The colour black has frequently been used in song titles to communicate a range of emotions, from darkness and grief to strength and rebellion. Music has always been a strong medium for expressing human emotions. Black is a word that frequently appears in the titles of some of the most enduring and iconic songs in music history. These timeless classics continue to speak to listeners of all ages and backgrounds today.
The best songs with the word “black” in the title will be examined in further detail, along with their subjects, lyrics, and cultural influence, in this article. This selection is certain to feature something that will appeal to you, whether you’re a devoted music enthusiast or are just looking for some new songs to add to your playlist.
10 Best Songs With Black In The Title – Here are our recommendations!
10: Black – Pearl Jam
On their debut album, Ten, another iconic grunge-turned-pop band, Pearl Jam, immediately attempted to incorporate the word black into their music. Stone Gossard, the band’s guitarist, composed the music, and singer Eddie Vedder handled the lyrics as usual.
They never made it available as a single because Vedder and his bandmates felt it had too many distinctive qualities to qualify as a song. In spite of this, the song gained popularity in 1992 and rose to the third spot on Billboard’s list of rock singles.
The song has been on their greatest hits playlists ever since and was even remixed for their 2004 greatest hits album by DRemixed. Even now, it’s a fan favourite.
9: Paint It Black – The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones, one of the bands that originally popularised the black colour, also made it one of their most well-known song titles. For the songwriting duo of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, Paint It Black was a step up.
It was released in 1966, featured a fast tempo, and Middle Eastern and Indian music influences; these elements would eventually be incorporated more deeply into their music. The song’s themes of sadness and death strengthen the metaphor of “black.”
Due to the sitar and eastern vibe, some reviewers asserted that the Stones were attempting to sound more like The Beatles, but the majority of fans simply embraced its distinctive qualities. Even after all these years, “Paint It Black” continues to be one of the iconic band’s most cherished and covered songs. It spent more than 10 weeks on the charts.
8: Black Hole Sun – Soundgarden
Chris Cornell, the lead singer of Soundgarden, was inspired to write “Black Hole Sun” in 1993 by a news article that had those exact lyrics. It was released by the band in 1994. It was one of the band’s first three singles from their fourth studio album, ‘Superunknown’, and it soon established itself as their signature song.
7: Back In Black – AC/DC
In advance of the publication of “Back In Black,” the Australian rock band AC/DC had already created a number of enduring anthems. There appeared to be a new energy that the band was preparing to deliver in honour of its former singer, Bon Scott, who had passed away the same year.
The song, which was included with their seventh album, gave them a boost in the US market because of its enduring guitar riff. That is evidenced by the fact that “Back in Black” frequently enters the charts.
6: Fade To Black – Metallica
Metallica was up for the task of making songs with the word “black” in the title. “Fade to Black,” the band’s first true “power” ballad, upheld their gritty aesthetic and guitar-centric approach. It was made available on ‘Ride the Lightning’, their second studio album.
In some respects, the style was novel for Metallica because, prior to the release of this song, they had not been able to expose the general public to a slower, more patient aspect of their band. It was also named one of the top 20 guitar solos ever by Guitar Player magazine.
For a heavy metal album, the song peaked fairly high on the charts, and you can still frequently hear it on radio playlists today.
5: Black Dog – Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin must be included in the discussion when talking about influential rock and roll bands that focused on the colour black. The opening track, “Black Dog,” was taken from their fourth album. It became one of the band’s best songs right away thanks to its call-and-response vocal and guitar combination and thrashing drum and bass.
It appeared on the American charts and was listed among Rolling Stone’s top 500 songs. The black labrador that walked around their recording studio gave the title, but black dogs can also be a symbol of death or the devil.
4: Black Horse And The Cherry Tree – KT Tunstall
It’s unlikely that Scottish singer KT Tunstall could have predicted the success of “Black Horse And The Cherry Tree” when she released her debut album ‘Eye to the Telescope’ in 2004. The song uses a famous beat pattern from Bo Diddley’s song “Bo Diddley” as a sample and incorporates Tunstall’s interpretation of a crazy hillbilly sound from Nashville.
A motorbike excursion across Greece gave rise to the song after the author witnessed a horse acting out in close proximity to a tree. The song was featured on numerous best-of compilations and lists as a result of its phenomenal success. The following year, it still enjoyed success on a global scale and was regularly played on radios.
3: Back To Black – Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse’s “Back to Black,” her second and final studio album, was released in 2006. The song with the same name was included on that album. Winehouse and her writing partner Mark Ronson, who also served as producer, wrote the song, which was released in the spring of 2007.
After Blake Fielder-Civil, her lover, turned back to an ex, Winehouse wrote this song about it. The song was a major hit and received praise from both reviewers and listeners. It is still one of Winehouse’s hallmark songs today and exhibits all of her best qualities.
Her posthumous documentary, Amy, featured video of her and Ronson from the recording sessions, which was made public in 2015. In the soundtrack, an acapella rendition was included.
2: Black Water – The Doobie Brothers
When they recorded “Black Water,” the Doobie Brothers were at the top of their game. The song was published by the American group in 1974 on the album ‘What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits’. Patrick Simmons, who also wrote the song, sings on “Black Water,” which was their first single to reach No. 1 in the Spring of 1975.
Simmons based “Black Water” on his memories of the Mississippi Delta from reading Mark Twain books as a young boy. The song has a folky, Americana feel with the distinctive vocal harmonies of the Doobie Brothers. One of their best-known songs is this one.
1: Black Or White – Michael Jackson
Every song from the King of Pop is certain to be exceptional. “Black Or White” is not an exception. The track appeared on the artist’s eighth studio album, ‘Dangerous’, which was released in the fall of 1991. It incorporates all of Jackson’s distinctive musical styles, including pop, rock, and hip hop, and was written and produced by Jackson and Bill Bottrell.
In December of that year, the song, which promoted racial harmony and equality, made it to the top of the top 100. Since the Beatles’ release of “Get Back,” this song reached number one faster than any other. Jackson became the first musician to have a number one hit on the Billboard charts in each decade since the 1970s thanks to “Black or White,” which remained at the top for more than six weeks.
The song, in keeping with Jackson’s style, received widespread recognition and is still among his most well-known songs, which is a lot coming from a performer like him.
10 Best Songs With Black In The Title – Final thoughts
In conclusion, songs with the word “black” in the title have given rise to some of the most famous and memorable songs in music. These songs have investigated the plethora of feelings and ideas connected to the colour black, from sadness and sorrow to strength and empowerment, in anything from lyrical ballads to hard-hitting choruses. There are a tonne of incredible songs with this potent word in their titles, whether you like rock, pop, or hip-hop. We hope that this article has introduced you to some new songs to add to your playlist and that it has brought music’s ongoing influence on our feelings and lives to your attention.
Closing remarks:
These accomplished artists have employed the word “black” in just about every context that is conceivable. We therefore hope you enjoyed reading our list of the many songs with black in the title, whether you were already familiar with some of the songs, were reminded of your old favourites or introduced to some hidden gems.
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A music enthusiast who has taken his passion for music to the next level by starting his own blog. He spends most of his free time listening to new albums, attending concerts, and researching emerging artists.
What sets John apart from other music bloggers is his ability to connect with his readers on a personal level. His writing style is warm and engaging, making it easy for readers to relate to him as both a fellow music lover and someone who truly cares about the art form.
John’s love for music started at a young age when he discovered classic rock through his father’s vinyl collection. Since then, he has expanded his musical horizons to include everything from indie rock to hip hop and beyond.
As a blogger, John has found a way to share his love of music with others while also providing valuable insights into the industry.