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.
