Muppets cover 'Smells Like Teen Spirit,' 'Forget You'

Soundtrack for new movie also includes Feist and ... Mickey Rooney?

Below:

- x
  Jump to photos October
- photos
- x
  Jump to video Watch 'The Muppets' trailer
- video

Disney

"The Muppets" movie opens Nov. 23, and its soundtrack will be released Nov. 21. Some famous singers and songs will join the furry, fuzzy cast.

By Gael Fashingbauer Cooper

TODAY.com

updated 10/17/2011 12:41:58 PM ET

Print
Font:
+
-

It's time to play the music, it's time to light the lights. Well, let's go back to the "music." Even if you're not a movie soundtrack person, you may want to rethink things on Nov. 21, when Walt Disney Records releases the soundtrack for the new "Muppets" movie.

Story: 12 unlikely covers of 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the soundtrack includes the Muppets covering Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" as well as Cee Lo Green's "Forget You." (What, you thought the Muppets would do the uncensored version? Well, maybe Animal...)

Video: Cee Lo rouses plaza fans with ‘Forget You’ (on this page)

The soundtrack will also include a new version of Kermit's heartbreaker, "Rainbow Connection," and a number of visiting artists.

Video: Sesame Street unveils poverty stricken muppet (on this page)

Bret McKenzie of "Flight of the Conchords" has written four songs for the movie. Feist, Joanna Newsom, and, oddly enough, 91-year-old Mickey Rooney will all sing on the soundtrack. Makes sense, kind of. The Muppets and Rooney both subscribe to the "hey, kids, let's put on a show!" school of theater. Also, Statler and Waldorf might give Mickey a run for his money in the I'm-older-than-you department.

Story: Why Nirvana's 'Nevermind' spoke to a generation

The movie opens Nov. 23 and involves the Muppets enlisting human help to save their theater from a big oilman who wants to tear it down.

Story: Trailer of the Week: Save 'The Muppets'! See this movie!

No early clips have been released, but at least one enterprising fan anticipated this back in 2010, posting the attached clip of Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem performing — and various other Muppets cameo — while Nirvana's version of "Teen Spirit" plays. That Janice always could rock.

Do you have a favorite Muppets song? Share with us on Facebook.

Photos: October

Open in new window

Related video Watch the 'Real Steel' trailer

'Real Steel'
Stars: Hugh Jackman, Evangeline Lilly and Kevin Durand

Director: Shawn Levy

Scheduled release date: Oct. 7

Is "Real Steel" really "Rock Em Sock Em Robots: The Movie"? Looks like it. Hugh Jackman plays a small-time boxing promoter whose job goes kaput when enormous robots take over the sport. He and his young son find a scrapped robot in a junkyard and rebuild it in hopes of winning the championship. (DreamWorks Pictures) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Advertise | AdChoices

Related video Watch the 'Ides of March' trailer

'The Ides of March'
Stars: George Clooney, Ryan Gosling, Paul Giamatti, Evan Rachel Wood, Philip Seymour Hoffman

Director: George Clooney

Scheduled release date: Oct. 7

George Clooney for president! He both stars in and directs "The Ides of March," with Ryan Gosling playing his naive spokesman who discovers the dirty side of politics. (Is there a clean side?) (Columbia Pictures) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Related slideshow Jennifer Aniston's career

'Wanderlust'
Stars: Jennifer Aniston, Paul Rudd and Malin Akerman

Director: David Wain

Scheduled release date: Oct. 7

In "Wanderlust," Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd play a New York couple who must simplify their lives and move to a small town. (Universal Studios) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Advertise | AdChoices

Related video Watch 'The Thing' trailer

'The Thing'
Stars: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joel Edgerton and Ulrich Thomsen

Director: Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.

Scheduled release date: Oct. 14

The 2011 version of "The Thing" is set up as a prequel to the 1982 John Carpenter horror flick. Mary Elizabeth Winstead heads to Antarctica to help a scientific team who've discovered a seemingly dead alien in the ice. Hey, let's thaw him out! What could happen? (Universal Pictures) Share Back to slideshow navigation
'Footloose'
Stars: Kenny Wormald, Julianne Hough and Dennis Quaid

Director: Craig Brewer.

Scheduled release date: Oct. 14

Remakes abound this fall, and one of the most talked about is "Footloose," which made Kevin Bacon a star in 1984. Now Kenny Wormald takes on the role of Ren, a city boy who moves to a town where dancing is banned. "Dancing With the Stars" alum Julianne Hough plays the girl he loves, who also is the daughter of the reverend who keeps the kids from dancing. (Paramount Pictures) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Related video Watch the 'Footloose' trailer

Advertise | AdChoices
Related video Watch 'The Skin I Live In' trailer

'The Skin I Live In'
Stars: Antonio Banderas, Elena Anaya and Jan Cornet

Director: Pedro Almodóvar

Scheduled release date: Oct. 14

There's lots of buzz about the Spanish thriller "The Skin I Live In," which reunites acclaimed director Pedro Almodovar and star Antonio Banderas. Banderas plays a brilliant but warped plastic surgeon seeking to make skin that cannot burn. It only gets weirder from there. (Sony Pictures Classics) Share Back to slideshow navigation
'The Big Year'
Stars: Owen Wilson, Jack Black and Steve Martin

Director: David Frankel

Scheduled release date: Oct. 14

A movie about birdwatching? "The Big Year" is going to have to work on convincing audiences that's a topic that will fly. Casting Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson was a good start -- the three actors play pals who try to outdo each other in the bird-spotting realm. (20th Century Fox) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Related video Watch the 'Paranormal Activity 3' trailer

'Paranormal Activity 3'
Stars: Not yet released

Directors: Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman

Scheduled release date: Oct. 21

Yes, a third one. "Paranormal Activity 3" goes back to the childhoods of Katie and Kristi, the sisters who found their lives cursed by a creepy demon. But has this found-footage series worn out its welcome? Happy Halloween! (Paramount Pictures) Share Back to slideshow navigation
'The Three Musketeers'
Stars: Logan Lerman, Matthew Macfadyen, Luke Evans and Ray Stevenson

Director: Paul W.S. Anderson

Scheduled release date: Oct. 21

Hollywood loves the Alexandre Dumas story of "The Three Musketeers." This version's in 3-D. No, really. Logan Lerman plays fourth musketeer D'Artagnan, with Matthew Macfadyen, Ray Stevenson and Luke Evans as the three main men. (Constantin Film Produktion GmbH) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Related video Watch 'The Three Musketeers' trailer

Advertise | AdChoices
Advertise | AdChoices

'Red State'
Stars: Michael Parks, Melissa Leo and John Goodman

Director: Kevin Smith

Scheduled release date: Oct. 21

"Red State" is the independent politically themed horror film from "Clerks" director Kevin Smith. It features characters and a plot loosely based on Fred Phelps and his hatred of homosexuals. (Lionsgate) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Related video Watch the 'Margin Call' trailer

'Margin Call'
Stars: Zachary Quinto, Stanley Tucci and Kevin Spacey, Demi Moore

Director: J.C. Chandor

Scheduled release date: Oct. 21

A thriller at an investment bank? "Margin Call" covers 24 hours at such a bank in the midst of our financial crisis, and has been described as "Gordon Gekko meets Jack Bauer." (Roadside Attractions) Share Back to slideshow navigation
'In Time'
Stars: Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried and Cillian Murphy

Director: Andrew Niccol

Scheduled release date: Oct. 28

Justin Timberlake breaks out as an action star in "In Time," a sci-fi thriller where people must wear on their arm a clock counting down the amount of time they have left. The rich can buy more time and live forever, while the rest must battle it out to continue to exist. (20th Century Fox) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Related video Watch the 'In Time' trailer
Related slideshow Johnny Depp's many roles

'The Rum Diary'
Stars: Johnny Depp, Amber Heard and Aaron Eckhart

Director: Bruce Robinson

Scheduled release date: Oct. 28

"The Rum Diary" is based on Hunter S. Thompson's novel, and stars Johnny Depp as a journalist who travels to Puerto Rico in the 1950s for many rum-soaked adventures. (FilmDistrict) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Related video Watch the 'Anonymous' trailer

'Anonymous'
Stars: Rhys Ifans, Vanessa Redgrave and David Thewlis

Director: Roland Emmerich

Scheduled release date: Oct. 28

Did William Shakespeare really write his plays? "Anonymous" puts forth the theory that the works were instead written by Edward de Vere, the Earl of Oxford, who's also the lover of Queen Elizabeth. The play's the thing. (Columbia Pictures) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Related video Watch the 'Blackthorn' trailer

'Blackthorn'
Stars: Sam Shepard, Eduardo Noriega, Daniel Aguirre and Luis Bredow

Director: Mateo Gil

Scheduled release date: Oct. 28

Butch Cassidy, is that you? In "Blackthorn," the notorious criminal is still alive in Bolivia, and he embarks on one last adventure before trying to get home to the U.S. Sam Shepard plays Cassidy. (Magnet Releasing) Share Back to slideshow navigation