Caros audiophiles, the other day I discovered a song (It's Not That Easy) Being Green, with a beautiful heartfelt lyric interpreted by a wonderful jazz singer and pianist, unknown to me until now, named Shirley Horn.
I thought, this will be a good song to introduce to my audiophile friends when Spring arrives and when all of Nature around us is turning green.
But, I cannot wait that long, it is too good, it is in my head and will not go away.
Unfortunately the Shirley Horn video cannot be posted, but I have found instead another fantastic version by the incomparably soulful Ray Charles.
The words are simple and universally understood. Who among us has not, at some time, had feelings of self-doubt, needing reassurance, of wanting to be a different person from how we are, or from how we are perceived by others? Before realising that, maybe, we should accept who we really are and just be the best that we can be.
It's not that easy being green
Having to spend each day the colour of the leaves
When I think it could be nicer being red or yellow or gold
Or something much more colourful like that
Having to spend each day the colour of the leaves
When I think it could be nicer being red or yellow or gold
Or something much more colourful like that
It's not that easy being green
It seems to blend in with so many other ordinary things
And people tend to pass you over
Cos you're not standing out like flashy sparkles on the water
Or stars in the sky
But green is the colour of spring
And green can be cool and friendly-like
And green can be big like an ocean or important like a mountain
Or tall like a tree
But if green is all there is to be
It could make you wonder why,
It could make you wonder why,
but why wonder?, why wonder?
I'm green and it'll do fine
And it's beautiful and I think it's what I want to be
I'm green and it'll do fine
And it's beautiful and I think it's what I want to be
And then, this next version was a funny surprise! But how did I not remember this performance from my childhood - it is iconic :
A proxima.
PO
Loved everything about it: the soulfulness, the softness of Ray Charles voice, the simplicity of your text. But the lyrics!! They're just a little treasure! And you know, for those who have faith and have it "internalised", so to say, it's not easy "being green" but it makes sense accepting your "colour": if we are God's children, if we were made at His image, if there's a spark of God in us that allows us to capture a glimpse of His divine LOVE or, just very rationally, understand that He's the way to attain true Peace and Serenity, then we can be green, purple, dark brown or even "cor de burro quando foge" (uglish grey!). It does not matter. Acceptance of who you are is the first step towards some sort of happiness. Sometimes it is the work of a lifetime, but I believe we can get there ... Beautiful, hopeful, inspirational lyrics to brighten up my morning! Thanks, P!! pcp (note: try reading some of St. John of the Cross poetics - it's about this and MUCH, MUCH more!Poetry, and this simple text too, in another way, have this "movement", this movement upward ... you just leave the ground, you reach higher levels of understanding, of acceptance, of .... peace!!!!!!!!
ResponderEliminarP,
ResponderEliminarLoved your post. Thanks for that.
Deixe-me passar para Português – o seu Português é óptimo (sou testemunha). De facto o mundo a cores tem mais graça, e é bem provável que o vermelho, amarelo, cor de ouro sejam cores mais apreciadas (quando comparadas com o verde) e de um modo geral. Passando para comportamentos, maneiras de ser, modo de estar, o que quiser, eu por mim prefiro a discrição, a suavidade de expressão (embora com substância), à exuberância. Não sei se isso é o mesmo que dizer que gosto de verde. Mas vermelho não é seguramente a minha cor preferida.
Há pouco tempo reli uma notícia do Expresso e no vídeo da notícia podem ver-se várias personalidades da nossa sociedade, algumas das quais tive o privilegio de conhecer. Continuo a preferir Francisco Pinto Balsemão, como os outros player Internacional em vários campos incluindo o Desenvolvimento Sustentável, como sabe. Não sei se o verde é a cor para o definir. Talvez prefira o branco – diz o que tem a dizer, é suave no modo de se exprimir, é autêntico, e não perde muito tempo a escolher a cor do blaser que vai usar. Aqui vai o link
http://aeiou.expresso.pt/globalizacao-traz-mundo-de-oportunidades-diz-ian-goldin=f578171
I also liked the last clip – it adds some fun to your post. How could it be otherwise, if you are British? I mean Fun is fundamental (is that the word?) in everything that you do, isn’t it?
bjs
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ResponderEliminarDear Maria, are the British fun-damentally fun? Is that how we are perceived? I think we are known for our dry humour and for our reserve. We do not have the exuberance, let's say, of Brazilians or Italians. But of course these are stereotypes. Every country, indeed every person, has different 'shades' of character at different times. I would say I am blue/green, supposed to represent logical thinking, conservative, etc. But I have some creative and spontaneous red/yellow... PO
ResponderEliminarDear pcp, I'm glad you found my choice inspirational to brighten your morning. And thank you for your reading recommendation of St John of the Cross. PO
ResponderEliminarPhilip,
ResponderEliminarYou’re right – we all can show different colors at different times, and that’s great.
What I meant is that classical example – British people begin a speech with a joke. When they write it is generally nice, light and fun. It is enjoyable, in most cases. See what I mean?
Again, thanks so much for your comments and post.
Bj, saudades