What Makes Music?

Written by	Joe Raposo
Date	1971
Publisher	Jonico Music, Inc.

"What Makes Music?" is a Sesame Street song about the many things which are musical and how "When you're happy on the inside, ev'rything you hear is music."

The song was first performed on the show in Episode 0220 by Bob, Gordon, Susan, Mr. Hooper, and Oscar the Grouch. This performance was released on the compilation album 60 Favorite Songs from Sesame Street.

It was later performed in Episode 0371 by Gordon, Rafael, Tom, Susan, and Oscar. Bob, Oscar, and the kids performed the song, with some new lyrics, in Episode 2979.

Other performances[]

A disco cover appeared on the 1979 album Sesame Disco!.

An instrumental of the disco version plays over a segment where David, struggling with his roller-skates, imagines himself roller-skating with ease through Central Park. (First: Episode 1559) (YouTube)

The 2000 home video Let's Make Music features a new performance by Elmo, Alan, the Kids, a Honker, a Dinger, Oscar and Telly Monster.

During a 2000 edition of Evening at Pops, the song was performed (with new lyrics by Christine Ferraro) by Elmo, Rosita, Bob, Gordon, Maria, and Alan.

The cast performed the song in the 2009 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade as a part of a medley with "Sing."

Notes[]

A new version of the song was planned for use in season 38 by Ernie and Bert, in a routine written by Judy Freudberg (who wrote some new lyrics). Bert admires his bottlecap collection, which he is keeping in a jar. Ernie is fascinated by the sound they make when shaken, leading to a performance of the song, where they are joined by an Anything Muppet jug band.^[1]