COLORWAYS: Red
- Morgan Goldsmith
- Jun 13, 2021
- 1 min read
Colorways is a new series on Notes & Melodies exploring color theory in music. Colors correlate to mood and communicate the vibe of the album/song before you listen to anything. For the next few weeks, I want to break down the theories behind a few colors and remind you of the albums and songs that match. This week, we’re taking a look at red…
Red represents the extreme. It is the color of passion, violence, danger, power, and adventure. In the past, our prehistoric ancestors equated red to fire and blood, and this intense view of red has remained true today. However, red is also associated with magic and religion. In the past, red dyes were rare and led many to believe those possessing garments with red dye were powerful beyond explanation. In other cultures, red has multiple meanings beyond the associations mentioned previously.
Red is one of the most popular colors in the world. It is represented on 77% of international flags, and equally as popular when it comes to music. Artists use red to symbolize their prowess and control in the music game, the intensity of the music, or to indicate an evolution in sound.
Take a look at a few of the albums below that use color theory to perfectly portray what’s in store for the listener. Listen to your favorite and comment your thoughts!
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