Mah Na Mah Na Song and its History

“Mah Nà Mah Nà“ is a popular song by Italian composer Piero Umiliani. It originally appeared in the Italian film Sweden: Heaven and Hell (Svezia, inferno e paradiso). It was a minor radio hit in the United States and in Britain, but became better known internationally for its use by The Muppets and on The Benny Hill Show. Sesame Street producer Joan Ganz Cooney heard the track on the radio and decided it would be a perfect addition to the show. It was first performed by Jim Henson (Kermit the Frog, et al.), Frank Oz (Miss Piggy, et al.) and Loretta Long (Susan) on the fourteenth episode of the show, broadcast on November 27, 1969. Seven years later the song was part of the premiere episode of The Muppet Show in 1976. Starting in 1971, The Benny Hill Show — in its second incarnation now at Thames Television where it launched in 1969 in colour — implemented “Mah Nà Mah Nà“ as part of a comic background music medley that would run during their often-filmed slapstick