The Celestials: Difference between revisions

"The Celestials"
Single by The Smashing Pumpkins
Album Lyrics Tabs Spotify
B-side	"Inkless"
Released	June 21, 2012 (promo); October 14, 2012 (7" single)
Format	Digital download, 7" vinyl
Studio sessions	February 2011 – Sweet 16 Studio; May-September 2011 – Pumpkinland II;
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	3:58
Label	EMI; Caroline; Martha's Music;
Songwriter(s)	Billy Corgan
Producer(s)	Billy Corgan, Bjorn Thorsrud
The Smashing Pumpkins singles chronology
Promotional CD cover
	Oceania Quasar; Panopticon; The Celestials; Violet Rays; My Love Is Winter; One Diamond, One Heart; Pinwheels; Oceania; Pale Horse; The Chimera; Glissandra; Inkless; Wildflower;

VisualWikitext

Latest revision as of 10:50, 24 September 2024

"The Celestials" is the first single from The Smashing Pumpkins' ninth album Oceania. It was originally sent to radio airplay as a promotional single on June 21, 2012. The band performed the song on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on August 23, 2012.^[1]

Background and recording[edit | edit source]

The song had a working title of "Special K".^[2]

In an interview with MusicRadar, Corgan stated, "I have all of these vintage keyboards that we just crank out when I need something, so I don't really know what's on here. It's some super, highly obscure '70s keyboard." He added, "The arrangement is kind of like classic MTV, circa 1994. You start with the acoustic and then the band kicks in grunge."^[3]

Reception[edit | edit source]

The track has received positive reviews. Tree Riddle of Loudwire praised the track's sound, stating "Acoustic guitar and orchestral swells dominate the beginning, along with Corgan’s tortured vocals (which actually have a better, more polished sound than on other recent works). Once the full band kicks in, you realize that this is the standout track on the album. 'The Celestials' employs all the elements that make a classic Pumpkins song, and is likely the best released under the name in over a decade. Corgan caps off the tune by matching the line "Everything I want is free" with a beautifully reserved lead guitar riff."^[4] RedEye favorably compared it to one of the band's biggest songs, "Disarm", from their album Siamese Dream, calling it a "...nod to the Pumpkins' past. Its acoustic guitar and orchestration make it, if not a sibling, then a distant cousin to the classic "Disarm".^[5] Similarly, CraveOnline compared it to the most acoustic aspects of their Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness album and said that "...The song is catchy but with a injection of prog-rock that keeps it from collapsing on itself."^[6]

The track was included on Loudwire's list of "Best Rock Songs of 2012."^[7]

Lyrics[edit | edit source]

On the day that you were born
They built an empire off a scream
I can't explain
Endlessly they'll set you free
Give you reason to believe
This empty place I may seem unafraid
And I may seem unashamed
But I will be special k
Never let the summer catch you down
Never let your thoughts run free
Even when their numbers draw you out
Everything I want is free
'Til the end
'Til the end
'Til the end
I'm gonna love you 101 percent
I'm gonna love you 'til this ends

Take a chance if you should go
Face upon your happy home
The scanners wait
You were always on your own
You can't escape
I may seem unafraid
And I may seem unashamed
But I will be special k
Never let the summer catch you down
Never let your thoughts run free
Even when their numbers draw you out
Everything I want is free
You're not me and never ever will you be
I'm gonna find you and never run against
I'm gonna find you 'til the end
'Til the end
'Til the end
Never let the summer catch you down
Never let your thoughts run free
Even while their numbers call you out
Everything I want is free
Free you're free with me
You're free with me

Track listing[edit | edit source]

Release in Autumn 2012, this 7" single came packaged in a cardboard box and a t-shirt. It was sold exclusively at Target and of unknown quantity.

US single
No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Celestials"	3:55
2.	"Inkless" (Original Mix)	3:05

US promo CD
No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Celestials"	3:38

Release history[edit | edit source]

Released	Label	Catalog ID	Format	Country	External sites
October 14, 2012	Martha's Music	MM 007	7" + t-shirt	US	Discogs	MusicBrainz	[1]
June 21, 2012	Martha's Music		CD	US	Discogs		[2]

More releases: Discogs • MusicBrainz

Charts[edit | edit source]

Chart (2012)	Peak position
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)^[8]	29
Canada Rock (Billboard)^[9]	40
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)^[10]	45
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)^[11]	62

Availability

Title	Notes	Type
Oceania		Studio
The Celestials	US single	Single
Oceania: Live in NYC		Live • Video

Tour stats

Total plays: 99 plays, 15 acoustic, 1 piano, 3 artists
First performance: The Smashing Pumpkins 2012-06-19 at iHeartRadio Theater, New York, NY, US
Last performance: Robert Mirabal 2023-10-02 (featuring Billy Corgan) at Madame ZuZu's, Highland Park, IL, US

References[edit | edit source]

↑ Smashing Pumpkins To Perform On Jay Leno This Week
↑ http://www.spfc.org/songs-releases/song.html?song_alt_id=168&song_type=-1
↑ Joe Bosso (June 13, 2012). "Interview: Billy Corgan talks The Smashing Pumpkins' Oceania track-by-track". MusicRadar. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
↑ Riddle, Tree (April 3, 2012). "The Smashing Pumpkins, 'Oceania' – Album Review". Loudwire. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
↑ Moore, Brian (June 15, 2012). "Album review: Smashing Pumpkins, 'Oceania'". RedEye. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
↑ Robinson, Iann (June 20, 2012). "Review: Smashing Pumpkins - Oceania". CraveOnline. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
↑ Hartmann, Graham. "Smashing Pumpkins, 'The Celestials'". Loudwire. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
↑ "The Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Alternative Songs)". Billboard.
↑ "The Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard.
↑ "The Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Hot Rock Songs)". Billboard.
↑ "Ultratop.be – The Smashing Pumpkins – The Celestials" (in Dutch). Ultratip.

External links[edit | edit source]

"The Celestials" at SPFC

[1] Smashing Pumpkins To Perform On Jay Leno This Week

[2] ttp://www.spfc.org/songs-releases/song.html?song_alt_id=168&song_type=-1

[3] Joe Bosso (June 13, 2012). "Interview: Billy Corgan talks The Smashing Pumpkins' Oceania track-by-track". MusicRadar. Retrieved July 21, 2012.

[4] Riddle, Tree (April 3, 2012). "The Smashing Pumpkins, 'Oceania' – Album Review". Loudwire. Retrieved July 3, 2012.

[5] Moore, Brian (June 15, 2012). "Album review: Smashing Pumpkins, 'Oceania'". RedEye. Retrieved July 3, 2012.

[CraveOnline-6] Robinson, Iann (June 20, 2012). "Review: Smashing Pumpkins - Oceania". CraveOnline. Retrieved July 3, 2012.

[7] Hartmann, Graham. "Smashing Pumpkins, 'The Celestials'". Loudwire. Retrieved February 14, 2020.

[sc_Billboardalternativesongs_The_Smashing_Pumpkins-8] "The Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Alternative Songs)". Billboard.

[sc_Billboardcanadarock_The_Smashing_Pumpkins-9] "The Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard.

[sc_Billboardrocksongs_The_Smashing_Pumpkins-10] "The Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Hot Rock Songs)". Billboard.

[sc_Flanders_Tip_The_Smashing_Pumpkins-11] "Ultratop.be – The Smashing Pumpkins – The Celestials" (in Dutch). Ultratip.

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@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 | format = Digital download, 7" vinyl
 | venue =
-| genre = Rock
+| genre = Alternative rock
 | length = 3:58
 | label = {{hlist|EMI|Caroline|[[Martha's Music]]}}