7 super song facts about “Paint It, Black” by The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones have released more iconic tracks than any other band in history. They have been together for over half a century and hold the record for the most recorded songs of all time. One of the most iconic of their 439 tracks is “Paint It, Black”. Released in 1966, it was the first single from the fourth album, Aftermath, and became an anthem for the Sixties counter culture.
It is one of our favourite tunes. Music critic Richie Unterberger said the track qualifies as perhaps the most effective use of a sitar in a rock song.
1. Punctuation and titles
The original version was entitled “Paint It Black” without a comma. Keith Richards later said that the record label, Decca, added the comma.
2. Lack of inspiration
There was no specific inspiration for the lyrics. When asked why he wrote a song about death and depression, Mick Jagger replied that he did not know. He noted it had been done before and was not an original thought. He stated it all depends on how you do it.
3. Chart success
In 1966, the single topped both the United States and the United Kingdom charts. It was the first US and UK number one single to feature a sitar. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked it number 176 on the list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
4. Literary references
Jagger took the line “I turn my head until my darkness goes” from James Joyce’s Ulysses.
5. Intro difficulties
Stones’ co-guitarist Ronnie Wood disclosed on his Absolute Radio show that Keith Richards has trouble remembering how to play this song. Wood revealed there is always a moment of hesitation where the band does not know if Richards will get the intro right.
6. Vietnam War association
In the late 1980s, “Paint It, Black” became associated with the Vietnam War. It was used in the ending credits of the 1987 film Full Metal Jacket. It also served as the theme song for Tour Of Duty, a CBS-TV show about the Vietnam war that ran from 1987 to 1990.
It’s a shame they lost control, but I guess they are doing okay.
they r dead
Get a clue
? Lost in your own blackness?
Not only not dead… still the greatest rock band of all time. That’s all TIME.
I was Four when I first heard this song and it’s been my all time favorite since. The symbolism in this song is just…there are no words to explain it. Rock on guys :D
??
dont lie its not SEWER that made the album satanic requiem but Phantom check ur source http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoKSz8qBwaI
love the song “PAINT IT BLACK” it is awesome is rules
Let’s face it, 19 year old Mick Jagger must be one of the few people to ever actually read James Joyce’s Ulysses.
It’s a shame that teachers don’t teach even the youngest students that these “bad-ass” guys read literature. Imagine. I wish I had understood that about – well, most anyone who was a “star” in any field. (And the trend is to slay the liberal arts. What fools).
Just Whoa!
So love this tune so awesome to learn where it came from.
It would have fit well into Apocolypse Now
at 16 in 1969 painted my bedroom gloss black
mother and father still do not understand
you’re one out of many millions
Life after menopause you get it when a woman sings it!
Oh, please.
You forgot to mention one more fact, this song’s sample is from a Turkish song named “bir eylül ak?am?” by Erkin Koray.
It makes sense that a Turkish song would be the inspiration for Paint it Black. The tune has a sort of middle eastern vibe to it.
Stop to spread this bullshit everywhere.
Paint It Black was recorded in March 1966 and released in May.
Your turkish song was also released in 1966, Erkin Koray most probably took it from the Stones.
It’s not like turkish were not known at that time to make rough copies of western music and cinema.
Erkin Koray recorded Bir eylül ak?am? in 1962 and played it on bars etc but he couldnt publish it until 1966 because of some problems. Mick Jagger also admits Paint it Black “was a kind of Turkish song” in one of his interviews.
I used to watch Tour of Duty mostly because of the song. I never knew what the song was or who sang it until high school. Still listen to this song proably at least once a week. I would say its the best rock song ever.