Atum (song)

"Atum" is an instrumental song and debut track off of The Smashing Pumpkins' twelfth studio album, ATUM. The song is explained in detail in the first episode of the Thirty-Three with William Patrick Corgan podcast.

It's both ominous and hopeful. It's churlish and it's got a bit of a wink to it, but that's The Smashing Pumpkins.

Background
With the "Mellon Collie" theme, Billy Corgan tried to set a sentimental mood on the listener, and listening years later can bring you back into that same mood. For Machina/The Machines of God, Corgan felt the need for a more pronounced theme. That was "Le Deux Machina", which ended up being an intro song they performed during the The Sacred and Profane tour, and later appeared on Machina II.

"Atum" is the opening track of the first act of the opera. As Corgan explained, it sets the scene for the whole 'movie': "It's both ominous and hopeful. It's churlish and it's got a bit of a wink to it, but that's The Smashing Pumpkins."