1970 song written by Joe Raposo, originally performed by Jim Henson as Kermit the Frog
"Bein' Green " (also known as "It's Not Easy Bein' Green ") is a song written byJoe Raposo , originally performed byJim Henson asKermit the Frog on bothSesame Street The Muppet Show Peter Ustinov " and "Peter Sellers "). It later was covered byRay Charles ,Frank Sinatra ,Van Morrison , and other performers. "Bein' Green" is considered thesignature song of Kermit the Frog.[ 1]
In the Muppets version, Kermit begins by lamenting his green coloration, expressing that green "blends in with so many ordinary things" and wishing to be some other color. But by the end of the song, Kermit recalls positive associations with the color green, and concludes by accepting and embracing his color.
Jim Henson asKermit the Frog , various Muppet productions, starting withThe Sesame Street Book & Record in 1970, until 1990 following Henson's deathSteve Whitmire as Kermit the Frog, various Muppet productions (1990–2016)Thurl Ravenscroft , 1970 albumRubber Duckie and Other Songs From Sesame Street Frank Sinatra , 1971 albumSinatra & Company Sesame Street Étienne Delessert .[ 2] Lena Horne , 1971 albumNature's Baby Urbie Green , 1972 albumBein' Green Buddy Rich , 1972 albumStick It Van Morrison , 1973 albumHard Nose the Highway Stan Kenton , 19737.5 on the Richter Scale Della Reese , 1973 albumLet Me in Your Life John Leyton , 1973 eponymous albumDiana Ross , 1974 albumLive at Caesars Palace Arthur Fiedler and theBoston Pops Orchestra , 1974 albumYou Will Be My Music Ray Charles , 1975 albumRenaissance The Cosby Show Sesame Street andThe Cher Show Sesame Street... 20 Years & Still Counting Jackie McLean , 1978 albumNew Wine in Old Bottles Mary O'Hara , 1981 albumColours [ 3] Keith Harris andOrville the Duck , 1983 singleWilliam Roy , 1986 single "When I Sing Alone"Helen Merrill feat.Stan Getz , 1989 albumJust Friends Wilford Brimley , 1989MDA Labor Day Telethon Mandy Patinkin , 1990 albumDress Casual Big Bird , 1990 Jim Henson memorial serviceBob McGrath , 1991 album Bob's Favorite Street SongsRowlf the Dog , 1993 albumOl' Brown Ears is Back Jill O'Hara , 1993 albumJill O'Hara Shirley Horn , 1993 albumLight Out of Darkness (A Tribute to Ray Charles) Don Henley with Kermit, 1994 albumKermit Unpigged Mike Campbell , 1994 albumEasy Chair Jazz Vanessa Rubin , 1995 albumVanessa Rubin Sings Johnny Lytle , 1997 albumEasy Easy Don Rickles , 1997Muppets Tonight Tony Bennett , 1998 albumThe Playground Alan Muraoka , 2000Evening at Pops [ 4] Calvin Ray Johnson andKermit The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon [ 5] Oscar the Grouch , 2005 episodeSesame Street Audra McDonald , 2006 albumBuild a Bridge [ 6] Sophie Milman , 2007 albumMake Someone Happy Matthew White ,Music and Sweet Poetry Agree Take 6 , 2008 albumThe Standard Abelardo Montoya , 2009 episode in Spanish "Ser Verde"Plaza Sésamo [ 7] Andrew Bird , 2011 tribute/cover albumMuppets: The Green Album Brenna Whitaker, 2015 albumWe Love Disney Imelda May and theRTÉ Concert Orchestra at a televised live event to mark the centenary of the 1916Easter Rising [ 8] Matt Vogel as Kermit the Frog, 2018The Jim Henson Retrospectacle Live in Concert [ 9] Matt Vogel as Kermit the Frog andElvis Costello , 2019 TV specialSesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra , 2019 albumJazz for Kids Matt Vogel as Kermit withLucas Ross onbanjo , 2024UMD College of Arts and Humanities' Dean's Lecture Series '[ 10] Eric Jacobson as Oscar the Grouch andCynthia Erivo , 2024 on "Sesame Street's YouTube channel (uses altered lyrics from Season 36 version). "[ 11] The song was sung byBig Bird (Caroll Spinney ) at the two memorial services forJim Henson in 1990.
UK Prime MinisterBoris Johnson used the song as an example for his environmental policy in late‑2021, saying that Kermit was wrong and it is easy to be green.[ 12]
^ "Any Way You Look at It, Kermit Loves 'Bein' Green' . 7 September 2020.^ Footage screened at "Sesame Street: Lost and Found" event atMuseum of the Moving Image , November 24, 2019. ^ Mary O'Hara - Colours , retrieved2023-09-24 ^ "Evening at Pops Sesame Street broadcast" ,YouTube , 2022, retrieved2024-12-24 ^ Kermit The Frog & Calvin Ray Sing It's Not Easy Being Green , retrieved2024-12-24 ^ Build A Bridge Album , retrieved2024-12-26 ^ Plaza Sésamo - Abelardo canta No es fácil ser verde 💚 , retrieved2024-12-24 ^ "Centenary | 1916" . Archived fromthe original on 2016-04-12. Retrieved2016-03-29 .^ The Jim Henson Retrospectacle Live in Concert , retrieved2024-12-24 ^ 2024-2025 Arts & Humanities Dean's Lecture Series featuring Kermit the Frog at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, Dekelboum Concert Hall , retrieved2024-12-24 ^ Sesame Street: Cynthia Erivo Sings "It's Not Easy Bein' Green" with Oscar the Grouch , retrieved2024-12-24 ^ Nichols, Michelle (23 September 2021)."In U.N. Climate push, UK PM disputes Kermit: 'It is easy to be green' .Reuters .
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