"Mah Na Mah Na" is a popular song written by Piero Umiliani. It originally appeared in the Italian film Sweden: Heaven
and Hell, but is best known in English-speaking countries from its use in the first episode of The Muppet Show. In the UK
the song gained considerable popularity through the late 90's when a variation of "Mah N� Mah N�" was produced as part of
an advertising campaign for the BN Biscuit
Debut version
"Mah Na Mah Na" debuted as part of Umiliani's soundtrack for the Italian mondo film Svezia, inferno e paradiso (Sweden:
Heaven and Hell) (1968), a pseudo-documentary about wild activity and other behavior in Sweden. The song accompanied a scene
in the film set in a sauna. The lead part was sung by Italian singer/composer Alessandro Alessandroni. The song also appeared
on the 1968 soundtrack album released for the film.
"Mah Na Mah Na" was a hit in many countries in 1968-1969. In the U.S. it peaked at #55 in the Billboard Hot 100 singles
chart and #44 on the Cash Box magazine chart in October 1969.
The song's lyrics contain no actual words, only nonsense (iambic) syllables resembling scat singing. The original version
interpolates melodies from "Swedish Rhapsody" (Midsummer Vigil) by Hugo Alfv�n, "Santa Lucia", "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy",
the jazz standard "Lullaby of Birdland", and others.
A scrap of paper found on a recording studio floor reveals the original lyrics, which were thought to be lost but have
been recently rediscovered.
