Solara

From SPCodex, The Smashing Pumpkins wiki
"Solara"
Single by The Smashing Pumpkins
Album
Lyrics
Lyrics
Tabs
Video
Spotify
ReleasedJune 8, 2018
FormatDigital download
Studio sessions
GenreRock
Length4:22
Label
Songwriter(s)Billy Corgan
Producer(s)Rick Rubin
The Smashing Pumpkins singles chronology
"Run2me"
(2015) 		"Solara"
(2018) 		"Silvery Sometimes (Ghosts)"
(2018)
  1. Knights of Malta
  2. Silvery Sometimes (Ghosts)
  3. Travels
  4. Solara
  5. Alienation
  6. Marchin' On
  7. With Sympathy
  8. Seek and You Shall Destroy

"Solara" was the band's first song to be released after reforming three fourths of the band's original lineup in 2018,[1] featuring Billy Corgan, James Iha, and Jimmy Chamberlin performing on a track together for the first time since 2000's Machina/The Machines of God album[2] and subsequent non-album single "Untitled"[3] prior to their original breakup. It was released as a single on June 8, 2018, as the first song from a set of two upcoming EPs that were set for release in 2018 before a full-length album titled Shiny and Oh So Bright - Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun. was announced in September.[4] The song peaked at number 47 on the US Hot Rock Songs chart.[5]

Background[edit | edit source]

The song was first released on June 8, 2018, making it the first song to be released by original members Billy Corgan, James Iha, and Jimmy Chamberlin in 18 years.[6][7] The song does not feature original bassist D'arcy Wretzky,[8] but does feature long-time guitarist Jeff Schroeder, who has been with the band since 2007.[9] The song was produced by record producer Rick Rubin, who the band had previously worked with on the Adore track "Let Me Give the World to You".[10][11]

The song made its live debut on national television on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Monday, June 11, 2018.[3]

Writing and composition[edit | edit source]

The song was originally written and demoed for band's ninth studio album, Monuments to an Elegy (2014), with Corgan noting: "Jeff [Schroeder] and I were the only people in the band at that time and we just couldn’t find the magic. We always thought the song was strong [...] so when we came in, in this situation, the minute we put it in Jimmy Chamberlin's hands, it’s like, 'Oh, there’s the magic.' It got a lot easier after that."[12] Guitarist Jeff Schroeder elaborated: "We didn’t over-intellectualize it and try to write a song that would reintroduce the band. I think that we just played, and I think certain characteristics that are strong points of the band came into play, and so I think that what you hear is very classic Pumpkins, because that’s kind of everybody doing their job and doing it well and it just works."[12]

Music video[edit | edit source]

Official music video

A music video directed by Nick Koenig[1] was released on June 28, 2018, containing "classic horror imagery".[13] Rolling Stone described the video as "utterly bizarre", in which lead singer Corgan is "being held captive in an otherworldly asylum."[14] The music video was not released in conjunction of the song's release, despite Corgan teasing a still frame from the video as early as May 2018.[15][16]

Lyrics[edit | edit source]

Burn down the sun
I'm not everyone
High and dry
Nothing but a body in my mind

I'm here to stay
Not here, today
High and dry
Nothing but a body in my mind
I'm nothing but a body in my mind

I feel that something ain't right
No fear but reason that I can cite

Tear down the sun
Bring down the sun
I'm not everyone
I'm not everyone
I'm not everyone

Unholy sin
Unholy fate
High and dry
Nothing but a body in mind

I'm left to ash
Not here, but past
High and dry
Nothing but a body in mind
I'm nothing but a body in my mind

I feel that something ain't right
No fear but reason that I can cite

Tear down the sun
Bring down the sun
I'm not everyone
I'm not everyone
I'm not everyone
Burn down the sun

Speculation
Come on, get yourself together
Speculation
Become the owl at midnight
In situation
I am the seer, I am the seeker
In situation
Become the wound that binds you
Become the wound that binds you
Become the owl at midnight
Become the owl at midnight

I'm high and dry
I'm ash made time
I'm sun drilled bright
And nothing but a body in my mind
And nothing but a body in my mind

Tear down the sun
Bring down the sun
I'm not everyone
I'm not everyone
Burn down the sun

Release[edit | edit source]

Digital download
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Solara"Billy Corgan4:21

Release history[edit | edit source]

Released Label Catalog ID Format Country External sites
June 8, 2018 Martha's Music • Napalm Digital US Discogs MusicBrainz [1]

More releases: Discogs • MusicBrainz

Personnel[edit | edit source]

Band

Production

Reception[edit | edit source]

Billboard described the song's sound as a "chest-out rock song, loaded with grinding guitars, a pounding rhythm section and big fills."[17] The song was described as have "chugging" and "stuttering" sound in the verses building into a soaring and multi-layered chorus, with Corgan singing "Tear down the sun/Bring down the sun/I'm not everyone/I'm not everyone/I'm not everyone."[18][19]

Charts[edit | edit source]

Chart (2018) Peak
position
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[20] 26
US Rock Digital songs (Billboard)[21] 22
US Alternative Digital songs (Billboard)[22] 16
Canada Rock (Billboard)[23] 30
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[24] 46
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[25] 47
Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard) songs[26] 41

Availability

TitleNotesType
SolaraDigital downloadSingle
Shiny and Oh So Bright - Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun.Main releaseStudio

Tour stats

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "The Smashing Pumpkins - "Solara" Video". Stereogum. June 8, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Listen to The Smashing Pumpkins' First Reunion Song, "Solara"". Noisey. June 8, 2018.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Listen: The Smashing Pumpkins Streaming First New Single Since Reunion - 'Solara'". Ultimate-Guitar.
  4. ↑ Sodomsky, Sam; Kim, Michelle (September 14, 2018). "Smashing Pumpkins Announce New Album, Share Song: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  5. ↑ "The Smashing Pumpkins Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Hear Smashing Pumpkins' Churning New Song 'Solara'". Rolling Stone.
  7. ↑ "Smashing Pumpkins Return With New Song "Solara": Listen – Pitchfork". pitchfork.com.
  8. ↑ "The Smashing Pumpkins – "Solara"". Spin. June 8, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Listen To SMASHING PUMPKINS' New Song 'Solara'". Blabbermouth.net. June 8, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Smashing Pumpkins release new single 'Solara': LISTEN HERE". Chicago Sun-Times.
  11. ↑ "Smashing Pumpkins unleash reunion single "Solara": Stream". Consequence of Sound. June 8, 2018.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan on Playing the 'Heel'". loudwire.com. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  13. ↑ Rincón, Alessandra. "The Smashing Pumpkins Bring the Horror in New 'Solara' Video: Watch". Billboard.com. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  14. ↑ Blistein, Jon. "Watch Smashing Pumpkins Confront Surreal Horrors in 'Solara' Video". RollingStone.com. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  15. ↑ "The Smashing Pumpkins Release New Song "Solara"". exclaim.ca.
  16. ↑ "Smashing Pumpkins release comeback single 'Solara'". NME. June 8, 2018.
  17. ↑ Brandle, Lars (June 8, 2018). "The Smashing Pumpkins Return With 'Solara': Listen". Billboard. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Smashing Pumpkins Debut New Song 'Solara'". Loudwire.
  19. ↑ "Hear Reunited Smashing Pumpkins' Stuttering, Soaring New Song "Solara"". Revolver. June 8, 2018.
  20. ↑ "The Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.
  21. ↑ "The Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Rock Digital songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  22. ↑ "The Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Alternative Digital songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  23. ↑ "The Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  24. ↑ "Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  25. ↑ "The Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Hot Rock Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  26. ↑ "The Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Mexico Ingles Airplay)". Billboard.

External links[edit | edit source]

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