The Rolling Stones, Paint It, Black | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 127^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2023), we recollect and reflect on “Paint It Black” by The Rolling Stones. 

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 127^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2023), we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “Paint It, Black”, performed by 🎙 The Rolling Stones. 

“I see a red door and I want it painted 🎨 black.” Early on, 🎵 “Paint It, Black” is one of the darker songs from 🎙 The Rolling Stones’ illustrious catalog.  It’s set in a minor key, and even if it wasn’t, the lyrics confirm the depression and morbidity of the track.  Dark it may be, but that didn’t inhibit it from earning the band one of 23 top 10 hits.  Precisely, “Paint it Black” is one of the band’s 8 no. 1 hits, spending two weeks at no. 1 on the Hot 100 in 1966. 🎙 Mick Jagger continues singing in the first verse of the 💿 Aftermath gem, “No 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.” You know it’s bad when girls in summer clothes anger you…

The first verse only sets the tone as far as Jagger’s 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 “With flowers and my love, both never come back,” which confirms the lover is deceased.  As “Paint It Black” 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, “Blotted out from the sky / I wanna see it painted, painted, painted / Painted black, yeah.” Fun fact: 🎵 “Paint It, Black” features 🎙 Brian Jones playing sitar, adding to the unique sound of this classic.  A less fun fact: Did you know The Rolling Stones – an iconic band – has only won three 🏆 Grammys? Make it make sense!

🎙 The Rolling Stones • 💿 Aftermath • 🏷 ABKCO Music & Records Inc. • 📅 1966

The Rolling Stones, Paint It, Black: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 127 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; ABKCO Music & Records Inc.; John Alan Sperry, PIRO via  Pixabay]