For Rebecca, I have hunted out the original version of the Sesame Street song, “Mah Nah Mah Nah”, with the much nicer “par tip a tippy” words instead of the “do do dos” words which have clearly dumbed the song down considerably. As an impressionable young child, I was much influenced by the power of the evil but silent glare and have used it wisely in my later years. I think you will agree that this is a far superior version! Enjoy 
I have several things to say about this video: 1) I am very grateful that you took the time to hunt it down for me– the Anya and the YouTube are wonderful!!! 2) I can’t believe I didn’t know about the original version– especially since I think that’s one of my exes singing. He was in a band. In fact, I think that’s my striped shirt he’s wearing! I didn’t recognize him from the Muppets video because of the red hair. 3) While I agree that the “par-tippy-tip” chorus does add a catchy little something (incidentally, a something that I will likely be singing all day), I’m still not entirely sold on this version. I think it’s because the tubular snouts of the pink backup singers just add a little something extra to the stern disapproving stare. It’s hard to match that when you have little rosebud lips and pigtails. In fact, I often draw my lips up in such a snoutlike manner when attempting a particularly cutting stare. (I’d email you a photo, but I know where it would end up– so I’d better not. ^_^) Still, the par-tippy-tips are fabulous!!!
Comment by rwblack — February 7, 2007 @ 1:20 am
Oh no, do email me a photo, I would never blog it without permission, well unless there was a demand by other blog readers.
Whilst I enjoyed those snouts, and even more so the gorgeous long black eyelashes, I have to say that there was nothing “special” about them. The opposite is true of the little girl muppet heads. The clever way the puppeteer uses his or hand to make the mouth screw up is simply CLASSIC and hints of the fabulous back story to the piece. After replaying the later version and placing it under careful scrutiny, I might agree that the production is slicker, maybe even prettier, but it is sadly lacking in multiple narratives, and one cannot do anything more than a superficial reading of its meaning: it is as I said, DUMBED DOWN.
Comment by Anya — February 7, 2007 @ 12:13 pm
Mana Mana was a hit before the Muppets, It was used regularly at the beginning of the Dean Martin Show. Unfortunately I can’t seem to dig this one hit wonder out of the internet because everything seems to point back to the Muppet’s version
Except for a reference to a Swedish scat band who’s name is not given I haven’t come up with anything on the original
has your research turned up anything?
Comment by Sabr Nooh — October 21, 2007 @ 6:09 am