Paint It, Black
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "Paint It Black" | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Single by Rolling Stones | ||
| from the album Aftermath | ||
| Released | 1966 | |
| Format | 7" | |
| Recorded | 1965-1966 | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 3:19 | |
| Label | Decca/ABKCO | |
| Producer(s) | Andrew Loog Oldham | |
| Chart positions | ||
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- For the Philadelphia hardcore punk band, see Paint It Black (band).
"Paint It Black" (also "Paint It, Black") is a song recorded by The Rolling Stones in 1966. It reached number one in both the U.S. and the UK charts. It was released as a single and on the album Aftermath (U.S. version).
[edit] Song
As usual, the song was credited to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, although all of the bandmembers contributed substantially to it, especially Bill Wyman, and leader/founder Brian Jones.
Jagger's and Richards' original conception of the song was that of a slow soul song from the viewpoint of a person who is depressed. He wants everything to turn black to match his mood.
The song began with Wyman playing organ at a recording session, in parody of the group's former co-manager Eric Easton, who had been an organist. Charlie Watts accompanied the organ by playing a vaguely Middle Eastern drum part; Watts' drum pattern became the basis for the final song. Brian Jones contributed the song's signature sitar riff (having taught himself to play), and Jagger contributed a lyric seemingly about a man mourning his dead girlfriend.
In 2004 it was ranked #174 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
The song has become associated with the Vietnam War due to its use in the ending credits of Full Metal Jacket and the opening credits of Tour of Duty. It was also used in 2004 in an episode-ending montage in the NBC television show American Dreams, when a major character went missing in Vietnam. Its other film appearances include the closing credits of 1997's The Devil's Advocate. The song, as covered by Gob, was also featured in the film Stir of Echoes. A French version of the song, performed by Marie Laforet, appears in the 2006 film Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.
"Paint It Black" was also used in three PlayStation 2 titles. Conflict: Vietnam used the song during the opening sequence, while Twisted Metal: Black used the beginning of the song in the opening screen, then the whole song again in its end credits. A version of the karaoke game SingStar also features "Paint It Black".
[edit] Cover versions
Paint It Black has also been covered by many different bands and music artists, including (but not limited to); 3 Steps Ahead, The Agony Scene, The Animals, Anti-Nowhere League, The Avengers, The Black Dahlia Murder, Bullet Train to Moscow, Vanessa Carlton, Deadsy, Deep Purple, Destrophy, Duran Duran, Earth Crisis, Echo and the Bunnymen, Face to Face, Firewater, The Feelies, Gob, Karel Gott (in German as Schwarz und Rot), Half Japanese, Hampton String Quartet, The Hypertonics, Inkubus Sukkubus, Judas Priest, Led Zeppelin, Jonny Lang, Spanish band M-Clan, Ottmar Liebert, The London Symphony Orchestra with Marc Almond, Marduk, The Mighty Lemon Drops, No Friends Of Harry, Kalan Porter, Rage, Rush, Skrewdriver, Statemachine, The Tea Party, Three Sixes, Glenn Tipton, U2, The Unseen, Utada Hikaru, The Vines, War (and Eric Burdon) and W.A.S.P.. The song was also covered by country singer Tracy Lawrence, as part of the Stone Country album, featuring prominent country acts covering Stones classics.
"Paint It Black" is also the name of an album from Virgin Records released in the United States on October 3, 2006, which features covers of well-known Rolling Stones songs by a variety of artists.
| Preceded by: "When a Man Loves a Woman" by Percy Sledge |
Billboard Hot 100 number one single June 11, 1966 |
Succeeded by: "Paperback Writer" by The Beatles |
| The Rolling Stones |
|---|
| Mick Jagger | Keith Richards | Charlie Watts | Ron Wood |
| Former members |
| Brian Jones | Bill Wyman | Mick Taylor | Ian Stewart | Dick Taylor |
| See also |
| Chuck Leavell | Darryl Jones | Andrew Loog Oldham | Allen Klein |
| Related articles |
| Discography | The Glimmer Twins | Nanker Phelge | Rolling Stones Records | Rock and Roll Circus |
| Categories |
| The Rolling Stones | Members | Albums | Singles | Songs | Tours |
