The Dope Show
"The Dope Show" | ||||
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Single by Marilyn Manson | ||||
from the album Mechanical Animals | ||||
Released | September 15, 1998 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:47 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
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Marilyn Manson singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"The Dope Show" on YouTube |
"The Dope Show" is a song by American rock band Marilyn Manson. It was released in September 1998 as the lead single from their third studio album Mechanical Animals. The lyrics were written by Marilyn Manson and the music composed by Twiggy Ramirez.
Background
After the release of Antichrist Superstar (1996), an album which sparked controversy among Christian fundamentalists, Marilyn Manson did not want to resume playing the role of a bogeyman. He feared that this would cause him to be "consigned to the one-note rock theatricality" of Kiss and Alice Cooper.[4] He desired to convince casual rock and pop fans who had previously dismissed him that he was "more than a cartoon". For his next album, Mechanical Animals (1998), he took inspiration from the glam rock music that David Bowie made in the 1970s, and adopted a wardrobe and hairstyle similar to Bowie's.[5]
The album contained numerous references to
Three weeks prior to their official release, "The Dope Show" and the title track of Hole's Celebrity Skin were played on stations in New York City and Los Angeles. Shortly afterward, "The Dope Show" was leaked to the internet by a fan, with MTV News describing the leak as "near CD-quality".[7]
Music video
The video's imagery employs several direct homages to The Holy Mountain, most specifically a sequence involving the destruction of plaster casts of the main character's body in a crucifixion pose. In addition, sculptural pieces by German artist Rebecca Horn are re-created such as "Overflowing Blood Machine" in which Manson is bound by long, red, blood-flowing tubes. In the limo sequence, "Cornucopia" a construction which seems to join the mouth and breasts with a self-nursing effect.
The video won a
The "Hollywood Hills" scene with Manson walking outside was actually filmed in the city of
"The Dope Show"'s performance sequence was filmed in front of the Los Angeles Municipal Traffic Court Building.[citation needed] The Brutalist architecture did not permit a reasonable angle or height from which to film; instead, the band was placed on top of the trailer of an 18-wheeler transport truck. Cameras situated on mechanical arms, and at a distance across the street, were used to film the dramatic concert shots. These scenes are interspersed with cuts of underground transgender performer Goddess Bunny (aka Sandie Crisp) dancing in a yellow, sequined dress, similar to that worn by Twiggy Ramirez in the same video.[9][10] The costumes for the video, including the dresses and Marilyn Manson's red, diamond-patterned boots (which featured a 6-inch sole and heel) were designed jointly by Manson and Terri King.[citation needed] The Goddess Bunny's custom couture sequin gown (worn for the video and the live MTV awards performance), was designed and hand sewn by Kris Hendrickson Testanier of San Francisco.[citation needed]
The video reached number 16 on MuchMusic's "50 Most Controversial Videos", for Manson's shocking appearance. The video is available on a DVD included with some editions of
An alternate version of the video just featuring Manson and various close ups was released on the old Marilyn Manson website Marilyn Manson.net prior to the official release. Parts of this first video can be seen in the finished video.
Reception
Critical reception
Barry Walters of
Accolades
"The Dope Show" was nominated for
Formats and track listings
"The Dope Show" and "The Beautiful People" written by
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Personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Mechanical Animals and "The Dope Show".[17][18]
- Sean Beavan – engineering and additional production ("The Dope Show"); engineering and mixing (live tracks)
- Michael Beinhorn – production
- Melora Creager – backing vocals ("Apple of Sodom")
- Ginger Fish – drums (live tracks only)
- Madonna Wayne Gacy – piano
- Tom Lord-Alge – mixing ("The Dope Show")
- Marilyn Manson – vocals, electronic drums, production, artwork and illustration
- Twiggy Ramirez – lead, rhythm and bass guitars
- Zim Zum – guitar (live tracks only)
Charts
Chart (1998) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[19] | 20 |
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[20] | 17 |
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[21] | 14 |
Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[22] | 3 |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[23] | 4 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[24] | 63 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[25] | 28 |
Scotland (OCC)[26] | 16 |
Spanish Airplay (AFYVE)[27] | 36 |
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[28] | 53 |
12 | |
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[30] | 15 |
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[31] | 12 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Sweden (GLF)[32] | Gold | 15,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Notes
References
- ISBN 0313329818.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Marilyn Manson - The Last Tour on Earth". AllMusic. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
- ^ Gerard, Chris (April 21, 2021). "The 100 Greatest Alternative Singles of the '90s: 60 - 41". PopMatters. p. 4. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
- ^ Boehm, Mike (March 12, 1999). "'Mechanical' Reaction". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 6, 2014. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
- ^ a b Hochman, Steve (August 16, 1998). "Marilyn Manson Aims to Change Tide of the Mainstream". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 18, 2016. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
- ^ Day, Laurence (March 1, 2018). "Coming Of Age: 20 Songs Turning 20 In 2018". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
- ^ Kaufman, Gil (August 3, 1998). "Marilyn Manson, Hole Tunes Leaked On Radio, Net". MTV News. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
- ^ "Marilyn Manson – "The dope show"". mvdbase.com. Retrieved September 15, 2011.
- ^ Cook, Michael (January 30, 2021). "Trans Disabled Cult Icon The Goddess Bunny Passes Away At 61". Instinct. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
- ^ "32 Most Outrageous MTV VMAs Moments". Rolling Stone. August 30, 2020. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
- ^ Walters, Barry (September 22, 1998). "Who's Beautiful Now?". The Village Voice. Retrieved March 9, 2011.
- ^ a b "The 88 Best Alternative Rock Songs of 1998". Spin. Valence Media. October 25, 2018. Archived from the original on January 6, 2019. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- ^ "41st Annual Grammy Awards – 1999". Rock On The Net. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
- ^ "Spin End Of Year Lists 1998". Rock List. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
- ^ "1999 MTV Video Music Awards". Rock On The Net. Rock On The Net. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
- ^ "This Day in Music". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. November 6, 2007. Archived from the original on September 20, 2014. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
- ^ Mechanical Animals (liner notes). Marilyn Manson. Interscope Records. 1998. INTD–90273.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ The Dope Show (liner notes). Marilyn Manson. Interscope Records. 1998. INTDS–95599.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Marilyn Manson – The Dope Show". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
- Ultratip. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4659". RPM. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
- ^ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 10572". RPM. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
- ^ "Tipparade-lijst van week 48, 1998". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
- ^ "Marilyn Manson – The Dope Show" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
- ^ "Marilyn Manson – The Dope Show". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
- ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- ^ "Marilyn Manson – The Dope Show". Singles Top 100. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
- ^ "Marilyn Manson Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
- ^ "Marilyn Manson Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
- ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2011. Retrieved April 21, 2019.