Zero
"Zero" | ||||
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Single by The Smashing Pumpkins | ||||
B-side | "Zero"
"God" "Mouths of Babes" "Tribute to Johnny” "Marquis in Spades” "Pennies" "Pastichio Medley" | |||
Released | April 23, 1996 | |||
Format | CD, Cassette | |||
Studio sessions | ||||
Genre | Grunge[1], alternative metal, alternative rock | |||
Length | 2:41 EP length: 40:53 | |||
Label | Virgin | |||
Songwriter(s) | Billy Corgan | |||
Producer(s) | Flood, Alan Moulder, Billy Corgan | |||
The Smashing Pumpkins singles chronology | ||||
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"Zero" is the third single from The Smashing Pumpkins' third studio album, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. "Zero" was written by Billy Corgan and was the first song recorded for Mellon Collie. The song has six rhythm guitars, with two line-in twelve string acoustics.[2] Commercially, "Zero" reached number one in Spain and number three in New Zealand. In North America, the song reached number one on Canada's RPM Alternative 30, number 15 on the US Mainstream Rock chart, and number nine on the US Modern Rock Tracks chart. In the United States, the song was released as an EP, so it instead charted on the Billboard 200, making it to number 46.
The song was featured on "Homerpalooza", the penultimate episode of The Simpsons's seventh season.[3] The cover artwork is of a Giorgio Armani model, photographed by Corgan's then-girlfriend, Yelena Yemchuk, who also directed the music video.[4]
“ | We like to call this style of our music 'Cybermetal.' 'Zero' has six rhythm guitars, with two line-in 12-string acoustics, plus those wacky Iha leads. Tracked live with overdubs added later, this is a true mover as well as the first song that was recorded for Mellon Collie, James has always said this reminds him of Judas Priest. | ” |
— Billy Corgan, Guitar World, January 1997 |
Background[edit | edit source]
"Zero" was the first song recorded for Mellon Collie.[5] Lyrically, it touches on religion, with the line "god is empty just like me" being an allegorical reference that god is simultaneously fulfillment and emptiness.[6] Similarly, Corgan may be referring to himself as a rock god, and the song is his response to the public interpretation of him at the time. He is to say he was worth nothing; that is, "I'm not your God, I'm your Zero." Lyrics to the song were first foreshadowed during the "art breakdowns" of "I Am One" performances throughout Lollapalooza 1994.[7]
The namesake is the character behind which Mellon Collie is loosely based, and also shares the name with the iconic shirt that Corgan wore throughout the Infinite Sadness tour. The character named "Zero" would later be renamed "Glass" in the story of Machina, and later "Shiny" for 2023's ATUM.
Music video[edit | edit source]
The music video was directed by Yelena Yemchuk and described by NME as "very cinematic and creepy at times".[8] The concept of it was to set it in a Roman mansion, with lounging guests, while the band acts as their entertainment. The band predominantly wears black, which contrasts with the room's vibrant wine-stained colors that are associated with the Roman period. The video is the only such release to depict keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin, who died in July 1996 from a drug overdose.
Lyrics[edit | edit source]
my reflection, dirty mirror
there's no connection to myself
i'm your lover, i'm your zero
i'm the face in your dreams of glass
so save your prayers
for when we're really gonna need 'em
throw out your cares and fly
wanna go for a ride?
she's the one for me
she's all i really need
cause she's the one for me
emptiness is loneliness, and loneliness is cleanliness
and cleanliness is godliness, and god is empty just like me
intoxicated with the madness, i'm in love with my sadness
bullshit fakers, enchanted kingdoms
the fashion victims chew their charcoal teeth
i never let on, that i was on a sinking ship
i never let on that i was down
you blame yourself, for what you can't ignore
you blame yourself for wanting more
she's the one for me
she's all i really need
she's the one for me
she's my one and only
B-sides[edit | edit source]
Unlike most singles, "Zero" was released as an EP and included "Pastichio Medley", a medley of parts of songs from the Mellon Collie sessions that mostly remain unreleased. The medley runs over 23 minutes and features over 70 songs.[9] The medley also features snippets of songs that actually were released; the snippet of the song "Disconnected" is a riff from an early version of "The Aeroplane Flies High (Turns Left, Looks Right)" (originally B-side from the "Thirty-Three" single)[10] and the riff called "Rachel" ended up being worked into the album track "X.Y.U." Eventually, 2012's reissue of Mellon Collie saw a number of tracks from the "Medley" released in full versions,[11] and others on The Aeroplane Flies High reissue.
The track "Tribute to Johnny" is an instrumental, a homage to guitarist Johnny Winter.[12]
EP track listing[edit | edit source]
All tracks are written by Billy Corgan, except where noted.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Zero" | 2:39 | |
2. | "God" | 3:09 | |
3. | "Mouths of Babes" | 3:46 | |
4. | "Tribute to Johnny" | Billy Corgan, James Iha | 2:34 |
5. | "Marquis in Spades" | 3:17 | |
6. | "Pennies" | 2:28 | |
7. | "Pastichio Medley" (The length was incorrectly put as "25:59".) | Billy Corgan, James Iha, D'arcy Wretzky, Jimmy Chamberlin | 23:00 |
Release history[edit | edit source]
Released | Label | Catalog ID | Format | Country | External sites | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
April 23, 1996 | Virgin | v25g-38545 • 7243 8 38545 2 3 | CD | US | Discogs | MusicBrainz | [1] |
April 23, 1996 | Virgin | 4LM-38545 • 7243 8 38545 4 7 | Cassette | US | Discogs | MusicBrainz | [1] |
August 19, 1996 | Hut Recordings • Virgin | HUTCD 73 • 7243 8 42046 2 4 | CD | UK | Discogs | MusicBrainz | [1] |
August 7, 1996 | Virgin | VJCP-15017 | CD | Japan | Discogs | MusicBrainz | [1] |
More releases: Discogs • MusicBrainz
Charts and certifications[edit | edit source]
Weekly charts[edit | edit source]
|
Year-end charts[edit | edit source]
Certifications[edit | edit source]
|
Availability
Title | Notes | Type |
---|---|---|
Live In Chicago | Live • Promotional | |
Live At The Riviera | Bootleg • Live | |
Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness | Disc one – Dawn to Dusk | Studio |
666 | Bootleg • Video | |
Zero | Main release | Single |
Zero | Main release | EP |
The Aeroplane Flies High | "Zero" | Box set |
The Smashing Pumpkins 1991–1998 | Promotional CD | Promotional • Compilation |
The Videos | Video • Promotional | |
MCIS Demos II | Bootleg | |
A Gothic–Industrial Tribute to Smashing Pumpkins | Tribute | |
Rotten Apples | North American version | Compilation |
Greatest Hits Video Collection (1991–2000) | Video | |
The Killer in You: A Tribute to Smashing Pumpkins | Tribute | |
Rarities and B-Sides | Compilation | |
Celebrating *20* Years of Sadness | Live | |
Oceania: Live in NYC | Live • Video | |
London By Day | Live |
Tour stats
- Total plays: 799 plays (743 full, 51 tease, 5 abandoned, 9 soundcheck), 6 acoustic, 1 piano, 2 artists
- First performance: The Smashing Pumpkins 1994-07-28 at Lollapalooza 1994, Barrie, ON, CA (tease)
- First full performance: The Smashing Pumpkins 1995-02-20 at Double Door, Chicago, IL, US
- Last performance: The Smashing Pumpkins 2024-09-11 at Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX, US
Personnel[edit | edit source]
- Billy Corgan – guitar, vocals, production, recording, mixing
- James Iha – guitar
- D'arcy Wretzky – bass
- Jimmy Chamerblin – drums
- Flood – producer, mixing, recording
- Alan Moulder – production, mixing, recording
- Chris Shepard – recording
- Barry Goldberg – recording, mixing assistance
- Dave Kresl – recording assistance
- Claudine Pontier – recording assistance
- Howie Weinberg – mastering
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1001 Albums: You Must Hear Before You Die. Hachette; 2011. Print.
- ↑ Guitar World — January 1997
- ↑ Hartmann, Graham. "The Smashing Pumpkins – Rock Star Cameos on 'The Simpsons'". Loudwire.
- ↑ "Yelena Yemchuk Video | Interviews". OVGuide. Archived from the original on November 25, 2011. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
- ↑ Corgan, Billy. "King B's". starla.org. Guitar World. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- ↑ Corgan, Billy. "Ebracer (with YUNGBLUD)". iHeartPodcasts. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- ↑ "RAYGUN". www.starla.org. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
- ↑ "Free Music Videos, Video Interviews, Music Video News, Live Sessions and Clips". Nme.com. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
- ↑ "Pastichio Medley". Personal.umich.edu. Retrieved September 27, 2011.
- ↑ Corgan, Billy (January 1997). "King B's". Guitar World.
- ↑ "Smashing Pumpkins 'Mellon Collie' Reissue Is a Fan's Dream Come True | Antiquiet". Antiquiet. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
- ↑ "I Need a Hero: In honor of Smashing Pumpkins' twentieth anniversary, a list of Billy Corgan's top ten guitar heroes". Riverfront Times. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
- ↑ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 9200." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ↑ "Charts.nz – The Smashing Pumpkins – Zero". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
- ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- ↑ "The Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
- ↑ "The Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
- ↑ "The Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
- ↑ "RPM Year End Alternative Top 50". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
- ↑ "American single certifications – Smashing Pumpkins – Zero". RIAA. 1996-06-25. Retrieved November 15, 2020. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH.
- ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Smashing Pumpkins – Zero". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
External links[edit | edit source]
- Songs
- Singles
- The Smashing Pumpkins singles
- Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness songs
- The Smashing Pumpkins songs
- Music videos
- The Smashing Pumpkins music videos
- 1996 singles
- 1996 songs
- Songs written by Billy Corgan
- Songs produced by Flood
- Songs produced by Alan Moulder
- Songs produced by Billy Corgan
- Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM) songs
- New Zealand Top 40 songs
- Spain (AFYVE) songs
- Billboard 200 albums
- Billboard Alternative songs
- Billboard Mainstream Rock songs
- United States (RIAA) certifications
- New Zealand (RMNZ) certifications
- The Smashing Pumpkins EPs
- Virgin Records singles
- Virgin Records EPs
- Music videos directed by Yelena Yemchuk