Solara

"Solara"
Single by The Smashing Pumpkins
Album Lyrics Tabs Video Spotify
Released	June 8, 2018
Format	Digital download
Studio sessions	March-April 2014 – Pumpkinland II September-October 2014 – Pumpkinland II January 2018 – The Village Recorder January-February 2018 – Shangri La Studios
Genre	Alternative rock, synth rock
Length	4:22
Label	Martha's Music Napalm
Songwriter(s)	Billy Corgan
Producer(s)	Rick Rubin
The Smashing Pumpkins singles chronology
"Run2me" (2015) "Solara" (2018) "Silvery Sometimes (Ghosts)" (2018)
Shiny and Oh So Bright - Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun. Knights of Malta Silvery Sometimes (Ghosts) Travels Solara Alienation Marchin' On With Sympathy Seek and You Shall Destroy

"Solara" was the band's first song to be released after reforming three fourths of the band's original lineup in 2018, featuring Billy Corgan, James Iha, and Jimmy Chamberlin performing on a track together for the first time since 2000's Machina/The Machines of God album and subsequent non-album single "Untitled" prior to their original breakup. It was released as a single on June 8, 2018, as the first song from a set of two upcoming EPs that were set for release in 2018 before a full-length album titled Shiny and Oh So Bright - Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun. was announced in September. The song peaked at number 47 on the US Hot Rock Songs chart.

Background

The song was first released on June 8, 2018, making it the first song to be released by original members Billy Corgan, James Iha, and Jimmy Chamberlin in 18 years. The song does not feature original bassist D'arcy Wretzky, but does feature long-time guitarist Jeff Schroeder, who has been with the band since 2007. The song was produced by record producer Rick Rubin, who the band had previously worked with on the Adore track "Let Me Give the World to You".

The song made its live debut on national television on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Monday, June 11, 2018.

Writing and composition

The song was originally written and demoed for band's ninth studio album, Monuments to an Elegy (2014), with Corgan noting: "Jeff [Schroeder] and I were the only people in the band at that time and we just couldn’t find the magic. We always thought the song was strong [...] so when we came in, in this situation, the minute we put it in Jimmy Chamberlin's hands, it’s like, 'Oh, there’s the magic.' It got a lot easier after that." Guitarist Jeff Schroeder elaborated: "We didn’t over-intellectualize it and try to write a song that would reintroduce the band. I think that we just played, and I think certain characteristics that are strong points of the band came into play, and so I think that what you hear is very classic Pumpkins, because that’s kind of everybody doing their job and doing it well and it just works."

“ Back through the COUGARS we fell. I circled round 'SOLARA.' 'Too grunge though,' I offered, a negative buzzword in these parts. 'Better if it was straight, or more psych.' Singing the melody I came up with an opening figure reminiscent of 'Heaven and Hell' Sabbath (Go Tony). Sketched out a basic 2-part guitar demo, and with some digi-magik made the beat that made it a rocka-rolla (Go Priest). Funny what a riff can do to a spine. So 'SOLARA' is back with the STARS. ” — Billy Corgan, SP Nexus, April 12, 2014

Music video

Official music video

A music video directed by Nick Koenig was released on June 28, 2018, containing "classic horror imagery". Rolling Stone described the video as "utterly bizarre", in which lead singer Corgan is "being held captive in an otherworldly asylum." The music video was not released in conjunction of the song's release, despite Corgan teasing a still frame from the video as early as May 2018.

Lyrics

Burn down the sun
I'm not everyone
High and dry
Nothing but a body in my mind

I'm here to stay
Not here, today
High and dry
Nothing but a body in my mind
I'm nothing but a body in my mind

I feel that something ain't right
No fear but reason that I can cite

Tear down the sun
Bring down the sun
I'm not everyone
I'm not everyone
I'm not everyone

Unholy sin
Unholy fate
High and dry
Nothing but a body in mind

I'm left to ash
Not here, but past
High and dry
Nothing but a body in mind
I'm nothing but a body in my mind

I feel that something ain't right
No fear but reason that I can cite

Tear down the sun
Bring down the sun
I'm not everyone
I'm not everyone
I'm not everyone
Burn down the sun

Speculation
Come on, get yourself together
Speculation
Become the owl at midnight
In situation
I am the seer, I am the seeker
In situation
Become the wound that binds you
Become the wound that binds you
Become the owl at midnight
Become the owl at midnight

I'm high and dry
I'm ash made time
I'm sun drilled bright
And nothing but a body in my mind
And nothing but a body in my mind

Tear down the sun
Bring down the sun
I'm not everyone
I'm not everyone
Burn down the sun

Release

Digital download

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Solara"	Billy Corgan	4:21

Release history

Released	Label	Catalog ID	Format	Country	External sites
June 8, 2018	Martha's Music • Napalm		Digital	US	Discogs	MusicBrainz	[1]

More releases: Discogs • MusicBrainz

Personnel

Band

• Billy Corgan – vocals, guitar, bass
• James Iha – guitar
• Jeff Schroeder – guitar
• Jimmy Chamberlin – drums

Production

• Rick Rubin – production

Reception

Billboard described the song's sound as a "chest-out rock song, loaded with grinding guitars, a pounding rhythm section and big fills." The song was described as have "chugging" and "stuttering" sound in the verses building into a soaring and multi-layered chorus, with Corgan singing "Tear down the sun/Bring down the sun/I'm not everyone/I'm not everyone/I'm not everyone."

Charts

Chart (2018)	Peak position
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)	26
US Rock Digital songs (Billboard)	22
US Alternative Digital songs (Billboard)	16
Canada Rock (Billboard)	30
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)	46
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)	47
Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard) songs	41

Availability

Title	Notes	Type
Solara	Digital download	Single
Shiny and Oh So Bright - Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun.	Main release	Studio

Tour stats

• Total plays: 152 plays (152 full, 1 soundcheck)
• First performance: The Smashing Pumpkins 2018-06-11 at NBC Studios (New York City), New York, NY, US
• Last performance: The Smashing Pumpkins 2023-05-26 at BottleRock Napa Valley, Napa, CA, US

External links

• "Solara" at SPFC