Last month, we heard an early live preview of Andrew Bird’s contribution to a new Muppets covers record titled The Green Album, in which Bird revisits Kermit the Frog’s “Bein’ Green” as a fragile, jazzy lament on self-identity. Now the official studio version has arrived via NPR, complete with trademark violin/whistle solos, softly brushed drums, and some thoughtful analysis of the tune penned by Bird:
This song epitomizes Kermit’s role as the sensitive hero, the not-so-fearless leader of the Muppets. He goes from “gosh, it’s rough being green” to “well, green’s not so bad” before discovering that green is the best thing ever. But it’s Kermit, so he reins it in back to feeling pretty good about being green. The song shows us how to celebrate what makes us different, even indulge some delusions of grandeur, but in the end temper them with humility.
Stream the cover below.