~ Like the ripples in a pond, the work of one man spreads out and touches the lives of others ~

From The Soul of One ~ To The Hearts Of Many
TAYLOR HICKS MY IDOL
Taylor Hicks "The Distance"


Friday, May 23, 2008

Shades of Green



Several months ago I had begun collecting photos and information to do a blog revolving around the color red and how that color related to Taylor Hicks.

To my surprise ... before I had finished putting everything together, someone (sorry I've forgotten who) touched on the very same topic and it appeared in The Soul Connection Enzine.

What were the chances that somebody else was thinking along the very same lines at the very same time?

Needless to say it was redundant for me to continue, but I was still intrigued by how colors played out in our lives and I started thinking about the color green!


Kermit the Frog has always been the spokesperson for the color green.

"Bein' Green," originally titled "Green", is one of Kermit the Frog's best-known songs.

It was written by Joe Raposo for the first season of Sesame Street.
It has since become a American standard.

In the song, Kermit expresses his ambivalence about the color of his skin, noting that green "blends in with so many other ordinary things" and wishing that he were some other color instead.

By the end of the song, however, Kermit makes more positive associations with the color and decides "it's beautiful, and I think it's what I want to be."

Thoughts of the discussion that might occur between Taylor and Kermit popped into my mind.

It would be an inspirational meetings of minds, told from both sides of the coin, about embracing who you are and learning to love yourself.

Whether you have feeling of blending in and being ordinary or
standing out 'cause you are different!

Naturally their conversation would take them to thoughts about Taylor Hicks' Idol, Ray Charles, and of course Soul Music!


photo caption:
Kermit and Ray Charles sing "Bein' Green" on 'Cher' in 1975.

"Everything about the pain and experience in Ray Charles' voice touches a raw nerve in me.

I can feel not only the man's pain, but also his strength and determination to endure and triumph against long odds.
Whenever I find the going a little tough, I think about how hard life on the road must have been for Ray - this brilliant blind black man trying to find his way in an extremely racist world.

The music that's in my heart - soul music - taught me loudly and clearly that racism is nothing but pure ignorance.

Soul music spoke to me - not because of the color of anybody's skin but because of the beauty and the power of its sound and the universal purity of its message."
Taylor Hicks ~ 'Heart Full of Soul'


"Jim Henson took a simple song and a piece of felt and turned it into a moment of great power.
The song says it's not easy being green, but the song is about knowing who you are, and in it you can hear Jim's message loud and clear.
We should learn to love who we are and be proud of it.
And that's the way we learn to love each other."
~Ray Charles~





The song, which in its initial airings, was aimed at underprivileged children, has been interpreted as an anthem about embracing one's race.
It was described in a Children's Television Workshop press release as "a frog's poignant realization of his own dignity and worth."



On to the other side of the coin ... from my blog topic
'Dare To Be Different'
Take advantage of your difference and make it work for you.
Make your own way!

"From the beginning my main focus was turning my biggest disadvantage into an advantage.
The undeniable truth is that by nearly every standard, I didn't fit in.
I was older, fatter, and I had gray hair.
So I decided the smart thing to do was embrace my oddness for all it was worth ... like they say, vive la difference."
From 'Heart Full Of Soul' by Taylor Hicks
(An inspirational memoir about finding your voice and finding your way)




Shades of Green
Green means GO.
Green means Money (in the US).
Green means eco-friendly.




Good green ...
Green light - go, permission to proceed (with a task)

The green room - in theater or televisions it is the room where performers and guests go to relax

Green thumb - good with plants

Greenback - US dollar bill, money

Greener pastures - something newer or better (or perceived to be better), such as a new job

Bad green ....
Green-eyed monster - jealosy

Green with envy - jealous or envious

Green - inexperienced, untested, untrained

Greenhorn - novice, trainee, beginner

Green around the gills - pale, sickly



Today's cup is from:
'Before You Leap': a Frogs-eye View of Life’s Greatest Lessons
by Kermit The Frog

And it's another Daily Double ...

“Success is believing in yourself, then convincing everyone else that you’re right.”

“Every Journey Begins With A Single Hop”




Today's blog topic ends with Ol' Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra, singing about "Bein' Green".



"Bein' Green" was also recorded by such notables as Van Morrison, Buddy Rich, Don Henley, Tony Bennet and Diana Ross.

I hope you've enjoyed my colorful musings!
Colors answer feeling in man; shapes answer thought; and motion answers will.




4 comments:

KarinP said...

Very interesting musings, from the greenthumb herself, Bloom!

Colour is always an interesting subject to me. Colours are quite powerful and each one sends it's own message.

I found a couple of more things about green.

Put some green in your life when you want:

a new state of balance
feel a need for change or growth
freedom to pursue new ideas
protection from fears and anxieties connected with the demands of others

Interesting things to think about.

Musings keep the mind active and certainly give us lots to think about!

Thanks, Bloom. Hopefully, as the warm weather approaches, your "greenthumb" will be getting a workout at "The Pond".

Bloom said...

Morning my friend!
It's a green day as thankfully it rained last night.
LOL it makes pulling weeds so much easier ... I do believe this is a bumper year for them!

Being a color lady ... you would of course know all of the interesting tidbits relating to colors and how they play out in our lives.

It's possible that one of the reasons I am so drawn to gardening is the affect that green has on me.

I hope to put my 'green' thumb to work this weekend and really make some good progress. I expect my thumb to then be more the color 'brown'.

So behind, my roses are ready to bloom, my daylillies have already started blooming and none of my ponds are cleaned yet ... arg!

Speaking of colors ... I notice that you spell the word differently ... is that the Canadian spelling?

KarinP said...

Bloom, it isn't such a bad thing if your greenthumb turns to brown.

Brown represents wholesomeness and earthiness. While it might be considered a little on the dull side, it also represents steadfastness, simplicity, friendliness, dependability, and health.

Most of those things describe you and "The Pond" very well actually.

It seems that with spelling and language, the Canadians always take "the long way home", ROFL. Yes, indeed colour is the Canadian spelling for color.

I have not ventured into my garden - of weeds - yet! Somehow, I don't have the excitement this year of getting out there and making things look the way that they have in past gardening seasons. The difficult winter we had here has taken it's toll on my perennials.

Perhaps I should start wearing something "green" myself - I think I could use a "new state of balance".

Looking forward to some incredible pictures from you again this year when you get the gardens restored!

Anonymous said...

greenis good