Bein' Green

"Bein' Green"
"Bein' Green"
	Kermit the Frog singing "Bein' Green" in episode 219 of The Muppet Show
Song by Kermit the Frog (Jim Henson)
Published	1970
Songwriter(s)	Joe Raposo

"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, and other performers. Bein' Green is considered the signature song of Kermit the Frog.^[1]

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.

Versions[edit]

Jim Henson as Kermit the Frog, various Muppet productions, starting with The Sesame Street Book & Record in 1970, until 1990 following Henson's death
Steve Whitmire as Kermit the Frog, various Muppet productions (1990–2016)
Thurl Ravenscroft, 1970 album Rubber Duckie and Other Songs From Sesame Street
Frank Sinatra, 1971 album Sinatra & Company, this recording would later be used on Sesame Street in an animated insert by Étienne Delessert.^[2]
Lena Horne, 1971 album Nature's Baby
Urbie Green, 1972 album Bein' Green
Buddy Rich, 1972 album Stick It
Van Morrison, 1973 album Hard Nose the Highway
Stan Kenton, 1973 7.5 on the Richter Scale, titled "It's Not Easy Bein' Green"
Della Reese, 1973 album Let Me in Your Life
John Leyton, 1973 eponymous album
Diana Ross, 1974 album Live at Caesars Palace
Ray Charles, 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
Jackie McLean, 1978 album New Wine in Old Bottles
Mary O'Hara, 1981 album Colours^[3]
Keith Harris and Orville the Duck, 1983 single
William Roy, 1986 single "When I Sing Alone"
Helen Merrill feat. Stan Getz, 1989 album Just Friends
Wilford Brimley, 1989 MDA Labor Day Telethon
Mandy Patinkin, 1990 album Dress Casual
Big Bird, 1990 Jim Henson memorial service
Rowlf the Dog, 1993 album Ol' Brown Ears is Back
Jill O'Hara, 1993 album Jill O'Hara, titled "Green"
Shirley Horn, 1993 album Light Out of Darkness (A Tribute to Ray Charles)
Don Henley with Kermit, 1994 album Kermit Unpigged
Mike Campbell, 1994 album Easy Chair Jazz
Vanessa Rubin, 1995 album Vanessa Rubin Sings
Boston Pops Orchestra, 1996 album Wish Upon a Star/All-Time Children's Favorites
Johnny Lytle, 1997 album Easy Easy, completely instrumental
Tony Bennett, 1998 album The Playground
Bob McGrath, 1998 album Bob's Favorite Street Songs
Manfred Krug, 2000 album Schlafstörung, titled "Frosches Lied (Bein' Green)" with German lyrics
Andy Hallett, as Lorne in the TV series Angel episode "The House Always Wins", and on the 2004 soundtrack album, Angel: Live Fast, Die Never
Mark Murphy, 2005 album Once to Every Heart
Oscar the Grouch, 2005 season of Sesame Street
Till Brönner, German jazz bugler, 2004 album That Summer (vocal version) and 1994 album Generations of Jazz (instrumental version)
Audra McDonald, 2006 album Build a Bridge
Sophie Milman, 2007 album Make Someone Happy
Matthew White, Music and Sweet Poetry Agree
Take 6, 2008 album The Standard
Andrew Bird, 2011 tribute/cover album Muppets: The Green Album
Damian McGinty, 2011 episode "Pot O' Gold" Glee
Cee Lo Green and Kermit, 2012 episode The Voice
The Autumn Defense, 2015 digital single Bein' Green
Brenna Whitaker, 2015 album We Love Disney
Imelda May and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra at a televised live event to mark the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising^[4]
Matt Vogel as Kermit the Frog and Elvis Costello, 2019 TV special Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration
Folk Metal Jacket, 2019 album Our War Has Begun (folk metal version)

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]

References[edit]

^ "Any Way You Look at It, Kermit Loves 'Bein' Green'". 7 September 2020.
^ Footage screened at "Sesame Street: Lost and Found" event at Museum of the Moving Image, November 24, 2019.
^ Mary O'Hara - Colours, 1981, retrieved 2023-09-24
^ "Centenary | 1916". Archived from the original on 2016-04-12. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
^ Nichols, Michelle (23 September 2021). "In U.N. Climate push, UK PM disputes Kermit: 'It is easy to be green'". Reuters.

External links[edit]

Bein' Green on Muppet Wiki

[1] "Any Way You Look at It, Kermit Loves 'Bein' Green'". 7 September 2020.

[2] Footage screened at "Sesame Street: Lost and Found" event at Museum of the Moving Image, November 24, 2019.

[3] Mary O'Hara - Colours, 1981, retrieved 2023-09-24

[4] "Centenary | 1916". Archived from the original on 2016-04-12. Retrieved 2016-03-29.

[5] 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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