The group was founded in 1969 by Russell Knighton at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and the group was called the Macalester College Black Voices. It was in 1971 when current director Gary Hines took leadership over the ensemble, and the group name was officially changed to Sounds of Blackness.
The chief lead singer of the group was Ann Nesby until 1995 when Nesby left the group to pursue a solo career. The group continues to perform internationally. The group performed the original songs for the 1999 Disney animated short John Henry (based on the folklore character) as part of Disney's American Legends, the short was re-released in 2015 as part of the Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Films Collection. The original songs were written by Gary Hines and Billy Steele, with a score by Stephen James Taylor
The group has received three Grammy Awards, four Stellar Awards, one Emmy nomination, the International Time for Peace Award, the International Dance Music Award, five NAACP Image Award nominations and 1 NAACP Image Award.
Sounds of Blackness's "Time For Love" was nominated for the 7th Annual Independent Music Awards for R&B Song of the year.
Black Butterfly
Sounds Of Blackness Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
口べたのせいにして
幼さを隠して
私は舞い踊る
内緒の時間よ
内緒の場面よ
近くに来てよ
右手で夢を持ち
左手で恋をして
そんな風な生き方
出来ないのが私
不器用な可愛さ
貴方好みでしょ
好きにして
涙する夜もあるんだけど Oh No
誰にも見せないの 本当の私の事
ブラックバタフライ
ブラックバタフライ
蜜を求めて羽を広げ
ブラックバタフライ
ブラックバタフライ
もう大人だよ ねえ見てよ
大空までタンゴ
愚痴なんて言わない
誰かのせいにしない
自分で決めたから
私は舞い踊る
充実の時間よ
優越の空間よ
至福の瞬間よ
贅沢すぎる
あの人と比べて
あの頃に置き換えて
何になるというの
私は私でしょ
現実 見つめて
時代は過ぎて行く
刻一刻
生まれたばかりに戻りたいと Oh No
思った事なら 本当はあるけれど
ブラックバタフライ
ブラックバタフライ
苦い蜜なら 刺激的
ブラックバタフライ
ブラックバタフライ
止まる事など 考えない
未来へ行けタンゴ
ブラックバタフライ
ブラックバタフライ
蜜を求めて羽を広げ
ブラックバタフライ
ブラックバタフライ
もう大人だよ ねえ見てよ
ブラックバタフライ
ブラックバタフライ
苦い蜜なら 刺激的
ブラックバタフライ
ブラックバタフライ
止まる事など 考えない
未来へ行けタンゴ
The song "Black Butterfly" by Sounds of Blackness is a narrative of an individual who feels the need to explore life and all it has to offer. The lyrics describe the singer as a young person who hides their youthful nature and dances through life privately, seeking both love and dreams. The singer seeks to find meaning in life by exploring the possibilities of what could be, with an attitude of contentment and self-determination, ignoring the opinions and comparisons to others. Although the singer faces challenges as everyone does, they choose to keep their tears private and reveal their true selves only to those whom they trust.
In the song, the black butterfly is a symbol of new beginnings and change as it seeks for a place in the world; the butterfly represents the singer, being young and trying to understand the world. The song encourages people to be themselves, to find their inner beauty and follow their dreams. The singer uses dance to express their aspirations and to find comfort when faced with the difficulties of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
年齢は言わない 口べたのせいにして 幼さを隠して 私は舞い踊る
I don't reveal my age, blaming my stutter for sounding young, and hide my immaturity as I dance
内緒の時間よ 内緒の場面よ 内緒の二人よ 近くに来てよ
Come closer to share with me these secret moments, scenes, and people
右手で夢を持ち 左手で恋をして そんな風な生き方 出来ないのが私
I hold onto my dreams with one hand and love with the other, but that kind of lifestyle doesn't come naturally to me
不器用な可愛さ 貴方好みでしょ 好きにして
My clumsy cuteness is to your liking, so do what you will
涙する夜もあるんだけど Oh No 誰にも見せないの 本当の私の事
Although I have nights where I cry, I keep my true self hidden from everyone
ブラックバタフライ ブラックバタフライ 蜜を求めて羽を広げ ブラックバタフライ ブラックバタフライ もう大人だよ ねえ見てよ 大空までタンゴ
Like a black butterfly, I spread my wings in search of sweet nectar. Look, I'm already an adult! Let's tango to the sky
愚痴なんて言わない 誰かのせいにしない 自分で決めたから 私は舞い踊る
I don't complain or blame others because I made the decision myself. That's why I dance
充実の時間よ 優越の空間よ 至福の瞬間よ 贅沢すぎる
These moments of fulfillment, superiority, and bliss are too luxurious
あの人と比べて あの頃に置き換えて 何になるというの 私は私でしょ
Comparing myself to others and my past self doesn't change who I am: just me
現実 見つめて 時代は過ぎて行く 刻一刻
As I face reality, time passes in every moment
生まれたばかりに戻りたいと Oh No 思った事なら 本当はあるけれど
Although I sometimes wish to go back to being a newborn, it's just a passing thought
ブラックバタフライ ブラックバタフライ 苦い蜜なら 刺激的 ブラックバタフライ ブラックバタフライ 止まる事など 考えない 未来へ行けタンゴ
If the nectar is bitter, it's exciting. Don't think of stopping, let's tango towards the future like black butterflies
ブラックバタフライ ブラックバタフライ 蜜を求めて羽を広げ ブラックバタフライ ブラックバタフライ もう大人だよ ねえ見てよ
Like a black butterfly, I spread my wings in search of sweet nectar. Look, I'm already an adult!
ブラックバタフライ ブラックバタフライ 苦い蜜なら 刺激的 ブラックバタフライ ブラックバタフライ 止まる事など 考えない 未来へ行けタンゴ
If the nectar is bitter, it's exciting. Don't think of stopping, let's tango towards the future like black butterflies
Writer(s): Lewis Terry Steven, Harris James Samuel
Contributed by Allison R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
HSSU Camera Club
Black Butterfly by Sounds of Blackness
Chorus
Black Butterfly, you can do most anything your heart desires
Freedom comes with understanding who you are
Its time to reclaim your place among the stars
Spread your wings and fly
Awakening the genius has been asleep too long
A people with a beauty rich and strong
A heritage that rates second to none
Original, your qualities, don’t change them to fit in
Now that you’re on top just keep rising
Experience new life, be born again.
Chorus
What’s going on?
To not reveal unless we choose to see
Has generations lost in history
To hide our culture and identity
Keep your pride
You can’t be another color butterfly
So when you shine, let everybody see your light
Cuz you know out of sight means out of mind