Kermit the Frog, famed for his vocal performances of ‘Rainbow Connection’ and ‘It’s not easy being green’ was having some quiet time when we met in his dressing room, overlooking the lagoon at the Michael Fowler Centre.
Bret McKenzie and Kermit onstage at The Jim Henson Retrospectacle Photo: Rob Sarkies
In just a few moments he was to step out on the stage with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and Bret McKenzie to pay homage to his creator Jim Henson.
So how does he ensure he’s in peak condition, vocal wise before heading out to perform?
REVIEW: The Jim Henson Retrospectacle
Like every good singer he has a range of vocal warm ups and knows where to find the best acoustics to make his voice fly.
“I start the morning with a few croaks and some light ribbitting,” Kermit says. “And I sing in the shower… like everybody does.”
Fozzie Bear and Kermit onstage at The Jim Henson Retrospectacle Photo: Rob Sarkies
Unlike some of us, singing comes naturally for Kermit, who knew he could sing from a young age. “Frogs sing all the time. Once you drop your tail and hop up on the land after being a tadpole you just tend to sing a lot,” he says.
Vocalists do suffer with afflictions and Kermit is no different. In humans when we are croaky or can’t sing it’s called having a “frog in your throat”.
So what happens when Kermit gets a frog in his? “I prefer to have the frog in my throat actually. It’s kind of a good thing,” he says. “The bad thing for me being a frog is when I get a person in my throat. That’s kind of a similar thing in the frog world.”
Kermit is very modest about his abilities, even though “Rainbow Connection” spent 17 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and has been viewed more than 10 million times on youtube. “I wouldn’t call myself much of a great singer, I just try to be true to the song,” he says. “I’m not the best singer I wouldn’t think, but I try to put my heart into it and kind of go from there really.”
When he’s not been busy singing, he’s been busy swimming (in our cold water) and meeting the Kiwi fans, which Kermit says has been a highlight of his visit. “I’ve been having such a great time here in New Zealand. I wish I could bring all of you home with me… I do not think they will fit into my luggage though.”
Kermit is performing in the Jim Henson Retrospectacle at the Michael Fowler Centre with the NZSO and Bret McKenzie Friday 27 April & Saturday 28 April.
