"The Rainbow Connection" is a ballad with music and lyrics by Paul Williams and Kenny Ascher, written for the 1979 film The Muppet Movie. In the opening number, Kermit the Frog, voiced by Jim Henson, sings it alone on a log in the swamp, and critics call it the film's "I Want" song. Williams said "When You Wish Upon a Star" was an inspiration, and the song is often compared to "Over the Rainbow". Henson's recording as Kermit, made in July 1979, runs about 3:15 and appeared on the soundtrack. The June 1979 single, released by Atlantic in the US and Canada, paired it with "I Hope That Somethin' Better Comes Along". It reached No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 18 on the Adult Contemporary chart, and was certified Gold by the RIAA. It was nominated for Best Original Song at the 52nd Academy Awards, losing to "It Goes Like It Goes". AFI ranked it 74th on its 100 Years...100 Songs list, and the Library of Congress added it to the National Recording Registry in 2020. Later versions by the Carpenters, Willie Nelson, Sarah McLachlan, the Dixie Chicks and Gwen Stefani, among many others, followed.
