian nightclubs, porn films, swinging lifestyle of married couples and sex education of teenagers. The film also examines drug addiction, alcoholism and suicides in Sweden.

What? Here’s a clip. It’s NSFW, unless your work doesn’t mind if you watch naked Swedish lesbians galavant in the snow.

And here’s the context in which “Mahna Mahna” was first used.

The Muppets are so cool, you guys.

Dustin is the founder and co-owner of Pajiba. You may email him here, follow him on Twitter, or listen to his weekly TV podcast, Podjiba.

← John Cusack's 30-Year-Dating History Is B-A-N-A-N-A-S | The Best Preschool in Maine is the Jewish Community Alliance →