White is the lightest colour and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of fresh snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on television and computer screens is created by a mixture of red, blue, and green light. In everyday life, whiteness is often conferred with white pigments, especially titanium dioxide, of which is produced more than 3,000,000 tons per year. In ancient Egypt and ancient Rome, priestesses wore white as a symbol of purity, and Romans wore white togas as symbols of citizenship. In the Middle Ages and Renaissance a white unicorn symbolized chastity, and a white lamb sacrifice and purity. It was the royal colour of the kings of France, and of the monarchist movement that opposed the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War (1917β1922). Greek and Roman temples were faced with white marble, and beginning in the 18th century, with the advent of neoclassical architecture, white became the most common colour of new churches, capitols and other government buildings, especially in the United States. It was also widely used in 20th century modern architecture as a symbol of modernity and simplicity.
“White Rabbit” is a song written by Grace Slick and recorded by Jefferson Airplane for their 1967 album Surrealistic Pillow. It was released as a single and became the band’s second top-10 success, peaking at number eight on the Billboard. The song was ranked number 478 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All time and Number 116 on Rate Your Music’s Top Singles of All Time. “White Rabbit” was, written during December 1965 or January 1966] It uses imagery found in the fantasy works of Lewis Carrollβ1865’s Alice in Wonderland and it’s sequel Through The Looking Glass 1871 – such as changing size after taking pills or drinking an unknown liquid.
“A Whiter Shade of Pale” is the debut single by Procol Harum, released in May 1967. The single reached number 1 in the UK Singles Chart and stayed there for six weeks. Without much promotion, it reached number 5 on the US Billboard. One of the anthems of the 1967 Summer of Love, it is one of the most commercially successful singles in history, having sold more than 10 million copies worldwide. With its Bach-derived instrumental melody, soulful vocals, and unusual lyrics β by the song’s co-authors (the music by Gary Brooker and Matthew Fisher, and the lyrics by Keith Reid)] β “A Whiter Shade of Pale” is the most played song in the last 75 years in public places in the UK (as of 2009), and the United Kingdom performing rights groups recognised it as the most-played record by British broadcasting of the past 70 years. Also in 2004, Rolling Stone placed it 57th on its list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
“White Room” is a song by Cream, composed by bassist Jack Bruce with lyrics by poet Pete Brown. They recorded it for the studio half of the 1968 double album Wheels of Fire. In September, a shorter US single edit (without the third verse) was released for AM radio stations, although album oriented FM radio stations played the full album version. The subsequent UK single release in January 1969 used the full-length album version of the track. Bruce sang and played bass on the song, Eric Clapton overdubbed guitar parts, Ginger Baker played drums and timpani, and Felix PappalardiΒ β the group’s producerΒ β contributed violas. Clapton played his guitar through a wah-wah pedal to achieve a “talking-effect”.
“Ride a White Swan” is a song by English band T. Rex. It was released as a stand-alone single in October 1970 by record label Fly, and was the first single credited under the band’s new, shorter name. Like all of the band’s songs, it was written by the group’s singer, guitarist and founder Marc Bolan. The song was included on the US version of the 1970 album, T. Rex. The song was the band’s first hit, and, according to Ned Raggett of AllMusic, the song “inadvertently founded glam rock mania” although Bolan did not wear characteristic glam stage clothing until the promotion of follow up single “Hot Love”.
“Nights in White Satin” is a song by the Moody Blues, written and composed by Justin Hayward. It was first featured as the segment “The Night” on the album Days of Future Passed. When first released as a single in 1967, it reached number 19 on the UK Singles Chart and number 103 in the United States in 1968. It was the first significant chart entry by the band since “Go Now” and its recent lineup change, in which Hayward and John Lodge had joined. When reissued in 1972, the single hit number two in the United States for two weeks. It earned a gold certification for sales of over a million US copies (platinum certification was not instituted until 1976). It also hit number one in Canada. It reached its highest UK position this year at number 9.
“White Wedding” is a song by Billy Idol that was released as the second single from his self titled studio album in 1982. Although not Idol’s highest-charting hit, it is often considered one of his most recognizable songs. In the US, it peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard chart in November 1982, then reached No. 36 on the Billboard in July 1983 after it was re-issued. In the UK, it reached No. 6 in the Uk Singles Chart upon its re-release there in 1985 and 1988, when it was re-issued to promote the Vital Idol remix album.
“White Flag” is a song by English singer-songwriter Dido, released as the lead single from her second studio album. Life for Rent. The song was first released to US radio in July 2003 and was issued in the United Kingdom as a physical single in September 2003. The song performed well on record charts around the world, peaking at number one in several countries. In the UK, it reached number two and in the United States, it climbed to number 18 on the Billboard. The music video, directed by Joseph Kahn, features actor David Boreanaz as Dido’s love interest.
