Paint It Black: Difference between revisions

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| Length = 3:45 (mono mix)<br /> 3:22 (stereo mix)
| Length = 3:45 (mono mix)<br /> 3:22 (stereo mix)
| Label = [[Decca Records|Decca]] F.12395 (UK)<br>[[London Records|London]] 45-LON.901 (US) |
| Label = [[Decca Records|Decca]] F.12395 (UK)<br>[[London Records|London]] 45-LON.901 (US) |
| Writer = [[Jagger/Richards]]
| Writer = [[MichaelMontalbano]]
| Producer = [[Andrew Loog Oldham]]
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Revision as of 00:38, 11 March 2009

This article is about The Rolling Stones song. For the hardcore punk band, see Paint It Black (band); for the Janet Finch novel, see Paint it Black (novel).
"Paint It Black"
Song
B-side"Stupid Girl" (US)
"Long Long While" (UK)

"Paint It, Black" is a song recorded by The Rolling Stones in 1966, written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, though Brian Jones contributed to the song's signature riff. The song reached number one in both the U.S. and the U.K. charts in 1966. It was released as a single and included on the U.S. version of the album Aftermath. In 2004 it was ranked #174 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The song title is often given as "Paint It Black", this variant having appeared on some reissues and compilations. Richards has said that the song was not intended to have a comma in its title, and that this was added by the record label.[1]

History and composition

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 after a visit with George Harrison) and acoustic guitar, and Jagger contributed the lyrics, seemingly about a man mourning his dead girlfriend. The lead electric guitar and the background vocals are provided by Richards. The piano is played by Jack Nitzsche.

The bass was also overdubbed by Bill Wyman playing on the bass pedals of a Hammond B3 organ.

Chart performance

Chart (1966) Peak
position
Dutch Top 40[2] 1
Irish Singles Chart[3] 2
UK Singles Chart 1
US Billboard Hot 100 1
Chart (1990) Peak
position
Dutch Top 40[4] 1

References in popular culture

In recent years, 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. In the BBC Top Gear Vietnam special, aired in December 2008 the song is played briefly after an American decorated motorbike is unveiled as a threat to the presenters.

Its other film appearances include For Love of the Game and 1997's The Devil's Advocate, played during the closing credits. The pilot of Nip/Tuck TV show also uses the Rolling Stones' version of the song. The song, as covered by Gob, was also featured in the film Stir of Echoes. The Gob cover also plays over the end credits of the 2004 mini-series of Salem's Lot. A French version of the song, recorded by Marie Laforêt, appears in both The Devil's Advocate and the 2006 film Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, and an alternative version appears on commercials for The Sopranos on A&E.

"Paint It, Black" was also used in six video game 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, and inserted into level music throughout moments of gameplay. A version of the karaoke game SingStar also features "Paint It, Black". The song is also featured in Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock as a playable track, with an extended ending to avoid fading out like the original did (the game makes use of the master track). However, it is unable to be played in Co-op mode, as the bass and guitar tracks could not be separated (this can be heard in single-player mode also; when one makes a mistake, both the guitar and bass cut out). It is also heard playing on some static radios in the Eve of Destruction total conversion for Battlefield 1942, Battlefield: Vietnam and Battlefield 2. In addition, it was used in the television commercial for Vietcong: Purple Haze. Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore 2 allows players to sing it and unlock a video of it being performed on American Idol.

Isaac Brock's indie side project Ugly Casanova has referenced the song in "Barnacles".

American Idol Top 6 covered a short version of this for the Ford music video.

At 0:48 in the song "At This Hour" on the Spin Doctors' "Turn It Upside Down" album, they sing "You see a red door and you want to paint it black", a reference to this song.

The 1972 song "Thirteen" on the Big Star album #1 Record contains the lyric "Tell him what we said 'bout 'Paint It, Black'".

Prior to being banned from The Howard Stern Show, Crazy Cabbie was often introduced to his own theme song, a variation of "Paint It, Black", although with lyrics mocking Cabbie.

The song is featured in the Swedish movie Joa, degen and Daver.

In the Stephen King series The Dark Tower, "Paint It, Black" is heard by several characters as they pass the same music shop in New York at different time periods.

In Good Charlotte's song "All Black", from their fourth album Good Morning Revival, the line "...like the Rolling Stones wanna paint it black" references the song.

In the Dresden Dolls' song, "Jeep", Amanda sings "I see a red jeep and I want to paint it black" in reference to the "Paint It, Black" line "I see a red door and I want to paint it black".

The Second Chapter in Alan Moore's The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Volume III: Century is set in 1966 and titled "Paint it Black".

The song "Welcome to the Black Parade" by My Chemical Romance makes reference to the "Paint It, Black" in the line "... so paint it black and take it back..."

Janet Fitch's 2006 novel "Paint It Black" is named after the song; also, the quote before the first chapter is the first four lines of the Rolling Stones song.[5]

The music website Last.FM has two skins, Simply Red and Paint It Black.

The Lee Mead version of "Paint It Black" will be used by Vincent Simone & Louisa Lytton due to represent the United Kingdom at the 2008 Eurovision Dance Contest[6].

The web comic Order of the Stick, strip #635[7], is entitled, "I See a Red Robe and I Want to Paint it Black", clearly in reference to this song.

Credits

Eric Burdon & War version

"Paint It Black"
Song
B-side"Nights in White Satin"

Before Eric Burdon & War's 1970 version reached the charts in Netherlands, Eric Burdon & The Animals covered it in 1967 for their debut album, Winds of Change. The original album version of Eric Burdon & War had a length of 13:41.

Eric Burdon & The Animals performed it at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. This version was cut and included in the motion picture of the festival. They performed it also on the BBC.

In 1969 the song was a highlight performed live by Eric Burdon & War. After releasing their first album they recorded shortly a second featuring "Paint It Black medley" with a length of over 13 minutes. In 1971 they released it as a single.

Eric Burdon performed it also on his "Hippiefest" tour in 2008.

Chart performance

Chart (1971) Peak
position
Dutch Top 40[8] 31

Other versions

"Paint It, Black" has also been covered by many different bands and music artists, including:

References

  1. ^ Interview
  2. ^ "De Nederlandse Top 40, week 24, 1966". Retrieved November 16, 2008 (2008-11-16). {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  3. ^ "irishcharts.ie". Retrieved November 16, 2008 (2008-11-16). {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  4. ^ "De Nederlandse Top 40, week 21, 1990". Retrieved November 16, 2008 (2008-11-16). {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  5. ^ Books by Janet Fitch
  6. ^ http://www.eurovisiondance.tv/event/artistdetail?song=24557&event=1473
  7. ^ http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0635.html
  8. ^ "De Nederlandse Top 40, week 20, 1971". Retrieved November 16, 2008 (2008-11-16). {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)

Judas Priest

External links

Preceded by Billboard Hot 100 number-one single
June 11, 1966 (2 weeks)
Succeeded by
Preceded by UK number-one single
26 May 1966 (1 week)
Succeeded by
Preceded by Dutch Top 40 number one single
May 28, 1966 (1966-05-28) (3 weeks)
Succeeded by
Preceded by Dutch Top 40 number one single
May 12, 1990 (1990-05-12) (4 weeks)
Succeeded by
"What's a Woman" by Vaya Con Dios