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โ | {{song|writer=[[Joe Raposo]]|composer=|lyricist=|date=[[1970]]|source=|publisher=Jonico Music, Inc.<br>Green Fox Music Inc.}} |
+ | {{song|image=BeinGreen-1970.jpg|writer=[[Joe Raposo]]|composer=|lyricist=|date=[[1970]]|source=|publisher=Jonico Music, Inc.<br>Green Fox Music Inc.|first=[[Episode 0087]]}} |
โ | [[Image:Beingreen1969.jpg|thumb|300px|Kermit's first performance of "Bein' Green" on the first season of ''Sesame Street''.]] |
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โ | {{firstbox|0087}} |
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โ | [[Image:112green.jpg|thumb|300px]] |
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โ | [[Image:Kermitraygreen.jpg|frame|Kermit and Ray Charles sing "Bein' Green" on ''Cher'' in 1975.]] |
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โ | [[Image:KermitBeinGreenTMS2.jpg|thumb|300px|Kermit's performance of the song on ''The Muppet Show'' episode 219.]] |
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{{otheruses|Bein' Green (disambiguation)}} |
{{otheruses|Bein' Green (disambiguation)}} |
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โ | "'''Bein' Green'''," originally titled "Green," is one of [[Kermit the Frog]]'s best-known songs. It was written in 1970 by [[Joe Raposo]] for [[Season 1|the first season]] of ''[[Sesame Street]]'', and has since become an American standard. |
+ | "'''Bein' Green'''," originally titled "Green," is one of [[Kermit the Frog]]'s best-known songs. It was written in 1970 by [[Joe Raposo]] for [[Season 1|the first season]] of ''[[Sesame Street]]'', and has since become an American standard. |
+ | |||
โ | {{TOClimit}} |
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+ | ==Background== |
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+ | [[Image:KermitBeinGreenTMS2.jpg|thumb|300px|Kermit's performance of the song on ''The Muppet Show'' episode 219.]] |
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In the song, Kermit expresses his ambivalence about his color, noting that green "blends in with so many other ordinary things" and wishing that he were some other color instead. During the bridge, Kermit realizes that there are some powerful associations with the color -- "green can be big, like a mountain, or important, like a river, or tall like a tree." In the end, he decides that he's happy to be green -- "it's beautiful, and I think it's what I want to be." |
In the song, Kermit expresses his ambivalence about his color, noting that green "blends in with so many other ordinary things" and wishing that he were some other color instead. During the bridge, Kermit realizes that there are some powerful associations with the color -- "green can be big, like a mountain, or important, like a river, or tall like a tree." In the end, he decides that he's happy to be green -- "it's beautiful, and I think it's what I want to be." |
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โ | The song was described in a [[Sesame Workshop|Children's Television Workshop]] press release as "a frog's poignant realization of his own dignity and worth." |
+ | The song was described in a [[Sesame Workshop|Children's Television Workshop]] press release as "a frog's poignant realization of his own dignity and worth."<ref>"Beatles and Beethoven, Move on Over: The Seventies Sounds is Sesame Street." CTW Press Release. January 10, [[1971]]</ref> The song has been viewed as a powerful message about race: music journalist Danyel Smith recalls in ''[[The Greatest TV Moments: Sesame Street Music A-Z]]'' that her mother said to imagine that instead of saying "green," they said "black." |
Kermit would return to the song twice more on ''Sesame Street'', including as a duet with [[Lena Horne]], then performances on ''[[The Muppet Show]]'' in episodes [[Episode 112: Peter Ustinov|112]] and [[Episode 219: Peter Sellers|219]], where the song was used to lift Kermit up from a depressed state. |
Kermit would return to the song twice more on ''Sesame Street'', including as a duet with [[Lena Horne]], then performances on ''[[The Muppet Show]]'' in episodes [[Episode 112: Peter Ustinov|112]] and [[Episode 219: Peter Sellers|219]], where the song was used to lift Kermit up from a depressed state. |
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"It's not easy being green," a paraphrased lyric from the song, has become one of Kermit's catchphrases. In a twist on the line, when Kermit filmed a commercial for the [[Ford]] Escape Hybrid he remarked upon seeing the [[:Category:Environmentalism|environmentally friendly]] vehicle, "I guess sometimes it is easy being green." Media outlets have also used this phrase to associate with the environmental movement.<ref>[http://www.sidneyherald.com/articles/2008/08/12/news/doc48a1f55394ebd395796276.txt ''Sidney Herald'' "Going green: Ethanol may be part of countryโs path for energy independence" by Linsey Bright, 8/12/08]</ref> |
"It's not easy being green," a paraphrased lyric from the song, has become one of Kermit's catchphrases. In a twist on the line, when Kermit filmed a commercial for the [[Ford]] Escape Hybrid he remarked upon seeing the [[:Category:Environmentalism|environmentally friendly]] vehicle, "I guess sometimes it is easy being green." Media outlets have also used this phrase to associate with the environmental movement.<ref>[http://www.sidneyherald.com/articles/2008/08/12/news/doc48a1f55394ebd395796276.txt ''Sidney Herald'' "Going green: Ethanol may be part of countryโs path for energy independence" by Linsey Bright, 8/12/08]</ref> |
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โ | ''[[Street Gang]]'' gives insight into the songwriting process: |
+ | ''[[Street Gang]]'' gives insight into the songwriting process: |
{{quote|Raposo's best-regarded song has an air of intrigue around it. This much we know: it began when [[Jon Stone]] approached Raposo with a request. "We need a song for the frog", he said. As he had many times, with many songwriters and many songs, Stone walked Raposo through the curriculum goal for the composition and made lyric suggestions. Only Stone and Raposo were in the room when the contemplative song for Kermit was mapped out, but members of Stone's family have insisted that it was presumptuous of Raposo to claim that he alone wrote "Bein' Green". The sheet music has always indicated "Words and Music by Joe Raposo", and thus the enormous royalties generated by the song have always belonged to him. Jon Stone's failure to call Raposo on claiming full credit kindled one of the worst marital disagreements Jon and [[Beverly Owen|Beverly Stone]] ever had.<ref>''[[Street Gang]]'' page 256</ref>}} |
{{quote|Raposo's best-regarded song has an air of intrigue around it. This much we know: it began when [[Jon Stone]] approached Raposo with a request. "We need a song for the frog", he said. As he had many times, with many songwriters and many songs, Stone walked Raposo through the curriculum goal for the composition and made lyric suggestions. Only Stone and Raposo were in the room when the contemplative song for Kermit was mapped out, but members of Stone's family have insisted that it was presumptuous of Raposo to claim that he alone wrote "Bein' Green". The sheet music has always indicated "Words and Music by Joe Raposo", and thus the enormous royalties generated by the song have always belonged to him. Jon Stone's failure to call Raposo on claiming full credit kindled one of the worst marital disagreements Jon and [[Beverly Owen|Beverly Stone]] ever had.<ref>''[[Street Gang]]'' page 256</ref>}} |
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+ | <gallery widths=300> |
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โ | ==Performed by [[the Muppets]]== |
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+ | Video:Sesame Street Kermit Sings Being Green|Kermit's first performance of "Bein' Green" on the first season of ''Sesame Street''. |
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โ | [[Image:Song.BeinGreen.Kermit.LenaHorne.jpg|thumb|300px]] |
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+ | </gallery> |
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โ | [[Image:Cev88 bgk.jpg|thumb|300px]] |
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โ | ===[[Kermit the Frog]] ([[Jim Henson]])=== |
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โ | *''[[Sesame Street]]'' |
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โ | :*solo {{first|0087}} |
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โ | :*with [[Lena Horne]] ([[1974]]) {{eka|0871}} |
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โ | :*another solo ([[1976]]<ref>[[The Greatest TV Moments: Sesame Street Music A-Z]]</ref>) {{eka|3140}} |
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โ | *''[[The Sesame Street Book & Record]]'' (1970) |
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โ | *''[[Evening at Pops: 1971|Evening at Pops]]'' (1971) |
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โ | *''[[Julie on Sesame Street]]'', with [[Julie Andrews]] (1973) |
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โ | *''[[The Tonight Show]]'' (1974) |
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โ | *''[[What's My Line]]'' (1974) |
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โ | *''[[Cher (show)|Cher]]'', with Ray Charles (1975) |
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โ | *''[[The Muppet Show]]'' |
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โ | :*[[Episode 112: Peter Ustinov]] (1976) |
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โ | :*[[Episode 219: Peter Sellers]] (1977) |
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โ | *''[[The Muppet Show (album)|The Muppet Show]]'' album (1977) |
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โ | *''[[Sesame Disco!]]'' (disco version) (1979) |
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โ | *''[[The Muppet Show On Tour]]'' (1984) |
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โ | *''[[Royal Variety Performance]]'' (1988) |
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โ | *[[Center for Puppetry Arts]] (1988) |
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โ | *[[Earth Day 1990]] PSA (1990) |
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โ | *''[[Here Come the Muppets]]'' (1990) with [[Fozzie Bear]], [[Gonzo]], and [[Bean Bunny]] |
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โ | == |
+ | ==Performances== |
+ | {| width=100% border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=8 valign=top |
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โ | [[Image:CC1970Animals.jpg|thumb|300px]] |
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+ | |- bgcolor=#eeeeee |
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โ | :The following featured rereleases of Jim Henson's recordings of "Bein' Green." |
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+ | ! width=200 | Image !! Year !! Description |
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โ | :*[[Sesame Street Singles#kidscalledgreen|What Are Kids Called/Green]] (single, 1970) |
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+ | |- |
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โ | :*''[[Sing the Hit Songs of Sesame Street]]'' (1974) |
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+ | | [[File:Kermit-the-Frog-1970.jpg|center|200px]] || align=center | 1970 || '''''[[Sesame Street]]'' {{first|0087}}'''<br>By [[Kermit the Frog]] |
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โ | :*''[[60 Favorite Songs from Sesame Street]]'' (1975) |
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+ | |- |
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โ | :*''[[Sesame Street Gold]]'' (1977) |
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+ | | [[File:CC1970Animals.jpg|center|150px]] || align=center | 1970 || '''''[[The Sesame Street Book & Record]]'''''<br>By Kermit the Frog |
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โ | :*[[Sesame Street Singles#greenblue|Bein' Green/I Am Blue]] (single, 1976) |
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+ | |- |
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โ | :*''[[10th Anniversary Album]]'' (1978) |
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+ | | [[File:noimage.png|center|100px]] || align=center | 1971 || '''''[[Pure Goldie]]'''''<br>By Kermit the Frog and [[Goldie Hawn]] |
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โ | :*''[[Sesame Street Music Society Album]]'' (1978) |
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+ | |- |
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โ | :*[[Sesame Street Singles#discofroggreen|Disco Frog/Bein' Green]] (single, 1979) |
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+ | | [[File:noimage.png|center|100px]] || align=center | 1971 || '''''[[Evening at Pops: 1971|Evening at Pops]]'''''<br>By Kermit the Frog |
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โ | :*''[[The Wonderful World of Sesame Street]]'' (1980) |
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+ | |- |
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โ | :*''[[Sesame Street Treasury (album)]]'' (1980) |
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+ | | [[File:JOSS03.jpg|center|200px]] || align=center | 1973 || '''''[[Julie on Sesame Street]]'''''<br>By Kermit the Frog and [[Julie Andrews]] |
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โ | :*''[[Favorite Songs From Jim Henson's Muppets]]'' (1986) |
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+ | |- |
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โ | :*''[[Jim Henson: A Sesame Street Celebration]]'' (1990) |
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+ | | [[File:noimage.png|center|100px]] || align=center | 1974 || '''''[[The Tonight Show]]'''''<br>By Kermit the Frog |
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โ | :*''[[Sesame Street Celebrates!]]'' (1994) |
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+ | |- |
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โ | :*''[[Platinum All-Time Favorites]]'' (1995) |
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+ | | [[File:BeinGreen-WML.jpg|center|200px]] || align=center | 1974 || '''''[[What's My Line]]'''''<br>By Kermit the Frog |
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โ | :*''[[Music, Mayhem and More!]]'' (2002) |
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+ | |- |
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โ | :*''[[Songs from the Street: 35 Years of Music]]'' (2003) |
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+ | | [[File:Song.BeinGreen.Kermit.LenaHorne.jpg|center|200px]] || align=center | 1974 || '''''Sesame Street'' {{eka|0871}}'''<br>By Kermit the Frog and [[Lena Horne]] |
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โ | :*''[[Best of the Muppets]]'' (2005) |
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+ | |- |
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โ | :*''[[Old School: Volume 1 (CD)]]'' (2010) |
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+ | | [[File:noimage.png|center|100px]] || align=center | 1974 || '''''[[ยกSesame Mucho!]]'''''<br>By [[Josรฉ Feliciano]] |
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โ | :*[[Apple Computer]] commercials for Sage iMac (2000) |
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+ | |- |
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+ | | [[File:Kermitraygreen.jpg|center|200px]] || align=center | 1975 || '''''[[Cher (series)|Cher]]'''''<br>By Kermit the Frog and [[Ray Charles (singer)|Ray Charles]] |
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+ | |- |
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+ | | [[File:112green.jpg|center|200px]] || align=center | 1976 || '''''[[The Muppet Show]]'' [[Episode 112: Peter Ustinov|episode 112]]'''<br>By Kermit the Frog |
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+ | |- |
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+ | | [[File:Song.beinggreen76.jpg|center|200px]] || align=center | 1976<ref>[[The Greatest TV Moments: Sesame Street Music A-Z]]</ref> || '''''Sesame Street'' {{eka|3140}}'''<br>By Kermit the Frog |
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+ | |- |
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+ | | [[File:219 bein green.jpg|center|200px]] || align=center | 1977 || '''''The Muppet Show'' [[Episode 219: Peter Sellers|episode 219]]'''<br>By Kermit the Frog |
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+ | |- |
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+ | | [[File:Album.muppetshowlp.jpg|center|150px]] || align=center | 1977 || '''''[[The Muppet Show (album)|The Muppet Show]]'' album'''<br>By Kermit the Frog |
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+ | |- |
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+ | | [[File:noimage.png|center|100px]] || align=center | 1977 || '''''[[The Mike Douglas Show]]'', October 31, 1977'''<br>By [[Dr. Teeth]] |
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+ | |- |
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+ | | [[File:DiscoLP.jpg|center|150px]] || align=center | 1979 || '''''[[Sesame Disco!]]'' (disco version)'''<br>By Kermit the Frog |
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+ | |- |
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+ | | [[File:TS-Green.jpg|center|200px]] || align=center | 1979 || '''''The Tonight Show'''''<br>By Kermit the Frog |
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+ | |- |
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+ | | [[File:Ontourlogo.jpg|center|150px]] || align=center | 1984 || '''''[[The Muppet Show On Tour]]'''''<br>By Kermit the Frog |
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+ | |- |
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+ | | [[File:Cev88 bgk.jpg|center|200px]] || align=center | 1988 || '''''[[Royal Variety Performance]]'''''<br>By Kermit the Frog |
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+ | |- |
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+ | | [[File:noimage.png|center|100px]] || align=center | 1988 || '''[[Center for Puppetry Arts]]'''<br>By Kermit the Frog |
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+ | |- |
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+ | | [[File:noimage.png|center|100px]] || align=center | 1989 ||'''''[[From the Heart... The First International Very Special Arts Festival]]'''''<br>By Kermit the Frog with "Kerm-2" |
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+ | |- |
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+ | | [[File:RayCharlesandMonsters.jpg|center|200px]] || align=center | 1989 || '''''[[Sesame Street: 20 and Still Counting]]'''''<br>By Ray Charles with the [[Sesame Street Monsters|monsters]] |
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+ | * Released on ''[[Sing: Songs of Joe Raposo]]'' |
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+ | |- |
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+ | | [[File:noimage.png|center|100px]] || align=center | 1990 || '''[[Earth Day 1990]] PSA'''<br>By Kermit the Frog |
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+ | |- |
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+ | | [[File:noimage.png|center|100px]] || align=center | 1990 || '''''[[Here Come the Muppets]]'''''<br>By Kermit the Frog, [[Fozzie Bear]], [[Gonzo]], and [[Bean Bunny]] |
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+ | |- |
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+ | | [[File:noimage.png|center|100px]] || align=center | 1990 || '''[[Jim Henson's Memorial]] at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine'''<br>By [[Big Bird]] |
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+ | |- |
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+ | | [[File:noimage.png|center|100px]] || align=center | 1991 || '''''[[Bob's Favorite Street Songs]]'''''<br>By [[Bob McGrath]] |
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+ | |- |
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+ | | [[File:Album.brownears.jpg|center|150px]] || align=center | 1993 || '''''[[Ol' Brown Ears is Back]]'''''<br>By [[Rowlf the Dog]] |
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+ | |- |
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+ | | [[File:Album.unpigged.jpg|center|150px]] || align=center | 1994 || '''''[[Kermit Unpigged]]'''''<br>By [[Don Henley]] and Kermit the Frog |
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+ | |- |
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+ | | [[File:noimage.png|center|100px]] || align=center | 1996 || '''''[[The Rosie O'Donnell Show]]'' (September 6, 1996)'''<br>By Kermit the Frog |
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+ | |- |
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+ | | [[File:Rickles.kermit.jpg|center|200px]] || align=center | 1997 || '''''[[Muppets Tonight]]'' [[Episode 205: Don Rickles & Coolio|episode 205]]'''<br>By [[Don Rickles]] |
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+ | |- |
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+ | | [[File:Album.playground.jpg|center|150px]] || align=center | 1998 || '''''[[The Playground]]'''''<br>By [[Tony Bennett]] with commentary by Kermit the Frog |
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+ | |- |
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+ | | [[File:Kermitand calvinray.JPG|center|200px]] || align=center | 2001 || '''''[[The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon]]'''''<br>By Kermit the Frog and Calvin Ray Johnson |
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+ | |- |
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+ | | [[File:TMS-live-green.jpg|center|200px]] || align=center | 2001 || '''''[[The Muppet Show Live]]'''''<br>By Kermit the Frog |
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+ | |- |
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+ | | [[File:Oscar.being.green.jpg|center|200px]] || align=center | 2005 || '''''Sesame Street'' [[Episode 4105]]'''<br>By [[Oscar the Grouch]] (with altered [[:category:Grouch Culture|Grouchy]] lyrics) |
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+ | |- |
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+ | | [[File:ItsNotEasyBeingGreenBook.jpg|center|133px]] || align=center | 2005 || '''''[[It's Not Easy Being Green (book)|It's Not Easy Being Green]]'' audio book'''<br>As a spoken word read by [[Whoopi Goldberg]] |
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+ | |- |
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+ | | [[File:Ford3.JPG|center|200px]] || align=center | 2006 || '''[[Ford|Ford Escape Hybrid]] commercial'''<br>By Kermit the Frog |
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+ | |- |
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+ | | [[File:noimage.png|center|100px]] || align=center | 2006 || '''[[Hollywood Bowl]] "Fireworks Finale"'''<br>By Kermit the Frog |
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+ | |- |
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+ | | [[File:Green-Martha.jpg|center|200px]] || align=center | 2006 || '''''[[Martha]]'' (October 5, 2006)'''<br>By Kermit the Frog |
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+ | |- |
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+ | | [[File:noimage.png|center|100px]] || align=center | 2007 || '''''[[Sunday NFL Countdown]]'''''<br>By Kermit the Frog |
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+ | |- |
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+ | | [[File:EasyBeingGreen.jpg|center|200px]] || align=center | 2009 || '''''[[Being Green (video)|Being Green]]'''''<br>By [[Elmo]] |
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+ | |- |
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+ | | [[File:SerVerde.jpg|center|200px]] || align=center | 2009 || '''''[[Plaza Sรฉsamo]]'''''<br>In Spanish by [[Abelardo Montoya]] as "Ser Verde" {{youtube|m_DmQFswlyg}} |
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+ | |- |
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+ | | [[File:Germany-DieMuppetsPromotion-Kermit&Marsimoto-(2012).jpg|center|200px]] || align=center | 2012 || '''''[[Die Muppets (film)|Die Muppets]]'' promotion'''<br>By Kermit the Frog and [[Marsimoto]] |
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+ | |- |
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+ | | [[File:KermitCarnegieHall.jpg|center|200px]] || align=center | 2012 || '''''[[Jim Henson's Musical World]]'''''<br>By Kermit the Frog |
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+ | |- |
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+ | | [[File:TheVoice-Green.jpg|center|200px]] || align=center | 2012 || '''''[[The Voice]]'''''<br>By Kermit the Frog and [[Cee Lo Green]] |
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+ | |- |
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+ | | [[Image:TSSJF.png|200px|center]] || align=center| 2014 || '''''[[The Tonight Show]]'''''<br>By Kermit the Frog and [[Jimmy Fallon]] |
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+ | |} |
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+ | ==Covers== |
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โ | [[Image:Germany-DieMuppetsPromotion-Kermit&Marsimoto-(2012).jpg|thumb|300px]] |
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โ | ===Kermit the Frog ([[Steve Whitmire]])=== |
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โ | *''[[The Muppet Show Live]]'' (2001) |
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โ | *''[[The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon]]'', with a boy with muscular dystrophy (2002) |
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โ | *[[Ford|Ford Escape Hybrid]] commercial (2006) |
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โ | *[[Hollywood Bowl]] "Fireworks Finale" (September 15-17, 2006) |
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โ | *''[[Martha]]'' (October 5, 2006) |
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โ | *''[[Sunday NFL Countdown]]'' (2007) |
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โ | *''[[The Rosie O'Donnell Show]]'' (date unknown) |
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โ | *''[[Die Muppets (film)|Die Muppets]]'' promotion with [[Marsimoto]] (2012) |
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โ | *''[[Jim Henson's Musical World]]'' (2012) |
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โ | |||
โ | ===[[Dr. Teeth]] (Jim Henson)=== |
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โ | *''[[The Mike Douglas Show]]'', October 31, 1977 |
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โ | |||
โ | ===[[Rowlf the Dog]] (Jim Henson)=== |
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โ | *''[[Ol' Brown Ears is Back]]'' (recorded in 1984, released in 1993) |
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โ | |||
โ | ===[[Big Bird]] ([[Caroll Spinney]])=== |
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โ | *[[Jim Henson's Memorial]] at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine (1990) |
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โ | |||
โ | [[Image:Oscar.being.green.jpg|thumb|300px|Oscar's version.]] |
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โ | ===[[Oscar the Grouch]] (Caroll Spinney)=== |
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โ | *''Sesame Street'', with altered lyrics on [[Episode 4105]] (2005) |
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โ | |||
โ | ===[[Elmo]] ([[Kevin Clash]])=== |
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โ | *''[[Being Green (video)|Being Green]]'', Elmo sings a verse before getting interrupted. (2009) |
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โ | |||
โ | ===[[Abelardo Montoya]]=== |
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โ | *''[[Plaza Sรฉsamo]]'', in Spanish as "Ser Verde" (date unknown)'' {{youtube|m_DmQFswlyg}}'' |
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โ | |||
โ | ==Performed in Muppet/Henson Productions== |
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โ | The following singers have performed "Bein' Green" in Muppet/Henson productions or related appearances as solos. (For duets with [[Kermit the Frog|Kermit]] see above). |
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โ | ===[[Tony Bennett]]=== |
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โ | *''[[The Playground]]'', with commentary by Kermit (1998) |
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โ | |||
โ | ===[[Ray Charles (singer)|Ray Charles]]=== |
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โ | [[Image:RayCharlesandMonsters.jpg|thumb|300px|Ray Charles's performance from ''Sesame Street: 20 and Still Counting''.]] |
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โ | *''[[The Cosby Show]]'' (1987) |
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โ | *''[[Sesame Street: 20 and Still Counting]]'', with the [[Sesame Street Monsters|monsters]] (1989) |
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โ | ::released on ''[[Sing: Songs of Joe Raposo]]'' (1992) |
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โ | *''See [[Bein' Green#Other Covers|below]] for other covers by Ray Charles.'' |
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โ | |||
โ | ===[[Josรฉ Feliciano]]=== |
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โ | *''[[ยกSesame Mucho!]]'' (1974) |
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โ | |||
โ | ===[[Whoopi Goldberg]]=== |
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โ | *''[[It's Not Easy Being Green (book)|It's Not Easy Being Green]]'' audio book, spoken word (2005) |
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โ | |||
โ | ===[[Bob McGrath]]=== |
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โ | *''[[Bob's Favorite Street Songs]]'' (1991) |
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โ | |||
โ | ===[[Don Rickles]]=== |
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โ | *''[[Muppets Tonight]]'' [[Episode 205: Don Rickles & Coolio|episode 205]] (1997) |
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โ | |||
โ | ==Other Covers== |
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[[Image:Rubberduckiesongs.jpg|thumb|300px]] |
[[Image:Rubberduckiesongs.jpg|thumb|300px]] |
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+ | * Mike Campbell โ ''Easy Chair Jazz'' album, spoken word (1994) |
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โ | ===Mike Campbell=== |
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+ | * [[Ray Charles (singer)|Ray Charles]] โ ''Renaissance'' album (1975) |
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โ | *''Easy Chair Jazz'' album, spoken word (1994) |
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+ | * [[Dick van Dyke|Dick Van Dyke and the Vantastix]] โ ''[[Put on a Happy Face|Put On A Happy Face]]'' album (2008) |
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โ | |||
+ | * Andy Hallett (as Lorne on ''[[Angel]]'') โ ''Angel'' episode, "The House Always Wins" (2002) |
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โ | ===[[Ray Charles (singer)|Ray Charles]]=== |
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+ | * Shirley Horn โ ''Light Out of Darkness (A Tribute To Ray Charles)'' album (1993) |
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โ | *''Renaissance'' album (1975) |
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+ | * [[Rick Lyon]] (as Nicky from ''[[Avenue Q]]'') โ Gypsy of the Year Competition, dedicated to Idina Menzel as [[The Wicked Witch of the West]] in ''Wicked'' (2004) |
||
โ | *''See [[Bein' Green#Performed in Muppet/Henson Productions|above]] for covers by Ray Charles used in Muppet/Henson productions.'' |
||
+ | * Damian McGinty (as Rory Flanagan on ''[[Glee]]'') โ ''Glee'' episode, "Pot O' Gold" (2011) |
||
โ | |||
+ | * Van Morrison โ ''Hard Nose the Highway'' album, studio version (1973) |
||
โ | ===[[Dick van Dyke|Dick Van Dyke and the Vantastix]]=== |
||
+ | * Van Morrison โ Bootleg album with The Caledonia Soul Orchestra, live version (1973) |
||
โ | *''[[Put on a Happy Face|Put On A Happy Face]]'' album (2008) |
||
+ | * Thurl Ravenscroft โ ''[[Rubber Duckie and Other Songs from Sesame Street]]'' (1970) |
||
โ | |||
+ | * [[Frank Sinatra]] โ ''Sinatra & Company'' album (1970); rereleased on ''Frank Sinatra's Greatest Hits Volume 2'' album (1972) |
||
โ | ===Andy Hallett (as Lorne on ''[[Angel]]'')=== |
||
+ | * [[Audra McDonald]] โ ''Build a Bridge'' (2006) |
||
โ | *''Angel'' episode, "The House Always Wins" (2002) |
||
+ | * [[Andrew Bird]] โ ''[[The Green Album]]'' (2011) |
||
โ | *''Angel: Live Fast, Die Never - Music from the TV Series'' album (2005, unedited studio recording from 2002 episode) |
||
โ | |||
โ | ===Shirley Horn=== |
||
โ | *''Light Out of Darkness (A Tribute To Ray Charles)'' album (1993) |
||
โ | |||
โ | ===[[Rick Lyon]] (as Nicky from ''[[Avenue Q]]'')=== |
||
โ | *Gypsy of the Year Competition, dedicated to Idina Menzel as [[The Wicked Witch of the West]] in ''Wicked'' (2004) |
||
โ | |||
โ | ===Damian McGinty (as Rory Flanagan on ''[[Glee]]'')=== |
||
โ | *''Glee'' episode, "Pot O' Gold" (2011) |
||
โ | |||
โ | ===Van Morrison=== |
||
โ | *''Hard Nose the Highway'' album, studio version (1973) |
||
โ | *Bootleg album with The Caledonia Soul Orchestra, live version (1973) |
||
โ | |||
โ | ===Thurl Ravenscroft=== |
||
โ | *''[[Rubber Duckie and Other Songs from Sesame Street]]'' (1970) |
||
โ | |||
โ | ===[[Frank Sinatra]]=== |
||
โ | *''Sinatra & Company'' album (1970) |
||
โ | ::rereleased on ''Frank Sinatra's Greatest Hits Volume 2'' album (1972) |
||
โ | |||
โ | ===Don Henley=== |
||
โ | *''[[Kermit Unpigged]]'' (1994) |
||
โ | |||
โ | ===Audra McDonald=== |
||
โ | *''Build a Bridge'' (2006) |
||
โ | |||
โ | ===Andrew Bird=== |
||
โ | *''[[The Green Album]]'' (2011) |
||
โ | |||
โ | ===[[Marsimoto]]=== |
||
โ | *''[[Die Muppets (film)|Die Muppets]]'' promotion in [[Germany]] (2012) |
||
==Instrumentals== |
==Instrumentals== |
||
[[Image:Album.wishuponastar.jpg|thumb|300px]] |
[[Image:Album.wishuponastar.jpg|thumb|300px]] |
||
+ | *''[[The Frog Prince]]'' โ Underscores the luncheon scene, following [[King Rupert the Second]]'s story of meeting [[Taminella Grinderfall]] (1971). |
||
โ | ===''Sesame Street''=== |
||
โ | *An brief instrumental version is part of the ending music sting to an [[Kermit at Home Sketches#grovercold|early 1970's segment]]. |
+ | *''Sesame Street'' โ An brief instrumental version is part of the ending music sting to an [[Kermit at Home Sketches#grovercold|early 1970's segment]]. |
+ | *''[[The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years]]'' โ Plays at the beginning of the special, following a commercial break (1986) |
||
โ | |||
+ | *''[[The Muppets at Walt Disney World]]'' โUnderscore during a helicopter shot over the [[Walt Disney World]] parks. |
||
โ | ===''[[The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years]]''=== |
||
+ | *''[[Muppet*Vision 3D]]'' โ Theme park ambient music around the Muppet attraction. |
||
โ | *Plays at the beginning of the special, following a commercial break (1986) |
||
+ | *[[Boston Pops Orchestra]] โ Included on ''[[Wish Upon a Star: All-Time Children's Favorites]]'' |
||
โ | |||
+ | *Johnny Lytle โ Included on ''Easy Easy'' album (1997) |
||
โ | ===''[[The Muppets at Walt Disney World]]''=== |
||
+ | *Till Brรถnner โ Included on ''That Summer'' album (2005) |
||
โ | *underscore during a helicopter shot over the [[Walt Disney World]] parks (1990) |
||
+ | *''[[Elmo's World]]'' โ A very brief appearance of the tune is quoted in the underscore for Kermit's appearance in [[Elmo's World: Frogs]] |
||
โ | |||
โ | ===[[Disney-MGM Studios]]=== |
||
โ | *[[Muppet*Vision 3D]] and theme park ambient music (1990) |
||
โ | ::reused at [[Disneyland|Disney's]] California Adventure theme park. |
||
โ | |||
โ | ===[[Boston Pops Orchestra]]=== |
||
โ | *''[[Wish Upon a Star: All-Time Children's Favorites]]'' (1996) |
||
โ | |||
โ | ===Johnny Lytle=== |
||
โ | *''Easy Easy'' album (1997) |
||
โ | |||
โ | ===Till Brรถnner=== |
||
โ | *''That Summer'' album (2005) |
||
โ | |||
โ | ===Elmo's World=== |
||
โ | * A very brief appearance of the tune is quoted in the underscore for Kermit's appearance in [[Elmo's World: Frogs]] |
||
==Publications== |
==Publications== |
||
Line 230: | Line 178: | ||
:*''[[I'm Glad I'm Me]]'' |
:*''[[I'm Glad I'm Me]]'' |
||
:*''[[The Best of Kermit on Sesame Street]]'' |
:*''[[The Best of Kermit on Sesame Street]]'' |
||
+ | *Oscar the Grouch version: |
||
+ | :*''[[Best of Friends]]'' |
||
===The Muppet Show=== |
===The Muppet Show=== |
||
Line 248: | Line 198: | ||
**Lena Horne's version {{SSvideo|ffe1ca80-1574-11dd-bb51-597ab51d2e81}} |
**Lena Horne's version {{SSvideo|ffe1ca80-1574-11dd-bb51-597ab51d2e81}} |
||
**Oscar's version {{SSvideo|1f37647a-154a-11dd-8ea8-a3d2ac25b65b}} |
**Oscar's version {{SSvideo|1f37647a-154a-11dd-8ea8-a3d2ac25b65b}} |
||
โ | *[[Hulu]] |
+ | *[[Hulu]] |
โ | **Original |
+ | **Original {{hulu|60042}} |
โ | **Lena Horne's version |
+ | **Lena Horne's version {{hulu|79171}} |
*[[SesameStreet's YouTube Channel]] |
*[[SesameStreet's YouTube Channel]] |
||
**Original {{youtube|51BQfPeSK8k}} |
**Original {{youtube|51BQfPeSK8k}} |
||
Line 272: | Line 222: | ||
==References== |
==References== |
||
The catchphrase "It's not easy being green" has been referenced many times, both by the Muppets and by others. |
The catchphrase "It's not easy being green" has been referenced many times, both by the Muppets and by others. |
||
+ | *In [[Episode 406: Linda Lavin|episode 406]] of ''[[The Muppet Show]]'', [[the Swedish Chef]] hums the song to himself as he spray-paints his chopped-liver Kermit green. |
||
+ | *In a 1976 appearance on ''[[The Mike Douglas Show]]'', when [[Mike Douglas]] mentions that green is a good color, Kermit comments that it's not easy being green, leading to a brief discussion of the song. |
||
+ | *The 1977 book, ''[[The Sesame Street Little Library|Grover's Favorite Color]]'', shows [[Grover]] near a pond, discussing the color green. He mentions something that's green is a "certain frog, who shall remain nameless." From the reeds of the pond, an unseen character remarks, "It isn't easy being green." |
||
*In the second volume of the [[Muppet Babies Video Storybooks|Muppet Babies video storybook series]], before reading ''[[If I Were Just Like Kermit]]'', Kermit says that he hopes that [[Baby Fozzie]] knows what he is doing trying to be like Kermit "because it's not easy being green". |
*In the second volume of the [[Muppet Babies Video Storybooks|Muppet Babies video storybook series]], before reading ''[[If I Were Just Like Kermit]]'', Kermit says that he hopes that [[Baby Fozzie]] knows what he is doing trying to be like Kermit "because it's not easy being green". |
||
*One of the [[:Category:Muppet Sing Alongs|Muppet Sing-Along]] videos was titled ''[[It's Not Easy Being Green (Muppet Sing Alongs)|It's Not Easy Being Green]]''. |
*One of the [[:Category:Muppet Sing Alongs|Muppet Sing-Along]] videos was titled ''[[It's Not Easy Being Green (Muppet Sing Alongs)|It's Not Easy Being Green]]''. |
||
*In a ''[[Sesame Street]]'' segment where Kermit is auditioning wolves for the role of [[The Big Bad Wolf]], after Kermit turns down a medium-sized wolf, that wolf thinks it is because he is green, saying that "it's not easy being green". Kermit then says that he's noticed that. |
*In a ''[[Sesame Street]]'' segment where Kermit is auditioning wolves for the role of [[The Big Bad Wolf]], after Kermit turns down a medium-sized wolf, that wolf thinks it is because he is green, saying that "it's not easy being green". Kermit then says that he's noticed that. |
||
*In the ''Sesame Street'' song, "[[I'm Between]]", [[Tony (Anything Muppet)|Tony]], squashed between two monsters, sings this lyric: "It's easier by far being green than being between." |
*In the ''Sesame Street'' song, "[[I'm Between]]", [[Tony (Anything Muppet)|Tony]], squashed between two monsters, sings this lyric: "It's easier by far being green than being between." |
||
+ | *A faux commercial for an album by [[Singing Food]] in [[Episode 112: Food|episode 112]] of ''[[The Jim Henson Hour]]'' features the song "It's Not Easy Being Greens." |
||
*On ''[[The Electric Company]]'', the Short Circus perform the song, "Why", a lyrical list of questions about the world. Included is: "Why ain't it easy being green?" (The song appears on the penultimate episode of ''The Best of the Electric Company Vol. 1'' DVD set.) |
*On ''[[The Electric Company]]'', the Short Circus perform the song, "Why", a lyrical list of questions about the world. Included is: "Why ain't it easy being green?" (The song appears on the penultimate episode of ''The Best of the Electric Company Vol. 1'' DVD set.) |
||
*When Kermit guest starred on ''[[Deal or No Deal]]'', he said that "it's not easy getting green". |
*When Kermit guest starred on ''[[Deal or No Deal]]'', he said that "it's not easy getting green". |
||
*A promo for the 2005 DVD releases of ''[[The Muppet Movie]]'', ''[[The Great Muppet Caper]]'', ''[[The Muppet Christmas Carol]]'', and ''[[Muppet Treasure Island]]'' ends with [[Miss Piggy]], Fozzie, and Gonzo saying "Celebrating 50 years of being green". |
*A promo for the 2005 DVD releases of ''[[The Muppet Movie]]'', ''[[The Great Muppet Caper]]'', ''[[The Muppet Christmas Carol]]'', and ''[[Muppet Treasure Island]]'' ends with [[Miss Piggy]], Fozzie, and Gonzo saying "Celebrating 50 years of being green". |
||
โ | *In a 1976 appearance on ''[[The Mike Douglas Show]]'', when [[Mike Douglas]] mentions that green is a good color, Kermit comments that it's not easy being green, leading to a brief discussion of the song. |
||
โ | *A faux commercial for an album by [[Singing Food]] in [[Episode 112: Food|episode 112]] of ''[[The Jim Henson Hour]]'' features the song "It's Not Easy Being Greens." |
||
*On the news program ''Canada AM'' in 2009, [[Oscar the Grouch]] is interviewed for [[Waste Reduction Week]], and says "It's easy being green. You should try it!" |
*On the news program ''Canada AM'' in 2009, [[Oscar the Grouch]] is interviewed for [[Waste Reduction Week]], and says "It's easy being green. You should try it!" |
||
*In a 2006 appearance on [[Extreme Makeover: Home Edition]], while Kermit is going over the checklists, he says "It's not that easy choosing green." |
*In a 2006 appearance on [[Extreme Makeover: Home Edition]], while Kermit is going over the checklists, he says "It's not that easy choosing green." |
||
*In [[episode 4232|a 2010 episode]] of ''Sesame Street'', in the midst of a vegetable protest, an angry stalk of broccoli yells out "It ain't easy bein' green!" |
*In [[episode 4232|a 2010 episode]] of ''Sesame Street'', in the midst of a vegetable protest, an angry stalk of broccoli yells out "It ain't easy bein' green!" |
||
*In the extended version of "[[Let's Talk About Me]]" from ''[[The Muppets (2011)|The Muppets]]'', [[Tex Richman]] raps "Ooo, it's easy havin' this much green!" |
*In the extended version of "[[Let's Talk About Me]]" from ''[[The Muppets (2011)|The Muppets]]'', [[Tex Richman]] raps "Ooo, it's easy havin' this much green!" |
||
+ | *In the "[[Bounty|Kermit's Party]]" short "Gonzo's Stunt Spectacular!," Kermit, covered with yellow finger paint from Gonzo's failed balancing act, remarks, "It's not that easy being clean." |
||
โ | *In [[Episode 406: Linda Lavin|episode 406]] of ''[[The Muppet Show]]'', [[the Swedish Chef]] hums the song to himself as he spray-paints his chopped-liver Kermit green. |
||
โ | *In |
+ | *In ''[[Muppets Most Wanted]]'', the villainous Kermit doppelgรคnger [[Constantine]] spoofs the line saying "it's not easy being mean." |
==Notes== |
==Notes== |
||
Line 293: | Line 245: | ||
==Sources== |
==Sources== |
||
<references/> |
<references/> |
||
+ | |||
[[Category:Sesame Street Songs]] |
[[Category:Sesame Street Songs]] |
||
[[Category:Muppet Songs]] |
[[Category:Muppet Songs]] |
Revision as of 18:48, 10 August 2014
Written by | Joe Raposo |
Date | 1970 |
Publisher | Jonico Music, Inc. Green Fox Music Inc. |
First | Episode 0087 |
"Bein' Green," originally titled "Green," is one of Kermit the Frog's best-known songs. It was written in 1970 by Joe Raposo for the first season of Sesame Street, and has since become an American standard.
Background
In the song, Kermit expresses his ambivalence about his color, noting that green "blends in with so many other ordinary things" and wishing that he were some other color instead. During the bridge, Kermit realizes that there are some powerful associations with the color -- "green can be big, like a mountain, or important, like a river, or tall like a tree." In the end, he decides that he's happy to be green -- "it's beautiful, and I think it's what I want to be."
The song was described in a Children's Television Workshop press release as "a frog's poignant realization of his own dignity and worth."[1] The song has been viewed as a powerful message about race: music journalist Danyel Smith recalls in The Greatest TV Moments: Sesame Street Music A-Z that her mother said to imagine that instead of saying "green," they said "black."
Kermit would return to the song twice more on Sesame Street, including as a duet with Lena Horne, then performances on The Muppet Show in episodes 112 and 219, where the song was used to lift Kermit up from a depressed state.
The song appeared on The Sesame Street Book & Record and has been recorded numerous times since, both by Jim Henson and Steve Whitmire as Kermit, as well as by musicians like Ray Charles and Frank Sinatra, demonstrating the song's universal themes. "Bein' Green" is not just for frogs.
"It's not easy being green," a paraphrased lyric from the song, has become one of Kermit's catchphrases. In a twist on the line, when Kermit filmed a commercial for the Ford Escape Hybrid he remarked upon seeing the environmentally friendly vehicle, "I guess sometimes it is easy being green." Media outlets have also used this phrase to associate with the environmental movement.[2]
Street Gang gives insight into the songwriting process:
Performances
Image | Year | Description |
---|---|---|
1970 | Sesame Street (First: Episode 0087) By Kermit the Frog | |
1970 | The Sesame Street Book & Record By Kermit the Frog | |
1971 | Pure Goldie By Kermit the Frog and Goldie Hawn | |
1971 | Evening at Pops By Kermit the Frog | |
1973 | Julie on Sesame Street By Kermit the Frog and Julie Andrews | |
1974 | The Tonight Show By Kermit the Frog | |
1974 | What's My Line By Kermit the Frog | |
1974 | Sesame Street (EKA: Episode 0871) By Kermit the Frog and Lena Horne | |
1974 | ยกSesame Mucho! By Josรฉ Feliciano | |
1975 | Cher By Kermit the Frog and Ray Charles | |
1976 | The Muppet Show episode 112 By Kermit the Frog | |
1976[4] | Sesame Street (EKA: Episode 3140) By Kermit the Frog | |
1977 | The Muppet Show episode 219 By Kermit the Frog | |
1977 | The Muppet Show album By Kermit the Frog | |
1977 | The Mike Douglas Show, October 31, 1977 By Dr. Teeth | |
1979 | Sesame Disco! (disco version) By Kermit the Frog | |
1979 | The Tonight Show By Kermit the Frog | |
1984 | The Muppet Show On Tour By Kermit the Frog | |
1988 | Royal Variety Performance By Kermit the Frog | |
1988 | Center for Puppetry Arts By Kermit the Frog | |
1989 | From the Heart... The First International Very Special Arts Festival By Kermit the Frog with "Kerm-2" | |
1989 | Sesame Street: 20 and Still Counting By Ray Charles with the monsters
| |
1990 | Earth Day 1990 PSA By Kermit the Frog | |
1990 | Here Come the Muppets By Kermit the Frog, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, and Bean Bunny | |
1990 | Jim Henson's Memorial at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine By Big Bird | |
1991 | Bob's Favorite Street Songs By Bob McGrath | |
1993 | Ol' Brown Ears is Back By Rowlf the Dog | |
1994 | Kermit Unpigged By Don Henley and Kermit the Frog | |
1996 | The Rosie O'Donnell Show (September 6, 1996) By Kermit the Frog | |
1997 | Muppets Tonight episode 205 By Don Rickles | |
1998 | The Playground By Tony Bennett with commentary by Kermit the Frog | |
2001 | The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon By Kermit the Frog and Calvin Ray Johnson | |
2001 | The Muppet Show Live By Kermit the Frog | |
2005 | Sesame Street Episode 4105 By Oscar the Grouch (with altered Grouchy lyrics) | |
2005 | It's Not Easy Being Green audio book As a spoken word read by Whoopi Goldberg | |
2006 | Ford Escape Hybrid commercial By Kermit the Frog | |
2006 | Hollywood Bowl "Fireworks Finale" By Kermit the Frog | |
2006 | Martha (October 5, 2006) By Kermit the Frog | |
2007 | Sunday NFL Countdown By Kermit the Frog | |
2009 | Being Green By Elmo | |
2009 | Plaza Sรฉsamo In Spanish by Abelardo Montoya as "Ser Verde" (YouTube) | |
2012 | Die Muppets promotion By Kermit the Frog and Marsimoto | |
2012 | Jim Henson's Musical World By Kermit the Frog | |
2012 | The Voice By Kermit the Frog and Cee Lo Green | |
2014 | The Tonight Show By Kermit the Frog and Jimmy Fallon |
Covers
- Mike Campbell โ Easy Chair Jazz album, spoken word (1994)
- Ray Charles โ Renaissance album (1975)
- Dick Van Dyke and the Vantastix โ Put On A Happy Face album (2008)
- Andy Hallett (as Lorne on Angel) โ Angel episode, "The House Always Wins" (2002)
- Shirley Horn โ Light Out of Darkness (A Tribute To Ray Charles) album (1993)
- Rick Lyon (as Nicky from Avenue Q) โ Gypsy of the Year Competition, dedicated to Idina Menzel as The Wicked Witch of the West in Wicked (2004)
- Damian McGinty (as Rory Flanagan on Glee) โ Glee episode, "Pot O' Gold" (2011)
- Van Morrison โ Hard Nose the Highway album, studio version (1973)
- Van Morrison โ Bootleg album with The Caledonia Soul Orchestra, live version (1973)
- Thurl Ravenscroft โ Rubber Duckie and Other Songs from Sesame Street (1970)
- Frank Sinatra โ Sinatra & Company album (1970); rereleased on Frank Sinatra's Greatest Hits Volume 2 album (1972)
- Audra McDonald โ Build a Bridge (2006)
- Andrew Bird โ The Green Album (2011)
Instrumentals
- The Frog Prince โ Underscores the luncheon scene, following King Rupert the Second's story of meeting Taminella Grinderfall (1971).
- Sesame Street โ An brief instrumental version is part of the ending music sting to an early 1970's segment.
- The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years โ Plays at the beginning of the special, following a commercial break (1986)
- The Muppets at Walt Disney World โUnderscore during a helicopter shot over the Walt Disney World parks.
- Muppet*Vision 3D โ Theme park ambient music around the Muppet attraction.
- Boston Pops Orchestra โ Included on Wish Upon a Star: All-Time Children's Favorites
- Johnny Lytle โ Included on Easy Easy album (1997)
- Till Brรถnner โ Included on That Summer album (2005)
- Elmo's World โ A very brief appearance of the tune is quoted in the underscore for Kermit's appearance in Elmo's World: Frogs
Publications
- The Sesame Street Song Book features lyrics and sheet music for this song.
- Being Green was an illustrated book which used the song's lyrics, but featured a lizard-like green creature instead of Kermit,
- The Muppet Show Book features lyrics to this song, along with illustrations based on the version from episode 219.
- The Reader's Digest Children's Songbook included sheet music for the song, as "It's Not Easy Being Green".
- The Sesame Street Songbook includes lyrics and sheet music.
- Sesame Street Unpaved included lyrics for this song, along with pictures from the original version.
- It's Not Easy Being Green and other things to consider is a book of Jim Henson and Muppet quotes released in 2005.
Video releases
Sesame Street
- Original Version:
- Sesame Street: 25 Wonderful Years
- A&E Biography: Sesame Street (Clip of first verse only)
- Old School: Volume 1
- Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Days
- 1976 version:
- Oscar the Grouch version:
The Muppet Show
- Episode 112 version:
- Episode 219 version:
Online releases
Sesame Street
- Sesamestreet.org
- Original Template:SSvideo
- Remake Template:SSvideo
- Lena Horne's version Template:SSvideo
- Oscar's version Template:SSvideo
- Hulu
- Original Template:Hulu
- Lena Horne's version Template:Hulu
- SesameStreet's YouTube Channel
Specials
Sesame Street
- Sing! Sesame Street Remembers Joe Raposo and His Music (clips of Kermit's original version with performances by Ray Charles and Joe Raposo)
- Sesame Street All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever! (very brief clip of original version only)
- Sesame Street Unpaved (documentary) (original version, first verse cut)
- The Greatest TV Moments: Sesame Street Music A-Z (1976 version)
Muppets
- The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years (clips of Muppet Show version and Kermit and Ray Charles singing)
- The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson (clips of the first Muppet Show version and Ray Charles' performance from 20 and Still Counting)
- The World of Jim Henson (Kermit and Ray Charles' version)
- I Love Muppets (clips)
- State of the Arts (clips)
References
The catchphrase "It's not easy being green" has been referenced many times, both by the Muppets and by others.
- In episode 406 of The Muppet Show, the Swedish Chef hums the song to himself as he spray-paints his chopped-liver Kermit green.
- In a 1976 appearance on The Mike Douglas Show, when Mike Douglas mentions that green is a good color, Kermit comments that it's not easy being green, leading to a brief discussion of the song.
- The 1977 book, Grover's Favorite Color, shows Grover near a pond, discussing the color green. He mentions something that's green is a "certain frog, who shall remain nameless." From the reeds of the pond, an unseen character remarks, "It isn't easy being green."
- In the second volume of the Muppet Babies video storybook series, before reading If I Were Just Like Kermit, Kermit says that he hopes that Baby Fozzie knows what he is doing trying to be like Kermit "because it's not easy being green".
- One of the Muppet Sing-Along videos was titled It's Not Easy Being Green.
- In a Sesame Street segment where Kermit is auditioning wolves for the role of The Big Bad Wolf, after Kermit turns down a medium-sized wolf, that wolf thinks it is because he is green, saying that "it's not easy being green". Kermit then says that he's noticed that.
- In the Sesame Street song, "I'm Between", Tony, squashed between two monsters, sings this lyric: "It's easier by far being green than being between."
- A faux commercial for an album by Singing Food in episode 112 of The Jim Henson Hour features the song "It's Not Easy Being Greens."
- On The Electric Company, the Short Circus perform the song, "Why", a lyrical list of questions about the world. Included is: "Why ain't it easy being green?" (The song appears on the penultimate episode of The Best of the Electric Company Vol. 1 DVD set.)
- When Kermit guest starred on Deal or No Deal, he said that "it's not easy getting green".
- A promo for the 2005 DVD releases of The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper, The Muppet Christmas Carol, and Muppet Treasure Island ends with Miss Piggy, Fozzie, and Gonzo saying "Celebrating 50 years of being green".
- On the news program Canada AM in 2009, Oscar the Grouch is interviewed for Waste Reduction Week, and says "It's easy being green. You should try it!"
- In a 2006 appearance on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, while Kermit is going over the checklists, he says "It's not that easy choosing green."
- In a 2010 episode of Sesame Street, in the midst of a vegetable protest, an angry stalk of broccoli yells out "It ain't easy bein' green!"
- In the extended version of "Let's Talk About Me" from The Muppets, Tex Richman raps "Ooo, it's easy havin' this much green!"
- In the "Kermit's Party" short "Gonzo's Stunt Spectacular!," Kermit, covered with yellow finger paint from Gonzo's failed balancing act, remarks, "It's not that easy being clean."
- In Muppets Most Wanted, the villainous Kermit doppelgรคnger Constantine spoofs the line saying "it's not easy being mean."
Notes
- I Love Muppets lists the song as Kermit's favorite.
Sources
- โ "Beatles and Beethoven, Move on Over: The Seventies Sounds is Sesame Street." CTW Press Release. January 10, 1971
- โ Sidney Herald "Going green: Ethanol may be part of countryโs path for energy independence" by Linsey Bright, 8/12/08
- โ Street Gang page 256
- โ The Greatest TV Moments: Sesame Street Music A-Z