| "36 Degrees" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Placebo | ||||
| from the album Placebo | ||||
| Released | 16 September 1996 [1] | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock, pop punk | |||
| Label | Virgin | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Placebo (Stefan Olsdal, Brian Molko and Robert Schultzberg) | |||
| Producer(s) | Brad Wood | |||
| Placebo singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"36 Degrees" is a song by British alternative rock band Placebo, released as the second single from their eponymous debut album. [2] It reached number 80 in the UK Singles Chart. [3]
There are various suggestions as to the meaning of the song, such as it relates to sexual preferences or it is to do with dying. Some state "36 Degrees" refers to the average human body temperature being generally accepted as 37 °C (99 °F), and that the narrator is dying, or losing the will to live after being dumped by a partner. Singer Brian Molko is stated to have said before a performance "The average body temperature is 37 degrees. This is a song called 36 Degrees", further adding to the speculation. However, the term "36 degrees" also means two people who are not getting on in urban slang; therefore the idea of the song being written for a break-up could well be true. The other numbers mentioned have been said to just be random, as "they just seemed to fit" according to Molko. [4]
The music video, directed by Chris Cunningham, was shot primarily in a scuba diving pool and shows band members performing the song underwater. Some scenes were shot in a swamp-like area and show Brian Molko singing the lyrics with just his head above the surface of the water. Later band members revealed that this video was extremely hard to shoot and they would never make one underwater again.
The song was part of the band's repertoire prior to the release of their debut album and it was a regular until the Sleeping with Ghosts tour. A re-worked version, performed at a much slower tempo, was debuted at the band's 10th anniversary show at Wembley Arena in 2004. This version was played during the band's 2005 South American tour and the early legs of the Meds tour. It was also released as a B-side to the "Because I Want You" and "Song to Say Goodbye" singles under the title "36 Degrees 2005". It continues to be performed in various arrangements into 2016.
Reviews of the song's performance during Placebo's MTV Unplugged concert stated that "'36 Degrees' (written by a 19-year-old Stefan and a 21-year-old Brian) becomes softer but it’s no less powerful as you’re drawn further into the lyrics of this song" [5] and "In this setting ["36 Degrees"] becomes unexpectedly lush, underpinned by disarmingly subtle waves of piano and strings". [6]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "36 Degrees" | |
| 2. | "Dark Globe (Syd Barrett cover)" | |
| 3. | "Hare Krishna" |
MTV Unplugged is an American television series on MTV. It showcases recorded live performances of popular music artists playing acoustic or "unplugged" variations of songs. The show aired regularly from 1989 to 1999. From 2000 to 2009, it aired less frequently and was usually billed as MTV Unplugged No. 2.0. Since 2009, MTV Unplugged specials have aired occasionally, sometimes through online or subscription only. Episodes and specials have tended to showcase one artist or group, playing a combination of their hit songs and covers.
Placebo are a British alternative rock band, formed in London in 1994 by vocalist–guitarist Brian Molko and bassist–guitarist Stefan Olsdal, and in late 1994 Robert Schultzberg joined as drummer. Molko was born in Belgium and Olsdal and Schultzberg in Sweden; Molko and Olsdal grew up in Luxembourg before separately relocating to London and becoming British citizens. Schultzberg left the band in 1996 shortly after the release of the band's eponymous debut album due to conflicts with Molko, and was replaced the same year by Steve Hewitt.
Brian Molko is a British-American musician who is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and lyricist of the band Placebo. He is known for his nasal vocals, feminine/androgynous appearance and aggressive guitar style and tunings.
Placebo is the debut studio album by British alternative rock band Placebo. It was released on 17 June 1996 by record label Virgin. It is the only album recorded with drummer Robert Schultzberg before his departure from the group.
Black Market Music is the third studio album by British alternative rock band Placebo. The album took nine months to record, from late-1999 to mid-2000; the longest that the band had ever spent recording an album until 2022's Never Let Me Go. It was released on 9 October 2000 by record label Hut.
"Pure Morning" is a song by British alternative rock band Placebo, released as the lead single from their second album, Without You I'm Nothing (1998), in August 1998. Along with "Nancy Boy", it is Placebo's highest-charting single on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number four. It was their highest charting single in the United States, reaching number 19 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. Elsewhere, the song reached the top 50 in Australia, Canada, Iceland, Ireland and New Zealand. In October 2017, the song was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).
"Song to Say Goodbye" is a song by English alternative rock band Placebo from their fifth studio album, Meds (2006). It was released on 6 March 2006 as the lead single from Meds in all territories outside of the United Kingdom, where "Because I Want You" was released as the lead single instead. The song was written by Steve Hewitt, Brian Molko and Stefan Olsdal, and produced by Dimitri Tikovoi. It develops around piano notes that repeat throughout it, and deals with heroin addiction and its influence on the relationships of the parties involved. The cover art features a blurred picture of vocalist Brian Molko.
Zoé is a Grammy Award and Latin Grammy Award-winning Mexican rock band. It was initially formed in Cuernavaca, Mexico in 1994, although membership started to stabilize in 1997. The band has achieved success in Mexico and most Spanish-speaking countries with albums such as Rocanlover, Memo Rex Commander y el Corazón Atómico de la Vía Láctea and Reptilectric.
Without You I'm Nothing is the second studio album by British alternative rock band Placebo. Recorded in mid-to-late 1998, it was released on 12 October 1998 by record labels Hut and Virgin Records.
"Wicked Garden" is a song by the American rock band Stone Temple Pilots that appears on their debut studio album, Core. The lyrics are about lost innocence and longing for youth. Despite the song never being released as a commercial single, it is still considered to be one of the band's biggest hits and appears on their live shows. The song's lyrics were written by Scott Weiland and the music was written by brothers Robert and Dean DeLeo. A promotional video also received regular rotation on MTV.
"Nancy Boy" is a song by British alternative rock band Placebo, released on 20 January 1997, as the fourth single from their debut self-titled album, released on Hut Records. As with their first single "Come Home", the single edit is a re-recorded version, noticeably different from the album version. "Nancy Boy" contains themes of drugs, sex, gender confusion and bisexuality. "Nancy Boy" became their breakthrough single, peaking at number four in the UK Singles Chart a month after the single's release. While Placebo charted at number forty upon its release, after the release of "Nancy Boy" the album re-entered the UK Albums Chart at number five in February, staying on chart for thirteen weeks.
"Come Home" is a song by English alternative rock band Placebo. It appears on the group's 1996 eponymous debut album and was released as the lead single from the album on 5 February 1996.
"Every You Every Me" is a song by British alternative rock band Placebo, released as the third single from their second album, Without You I'm Nothing, on 25 January 1999. It was released as a 2-CD set and on cassette, but promotional copies on 12-inch vinyl exist. The single managed to chart at number 46 in Australia, number 99 in Germany, and number 11 on the UK Singles Chart. There are two versions of the video, both filmed live at London's Brixton Academy; one includes clips from the film Cruel Intentions. An alternative video taking place at a casino was filmed in November 1998 but would not be released until 18 years later as part of the promotion for A Place for Us to Dream.
"Taste in Men" is a 2000 single by the English alternative rock band Placebo. Taken from their third album, Black Market Music, it reached number 16 in the UK singles chart.
"Slave to the Wage" is a song by English alternative rock band Placebo. It was released as a single from their third studio album, 2000's Black Market Music. It reached number 19 in the UK Singles Chart. The song, inspired by the drudgery of having a "9 to 5" job in the modern world, is about not working oneself into an early grave. Bob Dylan's "Maggie's Farm" is also mentioned in the lyrics. The song samples the intro of "Texas Never Whispers" by Pavement.
Slimmy, born Paulo Fernandes, is a Portuguese singer/songwriter who combines various genres of rock, especially electro rock. He has an irreverent visual look and an addictive musical style and has achieved mainstream success after an appearance on the Portuguese soap opera Morangos com Açúcar. His music has also appeared in one episode of CSI. His song, "Self Control," has been featured on Sky Sports.
Battle for the Sun is the sixth studio album by British alternative rock band Placebo. It was recorded in Canada in 2008 and released on 8 June 2009 by record label PIAS. It is their first album with new drummer Steve Forrest, following the departure of Steve Hewitt in 2007.
Loud Like Love is the seventh studio album by British alternative rock band Placebo, recorded between 2012 and 2013 and released on 16 September 2013.
MTV Unplugged is a live album by the English alternative rock band Placebo. It was released on 27 November 2015, in the formats of CD, DVD, Blu-ray, double vinyl, limited edition double vinyl picture disc, digital download and limited edition super deluxe box set. Recorded on 19 August 2015 at The London Studios, it is part of the MTV Unplugged series.
MTV Unplugged: Live at Roundhouse, London is the third live album and second video by Scottish alternative rock band Biffy Clyro. Recorded at the band's one-off acoustic show on 8 November 2017 at the Roundhouse in London as part of MTV Unplugged, it was released on 25 May 2018 by 14th Floor and Warner Bros. Records. The video was directed by Sam Wrench, produced by Sian Larkin & Executive Produced for MTV by Jeremy Davies and Albert Schilcher. The show won Best Live Concert at the 2018 UK Music Video Awards. Four recordings from the release were issued as digital download singles.
