Yellow is a bright, warm color that is often associated with happiness, optimism, and energy. Many famous people, places, and things throughout history have been yellow. In this article, we will explore some of the most well-known yellow icons.
Famous Yellow Foods
Some of the most iconic foods and drinks are yellow. Here are a few famous examples:
| Bananas | One of the most popular and nutritious fruits, bananas are a stapleyellow food found around the world. |
| Lemons | These sour yellow citrus fruits are a key ingredient in drinks, desserts, and many dishes. |
| Corn | Corn is a popular yellow vegetable that can be eaten on the cob or incorporated into many recipes. |
| Cheese | Many cheeses like cheddar and Swiss have a distinctive yellow hue. |
| Mustard | The condiment mustard is known for its bright yellow color and zesty flavor. |
Other famous yellow foods include pineapple, lemonade, butter, lemon meringue pie, and more. The vibrant color of these foods makes them appetite-appealing and memorable.
Important Yellow Plants
In nature, many significant plants bear yellow flowers, fruits or foliage. Some botanically important yellow plants are:
| Sunflowers | The bright yellow petals of sunflowers are iconic. Sunflower crops are important for producing cooking oil, seeds, and livestock feed. |
| Daffodils | With their trumpet-shaped yellow blooms, daffodils are one of the first flowers to appear in spring. |
| Dandelions | Dandelions have yellow composite flowers and their stems and leaves are yellowish-green. They spread readily and are considered weeds by some. |
| Forsythia | Forsythia shrubs produce an abundance of vivid yellow flowers in early spring before leaves emerge. |
| Daylilies | This perennial with strappy leaves bears many yellow trumpet-shaped blooms all summer. |
These are just a handful of the many important yellow plant species. The bright blooms attract pollinators and add cheer to gardens.
Famous Yellow Minerals
Several minerals and gemstones occur in yellow shades that make them highly valued. Some of the most famous yellow minerals are:
| Gold | This precious yellow metal has been prized and used for currency, jewelry and more throughout history. |
| Sulfur | Also known as brimstone, sulfur is a bright yellow mineral found near volcanoes and hot springs. |
| Amber | Fossilized tree resin that ranges from yellow to orange-brown. Amber often contains preserved insects and plants. |
| Citrine | This yellow quartz gemstone is known as the merchant’s stone or the stone of success. |
| Pyrite | Iron sulfide minerals like pyrite and marcasite contain yellow hues and an interesting metallic luster. |
The yellow color, shine, and rarity of these minerals make them highly desirable. They have been used for trade, jewelry, and decoration for centuries.
Significant Yellow Structures
Many notable man-made structures around the world exhibit eye-catching yellow colors. Some historic yellow buildings and monuments include:
| The Yellow House | This building in Arles, France, was famously depicted in various paintings by Vincent Van Gogh. |
| Yellow Palace | A portion of this palace complex in Jaipur, India is painted a distinctive yellow. |
| Yellow Crane Tower | This ancient tower in Wuhan, China, is one of the city’s most famous landmarks. |
| Yellow Brick Road | The fictional road leading to Oz in The Wizard of Oz is paved with iconic sparkling yellow bricks. |
| The Motherland Calls | This towering yellow sculpture in Volgograd, Russia commemorates the Battle of Stalingrad. |
The vibrant yellow color of these landmarks makes them stand out on the landscape. The hue evokes sunshine, warmth and optimism.
Famous Yellow Vehicles
Yellow has long been a popular color choice for vehicles of all types. Iconic examples of famous yellow vehicles include:
| New York City Taxi Cabs | New York’s signature taxi cabs are painted a bright yellow for high visibility. |
| School Buses | In the U.S. and Canada, school buses are known for their characteristic yellow hue. |
| Corvette | Some of the early generation Corvettes in the 1950s and 60s were available in a vibrant yellow tone. |
| Ferrari | Many Ferrari sports car models have been produced in a signature yellow color called Giallo Modena. |
| John Deere Tractors | John Deere tractors are painted a distinctive green and yellow color scheme. |
The yellow color helps these vehicles grab attention on busy roads and highways. It represents caution and visibility for safety.
Prominent Yellow Branding
Many top brands utilize yellow in their logos, packaging or advertising to capture attention. Well-known examples include:
| McDonald’s | The famous golden arches and red and yellow color scheme represent this fast food giant. |
| Nikon | The camera company’s name in yellow is a globally recognized brand logo. |
| Best Buy | The electronics retailer features yellow tag logos in its stores and advertising. |
| IKEA | IKEA’s blue and yellow logo is identifiable with its furniture products and stores. |
| DHL | The international shipper uses bold red and yellow branding on its planes and trucks. |
In the competitive marketplace, yellow grabs consumer attention. It conveys excitement, optimism and energy for these leading brands.
Famous Yellow Characters
Beloved fictional characters that exhibit yellow features are a part of pop culture. Well-known yellow characters include:
| Pikachu | Pikachu’s yellow color and lightning bolt-shaped tail are iconic to the Pokémon franchise. |
| Minions | The yellow Minions from Despicable Me have become hugely popular around the world. |
| Pac-Man | Pac-Man is known for his round yellow shape and distinctive waka-waka sound effects. |
| SpongeBob SquarePants | SpongeBob is an energetic yellow sea sponge who lives in a pineapple under the sea. |
| Tweety Bird | This little yellow cartoon bird is often pursued by his rival Sylvester the cat. |
The vibrant color of these characters makes them visually appealing. Their popularity spans generations and mediums like film, TV, video games and merchandise.
Important Yellow Idioms
Yellow is incorporated into many common idiomatic expressions. Some examples include:
| “Yellow belly” | Meaning cowardly or easily frightened. |
| “Yellow flag” | Meaning a warning sign of caution or need for preparedness. |
| “Yellow streak” | Meaning a tendency toward cowardice. |
| “Yellow journalism” | Refers to sensationalism or exaggerated reporting. |
| “Yellow card” | Given as a warning in sports like soccer and hockey. |
These idioms use yellow to convey concepts like caution, fear, and exaggeration. The color is engrained in the language and culture.
Significant Yellow Songs
As a bright, energetic color, yellow has inspired many popular songs across musical genres:
| “Yellow Submarine” | An iconic 1966 song by The Beatles about a yellow submarine that lives in an underground sea. |
| “Mellow Yellow” | Donovan’s 1966 pop hit about a rainy day and feeling “mellow yellow.” |
| “Yellow” | Coldplay’s massively popular 2000 alternative rock song about love and devotion. |
| “Big Yellow Taxi” | Joni Mitchell’s 1970 folk/pop song protesting the paving over of nature. |
| “Yellow Ledbetter” | A 1992 grunge rock song by Pearl Jam with somewhat abstract lyrics. |
Yellow’s association with sunshine, warmth and optimism is reflected in these iconic tunes. The color weaves itself through music and culture.
Famous Yellow Animals
Some of the most well-known animals feature yellow as part of their coloring. Famous examples include:
| Rubber Duckies | Classic bathtub toy ducks are bright yellow. |
| Ducks | Mallard ducks have a characteristic yellow bill. |
| Bees | Bees are yellow and black striped. |
| Giraffes | Giraffes have caramel yellow fur with dark spots and horns. |
| Yellow Labrador Retrievers | This popular dog breed comes in yellow as well as black and chocolate colors. |
The vibrant yellow and black contrast of insects, ducks, and other creatures makes them distinguishable. Yellow Zoo animals like giraffes draw attention.
Famous Yellow Fashion
Many fashion designers have featured yellow prominently. Iconic examples include:
| The “Little Yellow Dress” | Designed by Christian Dior, this game-changing 1940s dress featured yellow chiffon. |
| Yellow Sweater | Artist Piet Mondrian’s iconic geometric sweater in yellow, red, blue and white. |
| The Yellow Suit | Beyoncé’s instantly famous yellow Roberto Cavalli suit from “Crazy in Love.” |
| Yellow Shoes | Kylie Jenner helped popularize bright yellow sneakers and shoes. |
| The Yellow Wallpaper | Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s iconic 1892 short story about haunting yellow wallpaper. |
Yellow makes a bold fashion statement and is associated with sunshine, playfulness and warmth. Fashion icons like Christian Dior and Beyoncé have cemented its influence.
Other Notable Yellow Things
Some other significant yellow objects, people and concepts include:
| Yellow first down line in football broadcasts |
| Yellow #2 pencils and legal pads |
| Yellow traffic and hazard lights |
| Yellow fever disease |
| The Yellow Kid early American comic character |
| Yellow ribbon symbolizing homecoming and solidarity |
| Yellow Pages business directories |
| Yellow pop art by Andy Warhol |
These examples demonstrate the broad association of the color yellow with diverse subjects. It pervades culture, language, history and art.
Conclusion
In summary, yellow is an influential color that is connected with many important cultural icons. It is found everywhere from foods and plants to songs and fashion. The bright, sunny color of yellow evokes happiness, energy and caution. From Pikachu to school buses, mustard to post-it notes, yellow is ingrained in everyday life. It draws attention while representing optimism. Yellow’s fame is far-reaching and impacts branding, history, and the arts. There are few other hues with such wide-ranging familiarity and associations.
