Swallowed (song)

A power ballad,{{cite book |last1=Hoard |first1=Christian David |last2=Brackett |first2=Nathan |title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |date=2004 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=9780743201698 |page=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/122 122] |edition=Revised |url=https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac |url-access=registration |accessdate=27 February 2019}} the song is in A-flat major. Gavin Rossdale opined in 1999 that, despite a musical dissimilarity, the song was "[his] version" of the Beatles' song "Help!".{{cite book |last1=Nine |first1=Jennifer |title=Bush: Twenty-seventh Letter : the Official History |date=1999 |publisher=Virgin |isbn=9780753501894 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cdL0GIkAkycC |accessdate=26 July 2020}}

British magazine Music Week rated the song four out of five, adding that "the successful British exports look set for their first big UK hit with this melodic cut."{{cite magazine|first=|last=|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1997/Music-Week-1997-02-08.pdf|title=Reviews: Singles|magazine=Music Week|date=8 February 1997|page=8|accessdate=8 May 2022}} David Sinclair from The Times described it as "an undeniably catchy tune, once you get past the meaningless lyric and self-conscious Nirvana-isms."Sinclair, David (22 February 1997). "The week's top pop releases; Records". The Times. It was nominated for Best Hard Rock Performance at the 1998 Grammy Awards, losing to the Smashing Pumpkins' "The End Is the Beginning Is the End".

"Swallowed" was released as the lead single from the follow-up to their debut album, Sixteen Stone, which was released two years prior. Upon release, the song topped the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart for seven consecutive weeks (their longest stay at number one on the chart) and peaked at number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart. It was also Bush's biggest hit in their native Britain, where it peaked at number seven on the UK Singles Chart.

The accompanying music video for "Swallowed", directed by Jamie Morgan, was filmed in October 1996 and released later that month, is set in a retro apartment with myriad alternative youths.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mvdbase.com/comingback.html?id=4763|title=Site Maintenance|website=www.mvdbase.com}} A neon crucifix (which would later become the album cover for Deconstructed) is frequently interspersed amongst the antics of houseguests. The video was shot at Twickenham Studios England and in Florida.{{cite web|url=http://onesecondbush.com/bush/media/videos/ |title=Music Video History at OneSecondBush.com – A Comprehensive Fan Site for the Band Bush |access-date=4 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220231659/http://onesecondbush.com/bush/media/videos |archive-date=20 February 2012 }} The video was nominated for several MTV Video Music Awards.

American rock band Third Eye Blind opted to work with Jamie Morgan for their "Semi-Charmed Life" music video after seeing his work on "Swallowed".{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/third-eye-blind-self-titled-debut-album-oral-history-7751391/|title='There Was No Overnight Success': An Oral History of Third Eye Blind's Self-Titled Debut|publisher=Billboard|date=6 April 2017|accessdate=30 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220428103915/https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/third-eye-blind-self-titled-debut-album-oral-history-7751391/|archive-date=28 April 2022|url-status=live}}

• UK CD single 1

1. "Swallowed" (radio edit) – 4:08
2. "Broken TV" – 4:28
3. "Glycerine" – 4:26
4. "In a Lonely Place" – 5:58

• UK CD single 2

1. "Swallowed" (LP version) – 4:53
2. "Swallowed (Toasted Both Sides Please)" (Goldie remix) – 5:50
3. "Insect Kin" (live on Saturday Night Live) – 4:09
4. "Cold Contagious" (16"oz demo version) – 5:57

• Australian CD single

1. "Swallowed" (radio edit) – 4:22
2. "Broken TV" – 4:28
3. "Communicator" – 4:24
4. "Glycerine" (live at Pinkpop, Holland) – 4:42

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Category:1990s ballads

Category:1996 songs

Category:1996 singles

Category:Bush (British band) songs

Category:Grunge songs

Category:Interscope Records singles

Category:MCA Records singles

Category:Rock ballads

Category:Song recordings produced by Steve Albini

Category:Songs written by Gavin Rossdale

Category:Trauma Records singles