The Everlasting Gaze
"The Everlasting Gaze" | ||||
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Cover of the promo CD | ||||
Single by The Smashing Pumpkins | ||||
Released | December 9, 1999 | |||
Format | CD | |||
Studio sessions | November 1998-September 1999 – Pumpkinland | |||
Genre | Alternative rock, alternative metal, industrial metal | |||
Length | 4:01 | |||
Label | Virgin | |||
Songwriter(s) | Billy Corgan | |||
Producer(s) | Flood, Billy Corgan | |||
The Smashing Pumpkins singles chronology | ||||
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Alternative cover | ||||
VHS single cover | ||||
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"The Everlasting Gaze" is the first single from The Smashing Pumpkins' 2000 album Machina/The Machines of God. The song was released as the lead North American single on December 9, 1999. It was also originally going to be released internationally in January 2000 but despite the heavy rotation of the Jonas Åkerlund-directed music video, it was rejected in favor of "Stand Inside Your Love".
While planning the Machina reissue, it was discovered the master reels of the recording have been lost. However, Alan Moulder's original mix from a two-track analog tape was still in possession and will see a modern conversion for the reissue.[1]
Song information[edit | edit source]
The unique guitar sound in the song was achieved by using a small Crate practice amp.[2] Corgan has said that this song "has a lot to do with spirituality and trying to find my place in the universe and sort of humbly accepting limitations and the things I've been graced with. It's more of a humanistic world view. I'm not writing anymore for the tortured teen—both me and whoever was listening. I'm writing with the idea that everybody's experiencing these things all the time, and even if they're not experiencing them personally, they're affected by them. You can live in the street and write about the garbage, or you can try to get up a little higher and look down and try to see the bigger picture."[3]
During the recording of Machina/The Machines of God, an early version of this song with very different lyrics had the working title of "Disco King". There were around four other versions with varying lyrics and chord structures. The final version of the song retains Chamberlin's consistent use of offbeat hi-hat beats. The final chorus was cut, though an a cappella section was added.
The song was originally not intended to be a single, but after a desperate call from executives at Virgin, Corgan agreed to release it as the lead single in the US because of the growing popularity of nu metal at the time, saving the release of the softer "Stand Inside Your Love" for a later date.[4]
Lyrically, the song has a place in the story of Glass and The Machines of God, of which the Machina album was originally planned to depict. The character "Glass" is singing about his transformation from "Zero" (the character behind Mellon Collie). The line "you know I'm not dead" is meant to say that on a personal level, Zero is still the same person as the new character, Glass.[4]
Music video[edit | edit source]
The music video was directed by Jonas Åkerlund and is a performance-based music video, the first to feature Melissa Auf der Maur, playing bass with the band after the departure of D'arcy Wretzky. Originally, the band had considered Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris to direct the video.
The video was recorded at an abandoned office building in London on a low budget while the band was on tour. The location was chosen solely as the band was asked to rush to film it to ensure the song's release as the lead single in the US. Drummer Jimmy Chamberlin received a three hour massage before recording commenced, causing him to develop a fever. Combined with the bright florescent lights, and the chaos of the set that resulted in his hand being hurt, he described the experience as less than pleasant.[4]
Corgan historically was against the idea of music videos simply depicting the band performing live, as evidenced by all the previous videos released by Smashing Pumpkins. This format was likely chosen because of the time constraints and budget. In an effort to at least do something different, Corgan insisted the video end with destruction of the equipment. To make the scene more prominent, there were upwards of eight guitars, four basses, and one drum set, with each band member being repeatedly filmed destroying their gear. Corgan, who knew the building was abandoned, took a "chance at getting electrocuted or possibly setting the building on fire" by throwing his guitar through the roof.[4]
Lyrics[edit | edit source]
you know i'm not dead
you know i'm, you know i'm not dead
you know i'm not dead
now you know where i've been
as you sleep, torn i am
weighted down patiently
born of love
you know i'm, you know i'm not dead
i'm just living in my head
forever waiting on the ways of your desire
you always find a way
and through it all, into us all you move
forgotten touch
forbidden thought
we can never have enough
you know i'm not dead
you know i'm, you know i'm not dead
you know i'm not dead
found below, the creatures scream
stranglehold, a god machine
begin to tear us out
what is hell
you know i'm, you know i'm not dead
i'm just the tears inside your head
forever waiting on the ways of your desire
you always find a way
and through it all, into us all you move
forgotten touch
forbidden thought
we can never have enough
you know i'm not dead
we all want to hold in the everlasting gaze
enchanted in the rapture of his sentimental sway
but underneath the wheels lie the skulls of every cog
the fickle fascination of an everlasting god
you know i'm not dead
i'm just living in my head
forever waiting
forever waiting a cruel death
you know i'm not dead
i'm just living for myself
forever waiting
you know i'm not dead
you know i'm not dead
you know i'm not dead
you know i'm not dead
Track listing[edit | edit source]
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "The Everlasting Gaze" | 4:01 |
Release history[edit | edit source]
Released | Label | Catalog ID | Format | Country | External sites | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
December 9, 1999 | Virgin | CD | US | MusicBrainz | [1] | ||
2000 | Virgin | Betacam SP | UK | Discogs | [1] | ||
2000 | Virgin | CD | Europe | Discogs | [1] |
Charts[edit | edit source]
Chart (2000) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[5] | 11 |
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[6] | 14 |
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[7] | 4 |
US Active Rock Songs (Billboard)[8] | 13 |
Availability
Title | Notes | Type |
---|---|---|
Machina/The Machines of God (premaster) | Promotional | |
The Everlasting Gaze | Promotional single | Single |
The Videos | Video • Promotional | |
The Smashing Pumpkins (Machina promo) | Promotional | |
Stand Inside Your Love | US promotional release | Single |
Machina/The Machines of God | Main release | Studio |
Rotten Apples | North American version | Compilation |
Greatest Hits Video Collection (1991–2000) | Video | |
The Original F.E.M.M Tape | Bootleg | |
The Killer in You: A Tribute to Smashing Pumpkins | Tribute | |
Guitar Hero World Tour | Guitar Hero Download Package | Compilation |
Tour stats
- Total plays: 302 plays (298 full, 4 tease, 2 soundcheck), 3 acoustic, 2 artists
- First performance: The Smashing Pumpkins 1999-12-20 at Metro, Chicago, IL, US
- Last performance: The Smashing Pumpkins 2024-08-09 at Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA, US
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Billy Corgan. November 24, 2020 Instagram Q&A
- ↑ Thomas, Richard. "Signal to Noise: The Sonic Diary of the Smashing Pumpkins". EQ Magazine. October 2008.
- ↑ DeRogatis, Jim. "Corgan speaks truth: He's grown up". Chicago Sun-Times: April 11, 2000.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Corgan, Billy. "Good in Goodbye (with Jimmy Chamberlin)". iHeartPodcasts. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ↑ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 9709." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
- ↑ "The Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
- ↑ "The Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
- ↑ "The Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Active Rock Songs)". Billboard.
External links[edit | edit source]
- Songs
- Singles
- The Smashing Pumpkins singles
- Machina/The Machines of God songs
- The Smashing Pumpkins songs
- Music videos
- The Smashing Pumpkins music videos
- 1999 singles
- 1999 songs
- Songs written by Billy Corgan
- Songs produced by Flood
- Songs produced by Billy Corgan
- Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM) songs
- Billboard Mainstream Rock songs
- Billboard Alternative songs
- Billboard Active Rock songs
- Virgin Records singles
- Music videos directed by Jonas Åkerlund