Tarantula

"Tarantula"
Single by The Smashing Pumpkins
Album Lyrics Tabs Video
B-side	"Death from Above” • “Zeitgeist"
Released	May 21, 2007 (iTunes) July 2, 2007 (UK)
Format	Digital, CD, 7"
Recorded	2007
Genre	Stoner rock
Length	3:51
Label	Reprise
Songwriter(s)	Billy Corgan
Producer(s)	Billy Corgan, Jimmy Chamberlin
The Smashing Pumpkins singles chronology
"Untitled" (2001) "Tarantula" (2007) "That's the Way (My Love Is)" (2007)
Alternative cover
iTunes release
Zeitgeist Doomsday Clock 7 Shades of Black Bleeding the Orchid That's the Way (My Love Is) Tarantula Starz United States Neverlost Bring the Light (Come On) Let's Go! For God and Country Pomp and Circumstances

"Tarantula" is the first single from The Smashing Pumpkins' seventh album, Zeitgeist, and their first release since their 2006 reunion.

“ The reason we call it Tarantula is because its actually an emulation of early 70's Scorpions and UFO. ” — Billy Corgan, AT&T Blue Room, July 2007

Release and structure

Billy Corgan mentioned during a June 5, 2007 concert in Berlin that "Tarantula" was titled in honor of the German rock band Scorpions, with whom Corgan had recently collaborated on the Scorpions song "The Cross". The intro and the outro of the song are inspired by the song "Dark Lady" of Scorpions, while Corgan stated that he wrote the solo of the song thinking how Uli Jon Roth could have played it. Corgan and Chamberlin believe the song is a culmination of music they've been listening to all their lives, specifically the Scorpions and UFO.

A 30-second clip of the song was released on May 14, 2007. On May 21, 2007, the single was released on iTunes for the United States, followed by the United Kingdom and Canada on May 22. On this date, "Tarantula" was played for the first time live in Paris at the Pumpkins' first show in seven years. The song was also played on the Late Show with David Letterman on July 9, 2007.

On July 2, a single was released on CD and 7-inch in the UK, both containing the B-side "Death from Above". Both covers have a black-and-white photo of Paris Hilton holding a BlackBerry with the Zeitgeist album cover on the screen, and a low-resolution image of a mushroom cloud in the background. A separate 7-inch was released in a clear plastic sleeve on white vinyl.

On July 15, "Tarantula" entered the UK Rock Singles Chart at number one.

Reception

Alana King of website Roomthirteen called "Tarantula" a "promising track and is proof that the Smashing Pumpkins are as strong and resilient as ever." Rob Taylor of website Clickmusic.com called the single "a slick and professional effort worthy of anyone's ear."

Music video

The music video debuted on July 2, 2007 on Spinner.com. It features the band (dressed primarily in the white outfits of the 2007 tour) playing with multiple extra people, in front of a psychedelic visual collage, and is partially shot in 3D. The video was directed by P.R. Brown.

In July 2007, it was announced via the Smashing Pumpkins' official website that the green screen files for the video would be released online. Fans with video editing skills will be allowed to make their own version of the Tarantula video and enter it into a contest via the website.

Two winners were announced in August 2007. 1st place was awarded to Levi Ahmu and 2nd place was awarded to Mason Williams. Both videos consisted of vast amounts of visual effects. Honorable mention was made for Ryan Webber for his live action take on the music video.

Lyrics

i don't want to fight
every single night
everything i want is in your eyes
you and me go back
to places i dont know to care
the spoils of all i got were left for scraps
don't let me say this
but you're no worse than me
it's crazy

we are the real
if real ever was
and just because
we are the real
they feel we have enough
we are the real
'cause someone gave us up

i want to be there when you're happy
i want to love you when you're sad
cant stand the morning rain?
get out i'll take your place then
can't stand the blazing sun?
then close your eyes you'll see
the angel dust

i dont want to be
anything believed
a million watts of sound can't compare
come along you'll see the world
the pulse ripples, the crowd unfurls
the current starts to flow and then you're on
oh it's white hot soul they want
to sing for

we are the real
if real ever was
and just because
we are the ruin
of every living soul
we are surreal
cause someone gave us up

don't break the oath
i want to love you when you're happy
don't break this oath
i want to be there when youre sad
freeze-frame the pouring rain

we are the real
as real as any ghost
so easy now
we are the real
in ever living soul
oh dont they know?

can't stand the blazing sun?
can't stand the morning rain?
oh get out i'll take your place again

i dont want to be alone
i dont want to be alone at all
if it's a white hot soul they want
then a black heart they'll get

Additional information

• The song was included in the video game Tony Hawk's Proving Ground.
• The song was featured as the theme song for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA's) Bound for Glory pay-per-view in 2008.
• This song is a playable track in the music video game Guitar Hero On Tour: Decades.

Track listings

UK single

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Tarantula"	3:51
2.	"Death from Above"	4:06

Dutch/German single

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Tarantula"	3:51
2.	"Death from Above"	4:06
3.	"Zeitgeist"	2:49

US promo single

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Tarantula"	3:49

Release history

Released	Label	Catalog ID	Format	Country	External sites
May 21, 2007	Reprise		Digital	US			[3]
June 2007	Reprise	PRO-CD-102040	CD	US	Discogs	MusicBrainz	[3]
July 2, 2007	Reprise	W769CD	CD	UK	Discogs	MusicBrainz	[1]
July 2, 2007	Reprise	W769	7" white	UK	Discogs		[1]
July 13, 2007	Reprise	9362 49940 0	CD	Netherlands, Germany	Discogs	MusicBrainz	[2]

More releases: Discogs • MusicBrainz

Charts

Chart (2007) Peak position Australia (ARIA) 46 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) 50 Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia) 14 Canada (Hot 100) 30 Canada Rock (Billboard) 8 Canada Digital songs (Billboard) 44 Denmark (Tracklisten) 14 Ireland (IRMA) 44 UK Singles (OCC) 59 UK Rock and Metal (OCC) 1 US Billboard Hot 100 54 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard) 2 US Mainstream Rock (Billboard) 6 US Active Rock Songs (Billboard) 5 US Digital Song Sales (Billboard) 44 US Pop 100 (Billboard) 50 Availability Title Notes Type Tarantula UK single Single Zeitgeist Original issue (Red cover) Studio Celebrating *20* Years of Sadness Live Tour stats Total plays: 221 plays (221 full, 7 soundcheck), 1 acoustic First performance: The Smashing Pumpkins 2007-05-05 at Congress Theater, Chicago, IL, US (soundcheck) First full performance: The Smashing Pumpkins 2007-05-22 at Le Grand Rex, Paris, FR Last performance: The Smashing Pumpkins 2010-12-12 at Viejas Arena, San Diego, CA, US References External links "Tarantula" at SPFC Levi Ahmu's first place fan made music video. Ryan Webber's third place fan made music video.