Colors is a song by American rock band Between the Buried and Me that was released in 2007 on their album Colors. Between the Buried and Me is a progressive metal band known for their technical musicianship and eclectic style that combines elements of extreme metal, progressive rock, and jazz fusion.
Between the Buried and Me formed in 2000 in North Carolina and consists of vocalist Tommy Rogers, guitarists Paul Waggoner and Dustie Waring, bassist Dan Briggs, and drummer Blake Richardson. The band is known for their ambitious concept albums, fluctuating time signatures, and heavy yet melodic sound. Their 2007 album Colors marked a shift towards more prog rock leanings while still retaining their metal roots.
The nearly 14-minute epic Colors is considered one of Between the Buried and Me’s signature songs and exemplifies their diverse style. It starts off with a heavy intro before transitioning into a more melodic and jazz-tinged middle section. The multiple time signature changes, swirling guitar melodies, and trading vocal parts give the song a dynamic and unpredictable quality. While it is a complex track, Colors also has enough hooks and memorable moments to make it accessible to mainstream rock fans looking for something outside the box.
The lyrics of Colors seem to relay an introspective narrative about searching for meaning in life. Some key lines include: “A rainbow, but she is still trapped in her color” and “This is my color, this is how I feel right now.” There is an emotional potency to the words that complements the ambitious musical composition.
In many ways, Colors encapsulates what makes Between the Buried and Me such a unique band in the rock landscape. Its blend of extreme metal, jazz, and prog exemplifies their “thinking man’s metal” approach. The song showed the band reaching new creative heights that would influence much of their later output. Even 14 years later, Colors remains one of Between the Buried and Me’s most celebrated and defining songs.
Background on Between the Buried and Me
Between the Buried and Me formed in 2000 in Raleigh, North Carolina and consists of:
- Tommy Rogers – Lead vocals, keyboards
- Paul Waggoner – Lead guitar, backing vocals
- Dustie Waring – Rhythm guitar
- Dan Briggs – Bass, keyboards
- Blake Richardson – Drums
The band was originally formed by guitarists Waggoner and Waring along with drummer Mark Castillo. After going through a few different lead vocalists, they brought on Tommy Rogers in 2002. This lineup released their debut album Between the Buried and Me in 2002 on Lifeforce Records, showcasing a metalcore style with some progressive leanings. After signing with Victory Records, they released their sophomore album The Silent Circus in 2003 which expanded their style even further.
Their third album Alaska (2005) marked the first appearance of their signature eclectic style, combining extreme metal, jazz, bluegrass, and even polka. Around this time Castillo left and was replaced by current drummer Blake Richardson, completing the definitive lineup. Victory Records also signed them to a multi-album contract around this time as the band started gaining wider recognition in the metal community.
In 2007 Between the Buried and Me released what many consider their magnum opus – the sprawling, conceptual album Colors. Their most ambitious effort yet, it expanded upon Alaska’s eclectic style while also conveying an emotional narrative arc. Colors proved to be a breakthrough album for Between the Buried and Me, earning critical acclaim and attracting more mainstream listeners.
Overview of Colors
Colors was released on September 18, 2007 through Victory Records, serving as Between the Buried and Me’s fourth studio album. It represented a shift in focus towards more progressive rock stylings without abandoning the band’s metal roots. Here are some details about the acclaimed album:
- Length: 64 minutes
- Label: Victory Records
- Producers: Between the Buried and Me, Jamie King
- Style: Progressive metal, metalcore, experimental
- Concept: A story of introspection and searching for meaning
- Singles: “Prequel to the Sequel,” “Viridian,” “White Walls”
Colors was a critical breakthrough for Between the Buried and Me, receiving rave reviews from publications like AbsolutePunk, AllMusic, and PopMatters. Critics praised the album’s ambitious integration of styles along with its emotional resonance. It appeared on several “Album of the Year” lists and is considered a landmark album in progressive metal.
Commercially, Colors helped grow Between the Buried and Me’s audience substantially. It was their first album to crack the Billboard 200, peaking at #57. The band toured extensively in support of Colors, performing it in its entirety throughout 2008. They shot music videos for the songs “Prequel to the Sequel” and “White Walls” which received airplay on MTV2.
Colors exemplified Between the Buried and Me’s philosophy of not adhering to genre limitations. As Mike Portnoy described it: “It has moments of the heaviest brutality and the most beautiful melodies…it keeps changing moods, feelings, colors.” This kaleidoscopic approach resonated powerfully.
Analysis of “Colors”
While every song on Colors contributes to its conceptual narrative, the title track and third song on the album has become one of its most celebrated centerpieces. “Colors” illustrates everything compelling about Between the Buried and Me’s style in one 14-minute opus. Let’s analyze some key elements that make it stand out:
Length and Structure
Clocking in at 13 minutes and 47 seconds, “Colors” is an epic journey that takes listeners through several distinct sections:
- 0:00 – 2:40: Heavy intro with growled vocals
- 2:40 – 5:20: Melodic and jazz-tinged with clean vocals
- 5:20 – 6:40: Heavy metal interlude with guitar solo
- 6:40 – 9:20: Saxophone solo with jazz fusion feel
- 9:20 – 13:47: Heavy prog metal to outro
This unusual structure builds anticipation through contrast, taking listeners on a dynamic ride. The multiple transitions between heavy and light sections keep the song unpredictable.
Time Signature Changes
“Colors” incorporates complex rhythms and frequently shifts time signatures:
| Time | Signature |
|---|---|
| 0:00-0:08 | 11/8 |
| 0:08-0:32 | Alternating 7/8 and 11/8 |
| 0:32-0:40 | 9/8 |
| 0:40-1:12 | Alternating 6/8 and 7/8 |
These rhythmic twists complement the shifting moods of the song and showcase the band’s technical skills. The frequent meter changes keep the listener engaged trying to anticipate the next twist.
Melodies and Vocal Trade-Offs
Colors seamlessly balances abrasive and melodic passages. The choruses and bridges provide anthemic melodies contrasting the harsher verses. Tommy Rogers alternates between gruff metal vocals and clear, ringing vocals. Around the 5 minute mark, a striking three-part vocal harmony emerges.
These vocal trade-offs and memorable melodies serve as hooks that reel listeners in between the technical instrumental passages. They give the song a pop-like catchiness amidst itsProg complexity.
Eclectic Instrumentation
True to Between the Buried and Me’s style, Colors incorporates instruments not usually heard in metal. The jazz fusion middle section features a saxophone solo from musician Matthew Halpern. This unexpected inclusion gives the song a fresh sonic flavor.
There are also occasional piano and organ parts providing atmosphere. This eclectic instrumentation complements the genre-melding approach to metal that Colors encapsulates.
Emotional Resonance
Despite all its twist and turns, Colors retains an emotional weight through its lyrics and potent delivery. Lines like “This is my color, this is how I feel right now” connect with listeners looking for catharsis. Tommy Rogers sells these angst-filled lyrics through his multifaceted vocal performance.
The music stirs up feeling to match the lyrics. The melancholic piano lines and yearning guitar solos hit the listener right in the heart. This emotional resonance elevates Colors from a mere technical showcase into a compelling narrative.
Legacy and Impact
Colors set a new bar for Between the Buried and Me’s compositional ambition. It has had a lasting impact on the band’s output and on the progressive metal genre more widely:
- Established BTBAM as leading progressive metal act – Colors proved they could balance complexity with musicality.
- Expanded their audience – Their most commercially successful album at the time.
- Inspired subsequent concept albums – Later efforts like The Parallax II built on its narrative approach.
- Raised benchmark for technical metal – Following bands aimed to capture its creative spirit.
- Colors tour – Playing the album front-to-back live cemented its classic status.
While Between the Buried and Me continued exploring new sounds on later records, Colors remains a career-defining work that exemplifies their essence. Its mark on the metal landscape is undeniable. Colors proved progressive metal could be artistically bold yet still emotionally powerful.
Conclusion
From its eclectic style to ambitious structure, “Colors” encapsulates everything that makes Between the Buried and Me such a singular band. The song and the album it comes from have had an indelible influence on progressive and technical metal. By blending extremes of melody, dissonance, complexity, and accessibility, Colors set a benchmark for limitless creativity in heavy music. It showed that progressive metal transcend rigid boundaries to become an emotional, immersive experience. Over a decade later, this versatile rock band’s defining song still shines brighter than ever.
