Today (The Smashing Pumpkins song)
"Today" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by the Smashing Pumpkins | ||||
from the album Siamese Dream | ||||
B-side |
| |||
Released | September 13, 1993 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:22 | |||
Label | Virgin | |||
Songwriter(s) | Billy Corgan | |||
Producer(s) |
| |||
The Smashing Pumpkins singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Today" on YouTube |
"Today" is a song by American
"Today" was released in September 1993 as the second single from the band's second album and
Background and recording
After the release and minor success of the band's debut album,
"Today" was the first song Corgan wrote for Siamese Dream.[4] Corgan said, "The day after I wrote 'Today', my manager heard it and said, 'It's a hit', and I guess in a way, it was."[7] Corgan played the self-recorded demo to producer Butch Vig and to the rest of his band, all of whom responded positively.[4] "Today" already had a chord progression and a melody, but Corgan felt there needed to be an opening riff to the song. One day, "out of the blue, I heard the opening lick note for note in my head", Corgan said. "When I added the opening riff, it completely changed the character of the song. Suddenly, I had a song that was starting out quiet and then got very loud."[8] Soon afterwards, Virgin Records executives were sent to check up on the band after hearing about their problems, but were pleased with the demo.[4] The reaction from the executives only served to put more stress on Corgan;[5] as a result, he recorded most of the guitar and bass guitar parts himself, including on the finished version of "Today".[4]
Siamese Dream was completed after running four months after the deadline and considerably exceeding its budget.[4] Virgin Records executives saw "Today" as the ideal lead single, but Corgan wanted "Cherub Rock", one of the last songs written for the album,[5] as the lead single.[4] Ultimately, "Cherub Rock" was released first, but it was only a modest success.[4] "Today" brought the band popularity through wide radio airplay and a successful music video.[4]
Composition and lyrics
"Today" is written in the key of E-flat major (E♭) and its guitar parts are played in standard tuning. While Corgan briefly considered tuning the guitar down a half-step and playing the song with the fingerings and positions of E major, he said, "There was something about the E♭ voicing that I liked. So it's absolutely, intentionally in E♭, not E."[9] "Today" is one of the Siamese Dream songs on which Corgan took over Iha and Wretzky's duties on guitar and bass to ensure quality; Wretzky later stated that Corgan "can do something in three takes where it would maybe take me 20".[4]
The song, spanning three minutes and 21 seconds, begins with a one-measure opening guitar riff that alludes to the E♭ major-
The dark, ironic lyrics of "Today", describing a day when Corgan was feeling depressed and suicidal, contrast with the instrumentation.[10] Michael Snyder of the San Francisco Chronicle said that the song is "downright pretty as rock ballads go" but that "Corgan manages to convey the exhilaration and tragic release he seeks."[11] Corgan told Rolling Stone that "I was really suicidal ... I just thought it was funny to write a song that said today is the greatest day of your life because it can't get any worse."[12] Corgan later compared writing the lyrics of "Today" and "Disarm" to "ripping [his] guts out".[6]
Music video
The music video, directed by Stéphane Sednaoui, brought even more mainstream success to the band through repeated airplay on MTV.[4] Debuting in September 1993, it was shot with low quality photographic equipment, which, like several other early Pumpkins videos, was an intentional stylistic decision.[13] Corgan said that the video's plot was inspired by a memory he had of an ice cream truck driver who, upon quitting his job, gave out the rest of his ice cream to the neighborhood children.[14] This image was then melded with Sednaoui's own sensibilities inspired by the film Zabriskie Point.[14] The video is available on The Smashing Pumpkins – Greatest Hits Video Collection (1991–2000) DVD, released in 2001.
The video begins with Corgan reading a comic book dressed in an ice cream man uniform. A clip of the intro to the song is played and stopped repeatedly before the song begins. Groups of two or more people are kissing each other around him as he drives in an ice cream van through a desert. Corgan picks up a dress-wearing Iha and the two drive for a while before stopping at a gas station, where Chamberlin and Wretzky appear as gas attendants. After Iha changes into a yellow and white cowboy outfit, the band paints the van in various colors. More people are shown kissing in the hills as the band drives away from the gas station in the van. However, Corgan is ultimately kicked out, and the video ends with him walking off the road wearing a cowboy hat as the van drives away. The video was filmed on August 29, 1993.[14] The opening shots were filmed outside the Taft Hardware • Wilsons building located at 331 Center Street, Taft, CA, 93268, on the 4th street side of the building.[15]
Reception
"Today" has received generally positive reviews. Ned Raggett of AllMusic called the song an "at-once storming but catchy smash single".[10] Johnny Black of Blender noted that the song "has achieved a remarkable status as one of the defining songs of its generation".[4] Robert Christgau cited "Today" as one of the highlights of Siamese Dream.[16] However, Stylus Magazine's Brett Hickman said "nothing can make 'Today' sound fresh again [on the live album Earphoria, which this particular review is of]. This is a prime example of the power that radio and MTV have in ruining a great song."[17] "Today" topped Eye Weekly magazine's year-end list of best singles,[18] and also appeared at number 32 on NME's year-end list of best singles.[19]
"Today" was one of the most successful early singles by the Smashing Pumpkins, and additionally has been recognized as one of the songs that brought the Pumpkins into the mainstream. The song was, at the time of its release, the highest-charting song by the band, peaking at number four on the
Accolades
Publication | Country | Accolade | Year | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Eye Weekly | Canada | Singles of the Year[18] | 1993 | 1 |
NME | UK | Singles of the Year[19] | 1993 | 32 |
Blender | U.S. | The Greatest Songs Ever![4] | 2001 | * |
Q | UK | The 1001 Best Songs Ever (2003)[24] | 2003 | 462 |
97X | U.S. | The 500 Best Modern Rock Songs of All Time[25] | 2006 | 63 |
(*) designates unordered lists.
Other releases
"Today" has appeared on several Smashing Pumpkins official releases, including the band's greatest hits album Rotten Apples and the
"Today" has been included in a few compilation albums. The eighteenth volume of Indie Top 20, a Melody Maker-sponsored compilation series which serves as a "time capsule of U.K. indie music", features "Today" as its fourth track.[29] The song appears on a two-disc MTV Dutch import, Rock Am Ring, a collection of hit singles from the early 1990s.[30]
Cover versions
The song has been
Formats and track listings
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Today" | 3:22 |
2. | "Hello Kitty Kat" | 4:32 |
3. | "Obscured" | 5:20 |
Total length: | 13:14 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Today" | 3:22 |
2. | "Apathy's Last Kiss" | 2:42 |
Total length: | 6:04 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Today" | 3:22 |
2. | "Hello Kitty Kat" | 4:32 |
3. | "Obscured" | 5:20 |
4. | "French Movie Theme" | 3:50 |
5. | "Apathy's Last Kiss" | 2:43 |
Total length: | 19:47 |
Personnel
- Jimmy Chamberlin – drums
- Billy Corgan – guitars, bass guitar,[4] vocals, production
- Bob Ludwig – mastering engineer
- Butch Vig – production
Charts
Chart (1993–1994) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[47] | 57 |
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[48] | 82 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[49] | 27 |
44 | |
US | 56 |
US | 3 |
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[53] | 4 |
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[54] | 28 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[55] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
United Kingdom | September 13, 1993 |
|
[56] | |
Japan | January 26, 1994 | CD | [57] |
References
- ^ Ankeny, Jason. "Today [7" Vinyl Version] - Smashing Pumpkins | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on March 3, 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
- ^ Danaher, Michael (August 4, 2014). "The 50 Best Grunge Songs". Paste. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Smashing Pumpkins – Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Black, Johnny (December 2001 – January 2002). "The Greatest Songs Ever! Today". Blender. Archived from the original on February 2, 2007. Retrieved April 9, 2007.
- ^ a b c Thompson, Dave. "Local Geek Makes Good". Creem. January/February 1994.
- ^ a b Shepherd, Julianne (June 13, 2005). "Interviews: Billy Corgan". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
- ^ Corgan, Billy. "Guitar Geek USA [column]". Guitar World. February 1996.
- ^ a b Corgan, Billy. "Guitar Geek USA [column]". Guitar World. August 1995.
- ^ a b c d e Aledort, Andrew. "Introduction", in Siamese Dream Songbook. Miami: Warner Bros. Publications, 1994.
- ^ a b c d Raggett, Ned. "Today (review)". AllMusic. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
- ^ Synder, Michael. "Pumpkins' Smashing Success". San Francisco Chronicle. October 20, 1993.
- ^ Azzerad, Michael. "Smashing Pumpkins' Sudden Impact". Rolling Stone. October 1993.
- ^ Jacobson, Colin. "The Smashing Pumpkins 1991-2000: Greatest Hits Video Collection (2000)". DVDMG.com. Retrieved August 6, 2007.
- ^ a b c Commentary for "Today" music video. The Smashing Pumpkins 1991–2000: Greatest Hits Video Collection. Virgin Records, 2001.
- ^ ""Today" video filming location Found". Reddit. September 10, 2018. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
- ^ Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: Smashing Pumpkins". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved April 22, 2007.
- ^ Hickman, Brett (September 1, 2003). "Smashing Pumpkins—Earphoria". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on December 8, 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2007.
- ^ a b "Eye Weekly". rocklistmusic.co.uk. Retrieved August 26, 2007.
- ^ a b "1993 NME Lists". rocklistmusic.co.uk. Retrieved August 26, 2007.
- ^ a b "The Smashing Pumpkins Artist Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2007.
- ^ "Official Charts > Smashing Pumpkins". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
- ^ Tallis, Dan. "The Smashing Pumpkins, Greatest Hits {Rotten Apples}". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved April 9, 2007.
- ^ Sylvester, Nick. "Pitchfork Feature: Top 100 Albums of the 1990s". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on December 29, 2010. Retrieved May 2, 2007.
- ^ "Q - 1001 best songs ever (2003)". muzieklijstjes.nl. Retrieved August 26, 2007.
- ^ "The 2006 WOXY.com Modern Rock 500". woxy.com. Archived from the original on August 24, 2007. Retrieved August 26, 2007.
- ^ "Entertainment Briefs". Chicago Sun-Times. April 17, 2006.
- Pitchfork Media. Retrieved April 11, 2007.
- ^ Prato, Greg. "Unplugged: 100% Pure Acoustic Performances". AllMusic. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
- ^ Kellman, Andy. "Indie Top 20, Vol. 18". AllMusic. Archived from the original on March 6, 2015. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
- ^ Huey, Steve. "Rock Am Ring". AllMusic. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
- ^ Huey, Steve. "A Gothic Industrial Tribute to the Smashing Pumpkins". AllMusic. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
- ^ Loftus, Johnny. "Midnight in the Patch: Tribute to Smashing Pumpkins". AllMusic. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
- ^ Prato, Greg. "Smashing Pumpkins Tribute: The Killer in You". AllMusic. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
- ^ "Ghost Children 2: Friends And Enemies – A Tribute to SP". Act4.net. Retrieved August 7, 2007.
- ^ "Dragon Ash: Grateful Days". SPFC.org. Retrieved February 3, 2008.
- ^ "Homeless Tunes". homelesstunes.com. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013.
- ^ DeVille, Chris (December 8, 2015). "Watch Deerhunter Reinterpret Smashing Pumpkins' "Today" While Asking Billy Corgan Not To Sue". Stereogum. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
- ^ Lavin, Will (July 23, 2020). "Fruit Bats share breezy cover of Smashing Pumpkins' 'Today'". NME. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
- ^ Minsker, Evan (July 30, 2020). "A. G. Cook Announces New 49-Song Album 7G". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
- ^ "Apple vs. 7G (Silver Edition), by A. G. Cook". A. G. Cook. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
- ^ Knight, Rosie (June 2, 2021). "There's Meaning In Every '90s Song You've Heard On Cruel Summer". Refinery 29. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
- ^ The Smashing Pumpkins (1993). Today (UK CD single liner notes). Hut Recordings, Virgin Records. HUTCD 37, 0170 465018 2 8.
- ^ The Smashing Pumpkins (1993). Today (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Hut Recordings, Virgin Records. HUTT 37, 0170 465018 6 6.
- ^ The Smashing Pumpkins (1993). Today (UK cassette single sleeve). Hut Recordings, Virgin Records. HUTC 37, 0170 465018 2 8.
- ^ The Smashing Pumpkins (1993). Today (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Hut Recordings, Virgin Records. HUT 37.
- ^ The Smashing Pumpkins (1994). Today (Japanese CD single liner notes). Hut Recordings, Virgin Records. VJCP-14047.
- ^ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart — Week Ending 27 Nov 1994". ARIA. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2389." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
- ^ "The Smashing Pumpkins – Today". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
- ^ "Smashing Pumpkins: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
- ^ "Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
- ^ "Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
- ^ "Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
- ^ "Smashing Pumpkins Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
- ^ "British single certifications – Smashing Pumpkins – Today". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
- ^ "Single Releases". Music Week. September 11, 1993. p. 23.
- ^ "トゥデイ | スマッシング・パンプキンズ" [Today | Smashing Pumpkins] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
External links
- "Today" Official music video on YouTube