Disarm
{{Short description|1994 single by The Smashing Pumpkins}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Disarm
| cover = SmashingPumpkins-DisarmHeart.jpg
| alt =
| caption = "Heart" cover
| type = single
| artist = the Smashing Pumpkins
| album = Siamese Dream
| B-side =
- "Siamese Dream"
- "Soothe"
- "Blew Away"
- "Landslide"
- "Dancing in the Moonlight"
| released = {{Start date|1994|2|21}}{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-02-19.pdf|title=Single Releases|magazine=Music Week|page=21|date=February 19, 1994|access-date=June 24, 2021}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = {{hlist|Alternative rock{{Cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2014/08/100-best-alternative-rock-songs-1994-alt/1lf17le94l7fgem0m6gciaiccog6/|title=Smashing Pumpkins, "Disarm" SPIN|access-date=November 2, 2019}}}}
| length = 3:17
| label = Virgin
| writer = Billy Corgan
| producer = {{hlist|Butch Vig|Billy Corgan}}
| prev_title = Today
| prev_year = 1993
| next_title = Rocket
| next_year = 1994
| misc = {{Extra album cover
| header = Alternative Version Cover
| type = single
| cover = SmashingPumpkins-DisarmSmile.jpg
| border =
| alt =
| caption = "Smile" cover
}}
{{Audio sample
| type = single
| file = Disarm.ogg
| description = A 19-second clip from "Disarm"
}}
}}
"Disarm" is a song by American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins, written by vocalist and guitarist Billy Corgan. It was the third single from their second album, Siamese Dream (1993), and became a top-20 hit in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Lyrics
The BBC banned "Disarm" from Top of the Pops because of the lyric "cut that little child", and it received little radio airplay in the United Kingdom.[https://books.google.com/books?id=sghXdE0Kc0wC&q=The+Smashing+Pumpkins+disarm+banned Virgin Carlsberg Rock Yearbook 94/95] By Tony Horkins Corgan has stated that the song reflects the shaky relationship he had with his parents while growing up.{{cite web|url=http://www.starla.org/articles/rage2.htm|title=Interview with Billy and Jimmy – 1993|access-date=April 28, 2007}}
Release
The song peaked at number eleven on the UK Singles Chart. In the U.S., the song failed to reach the Billboard Hot 100 but it peaked number forty-eight on the Hot 100 Airplay chart, it also peaked at number five on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and number eight on the Modern Rock Tracks chart.
Two versions of the single were produced. Each version (Heart and Smile) featured different artwork and different B-sides.
The B-sides to the Heart version were both covers of classic rock songs from the 1970s. "Landslide" was later included on the compilation album Pisces Iscariot, after which it received significant airplay on U.S. Modern Rock stations, peaking at number 3 on that chart. "Dancing in the Moonlight" performed well in Australia, where it charted at number 90 on the Triple J Hottest 100 in 1994, while "Disarm" did not chart.
The UK 7-inch purple vinyl single features an exclusive B-side "Siamese Dream". In 2005, the track was released as a download as part of the Rarities and B-sides compilation.{{Cite web|url=http://www.spfc.org/songs-releases/song.html?song_id=149&song_type=1|title=spfc.org : songlist : Siamese Dream|website=www.spfc.org|access-date=November 2, 2019}}
Music video
{{unrefsect|date=April 2022}}
The music video, directed by Jake Scott, is mainly in black and white and shows the members of the band floating over images of a house, an old man walking through an underpass while home movie-esque, color footage shows a young boy playing outside. The video premiered on MTV in early 1994 and was immediately placed into heavy rotation and spent a month as an MTV Exclusive video. Later that year it was nominated for Best Alternative Video and Best Editing in a Video at the MTV Video Music Awards, the Pumpkins' first MTV Video Music Awards nominations.
Track listing
All songs were written by Billy Corgan except where noted.
UK 7-inch vinyl single (7243 8 92309 7 0, HUT 43)
- "Disarm" – 3:17
- "Siamese Dream" – 2:38
UK CD single 1 ("Smile" cover)
- "Disarm" – 3:17
- "Soothe" (Demo) – 2:35
- "Blew Away" (James Iha) – 3:31
UK CD single 2 ("Heart" cover)
- "Disarm" – 3:17
- "Landslide" (Stevie Nicks) – 3:10
- "Dancing in the Moonlight" (Phil Lynott) – 4:21
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (1994) !Position |
| scope="row"|Australia (ARIA){{cite book|last=Ryan|first=Gavin|title=Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010|year=2011|publisher=Moonlight Publishing|location=Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia}}
|88 |
|---|
| scope="row"|US Album Rock Tracks (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=The Year in Music|magazine=Billboard|volume=106|issue=52|page=YE-62|date=December 24, 1994}}
|28 |
| scope="row"|US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)
|29 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Smashing Pumpkins|title=Disarm|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=1994|certyear=2023|source=radioscope|access-date=January 12, 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Smashing Pumpkins|title=Disarm|award=Silver|type=single|relyear=2005|certyear=2024|access-date=November 27, 2024|id=20526-1082-1}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{YouTube|d1acEVmnVhI|"Disarm" Official music video}}
- Allmusic [{{Allmusic|class=song|id=t2763705|pure_url=yes}} review]
{{Smashing Pumpkins}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Black-and-white music videos
Category:Music videos directed by Jake Scott (director)
Category:Alternative rock ballads
Category:The Smashing Pumpkins songs
Category:Song recordings produced by Billy Corgan
Category:Song recordings produced by Butch Vig
Category:Songs banned by the BBC