Siva (song)

Last updated

"Siva"
SmashingPumpkins-Siva.jpg
Single by The Smashing Pumpkins
from the album Gish
B-side "Window Paine"
ReleasedAugust 1991
Recorded1991
Genre Alternative rock
Length4:23
Label Caroline/Virgin
Songwriter(s) Billy Corgan
Producer(s) Butch Vig, Billy Corgan
The Smashing Pumpkins singles chronology
"Tristessa"
(1990)
"Siva"
(1991)
"Rhinoceros"
(1991)

"Siva" is a song by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. It was the first single from their debut album Gish , and was written by Billy Corgan. "Siva" was also the first music video filmed by the band.

Contents

Background

In an early interview with Billy Corgan, he admitted that he had thought of the name for the song before he had written it, had labeled dozens of tapes with its name, and even considered naming the band "Siva" instead of "Smashing Pumpkins". Corgan has stated the riff was conceived on an acoustic guitar while working at a record store in Chicago. [1] The song was one of three played at the band's 1991 session with John Peel, released on Peel Sessions .

Corgan originally titled the song "Shiva", referring to the Tantric concepts of Shiva and Shakti as opposing masculine and feminine forces, ignorant of any further implications of the name. Upon realizing that the name was more readily connected with the Hindu god Shiva, he removed the letter "h" from the title to lessen this association. [2]

The song was only released as a single in the UK and Australia, as well as appearing on the Peel Sessions EP. On January 29, 2008, it was also made available as a downloadable track for the video game Rock Band' '.

Track listing

All songs written by Billy Corgan

No.TitleLength
1."Siva"4:20
2."Window Paine"5:49

Charts

Chart (1993)Peak
position
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [3] 45

Notes

  1. Corgan, Billy. "Guitar Geek U.S.A." Guitar World , August 1995.
  2. Smashing Pumpkins band commentary, "Siva." Greatest Hits Video Collection .
  3. "Charts.nz – The Smashing Pumpkins – Siva". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 23, 2016.

Related Research Articles

The Smashing Pumpkins American alternative rock band

The Smashing Pumpkins is an American alternative rock band from Chicago. Formed in 1988 by frontman Billy Corgan, D'arcy Wretzky (bass), James Iha (guitar), and Jimmy Chamberlin (drums), the band has undergone many line-up changes. The current lineup features Corgan, Chamberlin, Iha and guitarist Jeff Schroeder.

Billy Corgan American musician, songwriter, producer, author, and professional wrestling promoter

William Patrick Corgan is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and professional wrestling promoter. He is best known as the lead singer, primary songwriter, guitarist, and only permanent member of the rock band the Smashing Pumpkins. He is currently the owner and promoter of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA).

James Iha American rock musician (guitarist, producer, writer, singer)

James Yoshinobu Iha is an American rock musician. He is best known as a guitarist and co-founder of the alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins. He was a member until the initial breakup in 2000. Among his musical projects of recent years, Iha has been a permanent fixture of A Perfect Circle. He was most recently a member of Tinted Windows, a 1960s/1970s inspired group with members of Cheap Trick, Fountains of Wayne, and Hanson. He rejoined the Smashing Pumpkins in 2018.

<i>Gish</i> 1991 studio album by the Smashing Pumpkins

Gish is the debut studio album by American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins, released in May 1991 through Caroline Records. Frontman Billy Corgan has variously described Gish as a "very spiritual album" and "an album about spiritual ascension".

<i>Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness</i> The Smashing Pumpkins album

Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness is the third studio album by American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins, released on October 24, 1995, in the United Kingdom and a day later in the United States on Virgin Records. Produced by frontman Billy Corgan with Flood and Alan Moulder, the 28-track album was released as a two-disc CD and triple LP. The album features a wide array of styles, as well as greater musical input from bassist D'arcy Wretzky and second guitarist James Iha.

<i>Rotten Apples</i>

Rotten Apples is a greatest hits compilation album by alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. In the US, it was released on November 20, 2001 along with a bonus disc titled Judas O. The album's concluding track, "Untitled", was the Pumpkins' final recording before their breakup. Completed in the days leading up to the band's farewell concert at the Metro in Chicago, it was also released as a single. Another notable track is "Real Love"; while previously released on Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music, this was taken from the factory master tapes and, as a result, lacks the pops and clicks inherent in all copies of Machina II.

<i>Machina/The Machines of God</i> 2000 studio album by The Smashing Pumpkins

Machina/The Machines of God is the fifth studio album by the American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins, released on February 29, 2000, by Virgin Records. A concept album, it marked the return of drummer Jimmy Chamberlin and was intended to be the band's final official LP release prior to their first break up in 2000. A sequel album—Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music—was later released independently via the Internet, and limited quantities for the physical version.

<i>Adore</i> (album) 1998 studio album by The Smashing Pumpkins

Adore is the fourth studio album by the American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins, released on June 2, 1998 by Virgin Records. After the multi-platinum success of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness and a subsequent yearlong world tour, follow-up Adore was considered "one of the most anticipated albums of 1998" by MTV. Recording the album proved to be a challenge as the band members struggled with lingering interpersonal problems and musical uncertainty in the wake of three increasingly successful rock albums and the departure of drummer Jimmy Chamberlin. Frontman Billy Corgan would later characterize Adore as made by "a band falling apart". Corgan has also mentioned he was going through a divorce while recording the album.

Today (The Smashing Pumpkins song) 1993 single by The Smashing Pumpkins

"Today" is a song by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins, written by lead vocalist and guitarist Billy Corgan. The song, though seemingly upbeat, contains dark lyrics. Corgan wrote the song about a day in which he was having suicidal thoughts, exemplified by the reference to self-mutilation in the bridge. The contrast between the grim subject matter of the song and the soft instrumental part during the verses, coupled with use of irony in the lyrics, left many listeners unaware of the song's tale of depression and desperation. The song alternates between quiet, dreamy verses and loud choruses with layered, distorted guitar.

Rhinoceros (song) 1991 promotional single by The Smashing Pumpkins

"Rhinoceros" is a song by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins from their debut album, Gish. It was written by Billy Corgan and is one of the few songs from Gish that has been performed consistently throughout the band's career.

Cherub Rock 1993 single by The Smashing Pumpkins

"Cherub Rock" is a song by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. It is the first single from their second album, Siamese Dream (1993) and is the opening track. It was written by lead vocalist and guitarist Billy Corgan. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance.

1979 (song) 1996 single by The Smashing Pumpkins

"1979" is a song by American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins. It was released in 1996 as the second single from their third studio album, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. "1979" was written by frontman Billy Corgan, and features loops and samples uncharacteristic of previous Smashing Pumpkins songs. The song was written as a nostalgic coming of age story by Corgan. In the year 1979, Corgan was 12 and this is what he considered his transition into adolescence.

Tonight, Tonight (The Smashing Pumpkins song) 1996 single by The Smashing Pumpkins

"Tonight, Tonight" is a song by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins, written by the band's frontman, Billy Corgan. It was the fourth single and second track on the first disc from their third album, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, and was released in April 1996 in Europe. "Tonight, Tonight" was critically acclaimed and commercially well-received upon its release, reaching number one in Iceland, number two in New Zealand, number seven in the United Kingdom and number 36 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The music video accompanying the song was also successful and won several awards.

Thirty-Three (song) 1996 single by The Smashing Pumpkins

"Thirty-Three" is a song by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. It was the fifth and final single from their third album, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. It was also the first single released after the firing of Jimmy Chamberlin and death of Jonathan Melvoin. The song peaked at 39 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number seven in New Zealand and the top 30 in Canada and the United Kingdom. In Canada it coincidentally finished at number 33 on the RPM Alternative 30 year-end chart for 1997.

Stand Inside Your Love 2000 single by The Smashing Pumpkins

"Stand Inside Your Love" is a song by American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins. It was the second single and the lead international single released from their fifth album, Machina/The Machines of God (2000). The song was written by Billy Corgan.

Untitled (The Smashing Pumpkins song) 2001 single by The Smashing Pumpkins

"Untitled" is a song by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins, written by Billy Corgan. It was their final release and recording as a band before their breakup in 2000.

The Everlasting Gaze 1999 single by The Smashing Pumpkins

"The Everlasting Gaze" is a song written by Billy Corgan and recorded by The Smashing Pumpkins. It is the opening track from the band's 2000 album Machina/The Machines of God. The song was released as the lead North American single on December 9, 1999. It was also originally going to be released internationally in January 2000 but despite the heavy rotation of the Jonas Åkerlund-directed music video, it was rejected in favor of "Stand Inside Your Love".

Solara (song) 2018 single by Smashing Pumpkins

"Solara" is a song by American rock band Smashing Pumpkins. It was the band's first song to be released after reforming three fourths of the band's original lineup in 2018, featuring Billy Corgan, James Iha, and Jimmy Chamberlin performing on a track together for the first time since 2000's Machina/The Machines of God album and subsequent non-album single "Untitled" prior to their original breakup. It was released as a single on June 8, 2018, as the first song from a set of two upcoming EPs that were set for release in 2018 before a full-length album titled Shiny and Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun. was announced in September. The song peaked at number 47 on the US Hot Rock Songs chart.

Silvery Sometimes (Ghosts) 2018 single by Smashing Pumpkins

"Silvery Sometimes (Ghosts)" is a song by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins, written by the band's frontman, Billy Corgan. It was announced on the band's Twitter account on September 13, 2018. The song was released as the second single from the band's tenth album, Shiny and Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun., the same day. The track was recorded with Rick Rubin in early 2018 and is the second track from the reforming three-quarters of the band's original lineup.

<i>Cyr</i> (album) 2020 studio album by the Smashing Pumpkins

Cyr is the eleventh studio album by American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins, released on November 27, 2020, on Sumerian Records. Produced by band leader Billy Corgan, the album was preceded by the release of ten of its songs as singles, and features a synth-pop aesthetic, with Corgan actively seeking out a "contemporary" sound during the recording process.