I agree with the first "vote," that being Cliff RIchard and the Shadows. My one complaint is that the Shadows didn't write a better song for Richard to sing. While "Lady Penelope" is a good instrumental, the vocal "Shooting Star" is a weaker composition from the group than one would have liked or expected, especially as it had such a prominent position in the film.
Ha! I'd completely overlooked the "musical" reference in the thread title, but fortunately am redeemed by the podling party scene:
Well, it's a stretch, but I'll accept it.
I'll put it in the same category as the cantina band in STAR WARS, although - strictly speaking - they are REAL people in costumes, not really PUPPETS! Same goes for the SPITTING IMAGE clips above.
I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure the podlings (and gelflings) in The Dark Crystal were puppets, not costumed humans.
I can't really remember much puppet-performing-music-scenes in THE DARK CRYSTAL either, but I've only seen the film once, and that was a few years ago.
Ha! I'd completely overlooked the "musical" reference in the thread title, but fortunately am redeemed by the podling party scene:
Josh, I hadn't thought of The Dark Crystal as far as a musical performance goes until your original post and then I immediately thought of the podling party scene. I've loved that scene since I first saw the movie when it originally came out. Excellent choice! Love those little guys really jammin' and the pure joy of it all!
.....I'm sure this will generate a really short list, movie-wise that is. The Muppets in particular could supply a lot from TV.
Here's mine from Thunderbirds are Go! (1966), with Cliff Richard Jr. and The Shadows.....
Unfortunately, Mark Ford, your own "Thunderbirds" example doesn't qualify!!!
You specified "musical performance by puppets"
The "Thunderbirds" characters are marionettes, not puppets.
(I once interchangeably used "puppet" for "marionette"---in speaking with a very talented professional puppeteer---and I was lectured to in no uncertain terms! Perhaps the most famous marionette was "Pinocchio"---except he "got no strings!")
I'll put it in the same category as the cantina band in STAR WARS, although - strictly speaking - they are REAL people in costumes, not really PUPPETS! Same goes for the SPITTING IMAGE clips above.
I dunno where you get that from Thor. The 'Spitting Image' puppets were totally internally operated puppets, usually with no-one inside them. Often an operator under a desk used his real hands in make-up through sleeves, but the faces etc. were operated by hand with rods. In fact, if the characters in those two clips above had been people in costumes, they'd have had very unfortunate physiques.
add a rather silly and dubious edit: I'd also add probably nearly ALL of Brian Cant's songs to Camblewick Green, Chigley and Trumpton. (which altho he is singing them, are supposed to be the plasticine puppet/models okay?!
Disco Stu - thats a good call. I think my fave would have to be the Muppets sketch from the original series where zoot (the saxophone player) has to do that Mancini piece where he only plays one short note about every minute at the end of the orchestra's music.
The sketch preceding it has Zoot saying to the bandleader, "About this piece, give me match and I'll put it out of its misery!!" and the bandleader says "well, I could always find another sax player...." so Zoot says, paraphrasing, something like, "Well, man, let me take a look at this wonderful piece of music, baby...!" Its on the original LP.
And here's the piece! It's called "Sax and Violence," and the band leader's name is Nigel. It featured in the very second episode of the regular show(Connie Stevens).
I dunno where you get that from Thor. The 'Spitting Image' puppets were totally internally operated puppets, usually with no-one inside them. Often an operator under a desk used his real hands in make-up through sleeves, but the faces etc. were operated by hand with rods. In fact, if the characters in those two clips above had been people in costumes, they'd have had very unfortunate physiques.
Yeah, I was referring to "real hands" thing. I guess it's a matter of how you define the human interaction with the puppet.
Unfortunately, Mark Ford, your own "Thunderbirds" example doesn't qualify!!!
You specified "musical performance by puppets"
The "Thunderbirds" characters are marionettes, not puppets.
(I once interchangeably used "puppet" for "marionette"---in speaking with a very talented professional puppeteer---and I was lectured to in no uncertain terms! Perhaps the most famous marionette was "Pinocchio"---except he "got no strings!")
Manderley, you bring up a good point about the ages old debate of the definition of a puppet which still rages on! I've been chastised as a well by a puppeteer for the same thing and yet a guy I knew who actually made his living making them used it in the more general sense and said that some puppeteers are just too damn sensitive about it. Anyway, here's a dictionary definition of a puppet:
puppet (n) 1. A small figure of a person or animal, having a cloth body and hollow head, designed to be fitted over and manipulated by the hand. 2. A figure having jointed parts animated from above by strings or wires; a marionette. 3. A toy representing a human figure; a doll. 4. One whose behavior is determined by the will of others: a political puppet.
It shows a marionette being a type of puppet, but with a specialized name because of its difference in design and operation. So I'm sticking with my use of puppet since it covers a broader range, and of course it supports my selection!
Here's a thought, when someone uses the term "puppet master" to mean a person that is actually controlling the actions of another person, they use the term "pulling his strings". If we were being pedantic about it we should be calling that person a "marionette master"! As you can see, I have WAY too much time on my hands!
Mark
BONUS CONTENT!
Although not performed by puppets, here's a song written FOR a puppet! From Stingray [note: the credits list the Puppetry Supervisor & Puppet Operators]
.....Manderley, you bring up a good point about the ages old debate of the definition of a puppet which still rages on! I've been chastised as a well by a puppeteer for the same thing and yet a guy I knew who actually made his living making them used it in the more general sense and said that some puppeteers are just too damn sensitive about it. Anyway, here's a dictionary definition of a puppet:
puppet (n) 1. A small figure of a person or animal, having a cloth body and hollow head, designed to be fitted over and manipulated by the hand. 2. A figure having jointed parts animated from above by strings or wires; a marionette. 3. A toy representing a human figure; a doll. 4. One whose behavior is determined by the will of others: a political puppet.
It shows a marionette being a type of puppet, but with a specialized name because of its difference in design and operation. So I'm sticking with my use of puppet since it covers a broader range, and of course it supports my selection!
Here's a thought, when someone uses the term "puppet master" to mean a person that is actually controlling the actions of another person, they use the term "pulling his strings". If we were being pedantic about it we could should be calling that person a "marionette master"! As you can see, I have WAY too much time on my hands!
Mark.....
Then I think, in all fairness to the competition, we must add Danny Kaye!
