Kuhn was born in New Y… Read Full Bio ↴Judy Kuhn is an American actress and soprano.
Kuhn was born in New York City on May 20, 1958. Her training as a classical soprano was at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, from which she graduated in 1981. She earned her first Broadway credit working as an assistant to the director of a short-lived musical, Don't Step on My Olive Branch, in 1976. Her first onstage appearance on the Great White Way was in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, a Rupert Holmes musical based on the unfinished Charles Dickens novel, in 1985. Her next production was the ill-fated Rags, which closed two days after opening night, but she hit paydirt with her next assignment, the New York premiere of Les Misérables (1987), in which she portrayed Cosette, and for which she received her first Tony Award nomination, as Best Featured Actress in a Musical.
The following year, Kuhn took on another transfer from London's West End, the Trevor Nunn-directed Chess, with music by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus (formerly of ABBA) and lyrics by Tim Rice. Despite the show's huge success in London, its creative team decided to rework it for Broadway, with disastrous results. It was greeted indifferently by the critics and closed after a less than two-month run, but Kuhn managed to earn another Tony nod, this time as Best Actress. Two Shakespearean Actors (1992), despite an impressive cast that included Brian Bedford, Frances Conroy, Hope Davis, Victor Garber, Laura Innes, and Eric Stoltz, was even less successful, closing after only sixty-two performances.
Kuhn hit the jackpot once again with the 1993 revival of She Loves Me - the charming musical adaptation of the film The Shop Around the Corner - in which she portrayed Amalia Balash, a young Budapest shopgirl who is unaware that the co-worker she despises is the young man with whom she's been sharing an anonymous correspondence. Her performance was rewarded with a third Tony nomination.
Kuhn's most recent Broadway appearances were in concerts. King David was a 1997 Disney project with a book and lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Alan Menken and directed by Mike Ockrent, but despite its impressive credits it never evolved into a full-scale production. Funny Girl (2002), with an all-star cast - including a series of different actresses taking on the role of Fanny Brice - was the much-anticipated second annual benefit for The Actors' Fund, with Kuhn singing the plaintive "Who Are You Now?"
Kuhn's off-Broadway and regional theater credits include Eli's Comin' (for which she won an Obie Award), the title role in The Ballad of Little Jo at the Steppenwolf Theater Company in Chicago, As Thousands Cheer, Strike Up The Band, The Glass Menagerie, and Martin Guerre. She appeared in the Los Angeles production of Sunset Boulevard, and in London was nominated for an Olivier Award for her performance in Metropolis.
She sang the title role in Disney's animated film Pocahontas, as well as in the made-for-video sequel, Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World.
In the same year, Kuhn reprised her role as Cosette for the 10th anniversary production of Les Miserables at the Royal Albert Hall, London.
Kuhn's television credits include the NBC crime drama Law & Order, the soap opera All My Children on ABC, and two PBS productions - My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies and In Performance At The White House.
Kuhn has performed in concert at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and Avery Fisher Hall in Manhattan, and at the Royal Albert Hall in London. In addition to being a cast member on various original cast recordings, she released a solo album, Just In Time: Judy Kuhn Sings Jule Styne.
Discography
* The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1985 Original Broadway Cast)
* Les Misérables (1987 Original Broadway Cast)
* Chess (1988 Original Broadway Cast)
* Metropolis (1989 Original London Cast)
* Sunset Boulevard (1994 Los Angeles Cast)
* Just in Time: Judy Kuhn Sings Jule Styne (1995)
* Les Miserables 10th Anniversary Concert (1996)
* As Thousands Cheer (1998 New York Revival Cast)
Colors Of The Wind
Judy Kuhn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you've been so many places
I guess it must be so
But still, I cannot see
If the savage one is me
How can there be so much that you don't know?
You don't know
The Earth is just a dead thing you can claim
But I know every rock and tree and creature
Has a life, has a spirit, has a name
You think the only people who are people
Are the people who look and think like you
But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger
You'll learn things you never knew, you never knew
Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon?
Or asked the grinning bobcat why he grinned?
Can you sing with all the voices of the mountain?
Can you paint with all the colors of the wind?
Can you paint with all the colors of the wind?
Come run the hidden pine trails of the forest
Come taste the sun sweet berries of the Earth
Come roll in all the riches all around you
And for once, never wonder what they're worth
The rainstorm and the river are my brothers
The heron and the otter are my friends
And we are all connected to each other
In a circle, in a hoop that never ends
How high does the sycamore grow?
If you cut it down, then you'll never know
And you'll never hear the wolf cry to the blue corn moon
For whether we are white or copper skinned
We need to sing with all the voices of the mountain
We need to paint with all the colors of the wind
You can own the Earth and still
All you'll own is Earth until
You can paint with all the colors of the wind
In "Colors of the Wind," Judy Kuhn sings about the different perspectives of life between the "civilized" and the "savage" people. The song explores themes such as environmentalism, cultural differences, and the value of diversity. The Native American-inspired melody and lyrics exude a peaceful tone that invites listeners to contemplate their own beliefs.
The first verse challenges the common notion of sophistication and questions who the real savage is. The second verse highlights the arrogance of the "civilized" people who claim ownership of land and the "dead" things in it. Kuhn then emphasizes that every living thing has a spirit and a name in the chorus.
The bridge encourages the listener to open their mind to the unknown and to appreciate the wonders of nature. It repeats the line from the chorus, inviting everyone to "sing with all the voices of the mountain" and"paint with all the colors of the wind," which suggests the values of harmonious coexistence and environmental awareness.
Overall, "Colors of the Wind" is a compelling song that celebrates diversity and encourages interconnectedness.
Line by Line Meaning
You think I'm an ignorant savage
You believe that I am uneducated and uncivilized
And you've been so many places
You have traveled extensively
I guess it must be so
I accept that it is likely true
But still I cannot see
However, I do not understand
If the savage one is me
If the uncivilized person is me
How can there be so much that you don't know
How can there be so much that you are unaware of?
You don't know?
Do you not know?
You think you own whatever land you land on
You believe that you can claim any land you set foot on
The Earth is just a dead thing you can claim
You view the Earth as an inanimate object that you can take possession of
But I know every rock and tree and creature
However, I understand that every feature of nature has its own identity and purpose
Has a life, has a spirit, has a name
Each has its own essence, consciousness, and identity
You think the only people who are people
You think that only those who share your appearance and beliefs are truly human
Are the people who look and think like you
Are those whose physical and mental attributes match yours
But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger
However, if you follow the path of someone who is unfamiliar to you
You'll learn things you never knew, you never knew
You will discover knowledge and insights that you were previously unaware of
Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon?
Have you ever listened to the wolf's howl during a particular lunar phase?
Or asked the grinning bobcat why he grinned?
Or inquired as to why the bobcat was smiling?
Can you sing with all the voices of the mountain?
Can you express the full range of emotions and melodies associated with the landscape?
Can you paint with all the colors of the wind?
Can you capture the full sensory experience and symbolism of the atmosphere?
Come run the hidden pine trails of the forest
Join me in exploring the secluded paths among the evergreens
Come taste the sun sweet berries of the Earth
Experience the flavor of nature's bounty
Come roll in all the riches all around you
Rejoice in the abundance that surrounds you
And for once, never wonder what they're worth
Appreciate their intrinsic value, without concern for their monetary value
The rainstorm and the river are my brothers
The elements of nature are akin to familial relationships for me
The heron and the otter are my friends
I consider these animals as my companions and equals
And we are all connected to each other
We are all part of the same interconnected system
In a circle, in a hoop that never ends
In a perpetually circular and unbroken structure
How high does the sycamore grow?
To what height can a sycamore tree reach?
If you cut it down, then you'll never know
If you destroy it, you will never have the answer
For whether we are white or copper skinned
Regardless of our racial heritage
We need to sing with all the voices of the mountain
We must each express ourselves fully, like the various sounds of the mountains
We need to paint with all the colors of the wind
We must each utilize all of our senses and emotions to represent the essence of the wind
You can own the Earth and still
You may possess power and wealth
All you'll own is Earth until
But you will not truly possess anything until
You can paint with all the colors of the wind
You can appreciate all aspects of the natural world
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Alan Menken, Stephen Laurence Schwartz
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
JoSterio 2.0
Believe it or not, Pocahontas was ground breaking for a lot of things that Disney never tried before: Inter-racial relationship, tackling racism and colonialism, depicting Native Americans in a positive light (after they were racially drawn and made the villains in many old west films), hiring Native Americans to play the roles of the Native Americans in the movie (Irene Bedard as Pocahontas, Russel Means as Pocahontas father) and many others. It was the last Disney film to win best original score and original song, since then, Disney has been unable to win two of those categories, only for original songs they have won. I do recommend to watch the tenth anniversary version as Disney+ doesn’t have it for some dumb reason. I do like to see your reaction to Savages, it’s one of Disney’s darkest songs. Also, to this day, Disney has never attempted to do an ending like Pocahontas, and I consider it the best ending of the movie
Gregory Hicks
Everything you just said is correct. But I feel like that Judy Kuhn should be mentioned here too. She is a ludicrously talented singer (this song included) but nobody knows her.
JoSterio 2.0
@Story Lockett actually Hellfire is one of the greatest (along with Savages) villain songs to ever be made.
Story Lockett
And the song frollo sung (hell fire) is one of the creepiest, lol. Sorry your comment made me think of the other dark songs they have and that one was the first to pop up. I started to think about into the woods but I can't remember if any of the songs were actually dark or if the movie itself was just dark but not the songs.
I never knew any of what you commented, so that's really cool to know.
Turtle Island LAC
Menken is a musical genius and could adapt to any genre and any culture. Pocahontas was bold in comparison to other Disney animated films, but the movie itself lacked the memorable songs, besides Colors of the Wind. Colors of the Wind was such a powerful song that literally carried the movie.
I think the other songs, such as Savages, show that Stephen Schwartz, although he's an award-winning lyricist, was just not on the level of Howard Ashman or Tim Rice. True that few are on that level, but the difference was jarring. The Hunchback, the next film Menken and Schwartz collaborated on, was carried by Menken's haunting gothic score. The lyrics of the Hunchback songs really were not memorable and were overshadowed by Menken's tunes.
Schwartz has no filter in his lyrics, that some may take for boldness I take it for carelessness. Like the Hellfire song he wrote for Frollo about him lusting for Esmeralda. He didn't stop and think that children would be hearing it.
I wish we could have seen what Ashman could have done for Hunchback.
Booty Hole
Yess!!
Seanne McDaniel
It's so refreshing to see a man show how beautiful music can touch them. Feelings aren't feminine, they're human.
Martin Hall
In moderation, if you are too overly sensitive....
Jairus Jackson
I loved the energy you had in this reaction man, I love that you're really feeling this song because I feel the exact same way this is a song I feel in my core. Not many get to me like this but this one of em, so yeah man I'm glad you liked it.
Shawna Is Me
While Pocahontas was never one of my top favorite Disney animated movies, Colours of the Wind has always been my favorite Pocahontas song. I love the messaging of it, about the acceptance of different races and cultures, of understanding that all forms of life in this world are naturally connected and dependent in some way on one another, that it is all so much bigger than any one person and it is about so much more than the human greed for wealth and worldly glory or the obsession to conquer.
"You can own the earth and still, all you'll own is earth until you can paint with all the colours of the wind..."
Sing it Pocahontas! Tell it like it is!