13 Exciting Pitch BLACK Songs features songs by BeyoncĂ©, Black Pumas, Michael Jackson, Pansy Division, Taylor Swift, and Teddy Swims. Â
[nx_dropcap]B[/nx_dropcap]-L-A-C-K, BLACK! Cutting straight to the chase, black is the keyword on the playlist, 13 Exciting Pitch BLACK Songs. Black is a must in every song featured on this list without exception. The blackness canât merely be implied; it must be explicitly stated in the title! 13 Exciting Pitch BLACK Songs features songs by BeyoncĂ©, Black Pumas, Michael Jackson, Pansy Division, Taylor Swift, and Teddy Swims. So, without further ado, embrace the pitch blackness of these 13 Exciting Pitch BLACK Songs!

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1. Teddy Swims & Muni Long, âBlack & Whiteâ
Iâve Tried Everything But Therapy (Complete Edition) » SWIMS Int. / Warner Records Inc. » 2025
[nx_pullquote]ââCause, oh, woah / Donât say you feel the same way / Oh, woah / Clear as day and night.â[/nx_pullquote] Those lyrics from the pre-chorus of âBlack & Whiteâ make more sense in context. Once more, Teddy Swims (Jaten Dimsdale) brings it on the 12th track from the Complete Edition of his album, Iâve Tried Everything But Therapy. The Grammy-nominated pop-soul standout doesnât bring it alone, however. He teams up with Grammy-winning R&B singer/songwriter Muni Long (Priscilla Renea). They make a dynamic, formidable duo. Two powerful voices? Yes, please! Swims and Long penned âBlack & Whiteâ with Charlie Coffeen, Jeff âGittyâ Gitelman, and Mikky Ekko. Gitelman and Long produced it. The sound is marvelous! Set in a compound duple meter, the accompaniment thrives on its soulful, old-school vibes from the musical accompaniment. What gives âBlack & Whiteâ that old-school aesthetic? Itâs the rhythm section with the big bass line, rhythm guitar, as well as the orchestral cues â lush, warmer strings and exuberant brass.
Teddy Swims sets the tone, singing the first verse: âYouâre the first one I told the truth to / Somethingâs changinâ inside of me when I look at you.â Oh, snap! He delivers gritty, nuanced vocals. Simply put, that man can sing! The melodies are tuneful, with the chorus being the section to beat. Muni Long complements Teddy Swims superbly when they sing together during the dynamic chorus.
âBaby, baby, itâs black and white
We know when it feels right
And it feels like the right time to love youâŠâ
Indeed! Long is also dynamic in her own right, singing the second verse. âYeah, your tattoos look like bad news, kinda taboo,â she sings, and adds, âI wanna wake up with you by my side / Let you get me high, keep my body levitatinâ.â Damn! Her vocal runs are celestial â simply beautiful! Ultimately, the vocal chemistry between Teddy Swims and Muni Long is exceptional on âBlack & Whiteâ. They shine brightest at the end of the song, showing off immense vocal skill singing separately and simultaneously. This marks another dynamic, unforgettable moment from Iâve Tried Everything But Therapy. Bravo!

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2. Black Pumas, âBlack Moon Risingâ
Black Pumas » ATO » 2019
[nx_pullquote]âShoot me down and break my heart / Itâs the black moon rising / You brave the sight, I paint the picture / And you want to do itâŠâ[/nx_pullquote] Grammy-nominated duo Black Pumas â singer Eric Burton and guitarist/producer Adrian Quesada â kept the soul and funk alive on their self-titled debut album. Black Pumas commences with a moon song, the terrific âBlack Moon Rising.â
One of the things that makes Black Pumasâ music cool in general is the ambience â the V-I-B-E! The backdrop is retro to the core, with electrifying soulful guitars (Quesada), keyboards, and strings. The harmonic progression is more adventurous than most contemporary pop or urban contemporary progressions, stretching the ear more without being incredibly âleft of center.â Burton sounds incredible, showcasing both a nuanced, full-voiced approach as well as some decadent, colorful falsetto.
Beyond all the music elements that makes this psych-soul record awesome, thereâs also the lyrics. Besides the excerpted chorus, Burton sings about his desire for his âsunshine,â a woman heâs infatuated with, to return. At the end of the first verse, he sings:
âEvery time you get dressed in black
You give a grown man a heart attack
I pray that good Lord will bring you back
Youâre my sunshine.â
Of course, it is the numerous references to the titular lyric that help solidify the greatness of âBlack Moon Rising.â

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3. Taylor Swift, âThe Black Dogâ
THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT: THE ANTHOLOGY » Taylor Swift » 2024
[nx_pullquote]âAnd I hope itâs shitty in The Black Dog / When someone plays âThe Starting Lineâ / And you jump up, but sheâs too young to know this song.â[/nx_pullquote] Oh, snap, Taylor Swift! âThe Black Dogâ is the 17th track on THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT: THE ANTHOLOGY. As always, the songwriting is on point â the expectation for a Swift-penned song. Swift produced the record alongside one of her go-to producers, Jack Antonoff. The black dog referenced in this song is not a pet; it is a bar (âAnd so I watch as you walk / Into some bar called The Black Dog / And pierce new holes in my heartâ). Also, knowing the depth of Swiftâs songwriting, there is a connection with the black dog of folklore which is NOT a good sign.
Taylor Swift experiences heartbreak made worse by her ex-boyfriend moving on when she canât seem to. A sad Swift asserts, âAnd I may never open up the way I did for you.â Bummer. Regretful, she adds in the second verse, âYou said I needed a brave man / Then proceeded to play him / Until I believed it too / And it kills me.â Haunted by this black dog, by the bridge, Swift wishes to âhire a priest to come and exorcise my demons / Even if I die screaming / And I hope you hear it.â Simply put, in âThe Black Dogâ, Taylor Swift is âDown Badâ and that ainât good. ââCause old habits die screaming.â Indeed. What isnât bad is this song where Swiftâs heartbreak is our listening pleasure. A bit of schadenfreude?
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4. Michael Jackson, âBlack or Whiteâ Â
Dangerous » MJJ Productions Inc. » 1991
[nx_pullquote]âDonât tell me you agree with me / When I saw you kicking dirt in my eye.â[/nx_pullquote] Those are facts that the Grammy-winning King of Pop, Michael Jackson (1958 â 2009), sings in âBlack or Whiteâ. âBlack or Whiteâ is the eighth track from his 1991 album, Dangerous. Jackson penned and produced it with Bill Bottrell. A significant pop hit, âBlack or Whiteâ spent seven weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2022, the Recording Industry Association of America certified the single as triple platinum. It was nominated for the Grammy at the 35th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male.  Earl Clapton beat Jackson with his moving, sad record, âTears in Heavenâ.
âBlack or Whiteâ begins with a hard-rocking intro đ€. It features an entertaining skit between a dad (George Wendt) and son (Macaulay Culkin). Wendt tells his son to âTurn it offâ (the music). Being the little rebel he is, Culkin switches his soundtrack to ⊠wait for it⊠MJâs âBlack or White!â To quote Macaulay, âSure, eat this!â  Maintaining the rock vibes, the groove of âBlack or Whiteâ also embraces pop and the popular New Jack Swing brand of R&B. Instrumentally, the musical backdrop slaps. The drum groove is infectious, the guitar riffs go hard, and the synth lines are sweet, too! The star of the show is Michael Jackson, who delivers commanding, expressive, and nuanced vocals. The melodies are tuneful throughout, and the lyrics are memorable. âI took my baby on a Saturday, bang,â Jackson sings, and continues, in the first verse, âBoy, is that girl with you? / Yes, weâre one and the same.â Ooh-wee! The chorus is the centerpiece, varied every time, but concludes with the titular lyric, âIt donât matter if youâre black or white.â Notably, the brief third verse features a rap by L.T.B. (Bill Bottrell). Bottrell raps, âSee, itâs not about races, just places, faces / Where your blood comes from, it’s where your space is.â âBlack or Whiteâ is socially conscious, finding Jackson crying foul regarding racism and promoting unity. Heâs also critical of those who are spreading rumors about him.  Ultimately, it is one of the best songs from his Dangerous era.
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5. BeyoncĂ©, âBlack Paradeâ
The Lion King: The Gift [Deluxe Edition] » Sony » 2020
[nx_dropcap]J[/nx_dropcap]uneteenth received more attention in 2020 than it had ever previously earned. The amplification of the celebration was fueled by protests, which were part of the ongoing fight for racial equality and justice. BeyoncĂ©, woke like so many black musicians during an agitated time, released a song celebrating blackness, âBlack Paradeâ, appearing on The Lion King: The Gift (Deluxe Edition).
âBlack Paradeâ blends African and international music with R&B, hip-hop, and pop. Also, thereâs a clearly socially conscious sentiment. It also successfully establishes a vibe. Thereâs lots of gimmickry and repetition but not only is it embracing the minimalist elements of modern, mainstream music, it also revisits the minimalist elements of world music, which makes it so influential on todayâs music. Despite its more simplistic elements, âBlack Paradeâ is deeper and more transcendent. Itâs polarizing, but art nonetheless â a great conversation piece.

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6. Iggy Azalea, âBlack Widowâ (Ft. Rita Ora)
The New Classic » Virgin EMI » 2014Â
[nx_pullquote]âIâm gonna love ya / Until you hate me / And Iâm gonna show ya / Whatâs really crazy.â[/nx_pullquote] Woo! Noted, Rita Ora. Grammy-nominated Australian rapper Iggy Azalea (Amythest Amelia Kelly) tapped the pop singer for one of the biggest hits of her career, âBlack Widowâ. Ora performs the biggest and best moment of the song, the chorus, excerpted above. She continues singing, âYou shouldâve known better / Than to mess with me, honey / Iâm gonna love ya, Iâm gonna love ya /⊠Like a black widow, baby.â âBlack Widowâ is the 10th track from Azaleaâs 2014 Grammy-nominated, double platinum debut album, The New Classic. The song peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100.  âBlack Widowâ was certified quintuple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America in 2023.
Iggy Azalea penned âBlack Widowâ with Katy Perry, Benny Blanco, Mikkel Storleer Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, and Sarah Hudson. Stargate (Eriksen and Hermansen) produced it.  Set in a minor key (fitting given the subject matter), the musical backdrop is sleek. The accompaniment consists of striking synths, clapping snares, and punchy kick drums. With Oraâs fabulous vocal contributions well covered, the star of the show, Iggy Azalea, canât be left out.  After all, ââCause this here is fatal attraction, so I take it all or I donât want.â Oh, snap! Iggy delivers plenty of aggressive, hard-nosed, gives no fucks rhymes. The cadence and flow are compelling. âThis twisted cat-and-mouse game always starts the same / First weâre both down to play, then somehow you go astray,â she spits in the first verse, and concludes, âYou were different from my last, but now you got âem mirrored / And as it all plays out, I see it couldn’t be clearer, now sing.â D-d-d-damn! âYou ain’t ever met nobody that will do ya how I do ya,â she asserts in the second verse, and continues, âThatâll bring you to your knees, praise Jesus, hallelujah.â What a sick line! Giving Rita Ora one final shout-out, she eats in the sweet pre-chorus: âThis is the web, web that you weave / So, baby, now rest in peace (Itâs all over with now).â Iggy Azalea, with the help of Rita Ora, struck gold on âBlack Widowâ, an unforgettable gem from the 2010s. It still slaps!

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| Iggy Azalea, Black Widow: Bangerz N Bopz No. 79 (2025) |
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7. Anthony Hamilton, âLove is the New Blackâ
Love is the New Black » My Music Box / BMG Rights Management » 2021
[nx_dropcap]A[/nx_dropcap]fter a five-year hiatus, Grammy-winning R&B singer/songwriter Anthony Hamilton is finally back! The neo-soul star dropped Love is the New Black at the end of September 2021. In the third single, âLove is the New Blackâ, Hamilton maintains utmost consistency and relentless soulfulness.
âLove is the New Blackâ serves as the opener, setting the tone. Being true to Hamilton artistically, it features old-school production in a retro-/neo-soul style (Cardiak and WU10). As far as the sounds, I love the keys, dramatic, lush strings, and the percussion-fueled groove âDECADENT! Furthermore, I love the fact that the instrumental intro percolates for a good 30+ seconds. Of course, Anthony does his thing as always, delivering expressive, soulful vocals and romance-driven songwriting/theme. Furthermore, he delivers utterly sublime ad-libs. While the aesthetic is familiar, with Hamilton in his niche, thereâs contrast too. Worth noting, âLove is the New Blackâ features only one section, the chorus:
âI know where I’m goinâ
You know where itâs at
One thing that’s for sure
Love is the new Black.â
Once again, Mr. Hamilton comes through.

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8. Nas & Hit-Boy, âUltra Blackâ
Kingâs Disease » Mass Appeal » 2020
[nx_pullquote]âGrace Jones skin tone, but multi that / Multiple colors, we come in all shades, mocha black.â[/nx_pullquote] âUltra Blackâ finds Nas exuberant in celebrating blackness. On this gem from the Grammy-winning Kingâs Disease (Nasâ first win, shockingly), the rapper is backed by âold-schoolâ production (Hit-Boy), which always seems to suit him. Interestingly, for a man not known for hooks, he drops one here and itâs moderately catchy. Nas cites specific notable blacks and things associated with âthe culture.â
One truly clever lyric comes near the end of the second verse:
âHall & Oates, I canât go for that
Motown Museum, Detroit, Iâm ultra black.â
Essentially, the rapper doesnât want the âculturally appropriatedâ/whitewashed version â no disrespect intended â he wants the legit, black and proud version. âUltra Blackâ ranked among the best songs of 2020. Notably, on his 2008 self-titled album, Nas gets bold regarding the checkered past of America with âN.I.*.*.E.R. (The Slave and the Master)â.

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| Awesome Songs: August 2020Â |
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9. Soundgarden, âBlack Hole Sunâ
Superunknown » A&M » 1994
[nx_dropcap]T[/nx_dropcap]he 1990s were a glorious time for grunge music.⯠Seattle, Washington â the Pacific Northwest â was the center for what would be a dominant movement.⯠The late, great Chris Cornell and his band Soundgarden were key proponents.⯠Speaking of key, the key moment from the collectiveâs 1994 album, Superunknown, is the iconic seventh track, âBlack Hole Sun.â âBack Hole Sun,â ladies and gentlemen, easily ranks among the best rock songs of the 1990s. As is often overused these days, the five-minute-plus âBlack Hole Sunâ is an entire vibe.⯠Overused or not, a vibe is the best way to characterize this awesome record. âŻThe music is incredibly colorful, energetic, and totally pleasing to the ears with the sweet, melodic lead guitar, heavy, distorted guitars on the chorus, pummeling drums, and that reinforcing bass line! A young Chris Cornell delivers beautiful, expressive vocals that truly sadden the listener knowing that this gifted, truly marvelous musician is no longer with us.⯠Besides the great singing, there is also great songwriting on the verses, and of course, the centerpiece, the chorus:
âBlack hole sun, wonât you come
And wash away the rain?
Black whole sun, wonât you come?
Wonât you come?ââŻ
Musicians like Chris Cornell, as well as bands like Soundgarden only come once in a lifetime.⯠Thankfully, their music lives on forever.
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10. Pansy Division, âFem in a Black Leather Jacketâ
Undressed » DistroKid » 1991Â
[nx_pullquote]âI donât like macho, put it away / Doesnât appeal to me, straight or gay.â[/nx_pullquote]Thatâs fair, Jon Ginoli. Furthermore, toxic masculinity freakinâ sucks! On âFem in a Black Leather Jacketâ (Undressed, 1991), the first openly gay rock band, Pansy Division, prefer more feminine men. In the chorus, Ginoli characterizes this boy who caught his eye: âHeâs a fem in a black leather jacket / And I wanna take him home with me.â Expectedly, as âFem in a Black Leather Jacketâ progresses, more details are fit in over the said fem. Even as Pansy Division embrace this feminine male stance, it must be noted that the music doesnât sacrifice the masculinity of rock.
So, what makes this fem fine and hot? It includes a âCute little butt and sexy hips.â Ooh la-la! Furthermore, androgyny is encouraged, with gender norms out the door: âHe looks as good in a skirt as he does in jeans.â Similar to Diana Ross on âMusclesâ, the personality is not a priority. Ross noted, âThey say they have to see / His real personality / But thatâs alright for them / Still it ainât enough for me.â As for Ginoli, he sings: âHis personality, Iâm not impressed / But I canât wait to get him undressed.â Ooh-wee! All told, the two-minutes-and-change âFem in a Black Leather Jacketâ is fab to the nth degree. Pansy Division proved the gays can rock TF out too and speak about LGBTQ topics.
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11. Santana, âBlack Magic Womanâ
Abraxas » Columbia » 1970
[nx_pullquote]âGot a black magic woman,â[/nx_pullquote] Gregg Rolie (keyboards and lead vocals, 1947 â ) sings on the Santana classic, âBlack Magic Womanâ. Rolie adds in the first verse, âGot me so blind I canât see / That sheâs my black magic woman / Sheâs tryinâ to make a devil out of me.â Oh, snap! The beloved, popular Santana cut is a cover đ€Ż. Peter Green (1946 â 2020) wrote âBlack Magic Womanâ⊠for Fleetwood Mac, who originally recorded it. That said, Carlos Santana (1947 â ) and company made the song, the second track from their 1970 album, Abraxas, into a hit. How big of a hit? âBlack Magic Womanâ peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100.  Also, it should be noted that their version incorporates the 1966 song, âGypsy Queenâ, by Hungarian jazz guitarist GĂĄbor SzabĂł (1936 â 1982).  The song on the album is fully titled âBlack Magic Woman / Gypsy Queenâ. Fred Catero and Carlos Santana are credited as producers.
âBlack Magic Womanâ is a vibe from the get-go.  It is set in the dark, foreboding key of D minor. The intro is enigmatic, setting the tone with the organ, guitar, and rhythmic percussion. The robust bass line provides a great anchor. Gregg Rolie shines with a nuanced, solid, and well-rounded vocal performance. âDonât turn your back on me, baby,â Rolie sings in the second verse, and adds, âStop messinâ âround with your tricks.â Ooh-wee! In the third, he acknowledges, âGot your spell on me baby /⊠Turninâ my heart into stone / Need you so bad, magi woman / I canât leave you alone.â Word! Another member of Santana deserves recognition: Carlos Santana, of course. He impresses with his consummate guitar playing and soloing, which matches the memorable lyrics and tuneful melodies. Approaching 60 years later, âBlack Magic Womanâ remains a big-time bop.
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12. The Rolling Stones, âPaint It, Blackâ
Aftermath » ABKCO Music & Records Inc. » 1966
[nx_pullquote]âI see a red door and I want it painted black.â[/nx_pullquote] Early on, âPaint It, Blackâ is one of the darker songs from The Rolling Stonesâ illustrious catalog. Itâs set in a minor key, and even if it wasnât, the lyrics confirm the depression and morbidity of the track. Dark it may be, but that didnât inhibit it from earning the band one of 23 top 10 hits. âPaint it Blackâ is one of the bandâs eight number-one hits, spending two weeks at number one on the Hot 100 in 1966. Mick Jagger continues singing in the first verse of the Aftermath gem, âNo colors anymore, I want them to turn black / I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes / I have to turn my head until my darkness goes.â You know itâs bad when girls in summer clothes anger youâŠ
The first verse only sets the tone as far as Jaggerâs mood. The second verse provides more insight into what has happened to cause his anger, depression, and ultimately grief. He mentions cars all painted black, which suggests a funeral procession. He follows up with âWith flowers and my love, both never come back,â which confirms the lover is deceased. As âPaint It Blackâ progresses, Mick continues to struggle with depression, shocked about her death in the fourth verse, and viewing things once seen as bright and cheerful as, well, black, of course. The blackness The Rolling Stones desire includes the sun, âBlotted out from the sky / I wanna see it painted, painted, painted / Painted black, yeah.â Fun fact: âPaint It, Blackâ features Brian Jones playing sitar, adding to the unique sound of this classic.

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13. Bob Dylan, âBlack Riderâ
Rough and Rowdy Ways » Columbia » 2020
[nx_pullquote]âBlack rider, black rider, all dressed in black / Iâm walking away, you try to make me look backâŠâ[/nx_pullquote] The chilling, dark, enigmatic, minor-keyed âBlack Riderâ has a strong argument for the best song from Rough and Rowdy Ways, the 39th studio album by the iconic singer/songwriter, Bob Dylan.⯠âBlack Riderâ ranked among the best songs of 2020.⯠Even if the lyrics werenât potent and Dylan had âfallen offâ his storytelling game, the music alone would earn this record accolades. The production is spare, allowing Bob to be the focal point, yet the harmonic progression â the chords â are gorgeous.âŻOf course, itâs Dylan, a lyrical master, so it only requires one lyric to confirm the elite nature: âBlack rider, black rider, hold it right there,â he sings on the fifth and final verse, âThe size of your cock will get you nowhere.â How awesome is that? âBlack Riderâ is subject to interpretation, including references to mortality â perhaps Dylanâs own â and possibly, more subtly, politics.
âMaybe Iâll take the high moral ground
Some enchanted evening Iâll sing you a song
Black rider, black rider, youâve been on the job too long.â
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 13 Exciting Pitch BLACK Songs (2025) [đ·: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; A&M, ABKCO Music & Records Inc., ATO, BMG Rights Management, Columbia, DistroKid, Mass Appeal, MJJ Productions Inc., My Music Box, Sony, SWIMS Int., Virgin EMI, Warner Records Inc.; AcatXIo from Pixabay] |

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