Freak

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"Freak"
Promotional CD-R of "Freak"
Promotional single by The Smashing Pumpkins
ReleasedJuly 6, 2010
FormatDigital/Physical
Studio sessions
GenreAlternative rock
Length3:51
LabelMartha's Music / Rocket Science
Songwriter(s)Billy Corgan

"Freak" (also titled as "Freak U.S.A.") is the second single from The Smashing Pumpkins' scrapped 44-song project, Teargarden by Kaleidyscope, and the first song released for the second accompanying EP The Solstice Bare. Like all other songs on the EP, "Freak" was released as a free download on their official website.[1] The song was first played live on July 24, 2009, at the first Spirits in the Sky show in memoriam of Sky Saxon.[2] It was a staple at live shows throughout their 2010 tours.

Critical reception

Spin praised the song, noting that "the catchy chorus of bright guitars and cheerful na na na na nas recall his short-lived pop-rock side-project Zwan; the heavy, distorted bass lines revisit the goth-rock moments of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness; and his lyrics are all early-Pumpkins."[3] PopMatters's reviewed that "Freak" "largely explores and builds on The Smashing Pumpkins’ earlier, mid-1990s sound while also very subtly hinting at the newly pointed and cultish, lysergic musical atmosphere."[4]

Lyrics

they poison our sweet mother earth
destroy our sacred bodies
to fill our mouths with junk and
they call this knowledge
but knowing nothing means knowing far, far too much
they let our children starve in the name of peace
they march to the beat of a killing machine

life is not a dream when you can’t
wake up from the dream you wanted
life is not a dream when you can’t
wake up from the dream you wanted

oh, they’ll pour the salt from your soul
oh, they’ll pour the salt from your soul

scars and bars and 51 stars
and faith and milk and
i’m drinking filth and disease
oh pretty please, i’m begging freedom
there’s lives to be blinded
servants un-kinded
before we’ve paid
and then we’ll pay some more
do you know the score? 'cause i’m so fuckin' bored

life is not a dream when you can’t
wake up from the dream you wanted
life is not a dream when you can’t
wake up from the dream you wanted

oh, they’ll pour the salt from your soul
oh, they’ll pour the salt from your soul

they’ll sell your wounds as evidence of your holes

life is not a dream when you can’t
wake up from the dream you wanted
life is not a dream when you can’t
wake up from the dream you wanted
life is not a dream
life is not a...
life is not a dream
life is not a dream

Charts

Chart (2010) Peak
position
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[5] 34
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[6] 27
US Active Rock Songs (Billboard)[7] 38

Availability

TitleNotesType
FreakPromo
Teargarden by Kaleidyscope - Vol. 2: The Solstice BareCDEP

Tour stats

Release

No.TitleLength
1."Freak"3:51
Released Label Catalog ID Format Country External sites
July 2010 Rocket Science CD (promo) US Discogs [1]
July 6, 2010 Self-released Digital Worldwide [1]

References

  1. "Smashing Pumpkins". Smashing Pumpkins. Retrieved September 9, 2011.
  2. "tour history - dates : 2009/07/24". spfc.org. Retrieved September 9, 2011.
  3. "LISTEN: Smashing Pumpkins Release New Song!". SPIN.com. July 6, 2010. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
  4. Carl, William. "The Smashing Pumpkins Release New Song "Freak" From Teargarden by Kaleidyscope < PopMatters". Popmatters.com. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
  5. "The Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Hot Rock Songs)". Billboard.
  6. "The Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Alternative Songs)". Billboard.
  7. "The Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Active Rock Songs)". Billboard.

External links