Blister in the Sun

Last updated
"Blister in the Sun"
Blister in the Sun.jpg
Promotional single by Violent Femmes
from the album Violent Femmes and Grosse Pointe Blank OST
Released1997
RecordedJuly 1982
Studio Castle Recording Studios, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Genre
Length2:27
Label Slash
Songwriter(s) Gordon Gano
Producer(s) Mark Van Hecke
Violent Femmes singles chronology
"Tonight"
(1995)
"Blister in the Sun"
(1997)
"All I Want"
(2000)

"Blister in the Sun" is a song by American rock band Violent Femmes, originally released on their 1983 self-titled debut album. It was later released as a promo single in 1997 after its inclusion in the film Grosse Pointe Blank . A live promo single was released in 1999 in promotion of the live album Viva Wisconsin .

Contents

Background

"Blister in the Sun" was written by Violent Femmes vocalist Gordon Gano. The drum lick was written by Victor DeLorenzo; the song was his first performance with the band. [4]

Gano originally wrote the song for a female vocalist. [5]

Lyrics

The lyrics to "Blister in the Sun" reference drug use. After the song was released, a misinterpretation arose that the lyrics were about masturbation. [5] [4] In a 2013 interview with The Village Voice , Gano said:

I don’t think there’s a whole lot to understand with the lyrics. In fact, it was maybe 10 or 15 years later, when somebody was asking me about that song and said something like, “Well, you know… You know what that song’s about.” I’m like, “No. What are you talking about?” “Well everybody knows. You wrote it.” I’m like, “What?” And they told me the song was about masturbation. I had never thought of that. [6]

Track listing

1997 promo single
No.TitleLength
1."Blister in the Sun"2:07
2."Blister 2000"2:57
1999 promo single
No.TitleLength
1."Blister in the Sun" (Live)2:31

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [7] Silver200,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Other versions and use in media

The song was featured in the 17th episode of teen drama series My So-Called Life . [8]

In 1997, the song was featured prominently in the film Grosse Pointe Blank . John Cusack had initially requested an updated version of the song, which led to the band recording a new, slower arrangement that featured saxophones, strings and other instruments. This version of the song was dubbed "Blister 2000". However, Cusack eventually decided he wanted to include the original version of the song as well. Because the original master tapes of the band's debut album had long been disposed of, they decided to record a new version of the original 1983 arrangement. [9] Both these versions were released as part of a promotional CD single in 1997. Neither of these rerecorded versions appear in the actual film, although a new music video, directed by Evan Bernard, was created for the new recording of the 1983 arrangement. It features Gordon Gano as a deranged assassin trying to kill Socks the cat in puppet form, interspersed with clips from the film. [4]

A cover by mxmtoon is played in the 2021 video game Life Is Strange: True Colors . [10]

In February 2021, the song was covered by drag queen and singer Trixie Mattel for her extended play Full Coverage, Vol. 1 . [11]

Legacy

In 2005, "Blister in the Sun" became the first English-language track to ever be allowed on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, the Republic of Ireland Irish-language radio station, after having been selected by listeners for the event. [12]

In August 2007, Gordon Gano was the subject of a lawsuit brought by bassist Brian Ritchie, which stemmed partly from Gano's authorization of the use of "Blister" in a Wendy's commercial. [13] This disagreement caused the band to disband until their reunion in 2013. [6]

Notes

  1. "From Nirvana to Rush: 33 of the greatest trios in music". Far Out Magazine . January 2021. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  2. "10 Essential American post-punk albums". Treble. November 13, 2014. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  3. Gerard, Chris (April 5, 2021). "The 100 Best Alternative Singles of the 1980s: 100 - 81". PopMatters . p. 3. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 Martoccio, Angie (November 13, 2019). "The Breakdown: Violent Femmes' 'Blister in the Sun'". Rolling Stone Australia .
  5. 1 2 Patton, Alli (November 8, 2022). "The Long-Misinterpreted Meaning Behind "Blister in the Sun" by Violent Femmes". American Songwriter. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  6. 1 2 Grow, Kory (September 12, 2013). ""Blister in the Sun" Is Not About Masturbation: A Talk With Violent Femmes". The Village Voice. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  7. "British single certifications – Violent Femmes – Blister in the Sun". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  8. Martoccio, Angie (November 13, 2019). "The Breakdown: Violent Femmes' 'Blister in the Sun'". Rolling Stone . Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  9. Olson, Catherine (1997). Billboard Magazine. Billboard. p. 14.
  10. Rincon, Skyy (9 September 2021). "mxmtoon Unveils New Life Is Strange: True Colors EP Featuring Covers Of Radiohead and Violent Femmes". Mxdwn.
  11. Moran, Justin (February 5, 2021). "Trixie Mattel Takes on Violent Femmes". Paper . Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  12. "Anocht FM Celebrates 5 Years on Air". Archived from the original on May 3, 2010. Retrieved February 20, 2012.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  13. Drever, Andrew. "From courtroom to new album: Bust-ups just part of Violent Femmes attraction". The Sydney Morning Herald .

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Violent Femmes</span> American rock band

Violent Femmes are an American folk punk band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The band consists of founding members Gordon Gano and Brian Ritchie, joined by multi-instrumentalist Blaise Garza, and drummer John Sparrow. Former members of the band include drummers Victor DeLorenzo, Guy Hoffman (1993–2002), and Brian Viglione (2013–2016). Violent Femmes are considered to be an integral part of the then-underground folk punk and alternative rock scenes of the 1980s, and remain influential or inspirational to the subsequent movements, particularly on folk rock, indie rock, grunge, pop punk, emo, and the late 1980s and 1990s alternative rock scene.

<i>Violent Femmes</i> (album) 1983 studio album by Violent Femmes

Violent Femmes is the debut album by Violent Femmes. Mostly recorded in July 1982, the album was released by Slash Records on vinyl and on cassette in April 1983, and on CD in 1987, with two extra tracks, "Ugly" and "Gimme the Car".

<i>Why Do Birds Sing?</i> 1991 studio album by Violent Femmes

Why Do Birds Sing? is the fifth studio album by Violent Femmes, released on April 30, 1991. It was the band's last album with original drummer Victor DeLorenzo, who left two years later to devote his time to acting, and was produced by Michael Beinhorn, best-known then for his work with the Red Hot Chili Peppers on Mother's Milk and The Uplift Mofo Party Plan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louise Attaque</span> French rock music group

Louise Attaque is a French chanson/folk rock band founded in 1994. Several of the group's albums were produced by Gordon Gano, lead singer of Violent Femmes, a band whom Louise Attaque often cites as an influence and for whom their own band is named. The band is signed to the Atmosphériques record label.

Guy Hoffman is a drummer and vocalist, formerly of such bands as Oil Tasters, BoDeans, Violent Femmes and Absinthe. He is a composer for such films as Field Day and a founding member of Radio Romeo.

<i>Grosse Pointe Blank</i> 1997 American film

Grosse Pointe Blank is a 1997 American black comedy film directed by George Armitage from a screenplay by Tom Jankiewicz, D. V. DeVincentis, Steve Pink and John Cusack. It stars Cusack, Minnie Driver, Alan Arkin and Dan Aykroyd and follows the story of assassin Martin Q. Blank (Cusack), who returns to his hometown of Grosse Pointe, Michigan to attend a high school reunion. The film's score was composed by Joe Strummer, former member of the punk rock band the Clash; the film's soundtrack contains a number of popular and alternative punk rock, ska and new wave songs.

<i>Hallowed Ground</i> (Violent Femmes album) 1984 studio album by Violent Femmes

Hallowed Ground is the second studio album by Violent Femmes, released on May 14, 1984. Like the band's first album, the songs were mostly written by singer/guitarist/lyricist Gordon Gano when he was in high school. "Country Death Song", for example, written by Gano during his high school classes, was inspired by the tradition of folk songs about "terrible, horrific stories". A departure from the straightforward rock style of their debut, Hallowed Ground was considerably divisive amongst fans and critics, with many at the time incorrectly thinking Gano's Christian lyrics were ironic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coyote (song)</span> 1977 single by Joni Mitchell

"Coyote" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell from her eighth album Hejira (1976). It was released as the album's lead single.

<i>The Blind Leading the Naked</i> 1986 studio album by Violent Femmes

The Blind Leading the Naked is the third album by Violent Femmes. It was produced by Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads and released in 1986. The title is a play on the figure of speech "the blind leading the blind."

<i>3</i> (Violent Femmes album) 1989 studio album by Violent Femmes

3 is the fourth studio album by U.S. punk-folk band Violent Femmes.

<i>Freak Magnet</i> 2000 studio album by Violent Femmes

Freak Magnet is a studio album by Violent Femmes, released in 2000. It contains the single "Sleepwalkin'".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gordon Gano</span> Musical artist

Gordon James Gano is an American musician who is the singer, guitarist and songwriter of American folk punk band Violent Femmes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lost Bayou Ramblers</span> Cajun music band from Louisiana

Lost Bayou Ramblers is a Cajun music band from Pilette, Louisiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gone Daddy Gone</span> 1983 single by Violent Femmes

"Gone Daddy Gone" is a song written by Gordon Gano and originally recorded by his group Violent Femmes as the first single for their first album, Violent Femmes.

"Add It Up" is a song by American rock band Violent Femmes, released on their 1983 debut album Violent Femmes.

This is the discography of Violent Femmes, a Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based alternative rock group, which consists of 10 studio albums, 19 singles, five live albums and four compilation albums, in addition to a number of miscellaneous appearances on soundtracks and compilations featuring various artists. This list does not include solo material by any of the bands' members.

"Must Be Santa" is a Christmas song written by Hal Moore and Bill Fredericks and first released in November 1960 by Mitch Miller on Columbia 41814. A cover version by Tommy Steele reached Number 40 on the UK Singles Chart a year later. Another cover, by Joan Regan made number 42 a week later.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trixie Mattel</span> American drag queen and musician (born 1989)

Brian Michael Firkus, better known by the stage name Trixie Mattel, is an American drag queen, television personality, and singer-songwriter originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is known for her exaggerated, high-camp, 1960s-influenced style, distinctive eye makeup, and her blend of comedy, acoustic pop and folk-country music; Mattel sings and plays guitar and the autoharp. In 2015, she competed on the seventh season of the drag reality television competition RuPaul's Drag Race, placing sixth. In 2018, she went on to win the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trixie Mattel discography</span>

The discography of American drag queen, singer-songwriter, and comedian Trixie Mattel consists of four studio albums, five extended plays, one compilation album, 17 singles, and 17 music videos.

<i>Full Coverage, Vol. 1</i> 2021 EP by Trixie Mattel

Full Coverage, Vol. 1 is an extended play (EP) by Trixie Mattel, released on April 30, 2021. The four-track collection includes cover versions of songs by Lana Del Rey, Violent Femmes, Cher, and Johnny Cash. Orville Peck is featured on the duet "Jackson".