100% (Sonic Youth song)

Last updated
"100%"
Sonic Youth 100 percent.jpg
Single by Sonic Youth
from the album Dirty
B-side
  • "Crème Brûlée"
  • "Genetic"
  • "Hendrix Necro"
ReleasedJuly 1992 (1992-07)
RecordedEarly 1992
Studio Magic Shop, New York City
Genre
Length2:28
Label DGC
Songwriter(s) Sonic Youth
Producer(s)
Sonic Youth singles chronology
"Dirty Boots"
(1991)
"100%"
(1992)
"Youth Against Fascism"
(1992)
Music video
"100%" on YouTube

"100%" is a song by American rock band Sonic Youth from their seventh studio album Dirty (1992). It was released as the lead single from the album in July 1992, by DGC. Written by Sonic Youth, the song discusses the murder of Joe Cole, a friend of the band who was killed in an armed robbery on December 19, 1991.

Contents

Recording

The song was recorded and produced in early 1992 at Magic Shop in New York City by Butch Vig and Sonic Youth. [1] Vig also engineered the song, with assistance from Edward Douglas.

Critical reception

Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune praised the song's "garage-rock power chords", in addition to designating it as "a great single". [2] Dele Fadele of NME said the song "sets the tone perfectly for Dirty's loving seedy, political and romantic take on classic rock n roll - an Exile On Main Street for the '90s". [3] Scott Hreha of Pitchfork spoke positively of the confrontational lyrical content of "100%", describing the song, alongside "JC", as "elegiac tributes to murdered friends". [4] Uncut praised the radio-friendly nature of the song, referring to it as "contagious grunge-pop". [5]

Chart performance

In the United States, "100%” debuted at number 22 on the Alternative Airplay chart for the issue dated July 18, 1992. [6] Within five weeks, the song reached its peak position of number four, becoming Sonic Youth's highest charting song on the chart. [6] The song spent a total of 13 weeks on the chart. [6]

Music video

The music video for "100%" was directed by Tamra Davis and Spike Jonze, and shot in Los Angeles. Much of the video footage was shot by Jonze while riding on a skateboard, following others in the streets (including then-skateboarder, now-actor Jason Lee). The video also alluded to the shooting death of Cole, but is not specifically about him, and more about friendship between two skateboarders. Sonic Youth is shown playing a house party throughout the film. Kim Gordon plays a yellow Fender bass guitar, which she borrowed from actor Keanu Reeves. [7] [8]

Ban

In the music video, Kim Gordon dons a counterfeit The Rolling Stones T-shirt with the phrase “Eat me” written across the front. [9] This phrase was deemed as too obscene for MTV, resulting in the video being banned from the network. [9] Gordon responded to the banning: “It's a bootleg Rolling Stones shirt — the big mouth — and it said 'Eat me' on it. At the time, I just took it, like, ‘Well, that's confusing’, because they've obviously got, like, mostly naked women in their videos”. [9]

Live performances

On September 4, 1992, Sonic Youth performed the song on Late Night with David Letterman . [10]

Cover versions

“100%” was covered by Mantar on their fourth studio album, Grungetown Hooligans II (2020). [11] Matthis Van Der Meulen directed an accompanying music video, which acts as an homage to the original music video released by Sonic Youth. [11]

Track listings and formats

  1. "100%" (LP version) – 2:28
  2. "Crème Brûlée" (LP version) – 2:33
  3. "Genetic"  – 3:34
  4. "Hendrix Necro"  – 2:49
  1. "100%" (LP Version) – 2:28
  2. "Crème Brûlée" (LP version) – 2:33

Charts

Chart performance for "100%"
Chart (1992)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [17] 67
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [18] 30
UK Singles (OCC) [19] 28
US Alternative Airplay ( Billboard ) [6] 4

Related Research Articles

<i>Dirty</i> (Sonic Youth album) 1992 album by Sonic Youth

Dirty is the seventh full-length studio album and second double album by American rock band Sonic Youth, released on July 21, 1992, by DGC Records. The band recorded and co-produced the album with Butch Vig in early 1992 at the Magic Shop recording studios. The sound on Dirty was inspired by the popularity of grunge music at the time, and has been described by Billboard magazine as experimental rock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Spreads</span> 1994 single by the Stone Roses

"Love Spreads" is a song by British alternative rock group the Stone Roses, released on 21 November 1994 as the first single from their second album, Second Coming. The record reached number two on the UK Singles Chart, the highest peak for any song by the band, as well as number 55 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart and number 67 on the Canadian RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart. The single also reached the top 10 in Ireland and the top 20 in Sweden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Days Go By (Dirty Vegas song)</span> 2001 single by Dirty Vegas

"Days Go By" is the debut single of British electronic group Dirty Vegas, released in the United Kingdom on 7 May 2001 as the lead single from their self-titled debut album (2002). The song initially peaked at number 27 on the UK Singles Chart the same month. The single's artwork was done by American artist Richard Phillips.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dirty Harry (song)</span> 2005 single by Gorillaz featuring Bootie Brown

"Dirty Harry" is a song from British alternative rock virtual band Gorillaz' second studio album, Demon Days (2005).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Remind Me</span> 1992 single by Mary J. Blige

"You Remind Me" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mary J. Blige. It served as Blige's first single from her debut album, What's the 411? (1992). Written by Eric Milteer and produced by Dave "Jam" Hall, it was originally used on the soundtrack of 1991 comedy film Strictly Business. The song marked Blige's first top forty hit, reaching number twenty-nine on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Hot R&B Singles chart. The music video was released in 1992. The song also sampled Patrice Rushen’s 1982 song, ‘Remind Me’.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sonic Youth discography</span>

The discography of American rock band Sonic Youth comprises 15 studio albums, seven extended plays, three compilation albums, seven video releases, 21 singles, 46 music videos, ten releases in the Sonic Youth Recordings series, eight official bootlegs, and contributions to 16 soundtracks and other compilations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drunken Butterfly</span> 1993 single by Sonic Youth

"Drunken Butterfly" is a song by American rock band Sonic Youth from their seventh studio album, Dirty (1992). It was released as the fourth and final single from the album in August, 1993, by Geffen Records. The song was written and produced by Sonic Youth, with additional production provided by Butch Vig.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bull in the Heather</span> 1994 single by Sonic Youth

"Bull in the Heather" is a song by American alternative rock band Sonic Youth from their eighth studio album, Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star (1994). It was released to radio as the lead single from the album on April 19, 1994, by Geffen Records. The song was written collectively by Sonic Youth, and production was done by Butch Vig. According to band member Kim Gordon, the song is about "using passiveness as a form of rebellion."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dirty Boots</span> 1991 single by Sonic Youth

"Dirty Boots" is a song by the American rock band Sonic Youth from their sixth studio album, Goo (1990). It was released as the third and final single from the album in April, 1991, by DGC Records. The song was written and produced by Sonic Youth, with additional production from Nick Sansano and Ron Saint Germain. The single included five live tracks taken from a concert recorded on November 3, 1990 at University of California, Irvine's Crawford Hall in Irvine, California. The complete show was released in 2019 as "Live In Irvine 1990", with it being part of the Sonic Youth Archive series of digital releases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kool Thing</span> 1990 single by Sonic Youth

"Kool Thing" is a song by American rock band Sonic Youth, released in June 1990 in the United States and September 1990 in Europe, as the first single from their sixth studio album Goo. The song was inspired by an interview bassist/singer Kim Gordon conducted with LL Cool J for Spin. Although he is never mentioned by name, the song's lyrics contain several references to LL Cool J. Gordon's lyrics make reference to several of the rapper's works, including the single "I Can't Live Without My Radio" and the album Walking with a Panther. She also repeats the line "I don't think so", which appears in LL Cool J's "Going Back to Cali". Chuck D also contributed spoken vocals to the song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sugar Kane</span> Song by Sonic Youth

"Sugar Kane" is the third single from Sonic Youth's 1992 album Dirty. It was released in 1993 on DGC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cat Power discography</span>

The discography of American singer-songwriter Cat Power consists of eleven studio albums, one live album, four EPs, eleven commercial singles, twelve promotional singles, two singles as a featured artist, and numerous music videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">She Sells Sanctuary</span> 1985 single by the Cult

"She Sells Sanctuary" is a song by British rock band the Cult. It is from their second studio album, Love (1985), and was released as a single on 13 May 1985, peaking at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart in July of the same year. In March 2023, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) awarded the song a platinum certification for sales and streams of over 600,000. In January 1993, the song was re-released as "Sanctuary MCMXCIII" and experienced chart success once more, matching its original peak on the UK Singles Chart and entering the top 10 in New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anchorage (song)</span> 1988 single by Michelle Shocked

"Anchorage" is the debut single of American singer-songwriter Michelle Shocked, released as the lead single from her first studio album, Short Sharp Shocked (1988), in September 1988. The song peaked at number 66 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and also charted in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, reaching the top 75 in these countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Can We</span> 1997 single by SWV

"Can We" is a song by American R&B trio SWV featuring guest vocals from Missy Elliott and production by Timbaland and Elliott. The song was eventually included on SWV's third album, Release Some Tension (1997), but was originally a hit earlier in the year when it was included on the soundtrack to the 1997 film, Booty Call.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Out of the Sinking</span> 1994 single by Paul Weller

"Out of the Sinking" is a song by British singer-songwriter Paul Weller, released in 1994 by Go! Discs as the first single from his third solo album, Stanley Road (1995). Weller wrote the song and produced it with Brendan Lynch. The B-side to the single is a cover of the Beatles' "Sexy Sadie".

"Slow Motion" is an R&B and new jack swing song by American music group Color Me Badd from their debut album, C.M.B. (1991). It was released as the fifth single in May 1992. The song was remixed from the album version to add more funky elements to the music, and added a feature by Bootsy Collins for the single release. The song is about having sexual intercourse with a partner, and wanting to continue make love to them slowly all night long.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Saint (Thompson Twins song)</span> 1992 single by Thompson Twins

"The Saint" is a song from the British pop duo Thompson Twins, which was released in 1992 as the second single from eighth studio album Queer. The song was written and produced by Tom Bailey and Alannah Currie.

References

  1. Chick, Stevie (2007). Psychic confusion: the Sonic Youth story. London: Omnibus. ISBN   978-1-84449-931-1.
  2. "Sonic Boom". The Chicago Tribune . July 23, 1992. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  3. Fadele, Dele (July 18, 1992). "Sonic Youth – Dirty". NME . Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  4. Hreha, Scott (May 14, 2003). "Sonic Youth: Dirty: Deluxe Edition". Pitchfork . Retrieved April 17, 2013.
  5. "Sonic Youth – Dirty". Uncut (72): 114. May 2003. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Sonic Youth Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  7. Biography for Keanu Reeves at IMDb
  8. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine : "Sonic Youth - 100%". YouTube .
  9. 1 2 3 "Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon On Marriage, Music And Moving On". NPR . February 22, 2015. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  10. "Ten Unforgettable David Letterman Guest Moments". Newsweek . April 7, 2014. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  11. 1 2 Rosenberg, Axl (June 9, 2020). "Mantar Debut Sonic Youth Cover". MetalSucks . Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  12. 100% (United Kingdom 12" vinyl liner notes). Sonic Youth. DGC. 1992. DGCT 11.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. 100% (United Kingdom 10" vinyl liner notes). Sonic Youth. DGC. 1992. DGCV 11.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. 100% (Australian cassette liner notes). Sonic Youth. DGC. 1992. DGCCS19077.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. 100% (United States CD single liner notes). Sonic Youth. DGC. 1992. DGCDM-21735.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. 100% (United Kingdom 7" vinyl liner notes). Sonic Youth. DGC. 1992. GES 19077.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 260.
  18. "Sonic Youth – 100%". Top 40 Singles.
  19. "Sonic Youth: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 13, 2021.