1979 (song)#Charts

{{Infobox song

| name = 1979

| cover = SmashingPumpkins-1979.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = the Smashing Pumpkins

| album = Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness

| B-side =

"Ugly"
"The Boy"
"Cherry"
"Believe"
"Set the Ray to Jerry"

| released = {{Start date|1996|01|23}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

Alternative pop{{cite web|last=Gray|first=Scott A.|date=April 4, 2018|title=An Essential Guide to the Smashing Pumpkins|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/an_essential_guide_to_the_smashing_pumpkins|access-date=February 19, 2023|website=Exclaim!}}
art rock{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/50-greatest-grunge-albums-798851/smashing-pumpkins-mellon-collie-and-the-infinite-sadness-1995-798842/|title=50 Greatest Grunge Albums|date=April 1, 2019|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=May 19, 2019}}
pop{{cite web|date=September 27, 2022|title=The 250 Best Songs of the 1990s|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/the-best-songs-of-the-1990s/|access-date=October 21, 2022|website=Pitchfork}}{{cite web|last=Leas|first=Ryan|date=October 29, 2013|title=Smashing Pumpkins Albums From Worst To Best|url=https://www.stereogum.com/1541432/smashing-pumpkins-albums-from-worst-to-best/photo/|access-date=February 19, 2023|website=Stereogum}}
synth-pop{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/adore-19980518 | title=Adore | magazine=Rolling Stone | date=May 18, 1998 }}
alternative rock{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2017/07/ranking-every-alternative-rock-hit-from-worst-to-best/|title=Ranking: Every Alternative Rock No. 1 Hit from Worst to Best|website=Conseqeunce.net|author=Philip Cosores|date=July 5, 2017|access-date=January 30, 2024}}

| length = * {{Duration|m=4|s=24}} (album, single, video version)

{{Duration|m=4|s=16}} (radio edit)

| label = * Virgin

| writer = Billy Corgan

| producer = * Flood

Alan Moulder
Billy Corgan

| prev_title = Bullet with Butterfly Wings

| prev_year = 1995

| next_title = Zero

| next_year = 1996

| misc = {{Audio sample

| type = single

| file = 1979 (Smashing Pumpkins song - audio sample).ogg

}}

{{External music video|1={{YouTube|4aeETEoNfOg|"1979"}}}}

}}

"1979" is a song by American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins. It was released in 1996 as the second single from their third studio album, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. "1979" was written by frontman Billy Corgan, and features loops and samples uncharacteristic of previous Smashing Pumpkins songs.{{cite news |last=Kot|first=Greg |title=A Long Strange Trip to 1979 |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |url=http://www.starla.org/articles/mtc1.htm |access-date=October 5, 2011}} The song foreshadows the synth-pop sound the band would embrace more openly on Adore and its tracks "Ava Adore" and "Perfect".{{cite web | url=http://www.wonderingsound.com/smashing-pumpkins-share-adore-bonus-tracks/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117214528/http://www.wonderingsound.com/smashing-pumpkins-share-adore-bonus-tracks/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=November 17, 2014 | title=Smashing Pumpkins Share 'Adore' Bonus Tracks, Including a Banjo Take and Diddy Remix | publisher=Wondering Sound | access-date=November 26, 2015 | author=Parks, Andrew}}{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/adore-19980518 | title=Adore | magazine=Rolling Stone | date=May 18, 1998 }} The song was written as a nostalgic coming-of-age story by Corgan. In the year 1979, Corgan was twelve, and this is what he considered his transition into adolescence.{{cite web|url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2018/09/top-21-songs-about-nostalgia/|title=Top 21 Songs About Nostalgia|date=September 3, 2018|website=Consequence of Sound|access-date=May 19, 2019}}

"1979" reached number two in Canada and Iceland, number six in Ireland, number nine in New Zealand, and number 12 in the United States. It charted within the top 20 in several other countries, including Australia and the United Kingdom. The song was nominated for the Record of the Year and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 39th Annual Grammy Awards, and won an MTV Video Music Award for Best Alternative Video. In 2012, it was voted the second-best Smashing Pumpkins song by Rolling Stone readers.{{Cite magazine |date=June 13, 2012 |title=Readers' Poll: The Best Smashing Pumpkins Songs |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/readers-poll-the-best-smashing-pumpkins-songs-13645/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=January 21, 2023}}

Recording

According to statements in interviews, Corgan worked nonstop after the Siamese Dream tour and wrote about 56 songs for Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness,{{cite interview |last=Corgan |first=Billy |subject-link=Billy Corgan |last2=Iha |first2=James |subject-link2=James Iha |last3=Wretzky |first3=D'arcy |subject-link3=D'arcy Wretzky |title=Hora Prima |work=MTV Latin America |date=December 19, 1996}} the last of which was "1979".{{Cite web|url=http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1924|title=1979 by Smashing Pumpkins - Songfacts|website=www.songfacts.com|access-date=November 2, 2019}} As the Mellon Collie sessions came to a conclusion, "1979" (which evolved out of a demo called "Strolling"{{cite book | title=Smashing Pumpkins: The Secret History, by Alan Cross | publisher=Harper Collins | isbn=9781927002209 | date=2007}}) was just a couple of chord changes and a snippet of a melody without words. When the time came to choose the songs that were to appear on the album, producer Flood said that the song was "not good enough" and wanted to drop it from the record. Taking it as a challenge inspired Corgan, and he wrote "1979" that night in about four hours. The next day, Flood heard "1979" once and decided immediately to put it on the album. Corgan considers "1979" the most personally important song on Mellon Collie.{{cite interview |subject=Billy Corgan |title=Billy Corgan interview |others=Karl Daher |date=May 29, 1998}}

The song features a sample of Corgan's voice repeated throughout. During recording, Corgan was singing "today" as the melody line, so he and Flood decided to record him singing to a tape. The pair electronically manipulated several samples and looped them against a drumbeat.{{cite journal |title=King B's |journal=Guitar World |issue=January 1997}} "1979" is partly influenced by "Pleasure",{{cite web|last=Hall|first=Carl|date=June 15, 2008|title=The Frogs Live Pleasure|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYRto3kmtQo|publisher=YouTube}} an unreleased song by the Frogs, whom Corgan had liked after seeing them perform in Madison, WI, in 1993. Corgan later performed during the band's encore at Lollapalooza in the summer of 1994, and Dennis Flemion of the Frogs would replace recently deceased keyboard player Jonathan Melvoin during the Infinite Sadness tour.{{cite web |url=https://spfreaks.wordpress.com/2013/02/05/smashing-pumpkins-and-the-frogs-a-brief-history/ |title = Smashing Pumpkins and The Frogs: A Brief History {{!}} The SPfreaks Team| date=February 5, 2013 }}

Reception

"1979" is the Smashing Pumpkins' highest-charting single, reaching number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Mainstream Rock Tracks and on the Modern Rock Tracks charts.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/smashing-pumpkins-mn0000036521/awards|title=Charts & Awards: Smashing Pumpkins|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=August 26, 2013}} Virgin credited the inclusion of the single's bonus tracks for driving sales.{{cite magazine |last=Rosen|first=Craig |title=CD Single Sales Spurred by Addition of Nonalbum Cuts |magazine=Billboard |issue=March 30, 1996}} The song was nominated for the Record of the Year and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 1997 Grammy Awards. Pitchfork Media included the song at number 21 on their "Top 200 Tracks of the 90s" and said "'1979' was Billy Corgan asking, 'You know this feeling?' and the second you heard that guitar line the immediate answer was, 'I do-- tell me more.'"{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/7852-the-top-200-tracks-of-the-1990s-50-21/3/ |title=The Top 200 Tracks of the 1990s: 50-21 |date=September 2, 2010 |website=Pitchfork |access-date=October 5, 2011 |archive-date=February 18, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218044518/http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/7852-the-top-200-tracks-of-the-1990s-50-21/3 |url-status=dead }}

In a 1996 Spin interview, Corgan indicated that "1979" was probably the only indication he had for what the next Pumpkins album would sound like, "something that combines technology, and a rock sensibility, and pop, and whatever, and hopefully clicks. Between 'Bullet with Butterfly Wings' and '1979' you have the bookends of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. You've literally [heard] the end of the rock thing, and the beginning of the new thing".{{cite journal |last=Marks|first=Craig |title=Zero Worship |journal=Spin |issue=June 1996}}

In Australia, the song was voted number 13 on Triple J Hottest 100 in 1996.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100_08/history/1996.htm|title=Triple J Hottest 100 1996|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Company|access-date=January 25, 2021}} It was later voted number 71 on the Hottest 100 of All Time in 1998,{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100_08/history/1998.htm#h100-all-time|title=Hottest 100 of All Time|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Company|access-date=January 25, 2021}} number 35 on the Triple J Hottest 100 of All Time in 2009,{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100_alltime/countdown/cd_list.htm|title=Triple J Hottest 100 of All Time|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Company|access-date=January 25, 2021}} and number 21 on the Hottest 100 of the Past 20 Years in 2013.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100/alltime/20years/countdown/|title=Triple J's Hottest 100 20 Years – The Countdown|date=April 18, 2013 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Company|access-date=January 25, 2021}}

Music video

The music video for "1979" was directed by the team of Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, who had previously directed the music video for "Rocket". Originally, the band approached another director (possibly Spike Jonze) to film the video for "1979". His idea was that all the band members were residents in an alien hotel and they were all going to have specially made alien-elephant masks. This video would have cost over a million dollars.

The video follows a day in the life of disaffected suburban teenagers driving around in a 1972 Dodge Charger. It is based on a concept Corgan created, featuring an idealized version of teenage life, while also trying to capture the feeling of being bored in the Chicago suburbs, where Corgan grew up. In the video the Dodge Charger has Illinois license plates, although in the driving scenes the mountains of California are visible in the background shots. Originally, Corgan wanted a scene of violence, in which the convenience store was trashed by the teens at the end of the video, but Dayton and Faris convinced him to go for something tamer. Aside from Corgan appearing throughout the video in the backseat of a car, the other band members had small parts in the video; James Iha appears as a convenience store clerk, D'arcy Wretzky as an irate neighbor, Jimmy Chamberlin as a policeman, and the band also appears in the party scene. Band manager "Gooch" plays Jimmy's partner.{{cite video |title=The Smashing Pumpkins – Greatest Hits Video Collection (1991–2000) |date=2001 |medium=DVD |publisher=Virgin Records}}

Upon finishing the video shoot, the band flew to New York to perform. However, all tapes of the footage were accidentally left sitting on top of a car, and were lost as the driver departed. The group later flew back to re-shoot the party scene.

The "1979" video was highly acclaimed. It won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Alternative Video in 1996. It was one of Canadian cable television music channel MuchMusic's Countdown number-one videos of 1996. Billy Corgan considers it the Pumpkins' best video, calling it "the closest we've ever come to realizing everything we wanted."

The video for the 1998 song "Perfect" is a sequel to this one, and involves the same characters who are now older. The aforementioned incident with the loss of the original footage is parodied in one of the later video's final scenes, in which a cassette tape is left on top of a car and falls off as a character drives out of a parking lot at high speed, and is subsequently destroyed by another vehicle.

Track listings

UK and US CD single, UK 12-inch vinyl{{Cite web|url=https://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=61852|title=Smashing Pumpkins 1979 - Nineteen Seventy Nine UK CD single (CD5 / 5") (61852)|website=eil.com|access-date=November 2, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=65234|title=Smashing Pumpkins 1979 US CD single (CD5 / 5") (65234)|website=eil.com|access-date=November 2, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=85444|title=Smashing Pumpkins 1979 - Nineteen Seventy Nine UK 12" vinyl single (12 inch record / Maxi-single) (85444)|website=eil.com|access-date=November 2, 2019}}{{tracklist

| all_writing =

| note =

| title1 = 1979

| writer1 = Billy Corgan

| note1 =

| length1 = 4:24

| title2 = Ugly

| writer2 = Billy Corgan

| length2 = 2:28

| title3 = Believe

| writer3 = James Iha

| length3 = 3:15

| title4 = Cherry

| writer4 = Billy Corgan

| length4 = 4:02

}}

1996 maxi-CD re-issue{{cite web|url=http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=76593 |title=Smashing Pumpkins the Aeroplane Flies High USA BOX SET (76593) |access-date=September 27, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530130243/http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=76593 |archive-date=May 30, 2010 }}

{{tracklist

| all_writing =

| note =

| title1 = 1979

| writer1 = Billy Corgan

| note1 =

| length1 = 4:24

| title2 = Ugly

| writer2 = Billy Corgan

| length2 = 2:28

| title3 = The Boy

| writer3 = James Iha

| length3 = 3:04

| title4 = Cherry

| writer4 = Billy Corgan

| length4 = 4:02

| title5 = Believe

| writer5 = James Iha

| length5 = 3:15

| title6 = Set the Ray to Jerry

| writer6 = Billy Corgan

| length6 = 4:10

}}

US 7-inch double A-side single{{cite web|url=http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=224570|title=Smashing Pumpkins 1978/Bullet with Butterfly Wings US 7" vinyl single (7 inch record) (224570)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204183120/http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=224570|archive-date=February 4, 2015|access-date=September 27, 2012}}

{{track listing

| all_writing =

| note =

| title1 = 1979

| writer1 = Billy Corgan

| note1 =

| length1 = 4:24

| title2 = Bullet with Butterfly Wings

| writer2 = Billy Corgan

| length2 = 4:16

}}

1979 Mixes{{Cite web|url=https://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=217070|title=Smashing Pumpkins 1979 Nineteen Seventy Nine Mixes UK CD single (CD5 / 5") (217070)|website=eil.com|access-date=November 2, 2019}}

{{track listing

| all_writing =

| note =

| title1 = 1979 (Vocal Mix)

| writer1 = Billy Corgan

| note1 =

| length1 = 5:08

| title2 = 1979 (Instrumental Mix)

| writer2 = Billy Corgan

| length2 = 5:17

| title3 = 1979 (Moby Mix)

| writer3 = Billy Corgan

| length3 = 6:39

| title4 = 1979 (Cement Mix)

| writer4 = Billy Corgan

| length4 = 4:40

}}

Tracks 1, 2, and 4 are remixed by Roli Mosimann. Track 3 is remixed by Moby.{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/gallery/s/smashing970528.html |title=Moby Tries To Collect Debt From Pumpkins Corgan |website=MTV |date=May 28, 1997 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970614024458/http://www.mtv.com/news/gallery/s/smashing970528.html |archive-date=June 14, 1997 |access-date=October 5, 2011}}

Charts

= Weekly charts =

scope="row"\|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine\|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1996/MM-1996-02-24.pdf\|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles\|magazine=Music & Media\|volume=13\|issue=8\|page=16\|date=February 24, 1996\|access-date=May 24, 2020}} \|44
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !scope="col"\|Chart (1996) !scope="col"\|Peak position
{{Single chart\|Australia\|16\|artist=The Smashing Pumpkins\|song=1979\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 24, 2016}}
{{Single chart\|Flanders\|37\|artist=The Smashing Pumpkins\|song=1979\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 24, 2016}}
{{Single chart\|Wallonia\|21\|artist=The Smashing Pumpkins\|song=1979\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 24, 2016}}
{{Single chart\|Canadatopsingles\|2\|chartid=2933\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 24, 2016}}
{{Single chart\|Canadadance\|7\|chartid=2992\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 13, 2019}}
{{Single chart\|Canadarock\|3\|chartid=2920\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 24, 2016}}
{{Single chart\|Finland\|11\|artist=The Smashing Pumpkins\|song=1979\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 24, 2016}}
{{Single chart\|France\|38\|artist=The Smashing Pumpkins\|song=1979\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 24, 2016}}
scope="row"\|Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40){{cite news\|url=https://timarit.is/page/2937455#page/n33/mode/2up\|title=Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (24.2. '96 – 1.3. '96)\|newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir\|language=is\|page=42\|date=February 24, 1996\|access-date=October 2, 2019}} \|2
{{Single chart\|Ireland2\|6\|artist=The Smashing Pumpkins\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 24, 2016}}
{{Single chart\|Dutch40\|38\|year=1996\|week=10\|rowheader=true\|access-date=July 16, 2018}}
{{Single chart\|Dutch100\|29\|artist=The Smashing Pumpkins\|song=1979\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 24, 2016}}
{{Single chart\|New Zealand\|9\|artist=The Smashing Pumpkins\|song=1979\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 24, 2016}}
{{Single chart\|Scotland\|17\|date=19960210\|rowheader=true\|access-date=July 16, 2018}}
{{Single chart\|UK\|16\|date=19960210\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 24, 2016}}
{{Single chart\|Billboardhot100\|12\|artist=The Smashing Pumpkins\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 24, 2016}}
{{Single chart\|Billboardadultalternativesongs\|3\|artist=The Smashing Pumpkins\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 24, 2016}}
{{Single chart\|Billboardadultpopsongs\|30\|artist=The Smashing Pumpkins\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 24, 2016}}
{{Single chart\|Billboardalternativesongs\|1\|artist=The Smashing Pumpkins\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 24, 2016}}
{{Single chart\|Billboarddanceclubplay\|17\|artist=The Smashing Pumpkins\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 24, 2016}}
{{Single chart\|Billboarddancesales\|47\|artist=The Smashing Pumpkins\|rowheader=true\|access-date=July 10,2 021}}
{{Single chart\|Billboardmainstreamrock\|1\|artist=The Smashing Pumpkins\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 24, 2016}}
{{Single chart\|Billboardpopsongs\|10\|artist=The Smashing Pumpkins\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 24, 2016}}
scope="row"\|US Cash Box Top 100{{cite web\|url=https://www.popmusichistory.co.uk/_files/ugd/b4848d_4f9128176360450ba51be67a0468e9fa.pdf\|title=U.S. Cash Box Charts\|website=popmusichistory\|access-date=March 3, 2023}} \|11

= Year-end charts =

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !scope="col"\|Chart (1996) !scope="col"\|Position
scope="row"\|Australia (ARIA){{cite web\|url=http://i.imgur.com/t1PYbhG.jpg\|title=The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1996\|publisher=ARIA\|via=Imgur\|access-date=May 29, 2016\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151102010347/http://i.imgur.com/t1PYbhG.jpg\|archive-date=November 2, 2015}} \|94
scope="row"\|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia){{cite web\|url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=1996\|title=Rapports Annuels 1996\|publisher=Ultratop\|language=fr\|access-date=March 6, 2020}} \|77
scope="row"\|Canada Top Singles (RPM){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.9730&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.9730.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.9730\|title=RPM Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks\|magazine=RPM\|publisher=Library and Archives Canada\|access-date=July 16, 2018}} \|15
scope="row"\|Canada Dance/Urban (RPM){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.9738&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.9738.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.9738\|title=RPM Year End Dance Top 50\|magazine=RPM\|publisher=Library and Archives Canada\|access-date=July 16, 2018}} \|35
scope="row"\|Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.9740&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.9740.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.9740\|title=RPM Year End Alternative Top 50\|magazine=RPM\|publisher=Library and Archives Canada\|access-date=July 16, 2018}} \|3
scope="row"\|Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40){{cite news\|url=https://timarit.is/page/2949469#page/n15/mode/2up\|title=Árslistinn 1996\|newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir\|language=is\|page=25\|date=January 2, 1997\|access-date=May 30, 2020}} \|34
scope="row"\|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web\|url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1996 \|title=Billboard Top 100 - 1996 \|website=longboredsurfer.com \|access-date=October 5, 2011 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301121523/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1996 \|archive-date=March 1, 2009 }} \|44
scope="row"\|US Mainstream Rock (Billboard){{cite magazine\|magazine=Billboard\|title=The Year in Music 1996 – Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks\|date=December 28, 1996\|volume=108\|issue=52\|url={{Google books\|sQkEAAAAMBAJ\|pg=RA1-PA42-IA9\|plainurl=yes}}\|page=YE-76\|issn=0006-2510\|access-date=December 25, 2023\|via=Google Books}} \|10
scope="row"\|US Top 40/Mainstream (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard-Airplay/Billboard-Airplay/1996/BBAM-1996-12-27.pdf\|title=Best of '96: Top 40/Mainstream Top Titles\|magazine=Billboard Airplay Monitor\|volume=4\|issue=53\|page=30\|date=December 27, 1996\|access-date=December 25, 2023}} \|30

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!scope="col"|Chart (1996)

!scope="col"|Position

scope="row"|Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=http://i.imgur.com/t1PYbhG.jpg|title=The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1996|publisher=ARIA|via=Imgur|access-date=May 29, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151102010347/http://i.imgur.com/t1PYbhG.jpg|archive-date=November 2, 2015}}

|94

scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia){{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=1996|title=Rapports Annuels 1996|publisher=Ultratop|language=fr|access-date=March 6, 2020}}

|77

scope="row"|Canada Top Singles (RPM){{cite magazine|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.9730&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.9730.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.9730|title=RPM Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks|magazine=RPM|publisher=Library and Archives Canada|access-date=July 16, 2018}}

|15

scope="row"|Canada Dance/Urban (RPM){{cite magazine|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.9738&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.9738.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.9738|title=RPM Year End Dance Top 50|magazine=RPM|publisher=Library and Archives Canada|access-date=July 16, 2018}}

|35

scope="row"|Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM){{cite magazine|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.9740&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.9740.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.9740|title=RPM Year End Alternative Top 50|magazine=RPM|publisher=Library and Archives Canada|access-date=July 16, 2018}}

scope="row"|Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40){{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/2949469#page/n15/mode/2up|title=Árslistinn 1996|newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir|language=is|page=25|date=January 2, 1997|access-date=May 30, 2020}}

|34

scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1996 |title=Billboard Top 100 - 1996 |website=longboredsurfer.com |access-date=October 5, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301121523/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1996 |archive-date=March 1, 2009 }}

|44

scope="row"|US Mainstream Rock (Billboard){{cite magazine|magazine=Billboard|title=The Year in Music 1996 – Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks|date=December 28, 1996|volume=108|issue=52|url={{Google books|sQkEAAAAMBAJ|pg=RA1-PA42-IA9|plainurl=yes}}|page=YE-76|issn=0006-2510|access-date=December 25, 2023|via=Google Books}}

|10

scope="row"|US Top 40/Mainstream (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard-Airplay/Billboard-Airplay/1996/BBAM-1996-12-27.pdf|title=Best of '96: Top 40/Mainstream Top Titles|magazine=Billboard Airplay Monitor|volume=4|issue=53|page=30|date=December 27, 1996|access-date=December 25, 2023}}

|30

Certifications

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=1996|certyear=2018|access-date=February 26, 2018|artist=The Smashing Pumpkins|title=1979|id=5312}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|award=Platinum|number=3|type=single|relyear=1996|certyear=2024|access-date=January 12, 2025|artist=Smashing Pumpkins|title=1979|source=radioscope}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=single|award=Gold|certyear=2024|artist=The Smashing Pumpkins|title=1979|access-date=February 21, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2005|certyear=2025|access-date=April 4, 2025|artist=Smashing Pumpkins|title=1979|id=15463-1082-1}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=1996|certyear=1996|access-date=November 25, 2016|artist=Smashing Pumpkins|title=1979}}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left" !scope="col"\|Region !scope="col"\|Date !scope="col"\|Format(s) !scope="col"\|Label(s) !scope="col"\|{{abbr\|Ref.\|Reference}}
scope="row"\|United States \|January 23, 1996 \|CD \|Virgin \|{{cite web\|url=https://www.amazon.com/1979-Believe-Cherry-Smashing-Pumpkins/dp/B000008QHE\|title=1979 / Ugly / Believe / Cherry\|publisher=Amazon\|access-date=July 10, 2021}}
scope="row" rowspan="2"\|United Kingdom \|January 29, 1996 \|{{hlist\|12-inch vinyl\|CD\|cassette}} \|rowspan="2"\|{{hlist\|Virgin\|Hut}} \|{{cite magazine\|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1996/Music-Week-1996-01-27.pdf\|title=New Releases: Singles\|magazine=Music Week\|page=37\|date=January 27, 1996\|access-date=July 10, 2021}}
March 11, 1996 \|{{hlist\|12-inch vinyl\|CD (Mixes)}} \|{{cite magazine\|title=New Releases: Singles\|magazine=Music Week\|page=31\|date=March 9, 1996}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left"

!scope="col"|Region

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Format(s)

!scope="col"|Label(s)

!scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row"|United States

|January 23, 1996

|CD

|Virgin

|{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/1979-Believe-Cherry-Smashing-Pumpkins/dp/B000008QHE|title=1979 / Ugly / Believe / Cherry|publisher=Amazon|access-date=July 10, 2021}}

scope="row" rowspan="2"|United Kingdom

|January 29, 1996

|{{hlist|12-inch vinyl|CD|cassette}}

|rowspan="2"|{{hlist|Virgin|Hut}}

|{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1996/Music-Week-1996-01-27.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=37|date=January 27, 1996|access-date=July 10, 2021}}

March 11, 1996

|{{hlist|12-inch vinyl|CD (Mixes)}}

|{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=31|date=March 9, 1996}}

Licensed uses

The song is used in Clerks II and during the credits of Gran Turismo 5. It was also released as part of a Smashing Pumpkins-themed DLC pack for Guitar Hero World Tour.{{Cite magazine |last=Snow |first=Jean |date=September 3, 2008 |title=Smashing Pumpkins Debut Single on Guitar Hero: World Tour |url=https://www.wired.com/2008/09/smashing-pumpki-2/ |access-date=October 21, 2023 |magazine=Wired}} It was also part of the soundtrack of Grand Theft Auto IV as part of the fictional Liberty Rock Radio station until April 2018 when Rockstar Games' ten-year license to the song expired.{{cite web|last=Roemer|first=Dan|title=Here's a list of songs removed in GTA IV's latest update|url=https://www.destructoid.com/here-s-a-list-of-songs-removed-in-gta-iv-s-latest-update-500493.phtml|website=Destructoid|access-date=April 28, 2018|date=April 26, 2018}} The song's guitar riff was also interpolated by American boy band Why Don't We in their song "Slow Down".