Owata
{{Infobox song
| name = Owata
| cover = The_Smashing_Pumpkins_Owata.JPG
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = The Smashing Pumpkins
| album = Teargarden by Kaleidyscope
| released = May 4, 2011
| recorded = 2011
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Alternative rock
| length = 3:39
| label = Martha's Music / Rocket Science
| writer = Billy Corgan
| producer =
| prev_title = Freak
| prev_year = 2010
| next_title = The Celestials
| next_year = 2012
}}
"Owata" is the second single from The Smashing Pumpkins' aborted music project, Teargarden by Kaleidyscope, and tenth song released from the project.{{cite web|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/smashing-pumpkins-release-music-video-owata |title=Smashing Pumpkins Release Music Video for "Owata" |publisher=Guitar World |date=2011-06-29 |access-date=2011-11-22}}
History
The song has a fairly long history prior to its official release. The song was performed, for the first time, on The Chris Isaak Hour on April 4, 2009, when Jimmy Chamberlin was still in the band.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJiV1EMWxzA|title=Smashing Pumpkins - Owata [Chris Isaak Hour, 2009-04-02]|access-date=November 2, 2019|via=www.youtube.com}} Subsequently, it was performed throughout 2009 with Billy Corgan's Sky Saxon-inspired supergroup, Spirits in the Sky, which featured future Smashing Pumpkins drummer Mike Byrne. As well, the song was performed with the Smashing Pumpkins throughout 2010, prior to its official release on Teargarden by Kaleidyscope.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YF8iKicIiLk|title=The Smashing Pumpkins - Owata (Live at Terminal 5 NYC ~ 07-26-2010)|access-date=November 2, 2019|via=www.youtube.com}} These early live versions are considerably different musically than the final studio version, with the studio version featuring a different drum arrangement, and a noticeably larger amount of synthesizers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yR755wxDp4c|title=Smashing Pumpkins - Owata + Lyrics|access-date=November 2, 2019|via=www.youtube.com}}
Music video
A 12-minute short film featuring an in-depth look at two female underground wrestlers was released in July, 2011.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/smashing-pumpkins/57673 |title=Smashing Pumpkins post female wrestling short film online - video | News |publisher=Nme.Com |date=2011-06-30 |access-date=2011-11-22}} The video was directed by Robby Starbuck{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2011/06/video-smashing-pumpkins-owata/ |title=Video: Smashing Pumpkins – "Owata" « Consequence of Sound |publisher=consequence.net |date=2011-06-29 |access-date=2011-11-22}} and stars Shelly Martinez, Raven and Alissa Flash, which was subsequently edited and released in a traditional music video format.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzuc7joxXE0|title=Smashing Pumpkins - Owata (music video version)|access-date=November 2, 2019|via=www.youtube.com}} It was the first-ever video to be filmed with Red Digital Cinema Camera Company technology.{{cite web|url=http://www.diva-dirt.com/2011/05/10/press-release-for-smashing-pumpkins-owata-music-video-featuring-cheerleader-melissa-shelly-martinez/ |title=Press Release for Smashing Pumpkins 'Owata' Music Video featuring Cheerleader Melissa & Shelly Martinez |publisher=Diva Dirt |date=2011-05-10 |access-date=2011-11-22}}
Critical reception
One Thirty BPM rated "Owata" 5/10, calling it "a sleekly produced pop-rocker characterized by acoustic guitar melodies and upbeat synths straight out of the 80s" and "a pleasant song and an admirable effort, but it’s a little too glossy and not quite catchy enough to achieve the anthemic heights for which it aims."{{cite web|url=http://onethirtybpm.com/reviews/track-review-the-smashing-pumpkins-owata/ |title=Track Review: The Smashing Pumpkins – "Owata" |publisher=One Thirty BPM |date=2011-05-20 |access-date=2011-11-22}}
References
{{Reflist}}
- https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/smashing-pumpkins-large-scale-release-ideas-are-maxed-out-says-corgan-467283/
- https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/smashing-pumpkins-kick-off-tour-with-hard-charging-show-243711/
- https://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/interview-billy-corgan-talks-smashing-pumpkins-reissues-new-studio-album-433362
{{The Smashing Pumpkins}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:The Smashing Pumpkins songs
Category:Music videos directed by Robby Starbuck