Cherub Rock
{{Short description|1993 single by the Smashing Pumpkins}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Cherub Rock
| cover = SmashingPumpkins-CherubRock.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = the Smashing Pumpkins
| album = Siamese Dream
| B-side =
- "Pissant"
- "French Movie Theme/The Star-Spangled Banner"
- "Purr Snickety"
| released = {{start date|1993|6|21}}{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=19|date=June 19, 1993}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
- Grunge{{cite web | url=http://www.pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/7263-earphoria/ | title=Smashing Pumpkins - Earphoria | publisher=Pitchfork | last=Dahlen | first=Chris | date=December 11, 2002 | access-date=October 6, 2014 | archive-date=October 7, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007023506/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/7263-earphoria/ | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2014/08/the-50-best-grunge-songs.html | title=The 50 Best Grunge Songs | publisher=Paste | date=August 4, 2014 | access-date=November 9, 2014 | last=Danaher | first=Michael | archive-date=September 28, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928214417/https://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2014/08/the-50-best-grunge-songs.html | url-status=dead }}
- alternative rock{{cite web | url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2007/05/the-ultimate-nineties-alt-rock-playlist/40279/ | title=The Ultimate Nineties Alt-Rock Playlist | website=The Atlantic | date=May 21, 2007 | access-date=August 30, 2016 | last=Yglesias | first=Matthew | archive-date=August 24, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160824090224/http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2007/05/the-ultimate-nineties-alt-rock-playlist/40279/ | url-status=live }}
- hard rock{{cite book|first= Bruno|last= MacDonald|editor-first= Robert |editor-last= Dimery |year= 2016 |title= 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die |chapter= The Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream|publisher= Cassell Illustrated |location= London |page= 706}}
| length = 4:58
| label = Virgin
| writer = Billy Corgan
| producer =
- Butch Vig
- Billy Corgan
| prev_title = Drown
| prev_year = 1992
| next_title = Today
| next_year = 1993
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|q-KE9lvU810|"Cherub Rock"}}}}
}}
"Cherub Rock" is a song by American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins. It is the first single from their second album, Siamese Dream (1993) and is the opening track. It was written by lead vocalist and guitarist Billy Corgan. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance.
Composition
{{Listen
|filename=Smashing_Pumpkins - Cherub Rock.ogg
|title=Cherub Rock
|description=Sample of "Cherub Rock" from Siamese Dream, which features layers of guitar overdubs influenced by arena rock and shoegazing, as well as repeated use of "the Pumpkin chord".
}}
"Cherub Rock" was one of the last songs written for the album, and the lyrics relate to Corgan's relationship with his perception of the indie rock community and larger media.Kelly, Christina. "[http://www.starla.org/articles/us2.htm Smashing Pumpkins-The Multi-Platinum Band is over the infighting but can the harmony last?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234932/http://www.starla.org/articles/us2.htm |date=March 3, 2016 }}" US Magazine, December 1, 1995. The song was performed in standard tuning with an E octave played at the 7th fret, a technique which the band used on other songs, such as "Drown", "Tristessa", and "Starla". Corgan describes this as the "Pumpkin Chord", saying "We basically stole that from Jimi Hendrix. But Jimi Hendrix probably stole it from Wes Montgomery."{{Cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/article/best-worst-pumpkin-chord-iest-songs-smashing-pumpkins.html|title=The Best, Worst, and Pumpkin Chord-iest of Smashing Pumpkins|date=November 27, 2020|access-date=August 24, 2021|archive-date=February 6, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206114213/https://www.vulture.com/article/best-worst-pumpkin-chord-iest-songs-smashing-pumpkins.html|url-status=live}} The prominent effect on the solo was achieved by recording the guitar solo to two different tapes which were then run simultaneously, with the speed of one tape slightly altered. "Cherub Rock" contains various overdubs influenced by the genres of shoegazing as well as 1970s classic arena rock. According to Corgan, the song's introductory drum riff is a direct lift from Rush's 1975 song "By-Tor and the Snow Dog."{{Citation |title=The Smashing Pumpkins: The Billy Corgan Interview |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAfkxHcqWKI |access-date=December 15, 2022 |archive-date=December 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215133655/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAfkxHcqWKI |url-status=live }}
Reception
Corgan insisted that the song be released as the first single from the album,{{cite web|last1=Ducker|first1=Eric|title=Smashing Pumpkins' 'Siamese Dream' Turns 20: How Five Music Video Directors Brought Billy Corgan's Masterpiece to Life|url=https://www.spin.com/2013/07/smashing-pumpkins-siamese-dream-20-video-directors-cherub-rock-today-disarm-rocket/|website=Spin|date=July 26, 2013|access-date=December 15, 2014|archive-date=November 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151108032605/http://www.spin.com/2013/07/smashing-pumpkins-siamese-dream-20-video-directors-cherub-rock-today-disarm-rocket/|url-status=live}} though record executives believed that "Today" would be a stronger opening single.{{cite web|last1=Soniak|first1=Matt|title=The Late Movies: The Smashing Pumpkins|url=http://mentalfloss.com/article/12638/late-movies-smashing-pumpkins|website=Mental Floss|date=October 2012|access-date=December 15, 2014|archive-date=December 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222025803/http://mentalfloss.com/article/12638/late-movies-smashing-pumpkins|url-status=dead}} Although Corgan's wishes were honored, the single was indeed received much less enthusiastically than "Today", although it remains a fan favorite. An acoustic version of the song is performed on Vieuphoria and its CD companion, Earphoria.{{cite web|last1=Prato|first1=Greg|title=Vieuphoria – Smashing Pumpkins|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/vieuphoria-mw0000119315|website=Allmusic|access-date=December 15, 2014|archive-date=May 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160515091832/http://www.allmusic.com/album/vieuphoria-mw0000119315|url-status=live}}
The song was a moderate success for the band, being performed on Saturday Night Live on October 30, 1993{{Cite web|url=http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=6027|title=Cherub Rock by Smashing Pumpkins - Songfacts|website=www.songfacts.com|access-date=November 2, 2019|archive-date=May 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180531002136/http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=6027|url-status=live}} and making it to the Triple J Hottest 100 at number 43.Triple J Hottest 100, 1993 Readers ranked "Cherub Rock" at number 97 in Guitar World's list of the 100 greatest guitar solos of all time.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hearya.com/2007/01/22/top-100-greatest-guitar-solos/|title=Top 100 Greatest Guitar Solos|website=HearYa - Indie Music Blog|access-date=November 2, 2019|archive-date=December 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207162312/http://www.hearya.com/2007/01/22/top-100-greatest-guitar-solos/|url-status=dead}} In March 2005, Q magazine placed it at number 67 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/qlistspage3.htm|title=Rocklist.net...Q Magazine Lists..|website=www.rocklistmusic.co.uk|access-date=November 2, 2019|archive-date=October 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181013220837/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/qlistspage3.htm|url-status=usurped}}
Following the 2011 re-issue of Siamese Dream, Consequence of Sound commented that the single "seemed tailor-made to feed the emerging modern rock radio format."{{Cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2011/11/album-review-smashing-pumpkins-siamese-dream-deluxe-edition/|title=Album Review: Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream [Deluxe Edition]|date=November 29, 2011|access-date=November 2, 2019|archive-date=May 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511103130/https://consequence.net/2011/11/album-review-smashing-pumpkins-siamese-dream-deluxe-edition/|url-status=live}}
Music video
The video features footage of the band performing the song live in a forest setting. It was shot outside San Francisco entirely on Super8 film on a modest budget. The director, Kevin Kerslake, employed various destructive techniques when developing the film to give the video a broken and dirty look. Corgan was reportedly extremely unhappy with the shooting experience, and the band never worked with Kerslake again until the video for ‘Empires’, the third single from the 2023 album Atum: A Rock Opera in Three Acts.Commentary for "Cherub Rock" music video. The Smashing Pumpkins 1991–2000: Greatest Hits Video Collection (Virgin Records, 2001).
The video received its world premiere on MTV's late-night alternative rock program 120 Minutes on July 11, 1993.{{cite web|title=MTV 120 Minutes July 11, 1993|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEiRyc8NzIg&ab_channel=AltNation_Chris|website=YouTube|access-date=April 19, 2025|date=July 11, 1993}}
In popular culture
The song features on numerous rhythm video games such as Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock,{{cite web|title=Guitar Hero 3 Setlist Revealed|url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/138987/article.html|website=PC World|access-date=December 16, 2014|archive-date=December 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211052316/http://www.pcworld.com/article/138987/article.html|url-status=dead}} Rock Band,{{cite web|title=Rock Band Songs|url=http://www.harmonixmusic.com/games/rock-band/legacy-songs/|website=Harmonix Music Systems|access-date=December 16, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150107051455/http://www.harmonixmusic.com/games/rock-band/legacy-songs/|archive-date=January 7, 2015}} Power Gig: Rise of the SixString{{cite magazine|title=Track list released for Power Gig: Rise of the SixString|url=http://www.gamepro.com/article/news/216371/track-list-released-for-power-gig-rise-of-the-sixstring|magazine=GamePro|access-date=December 16, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120806004925/http://www.gamepro.com/article/news/216371/track-list-released-for-power-gig-rise-of-the-sixstring/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 6, 2012}} and Rocksmith 2014.
Rochester, New York band Roses Are Red covered the song for Reignition Records' 2005 compilation The Killer in You: A Tribute to Smashing Pumpkins.{{cite web|last1=Prato|first1=Greg|title=Smashing Pumpkins Tribute: The Killer in You|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/smashing-pumpkins-tribute-the-killer-in-you-mw0000347576|website=Allmusic|access-date=December 16, 2014|archive-date=June 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130604123435/http://www.allmusic.com/album/smashing-pumpkins-tribute-the-killer-in-you-mw0000347576|url-status=live}}
Track listings
All songs were written by Billy Corgan.
CD and 12-inch vinyl
- "Cherub Rock" – 4:59
- "Pissant" – 2:30
- "French Movie Theme" / "Star-Spangled Banner" – 3:50
7-inch vinyl (5000 copies only)
- "Cherub Rock" – 4:59
- "Purr Snickety" – 2:50
Personnel
- Billy Corgan – vocals, lead guitar, bass (recording session), production
- James Iha – rhythm guitar
- D'arcy Wretzky – bass (credited), vocals
- Jimmy Chamberlin – drums
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
= Weekly charts =
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for "Cherub Rock" ! Chart (1993) ! Peak |
| scope="row"| Australia (ARIA){{cite Ryan|page=257}}
| 87 |
|---|
| {{single chart|Canadatopsingles|91|chartid=2270|publishdate=October 16, 1993|rowheader=true|access-date=November 23, 2016}} |
| {{single chart|New Zealand|16|artist=The Smashing Pumpkins|song=Cherub Rock|rowheader=true|access-date=November 23, 2016}} |
| {{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|31|artist=Smashing Pumpkins|artistid=28056|rowheader=true|access-date=October 31, 2022}} |
| scope="row"|UK Indie (Music Week){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1993/Music-Week-1993-07-17.pdf|title=Independent Singles|magazine=Music Week|date=17 July 1993|page=26|issn=0265-1548|via=World Radio History}}
|align=center|1 |
| {{single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|7|artist=Smashing Pumpkins|rowheader=true|access-date=November 23, 2016}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardmainstreamrock|23|artist=Smashing Pumpkins|rowheader=true|access-date=November 23, 2016}} |
{{col-2}}
= Year-end charts =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Year-end chart performance for "Cherub Rock" ! Chart (1993) ! Position |
| scope="row"| US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=The Year in Music: Top Modern Rock Tracks|magazine=Billboard|volume=105|issue=52|page=YE-39|date=December 25, 1993}}
| 24 |
|---|
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "Cherub Rock"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Smashing Pumpkins|title=Cherub Rock|award=Gold|relyear=1993|certyear=2021|source=radioscope|access-date=January 12, 2025}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{youtube|q-KE9lvU810|"Cherub Rock" Official music video}}
- {{Allmusic|class=song|id=t2763700|label="Cherub Rock"}}
{{The Smashing Pumpkins}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:The Smashing Pumpkins songs
Category:Music videos directed by Kevin Kerslake
Category:Song recordings produced by Billy Corgan
Category:Song recordings produced by Butch Vig
Category:Songs about the media
Category:Songs about rock music
Category:Songs written by Billy Corgan