Apparently, black is the new black...
68. Rolling Stones "Paint It Black"
Over the last few decades, there've been genres of popular song, most notably industrial and goth, that have been collectively dubbed 'dark music,' and purport to explore the more frightening aspects of the human pysche. This exploration has been fairly popular even if to my ear, it's all still trying to catch up to this 40-plus year old Stones single.
Most times in rock, the use of sitar has been a ham fisted disaster, but Brian Jones, who always had a great touch with exotic instrumentation, here employs it as a perfect droning counterpoint to the menacing monotone of the rumbling guitars, as Charlie Watts slams the drumbeat home. Jagger's vocal, however, is what absolutely makes this song, especially the way he sings the verse beginning "I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes...' in the voice of a man plainly at war with his ugliest impulses. No matter what anybody in black lipstick might tell you, this is where you enter rock and roll's heart of darkness.
Over the last few decades, there've been genres of popular song, most notably industrial and goth, that have been collectively dubbed 'dark music,' and purport to explore the more frightening aspects of the human pysche. This exploration has been fairly popular even if to my ear, it's all still trying to catch up to this 40-plus year old Stones single.
Most times in rock, the use of sitar has been a ham fisted disaster, but Brian Jones, who always had a great touch with exotic instrumentation, here employs it as a perfect droning counterpoint to the menacing monotone of the rumbling guitars, as Charlie Watts slams the drumbeat home. Jagger's vocal, however, is what absolutely makes this song, especially the way he sings the verse beginning "I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes...' in the voice of a man plainly at war with his ugliest impulses. No matter what anybody in black lipstick might tell you, this is where you enter rock and roll's heart of darkness.
Comments
I can still feel the miasma of anger and pain that I felt the moment I heard he was gone, and this song, for me anyway, captures that feeling. Being so angry and so filled with loss at the same time...just paint it black...
I still miss him. When I get to the afterlife, if he's not been reincarnated, I swear, I'm gonna smack him.