Songs that reference colors in their titles or lyrics are common across many musical genres. Colorful imagery and descriptions allow songwriters to create vivid scenes and convey complex emotions and meanings. When a song contains a color in its name or words, it immediately gives the listener a strong visual association and helps set the tone for the music and lyrics. There are countless great examples of songs with colors throughout music history.
Significance of Color in Song Titles and Lyrics
The use of color in songs serves many purposes:
– Creates a visual aesthetic – Colors make the listener picture and “see” the song. This powerful imagery sets the vibe and atmosphere.
– Conveys emotion – Certain colors represent different feelings. Red can signify passion, blue is calm, yellow is upbeat. Songwriters use color psychology to express mood.
– Represents themes – Colors can reflect the meaning of a song. “Purple Rain” invokes melancholy and loss. “Blue Skies” feels optimistic.
– Makes a statement – Some artists use color provocatively. “Black” in a title may denote edginess. “Pink” challenges traditional femininity.
– Reinforces genre – Blues and jazz standards often reference blue. In pop, bright colors match the cheery melodies.
– Provides symbolism – Colors take on symbolic meanings, like red for love or green for envy. Songwriters employ colors to hint at deeper themes.
The list of potential uses of color in music is endless. It’s a fundamental technique in writing lyrics and naming songs.
Popular Examples of Songs With Colors
Here are some well-known examples of songs across genres that feature colors in their titles or lyrics:
Pop
– “Yellow” by Coldplay – An aching ballad featuring colorful imagery in the lyrics.
– “99 Red Balloons” by Nena – An energetic 80s hit with red balloons in the title and lyrics.
– “True Colors” by Cyndi Lauper – A beloved pop anthem about showing true colors.
Rock
– “Purple Haze” by Jimi Hendrix – A psychedelic rock classic referencing a purple haze in the mind.
– “Black Hole Sun” by Soundgarden – A grunge hit with a surreal video featuring a black hole sun.
– “Blue on Black” by Kenny Wayne Shepherd – A blues-rock song with a dark blue color scheme.
R&B
– “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison – An upbeat song praising a brown-eyed girl.
– “Pink + White” by Frank Ocean – A mellow, atmospheric R&B track referencing pink and white.
– “Redbone” by Childish Gambino – A funky tune telling a girl to “stay woke” like red bone.
Jazz
– “Green Dolphin Street” by Miles Davis – A moody jazz standard evoking Green Dolphin Street.
– “Mood Indigo” by Duke Ellington – A jazz composition inspired by the deep, rich color indigo.
– “Georgia on My Mind” by Ray Charles – Equates the state of Georgia with the bluish-purple color georgia.
Country
– “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” by Willie Nelson – A sad country song picturing blue eyes filled with tears.
– “Golden Ring” by George Jones and Tammy Wynette – References a golden wedding ring in this duet.
– “Orange Blossom Special” by Johnny Cash – Namechecks the orange blossom flower in this bluegrass classic.
This sample illustrates the diversity of songs across genres that creatively incorporate color into their essence and meaning. There are countless other examples throughout all eras and styles of music.
Notable Examples From Major Artists
Looking more closely at the work of several major music artists, color is a recurring motif that shows up frequently in their most popular songs:
The Beatles
– “Yellow Submarine” – The colorful submarine invites listeners on a magical journey.
– “Blue Jay Way” – Moody psych-rock song picturing the Blue Jay Way in Los Angeles.
– “Blackbird” – Paul McCartney employs the blackbird as a metaphor for the civil rights struggle.
Rolling Stones
– “Paint It Black” – A gothic rock song expressing depressed feelings, “paint it black” meaning dark.
– “Ruby Tuesday” – Whimsical pop song inspired by Keith Richards’ girlfriend Linda Keith.
– “Brown Sugar” – Controversial but extremely popular song with brown sugar symbolizing a black woman.
Bob Dylan
– “Tangled Up in Blue” – One of his most elusive, poetic songs referencing the color blue.
– “Mr. Tambourine Man” – Includes memorable line “play a song for me in my blue melancholy.”
– “Queen Jane Approximately” – Thought to be about Jane Fonda’s depressed state of mind, “queen” meaning depressed.
David Bowie
– “Blue Jean” – Bouncy pop number uses “blue jean” as a symbol of youth freedom.
– “Golden Years” – Nostalgic song picturing happier “golden years” of the past.
– “China Girl” – Raucous rock song inspired in part by Kuelan Nguyen’s “brownish” skin tone.
Major artists commonly use colors to help craft impactful songs that resonate with listeners. The vivid imagery conjured through creative use of color is a timeless songwriting technique.
Songs With Multiple Color References
Some songs incorporate not just one but multiple colors into the lyrics and title:
– “Tie dye on the Highway” by Neil Young – Twisting tie dye colors are the backdrop of this folk rock tune.
– “Pink Houses” by John Mellencamp – The pink houses represent the American dream and blue-collar lifestyle.
– “Red Red Wine” by UB40 – The redness of red wine is mentioned repeatedly in the lyrics.
– “Purple Rain, Yellow Moon” by Material – An atmospheric new wave track combining purple rain and yellow moon.
– “Colors” by Black Pumas – Soulful song asking “what good are the colors without love’s light.”
– “Blue Collar Man” by Styx – Namechecks the notion of a hardworking “blue collar man.”
Layering colors helps songwriters develop multi-sensory compositions. The combinations and contrasts between colors allow for richer meanings.
Unusual and Surprising Examples
While common colors like blue, red and yellow frequently appear in songs, some more unusual shades pop up as well:
– “Pink Moon” by Nick Drake – The soft, luminous pink moon provides the backdrop to this melancholy folk song.
– “Lavender” by Marillion – Dreamy ballad referencing fields of peaceful lavender.
– “Magenta Mountain” by King Gizzard – Psychedelic garage rock depicting a mountain shimmering with magenta hues.
– “White Rabbit” by Jefferson Airplane – Alludes to the White Rabbit character’s adventures in Wonderland.
– “Black Coffee in Bed” by Squeeze – Starts the day with a black coffee in bed in this new wave relic.
– “Golden Brown” by The Stranglers – An unusual color choice becomes the title of this post-punk hit.
Songwriters often reach beyond basic colors and dip into more obscure shades to craft their musical landscapes. Using an unexpected color helps a song grab the listener’s attention.
Songs Named After Colorful Places
There are also many songs that reference colorful place names in their titles:
– “Ventura Highway” by America – Breezy pop rock tune named after a scenic highway in California.
– “Lake Shore Drive” by Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah – Describes the sights and feelings of cruising down Lake Shore Drive in Chicago.
– “Dombey and Son” by Alex Chilton – Literary reference to the bleak, industrial Dombey Street in London.
– “Black Water” by The Doobie Brothers – Swampy, Southern rock song picturing the dark waters around Mississippi.
– “Blue Bayou” by Linda Ronstadt – Yearns to return to a nostalgic blue bayou setting.
– “Kentucky Rain” by Elvis Presley – Brooding tune picturing the gloomy Kentucky rain.
Naming a song after a real or fictional location is a common technique, often invoking colorful scenery that sets the tone.
Colorful Songs Spanning Musical History
Looking back through popular music history, color has played a prominent role in songs from every era:
1940s
– “Mood Indigo” by Duke Ellington
– “Red Sails in the Sunset” by Nat King Cole
– “Lavender Blue” by Burl Ives
1950s
– “Blueberry Hill” by Fats Domino
– “Pink Cadillac” by Chuck Berry
– “Blue Moon” by The Marcels
1960s
– “Purple Haze” by Jimi Hendrix
– “Little Green Apples” by Roger Miller
– “Blue Velvet” by Bobby Vinton
1970s
– “Colour My World” by Chicago
– “Black Water” by The Doobie Brothers
– “Yellow” by Coldplay
1980s
– “99 Red Balloons” by Nena
– “Ebony and Ivory” by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder
– “Red, Red Wine” by UB40
1990s
– “Blue (Da Ba Dee)” by Eiffel 65
– “Black Hole Sun” by Soundgarden
– “Scarlet Begonias” by Sublime
2000s
– “White Flag” by Dido
– “Green Light” by John Legend
– “Ruby” by Kaiser Chiefs
The use of color in songwriting has never gone out of style. It remains a timeless technique for conveying imagery and emotion.
Conclusion
Color is an elemental aspect of music composition. By incorporating color references into titles, lyrics and elsewhere, songwriters tap into the human psyche. Color shapes our experience of music by creating visuals, setting moods, representing ideas and giving personality to songs. When employed creatively, color choices help artists communicate with listeners in a multi-dimensional way. Examining songs across genres reveals the diverse, meaningful applications of color in music. Whether a single hue or a spectrum, color remains an essential tool in the songwriter’s palette.
