Immortality (Pearl Jam song)

Last updated

"Immortality"
PJImmortality.jpg
Single by Pearl Jam
from the album Vitalogy
B-side "Rearviewmirror" (performed by The Frogs)
ReleasedJune 6, 1995
Studio
  • Southern Tracks, Atlanta, Georgia
  • Doppler, Atlanta, Georgia
  • Bad Animals, Seattle, Washington
Length5:18
Label Epic
Songwriter(s) Eddie Vedder
Producer(s) Brendan O'Brien, Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam singles chronology
"Not for You"
(1995)		"Immortality"
(1995)		"'Merkin Ball'"
(1995)
Audio sample

"Immortality" is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam, released on June 6, 1995, as the third single from the band's third studio album, Vitalogy (1994). Although credited to all members of Pearl Jam, it was primarily written by vocalist Eddie Vedder. The song peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The song was included on Pearl Jam's 2004 greatest hits album, rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991–2003) .

Contents

Lyrics

The lyrical interpretation of "Immortality" can be disputed, as many feel it may be about Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain's death, although vocalist Eddie Vedder has denied this. He stated:

No, that was written when we were on tour in Atlanta. It's not about Kurt. Nothing on the album was written directly about Kurt, and I don't feel like talking about him, because it [might be seen] as exploitation. But I think there might be some things in the lyrics that you could read into and maybe will answer some questions or help you understand the pressures on someone who is on a parallel train... [1]

In a later interview, Vedder talked about how he thought of Cobain and himself as "parallel trains." He said, "You look at it objectively and you think, 'What could be so fucking hard about being in a band?' But if you're coming from a place that's real, it's much harder." [2]

Release and reception

"Immortality" peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and number 31 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. Outside the United States, the single was released commercially in Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands. In Canada, the song reached number 62 on the Canadian Singles Chart, and later it charted on the Canadian Alternative Top 30 chart where it reached number ten. "Immortality" reached the top 30 in New Zealand.

AllMusic's review of the "Immortality" single stated that "Immortality" is "the best ballad from the otherwise spotty Vitalogy." [3] Jon Pareles of The New York Times called it a "sullen Neil Young-style march" in which Eddie Vedder "ruminates over suicide as an end to pain." [4] David Browne of Entertainment Weekly said that "the sulking, lashing "Immortality" appears to be a Big Statement song about death, yet you'd never know that from its obtuse lyrics." [5]

Live performances

"Immortality" was first performed live at the band's April 11, 1994, concert in Boston, Massachusetts at the Boston Garden. [6] The lyrics that appeared in the first live version of the song were altered before release. Live performances of "Immortality" can be found on various official bootlegs and the live album Live at Benaroya Hall .

The alternate version played in Boston in 1994 featured first-person lyrics, as opposed to the third person lyrics on the studio take, ending in what could be thought of as a reference to the Neil Young song, Hey Hey My My, where Vedder sang the lyrics "Hey hey, this is my last day... my my, know how hard I try/Hey hey, I wouldn't love to stay, my my, I wish I could get high". For years, this version was only available through bootlegs, but a large portion of an April 12, 1994, concert from the Orpheum in Boston, including Immortality, was included on a bonus disc of the Vs./Vitalogy re-issue.

Track listing

All songs were written by Dave Abbruzzese, Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard, Mike McCready, and Eddie Vedder.

  1. "Immortality" – 5:18
  2. "Rearviewmirror" performed by The Frogs [7]  – 5:18

Charts

Chart (1995)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [8] 51
Canadian RPM Singles Chart [9] 62
Canadian RPM Alternative 30 [10] 10
New Zealand Singles Chart [11] 29
US Alternative Airplay ( Billboard ) [12] 31
US Mainstream Rock ( Billboard ) [13] 10

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eddie Vedder</span> American singer (born 1964)

Eddie Jerome Vedder is an American singer, musician, and songwriter. He is the lead vocalist, primary lyricist, and one of three guitarists for the rock band Pearl Jam. He was previously a guest vocalist for supergroup Temple of the Dog, a tribute band dedicated to the late singer Andrew Wood.

<i>Vitalogy</i> 1994 studio album by Pearl Jam

Vitalogy is the third studio album by the American rock band Pearl Jam, released on November 22, 1994, on Epic Records. Pearl Jam wrote and recorded Vitalogy while touring behind its previous album Vs. (1993). The album's sound is more diverse than previous releases and consists of aggressive rock songs, ballads, and other stylistic elements, making it Pearl Jam's most experimental album at that period. Considered a departure from the grunge sound of the band's first two albums, the record focuses more on punk rock and hardcore styles in its production.

<i>Vs.</i> (Pearl Jam album) 1993 studio album by Pearl Jam

Vs. is the second studio album by the American rock band Pearl Jam, released on October 19, 1993, through Epic Records. After a relentless touring schedule in support of their 1991 debut album Ten, Pearl Jam headed into the studio in early 1993 facing the challenge of following up the commercial success of its debut. The resulting album, Vs., featured a rawer and more aggressive sound compared with the band's previous release. It was the band's first collaboration with producer Brendan O'Brien and its first album with drummer Dave Abbruzzese.

"Better Man" is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam. It is the eleventh track on the band's third studio album, Vitalogy (1994). The song was written by vocalist Eddie Vedder. Despite the lack of a commercial single release, "Better Man" reached the top of the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart and spent a total of eight weeks at number one. The song was included on Pearl Jam's 2004 greatest hits album, rearviewmirror .

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daughter (song)</span> 1993 single by Pearl Jam

"Daughter" is a song by American rock band Pearl Jam, released in November 1993 by Epic Records as the second single from the band's second studio album, Vs. (1993). The song features lyrics written by vocalist Eddie Vedder and music written by the band's members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spin the Black Circle</span> 1994 single by Pearl Jam

"Spin the Black Circle" is a song by American rock band Pearl Jam, released on November 8, 1994, as the first single from the band's third studio album, Vitalogy (1994). Although credited to all members of Pearl Jam, it features lyrics written by vocalist Eddie Vedder and music primarily written by guitarist Stone Gossard. The song peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and at number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100. It additionally charted at number 10 in the UK Singles Chart, giving them their only top-10 hit in that country. The song was later included on Pearl Jam's 2004 greatest-hits album, rearviewmirror .

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nothing as It Seems</span> Pearl Jam song

"Nothing as It Seems" is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam. Written by bassist Jeff Ament, "Nothing as It Seems" was released on April 25, 2000, as the first single from the band's sixth studio album, Binaural (2000). The song peaked at number three on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The song also appears on Pearl Jam's 2004 greatest hits album, rearviewmirror .

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pearl Jam</span> American rock band

Pearl Jam is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. The band's lineup consists of founding members Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard, Mike McCready, and Eddie Vedder, as well as Matt Cameron (drums), who joined in 1998. Keyboardist Boom Gaspar has also been a touring/session member with the band since 2002. Jack Irons, Dave Krusen, Matt Chamberlain and Dave Abbruzzese are all former drummers for the band. Pearl Jam has outsold and outlasted many of its contemporaries from the early 1990s, and is considered one of the most influential bands from that decade, dubbed "the most popular American rock and roll band of the '90s".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Go (Pearl Jam song)</span> 1993 single by Pearl Jam

"Go" is a song by American rock band Pearl Jam, released in October 1993 as the first single from the band's second studio album, Vs. (1993). Although credited to all members of Pearl Jam, it features lyrics written by vocalist Eddie Vedder and music primarily written by drummer Dave Abbruzzese. The song peaked at number three on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart and reached the top five in New Zealand and Norway. "Go" received a Grammy nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance at the 1995 Grammy Awards. The song was included on Pearl Jam's 2004 greatest hits album, rearviewmirror .

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Animal (Pearl Jam song)</span> 1994 single by Pearl Jam

"Animal" is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam, released in 1994 as the third single from the band's second studio album, Vs. (1993). Although credited to all members of Pearl Jam, it features lyrics written by vocalist Eddie Vedder and music primarily written by guitarist Stone Gossard. The song peaked at number 21 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The song was included on Pearl Jam's 2004 greatest hits album, rearviewmirror .

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Not for You</span> 1995 single by Pearl Jam

"Not for You" is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam, released in February 1995 as the second single from the band's third studio album, Vitalogy (1994). Although credited to all members of Pearl Jam, it was primarily written by vocalist Eddie Vedder. The song peaked at number 12 on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart and became the band's fourth top-10 single in New Zealand. It was later included on Pearl Jam's 2004 greatest hits album, rearviewmirror .

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Off He Goes</span> 1997 single by Pearl Jam

"Off He Goes" is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam. Written by vocalist Eddie Vedder, "Off He Goes" was released in January 1997 as the third single from the band's fourth studio album, No Code (1996). The song peaked at number 31 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart. The song was included on Pearl Jam's 2004 greatest hits album, rearviewmirror .

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Save You (Pearl Jam song)</span> 2002 single by Pearl Jam

"Save You" is a song by American rock band Pearl Jam, released in February 2003 as the second single from the band's seventh studio album, Riot Act (2002). Although credited to all members of Pearl Jam, it features lyrics written by vocalist Eddie Vedder and music primarily written by guitarist Mike McCready. The song peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The song was included on Pearl Jam's 2004 greatest hits album, rearviewmirror .

"Corduroy" is a song by the American alternative rock band Pearl Jam. The song is the eighth track on the band's third studio album, Vitalogy (1994). Despite the lack of a commercial single release, the song managed to reach number 13 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. The song was included on Pearl Jam's 2004 greatest hits album, rearviewmirror .

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hail, Hail</span> 1996 single by Pearl Jam

"Hail, Hail" is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam. Featuring lyrics written by vocalist Eddie Vedder and music co-written by guitarist Stone Gossard, bassist Jeff Ament, and guitarist Mike McCready. "Hail, Hail" was released in October 1996 as the second single from the band's fourth studio album, No Code (1996). The song managed to reach the number nine spot on both the Mainstream Rock and Modern Rock Billboard charts. The song was included on Pearl Jam's 2004 greatest hits album, rearviewmirror .

"Tremor Christ" is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam. The song is the fourth track on the band's third studio album, Vitalogy (1994). Although credited to all members of Pearl Jam, it features lyrics written by vocalist Eddie Vedder and music primarily written by guitarist Mike McCready and bass player Jeff Ament. Besides Vitalogy, the song was also featured as the B-side of the single, "Spin the Black Circle". The song managed to reach number 16 on both the Mainstream Rock and Modern Rock Billboard charts.

"Rearviewmirror" is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam. The song is the eighth track on the band's second studio album, Vs. (1993). Although credited to all members of Pearl Jam, it was primarily written by vocalist Eddie Vedder. The song was included on Pearl Jam's 2004 greatest hits album, rearviewmirror .

"Nothingman" is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam. Featuring lyrics written by vocalist Eddie Vedder and music by bassist Jeff Ament, "Nothingman" is the fifth track on the band's third studio album, Vitalogy (1994). The song was included on Pearl Jam's 2004 greatest hits album, Rearviewmirror .

"Breath" is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam. Featuring lyrics written by vocalist Eddie Vedder and music written by guitarist Stone Gossard, "Breath" first appeared on the soundtrack to the 1992 film, Singles. The song was included on Pearl Jam's 2004 greatest hits album, rearviewmirror . An early version of the song, entitled "Breath and a Scream", was included as part of the reissue of the band's debut album, Ten, in 2009.

<i>Merkin Ball</i> Two-song single by Pearl Jam

Merkin Ball is an extended play (EP) by American alternative rock band Pearl Jam. The EP contains two songs: A-side "I Got Id" and B-side "Long Road", both written by Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder. The EP features Canadian-American musician Neil Young and was released on December 4, 1995, through Epic Records. Merkin Ball is a companion to Young's 1995 album, Mirror Ball.

References

  1. ↑ Hilburn, Robert. "All Revved Up (As Usual)". Los Angeles Times . November 20, 1994.
  2. ↑ Simpson, Dave (August 13, 2009). "Pearl Jam: 'People get that this means something'". The Guardian . Retrieved August 13, 2009.
  3. ↑ Torreano, Bradley. "Immortality". AllMusic . Retrieved April 28, 2007.
  4. ↑ Pareles, Jon. "RECORDINGS VIEW; Pearl Jam Gives Voice To Sisyphus". The New York Times . December 4, 1994. Retrieved on December 13, 2007.
  5. ↑ Browne, David. Vitalogy. Entertainment Weekly . December 9, 1994. Retrieved on May 17, 2008.
  6. ↑ pjvideoguy (March 30, 2013), Pearl Jam - 1994-04-11 Boston, MA (Full Concert), archived from the original on December 21, 2021, retrieved September 5, 2018
  7. ↑ "Pearl Jam / The Frogs – Immortality / Rearviewmirror (1995, Vinyl) - Discogs".
  8. ↑ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 30 Jul 1995". Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA). Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Top Singles - Volume 62, No. 1, August 14, 1995". RPM . Archived from the original on May 19, 2011. Retrieved March 7, 2008.
  10. ↑ "Rock/Alternative - Volume 61, No. 27, August 07 1995". RPM . Retrieved March 7, 2007.
  11. ↑ "PEARL JAM - IMMORTALITY (SONG)". New Zealand-charts.com. Retrieved July 17, 2007.
  12. ↑ "Pearl Jam Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Pearl Jam Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.