Rearviewmirror
| "Rearviewmirror" | |
|---|---|
Brendan O'Brien , Pearl Jam |
"Rearviewmirror" is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam. The song is the eighth track on the band's second studio album, Vs. (1993). Although credited to all members of Pearl Jam, it was primarily written by vocalist Eddie Vedder. The song was included on Pearl Jam's 2004 greatest hits album, rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991–2003).
Origin and recording
"Rearviewmirror" was one of the first songs to feature vocalist Eddie Vedder on guitar. Vedder wrote the song.[2] Guitarist Stone Gossard said that the band played the song "exactly like he wrote it."[2] Guitarist Mike McCready experimented with an EBow on the song.[3]
At the end of the studio cut drummer
Vedder finished recording the vocals for the song on the last day of recording for Vs. Vedder had an issue with the song being too "catchy."[5]
Lyrics
Vedder about "Rearviewmirror":
We start off with the music and it kinds of propels the lyrics. It made me feel like I was in a car, leaving something, a bad situation. There's an emotion there. I remembered all the times I wanted to leave...[6]
Reception
Regarding "Rearviewmirror", David Browne of Entertainment Weekly said, "For once, those rippling guitar chords wrap themselves around a real hook, and Eddie's clenched delivery is perfect for a song about the pain of leaving behind a hopeless relationship and moving on."[7] Paul Evans of Rolling Stone said that "when Vedder roars, 'Saw things...clearer.../Once you were in my rearviewmirror,' it seems that it's not only some personal sorrow that he's willing himself to tear beyond but the entire weight of the past itself."[8]
Live performances
"Rearviewmirror" was first performed live at the band's May 13, 1993 concert in
Credits
- vocals, rhythm guitar
- Stone Gossard - rhythm guitar, backing vocals in live performances [10]
- Mike McCready - lead guitar
- Jeff Ament - bass guitar
- drums
Cover versions
An acoustic version of "Rearviewmirror" performed by The Frogs appears on Pearl Jam's 1995 "Immortality" single.
Accolades
| Publication | Country | Accolade | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q | United Kingdom | "The Ultimate Music Collection"[11] | 2005 | * |
* denotes an unordered list
References
- ^ Danaher, Michael (August 4, 2014). "The 50 Best Grunge Songs". Paste. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
- ^ a b Garbarini, Vic. "Spit Fire". Guitar World. February 1995.
- ^ Rotondi, James. "Blood On the Tracks". Guitar Player. January 1994.
- ^ ISBN 0-7567-7409-8
- ^ Crowe, Cameron (October 28, 1993). "Five Against the World". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 19, 2007. Retrieved June 23, 2007.
- ^ Hilburn, Robert (May 1, 1994). "He Didn't Ask for All This". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 25, 2009.
- ^ Browne, David. "The Courtship of Eddie". Entertainment Weekly. October 22, 1993.
- ^ Evans, Paul (December 23, 1993). "Pearl Jam: Vs.". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 14, 2008. Retrieved May 27, 2008.
- ^ "Pearl Jam Songs: "Rearviewmirror"". pearljam.com.
- ^ "Pearl Jam - Rearview Mirror Live @ Pink Pop". YouTube.
- ^ "The Ultimate Music Collection". Q. Retrieved May 6, 2008.
