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Bein' Green

"Bein' Green" (also known as "It's Not Easy Bein' Green") is a song written by Joe Raposo, originally performed by Jim Henson as Kermit the Frog on both Sesame Street and The Muppet Show (in the episodes "Peter Ustinov" and "Peter Sellers"). It later was covered by Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Van Morrison, and other performers. Bein' Green is considered the signature song of Kermit the Frog.[1]

"Bein' Green"

1970

Background[edit]

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 greenness.

as Kermit the Frog, various Muppet productions, starting with The Sesame Street Book & Record in 1970, until 1990 following Henson's death

Jim Henson

as Kermit the Frog, various Muppet productions (1990–2016)

Steve Whitmire

1971 album Sinatra & Company, this recording would later be used on Sesame Street in an animated insert by Étienne Delessert.[2]

Frank Sinatra

1971 album Nature's Baby

Lena Horne

1972 album Bein' Green

Urbie Green

1972 album Stick It

Buddy Rich

1973 album Hard Nose the Highway

Van Morrison

1973 7.5 on the Richter Scale, titled "It's Not Easy Bein' Green"

Stan Kenton

1973 album Let Me in Your Life

Della Reese

1973 eponymous album

John Leyton

1974 album Live at Caesars Palace

Diana Ross

1975 album Renaissance; this version gained popularity because of an episode of The Cosby Show, and Charles then sang a duet with Kermit on Sesame Street and The Cher Show as well as sang the song on the 1989 special Sesame Street... 20 Years & Still Counting

Ray Charles

1978 album New Wine in Old Bottles

Jackie McLean

1981 album Colours[3]

Mary O'Hara

and Orville the Duck, 1983 single

Keith Harris

1986 single "When I Sing Alone"

William Roy

feat. Stan Getz, 1989 album Just Friends

Helen Merrill

1989 MDA Labor Day Telethon

Wilford Brimley

1990 album Dress Casual

Mandy Patinkin

1990 Jim Henson memorial service

Big Bird

1993 album Ol' Brown Ears is Back

Rowlf the Dog

1993 album Jill O'Hara, titled "Green"

Jill O'Hara

1993 album Light Out of Darkness (A Tribute to Ray Charles)

Shirley Horn

with Kermit, 1994 album Kermit Unpigged

Don Henley

1994 album Easy Chair Jazz

Mike Campbell

1995 album Vanessa Rubin Sings

Vanessa Rubin

1996 album Wish Upon a Star/All-Time Children's Favorites

Boston Pops Orchestra

1997 album Easy Easy, completely instrumental

Johnny Lytle

1998 album The Playground

Tony Bennett

1998 album Bob's Favorite Street Songs

Bob McGrath

2000 album Schlafstörung, titled "Frosches Lied (Bein' Green)" with German lyrics

Manfred Krug

as Lorne in the TV series Angel episode "The House Always Wins", and on the 2004 soundtrack album, Angel: Live Fast, Die Never

Andy Hallett

2005 album Once to Every Heart

Mark Murphy

2005 season of Sesame Street

Oscar the Grouch

German jazz bugler, 2004 album That Summer (vocal version) and 1994 album Generations of Jazz (instrumental version)

Till Brönner

2006 album Build a Bridge

Audra McDonald

2007 album Make Someone Happy

Sophie Milman

Music and Sweet Poetry Agree

Matthew White

2008 album The Standard

Take 6

2011 tribute/cover album Muppets: The Green Album

Andrew Bird

and Kermit, 2012 episode The Voice

Cee Lo Green

2015 digital single Bein' Green

The Autumn Defense

Brenna Whitaker, 2015 album

We Love Disney

and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra at a televised live event to mark the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising[4]

Imelda May

as Kermit the Frog and Elvis Costello, 2019 TV special Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration

Matt Vogel

2019 album Our War Has Begun (folk metal version)

Folk Metal Jacket

Memorial[edit]

The song was sung by Big Bird (Caroll Spinney) at the two memorial services for Jim Henson in 1990.

In politics[edit]

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson used the song as an example for his environmental policy, saying that Kermit was wrong and it is easy to be green.[5]

""

Rainbow Connection

on Muppet Wiki

Bein' Green