Another “oldie”…at least in it’s first incarnation. A first version of this was written probably around 1990 or 1991, when I was living in Brighton.
I (Henk) hold a Masters in Design for Interactive Media, and am therefore something of a designer. That apart, I have always been interested in art and the history of art.
A particularly favourite is the Impressionists’ era. I am particularly intrigued how the invention of photography (which could render ‘reality’ much more accurately than a painting) liberated painting to move into a more interpretive, impressionistic realm. I am also interested how the invention of water-based colours meant painters no longer had to paint outside scenes from sketches and memory back in the studio, as the oil paints of old took forever to dry. The impressionists were able to paint outside, in situ. With paints drying much more quickly, they were also able to be prolific. In concert with the industrial revolution, some, like Cezanne, could even turn painting into something of a production line!
Anyway, one of my favourite impressionists is Vincent van Gogh.
Over the years, I have read vociferously about him and also visited the van Gogh museum in Amsterdam on several occasions. I also visited the Art Gallery in the National Gallery in Moscow to see various of his works.
One aspect of his life that haunts me a little is his relationship with his older brother, Theo. An art-dealer and family man, Theo led a much more conventional life than Vincent. But part of Theo understood Vincent: he was always trying to help him in different ways, with money, advice etc. He is also the one person who sold the one painting Vincent successfully sold in his lifetime.
Anyway, Theo died shortly after Vincent committed suicide. On his death certificate it states simply that he died of “a broken heart”.
The song “Colours” is really about Vincent’s relationship with Theo. The middle-eight references the fact Theo died so shortly after Vincent of “a broken heart”.
But the song is also simply about the magic of Vincent van Gogh’s art. His colours “sing to me”. The “me” referenced in this phrase are threefold:
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Firstly, “us”, the listener and audience to Vincent van Gogh’s work
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Secondly, Theo. Theo was probably the first person who really “got” Vincent. The first person to whom Vincent’s colours really “sang”.
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Thirdly, Vincent himself. The phrase references his mental state. He was prone to profound episodes of depression and euphoria.
For those further interested in Vincent and Theo van Gogh and their relationship, I would thoroughly recommend Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith’s biography “Van Gogh: The Life” (2012) and also “Letters to Theo”, the collected letters of Vincent van Gogh to his brother. There are a few versions on the market. Both the Anna Suh edition and the Arnold Pomerans editions are good. The absolute best is “Vincent van Gogh - The Letters: The Complete Illustrated and Annotated Edition” by Leo Jansen, Hans Luijten and Nienke Bakker. Complete, meticulously researched and beautifully presented, it is for the completest scholar only…and at 450 quid a shot beyond most people’s budget!
On a musical note, I owe a considerable debt to both Joe and William Manwaring on this song. Having struggled with it for years (to the point I nearly abandoned it), it was William who first breathed life into it. He did this through his wonderfully fluid keyboard motif and the melodic solo he plays on my black Gibson Les Paul custom.
Then Joe came up with the melody for, and all the luscious harmonies and the Rickenbacker 12 string jangle in, the chorus in early December 2013.
Thus revived, it has become one of my favourite Third Space songs. Thank you Joe and William!