The Rolling Stones' "Paint it Black"
2/19/20261 hr 1 min
How did one of rock’s most successful bands of all time accidentally create one of the darkest hits in pop history? Diallo Riddle and LUXXURY dig into The Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black,” unpacking the band’s complicated legacy and tracing the blend of American blues, surf rock, and global sounds that gave the song its spell-like power.
Songs Discussed:
“Paint It Black” - The Rolling Stones
“Start Me Up” - The Rolling Stones
“Miss You” - The Rolling Stones
“Emotional Rescue” - The Rolling Stones
<...
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsDiallo Riddle· Host0:00
[singing] [laughs] [singing] They almost sound ironic. They almost sound- I think so, too ... like they're imitating The Rolling Stones. [laughs] [record scratching] So Luxury, today we're talking about a defining song of the Vietnam era, and it comes from one of the most successful rock bands of all time. I mean, these guys [laughs] are in their 80s and they're still on tour. It's insane.
Luxury· Host0:25
And today we're taking you back to 1966, when these legacy rockers were still in their 20s. But this isn't some optimistic flower power moment. With its bleak lyrics, pounding rhythm, and spell-like riff, this song is one of the darkest songs to ever hit number one.
Diallo Riddle· Host0:38
Hmm.
Luxury· Host0:39
In fact, this is basically a goth raga surf rock Spanish ballet Indian and Middle Eastern song, all wrapped into one.
Diallo Riddle· Host0:46
[laughs] All in one. [laughs] That's right, we're talking one song, and that song is Paint It Black, by The Rolling Stones.
Mick Jagger· Soundbite0:51
I see a red door and I want it painted black. No colors anymore, I want them- [record scratching] [upbeat music] Hey One Song listeners, if you love our show, you should check out Trapital, the podcast where technology meets culture.
Luxury· Host1:13
Each episode, Trapital host and founder Dan Runcie digs into the strategy behind the media and technology that drives our attention. You'll hear Trapital explore topics like YouTube's growing influence in music and entertainment- Hmm ... the never-ending saga about TikTok's future- [whistles] ... and how AI is shaping