| "Drown" | ||
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| Single by The Smashing Pumpkins from the album Singles |
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| Released | 30 June 1992 | |
| Format | CD | |
| Genre | Alternative Rock | |
| Length | 8:17 on Singles 4:30 on Rotten Apples |
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| Label | Epic Records | |
| Writer | Billy Corgan | |
| Producer | Billy Corgan Butch Vig |
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"Drown" is a song by alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins on the 1992 soundtrack to the Cameron Crowe film, Singles. Debuted during the Gish tour and written not long after that record was released, the song, a heavy mixture of psychedelia and dream pop became a moderate radio hit in the summer of 1992 and gave the band significant exposure just before work commenced on Siamese Dream. "Drown" was to be released as a commercial single, but, as Billy Corgan explained,
| “ | We wanted it to be a single, we were pushing for it. I was even willing to make it a video. Radio stations were playing it. And when it came time for the third single, they said, 'Screaming Trees.' And I was like, 'Screaming Trees??' But what label is Alice in Chains on and what label are the Screaming Trees on? Epic, which is the label that put out the soundtrack. And that's what killed the song.[1] | ” |
Nonetheless, the song was given a promotional single, and became their highest-charting single to date. It remains a modern rock staple. The very first take of the song was recorded at Waterfront Studios, which belongs to Lenny Kravitz, who was also signed on Virgin Records. The take was scrapped as the output sounded more like a Kravitz recording. The song was also released on the band's official greatest hits compilation Rotten Apples in 2001, though the length of the song was reduced from 8:17 to 4:30, cutting off the extended feedback and E-Bow solo at the end. "Drown" was considered for Pisces Iscariot, but Corgan decided against it. Smashing Pumpkins often include "Drown" in medleys with songs such as "The Aeroplane Flies High (Turns Left, Looks Right)", "To Sheila", "Hummer" and "Shame". The song is easy to place in a medley because of its long, feedback-laced ending.
References
- ^ Corgan, Billy. Interview. Impact Magazine. September 1994.
