Colors (Black Pumas song)

2019 single by Black Pumas

"Colors"

Single by Black Pumas
from the album  Black Pumas
Released| April 16, 2019 (2019-04-16)
Genre|

* Blues[1]
* psychedelic soul
* funk[2]

Length| 4:06
Label| ATO
Songwriter(s)| Eric Burton
Producer(s)| Adrian Quesada
Black Pumas singles chronology
| "Black Moon Rising"
(2018)  | "Colors"
(2019)  | "Oct 33"
(2020)

|
|

Music video
"Colors" on YouTube

"Colors" is a song by American psychedelic soul band Black Pumas. It was released on April 16, 2019, as the third single from the band's debut studio album Black Pumas. The song was written by singer-songwriter Eric Burton, and produced by guitarist/producer Adrian Quesada. It was nominated for Record of the Year and Best American Roots Performance at the 2021 Grammy Awards.[3]

## Background

[edit]

The inspiration of the song was the "multicolored tones of the sky", with the song portraying "themes of mortality and togetherness".[4] In an interview, Burton stated: "This was something that I had written just learning how to play guitar. I had woke up from a nap on my uncle's rooftop in Alamagordo, New Mexico, I was just playing note after note, whatever sounded good. [...] When I was writing this song, I was actually leading worship at a church, and I was trying to figure out, 'How do I write a song that explains the plight of someone who is spiritual trying to find their truth?' That's also the reason for the backup gospel singers you might hear in the chorus, who help round out that uplifting, church-like sound."[5]

## Music video

[edit]

An accompanying music video was released on November 22, 2019, and directed by Kristian Mercado. In an interview, he stated: "I really wanted to capture how powerful the sounds and vocals of Black Pumas are, I'm driven by emotion and felt a strong connection to the music. [...] It was such a powerful song and experience that I sought out to do the music video for the song. We shot the whole film in the Bronx, wanted to show the Bronx as a place that was alive and vibrant. We wanted to celebrate family, connections, movement, and life."[6]

## Charts

[edit]

### Weekly charts

[edit]

Weekly chart performance for "Colors"  | Chart (2019–2021)  | Peak
position

|

Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[7] | 46
Canada Rock (Billboard)[8] | 10
UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[9] | 99
US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[10] | 37
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[11] | 21
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[12] | 13

### Year-end charts

[edit]

Year-end chart performance for "Colors"  | Chart (2021)  | Position

|

US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[13] | 88

## Certifications

[edit]

Certifications for "Colors"  Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Canada (Music Canada)[14] | Gold  | 40,000‡
France (SNEP)[15] | Platinum  | 200,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[16] | Silver  | 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[17] | Platinum  | 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

## Release history

[edit]

Release history for "Colors"  Region  | Date  | Format  | Label  | Ref.

|
|
|
|

Various  | April 16, 2019  |

* Digital download
* streaming

| ATO | [18]
United States  | June 15, 2020  | Adult contemporary radio | [19]
February 9, 2021  | Alternative radio | [20]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Lannon, Matthew (January 21, 2021). "Unifying America Through "Colors": Black Pumas Inspire Rising in 2021". Beyond The Stage. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
2. ^ Osborne, Deon (September 30, 2021). "Psychedelic funk band "Black Pumas" is what America needs Right Now". The Black Wall Street Times. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
3. ^ Jon Blistein; Brittany Spanos (March 14, 2021). "Watch Black Pumas Blaze Through 'Colors' at the 2021 Grammy Awards". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
4. ^ Ingvaldsen, Torsten (April 17, 2019). "Black Pumas Exemplifies Idiosyncratically Modern Soul in Latest Cut "Colors"". Hypebeast. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
5. ^ Walsh, Kathleen (March 6, 2021). "The Real Meaning Behind Black Pumas' Colors". Nicki Swift. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
6. ^ "Grammy Best New Artist Nominees Black Pumas Release Stunning + Powerful New Video For "Colors"". Elicit Magazine. November 22, 2019. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
7. ^ "Black Pumas – Colors" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
8. ^ "Black Pumas Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
9. ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
10. ^ "Black Pumas Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
11. ^ "Black Pumas Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
12. ^ "Black Pumas Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
13. ^ "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
14. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Black Pumas – Colors". Music Canada. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
15. ^ "French single certifications – Black Pumas – Colors" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
16. ^ "British single certifications – Black Pumas – Colors". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
17. ^ "American single certifications – Black Pumas – Colors". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
18. ^ "Colors - Black Pumas". Retrieved November 15, 2021 - via Amazon.
19. ^ "Hot/Modern/AC Radio Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on June 15, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
20. ^ "Alternative Radio Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on February 1, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2021.

*[Ref.]: Reference