Paint It, Black

The first time you hear *Paint It, Black*, you're struck by its sound, which deviates from what they had been doing. It's not just the guitar, but the presence of the sitar, an instrument that gives it an almost hypnotic feel, with influences that seem to come from India, the Middle East, and even Eastern Europe. The lyrics, for their part, delve into sadness and loss, a dark tone that contrasts with the band's usual energy.

This song, born from the collaboration between Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, emerged from ideas that Brian Jones was exploring with the sitar. What's interesting is that, although only Jagger and Richards are credited as songwriters, all five band members contributed to the final version. The recording, which took place between March 6 and 9, 1966, at RCA Studios in Hollywood, California, was distinguished by the incorporation of instruments uncommon for a rock single at the time, such as the sitar, a Hammond organ, and castanets. This type of sonic experimentation was also reflected in other songs on the album *Aftermath*. *Paint It, Black* was released as a single in May 1966 in the United States by London Records and in the United Kingdom by Decca Records. Months later, it was included as the opening track on the US edition of *Aftermath*, although it was not part of the original UK release. The song was a resounding success, reaching number one on the charts in the United States and the United Kingdom. In 2018, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.