Emotion Sickness

Last updated
"Emotion Sickness"
Song by Silverchair
from the album Neon Ballroom
Released8 March 1999
Genre Alternative rock
Length6:01
Label Murmur, Epic
Songwriter(s) Daniel Johns
Producer(s) Nick Launay

"Emotion Sickness" is a song by the Australian alternative rock band Silverchair. It was released as the first song on their 1999 album Neon Ballroom . At 6 minutes long, it is the band's third-longest song. Australian pianist David Helfgott makes a guest appearance on the song, [1] along with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. [2] In a 1999 interview with Metal Hammer, Daniel Johns said that "Emotion Sickness" is his favorite Silverchair song. [3]

Contents

Although the song is not typical of Silverchair's work, "Emotion Sickness" is a fan favorite. [4]

Background

For "Emotion Sickness", the band's frontman, Daniel Johns, wanted "a really manic and broken piano part to break up the album". [5] The band's management had the idea to call Australian pianist David Helfgott, who also shared the same lawyer with Silverchair, and the band agreed without hesitation. "Daniel wanted a manic piano part. It suited the song. He wanted it so it wasn't typical - didn't want something that was nice and kinda polished. He wanted something that was manic and off-chords. David Helfgott was the perfect man for the job", bassist Chris Joannou said. [2] The Sydney Symphony Orchestra is also featured in the song. [2]

Daniel Johns said about the song:

It's about fighting against the need to get some kind of medication and trying to pretend that you've got a normal state of mind when you know for a fact that you haven't." [6]

Music video

The music video was directed by Cate Anderson, who also directed the video for "Ana's Song". [7] It features Australian actor Dai Paterson.

Reception

Neva Chonin of Rolling Stone called the song "mopey" and said that when the song's last words are "lessons learned," "it’s hard to suppress a sigh at the overt lyrical reference to Kurt Cobain's 'Dumb'". Chonin also called the orchestration lavish. [8]

Covers

The song was covered by the rock band Storm the Sky (also from Australia) on the 2017 Silverchair cover album Spawn (Again). [9] [10] [11] [12]

Personnel

Additional personnel

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References

  1. ↑ McFarlane, 'silverchair' entry. Archived from the original on 19 April 2004. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 Grant, Eric (April 1999). "The Ballistic Rebirth of Silverchair". Watch Magazine.
  3. ↑ "20 Questions with Silverchair". Metal Hammer. May 1999.
  4. ↑ Songfacts. "Emotion Sickness by Silverchair - Songfacts". www.songfacts.com.
  5. ↑ "Silverchair Interview with K-ROCK New York". April 1999.
  6. ↑ "Silverchair - Press - "Emotion Sickness" - Silverchair's Daniel Johns Delves Deep into his Heart of Darkness and Returns with "Neon Ballroom"". www.chairpage.com.
  7. ↑ "Ana's Song by Silverchair". Song Facts. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  8. ↑ Chonin, Neva (18 March 1999). "[Neon Ballroom review]". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  9. ↑ Newstead, Al (13 November 2017). "First Spin: The Amity Affliction cover Silverchair's 'Tomorrow'". triple j.
  10. ↑ "Northlane, The Amity Affliction & More Unite For Silverchair Tribute Album". Music Feeds. 12 October 2017.
  11. ↑ "UNFD Presents Spawn (Again): A Tribute To Silverchair Feat. The Amity Affliction, Northlane + More". 12 October 2017. Archived from the original on 20 December 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  12. ↑ "The Amity Affliction, Tonight Alive, more to appear on Silverchair tribute album". Alternative Press . 12 October 2017.
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