Joan Baez has had an
amazing career. Her voice—that incredible
soprano voice—rang out as a voice of our generation. There are too many roads to take down this
topic, the wide genre of her songs.
Instead, the one song that rings clearest in my memory is “Black is the
color…”
A question niggles in
my brain: What is it about the color
black that pervades the design world?
Why are TV remotes
black? Is it possible that Sony or
RCA want us to lose the remotes in the dark recesses of sofa cushions knowing
that the black remotes will remain hidden?
Why are many purse
linings black, or nearly black? Is it possible that, by making the
linings dark, little items (nail clippers, lipstick, lip-gloss) will disappear,
thus requiring further purchases?
Why do fancy dress
events involve black/dark suits and dresses?
The ‘little black dress’: Why is it the important dress in the
closet? 
For that matter, why do members
of the Clergy wear black cassocks, black suits, black nun habits, etc.? Why?
In the beginning two questions, the color black perhaps denotes dignity and
stylishness. In the last question, maybe the
color black indicates a desire to shed worldly attachments. Just guessing here...
Teenagers seem to
go through an ‘all-black-Goth’ stage.
Black hair, black clothing, coal-black eye make-up—this is supposed to
shout out to the world that they are individuals making a statement.
Oddly, when they are all together, they appear
to be wearing uniforms.
Spies, burglars,
movie villains, and Harry Potter characters all are dressed in black. The Adams family—stylish black clothing. Matrix—really cool black clothing.
Enough of this rant.
Anyway, enjoy this
song.
Mourning clothes are black.....showing grief for the dead. Years ago in some countries, a widow would wear black for the rest of her life.
ReplyDeleteI remember reading/seeing on film that widows in Greece wear black for the remainder of their lives. In the movie 'Chocolat', the French widows wore black forever. Black here indicates sorrow; good point.
DeleteHmm good point, I guess black just goes with everything. Or maybe they just want people not to be able to find the remote in the dark.
ReplyDeleteI do believe this might be a conspiracy.
DeleteThe song is beautiful. I love her works.
ReplyDeleteBlack hides faults, I suppose.
Another good thought: hiding faults.
Deleteoh yeah--always loved her music----great questions!
ReplyDeleteJoan Baez was one of the voices of our generation, along with Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel.
DeleteI wish electronics weren't black...man does it show the dust.
ReplyDeleteSo true. When the TV is off, the screen is streaked with dust, and it keeps on reappearing. Another good reason to watch TV all day?
DeleteBlack is the absence of color. Perhaps by extension the absence of joy. True love's lover was having no problem imaging not loving him if he left or died. Fickle, fickle, fickle. Or is it fie, fie, fie.
ReplyDeleteFie and Fickle, indeed. Black as the absence of joy...that is a serious thought.
DeleteWhat a clear, ringing voice.
ReplyDeleteOh, and what Joanne said.
Pearl
Joanne said it so well, didn't she.
DeleteI never gave thought to a conspiracy theory about the color black. Maybe it has to do with aliens.
ReplyDeleteAliens?...hmmmm. You may have something there.
DeleteI never thought about so many things being black. Maybe the purse linings are black so they show less of the inevitable grime? Remote controls should be bright orange, and maybe glow in the dark! I've always assumed the formal wear was black to help hide weight, though it definitely shows who has pets. I went through the Goth phase as a teenager myself. All I can say is it seemed like a really good idea at the time.
ReplyDeleteI remember some fashions as being good ideas at the time: huge shoulder pads, ratted hair, platform heels. I never wore parachute pants though; MC Hammer never captured me. I did hold a pair in Kmart and think about them, though.
DeleteMy daughter and I love Joan Baez, one of the greats of our generation.
ReplyDeleteAs for black. Hmmm, I've always thought it makes one appear thinner. And the comments about dust on black...I'm with that. Give me white!
Thanks for stopping by with your info on a decent reburial for King Richard. My oldest daughter explained to me how Shakespeare make him more evil than he really was.
I thought a black car would be easier to keep clean than a white car. An owner said it was the opposite. Black cars show everything.
DeleteGood points, and I have no idea. Black is supposed to be the absence of color, so I could see that for clothing for religious purposes. They say black is neutral and flattering, but not everyone looks good in black, no matter what they say. I guess it's just a color pretty much everyone owns something of, so it's easier?
ReplyDeleteShannon at The Warrior Muse
The universal 'go with everything' color, black. Probably. It is the issue with the remotes that really bother me.
DeleteIt's difficult not to look elegant in black!
ReplyDeleteUsually true. Maybe wearing black makes one feel elegant? Throw on some pearls and lipstick, ready to go?
DeleteBlack
ReplyDeleteCrisp lines
And a cool look
Ad what the f"&k do I know about fashion?
X
Well, gosh--now that you mention it. I went through my black phase in junior high around 1964-1965. Don't know why but I'd typically wear black pants, a black sweatshirt, and a black dickey. Remember dickeys? What was up with those besides the neckline?
ReplyDeleteLee
Wrote By Rote
An A to Z Co-host blog
Twitter: @AprilA2Z
Joan Baez...hmmm! Takes you back.
ReplyDeleteAs for black---so dreary, so mournful, so "goes with everything." Remember how people, in Ireland at least, would wear a black armband for ?? how long after someone in their family died? I don't mind remotes being black. I just wish there was only one and it had one button for "on" and another button for "off". Period. Wishful thinking.....