Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones
Theresa merritt
Diana Ross
Snow Babies
Thelma Carpenter
Diana Ross
Michael Jackson
Diana Ross & Michael Jackson
Nipsey Russell
Nipsey Russell
Diana Ross, Michael Jackson & Nipsey Russell
Ted Ross
Diana Ross & Michael Jackson
Quincy Jones
Diana Ross & Nipsey Russell & Michael Jackson & Ted Ross
Quincy Jones
Richard Pryor
Richard Pryor & Michael Jackson
Diana Ross
Mabel King
Diana Ross & Lena Horne & Mabel King & Richard Pryor & Thelma Carpenter & Theresa merritt & Michael Jackson & Nipsey Russell & Ted Ross
Diana Ross
Richard Pryor & Lena Horne
Lena Horne
Diana Ross
This song and scene, like nearly all of the songs in this musical, was very well choreographed art AND social commentary on american and at times specifically black american life. This scene highlights levels of influence materialism and fashion have.
Part 1: Emerald City Green
[Intro]
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
[Verse 1]
I want to be seen green
Wouldn't be caught dead, red
‘Cause if you are seen green
It means you got mean bread
(Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh)
You've got to be seen in green
To show that your stuff's laid
If you're not seen green
You better be wearing jade
(Oh-oh-oh)
You've got to be seen green
Don't tell them your cupboard's bare
That you gave up one week's feed
To pay for your colored hair
(Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh)
(Oh-oh-oh)
[Bridge: Richard Pryor]
(An announcement from the great and powerful Oz)
I thought it over and green is dead
'Till I change my mind, the color is red
Part 2: Emerald City Red
[Verse 1]
I wouldn't be seen green
Ooh, ooh-ooh, oh, ah-ah
I wouldn't be caught dead
And if I'm caught at all
Then catch me in dead red (Ooh)
You've got to be dead red
You've got to be real hot
So throw away those green gems
And wear rubies on your yacht
You've got to be dead red
You've got to have flash and flair
And if you're not seen red
Then you shouldn't be seen nowhere, ahh
[Bridge: Richard Pryor]
How quickly fashion goes down the drain
Last week when you all was wearin' pink
Already for me red was old
The ultimate yellow brick is gold
That's the new color children, hit it
Part 3: Emerald City Gold
[Chorus]
Golden gold, golden gold
Golden gold, golden gold
[Verse 1]
You got to be seen gold
Watch out for the new kind
You got to have old gold
Like some from a gold mine
You got to be wearin' gold
The twenty-four karat kind
And once you've shined it up
It should ought to make you blind, ah
You got to be seen in gold
To show that you're super slick
It helps to pay tips and tolls
It's the ultimate yellow brick
It's the ultimate, gold (Yeah)
[Outro]
(Golden gold, golden gold)
(Golden gold, golden gold) Ah
(Golden gold, golden gold)
(Golden gold, golden gold)
(Golden gold, golden gold)
(Golden gold, golden gold)
(Golden gold, golden gold)
(Gold, gold, gold, gold, gold)
Emerald City Sequence was written by Charlie Smalls & Quincy Jones.
Emerald City Sequence was produced by Quincy Jones.
Richard Pryor released Emerald City Sequence on Mon Sep 18 1978.