Soma (song)

For other uses, see Soma.

"Soma"
Song by the Smashing Pumpkins
from the album Siamese Dream
Released	July 27, 1993
Recorded	1992 - 1993
Genre	Grunge [1] psychedelic rock [2]
Length	6:39
Label	Virgin
Songwriter(s)	Billy Corgan · James Iha
Producer(s)	Butch Vig · Billy Corgan

"Soma", originally called "Coma", ^[3] is a song by alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins. An extended power ballad with facets of psychedelic rock, the track serves as the centerpiece of the band's second album Siamese Dream.

Overview

The song-writing credits list James Iha and Billy Corgan as co-authors, but Corgan claims that Iha only wrote the chord structure for the beginning of the song, and that Corgan himself wrote the rest. ^[4] The song is said to have included up to 40 overdubbed guitar tracks. ^[5] Corgan says the song "is based on the idea that a love relationship is almost the same as opium: it slowly puts you to sleep, it soothes you, and gives you the illusion of sureness and security." ^[6] It was also acknowledged that song was inspired by Corgan's break-up with his ex-wife, Chris Fabian. ^{[7] [8]} The song also contains references to a hallucinogenic drug which was featured in Aldous Huxley's novel Brave New World ^[9] and features a prominent piano figure by Mike Mills of R.E.M. ^{[10] [11]}

Reception

The song received rave reviews. Ned Raggett of AllMusic especially praised the song's guitar solo, while spotting elements from gothic rock and psychedelic rock. ^[10] The song was also likened to Prince's "The Beautiful Ones". ^{[10] [12]} The critically acclaimed guitar solo was rated as the 24th in Rolling Stone 's "The 25 Coolest Guitar Solos" list. ^[13] The guitar solo was placed as 41st in NME's "50 Greatest Guitar Solos" list. ^[14]

Tribute album cover

American band Poison the Well covered the song for Reignition Records' 2005 tribute compilation The Killer in You: A Tribute to Smashing Pumpkins . In his review of the album, their rendition was said to be "probably the best of the bunch" by AllMusic's Greg Prato. ^[10]

References

1. Peacock, Tim (July 27, 2022). "Why Smashing Pumpkins' 'Siamese Dream' Was A Wake-Up Call For Rock". uDiscover Music. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
2. Terich, Jeff (January 10, 2012). "Smashing Pumpkins : Siamese Dream (Deluxe Edition)". Treblezine. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
3. Hunter, James. "The Pumpkins Won't Be Smashed", Musician Magazine. July 1994.
4. If All Goes Wrong. Dir. Jack Guliek. Perf. Smashing Pumpkins. DVD. Coming Home Media, 2008.
5. "Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream (1993)". Punknews.org. March 25, 2011. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
6. van den Berg, Erik. "Smashing Pumpkins." Oor. June 10, 1993
7. Hanson (2004), p.88
8. Dimery, Robert and Michael Lydon (2010), p.706
9. Lett, Jr. (2008), p.131
10. Raggett, Ned. "Smashing Pumpkins - Soma". AllMusic. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
11. Reisfeld (1996), p.140
12. Raggett, Ned (November 28, 2011). "The Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream [Deluxe Edition]". Pitchfork . Retrieved January 2, 2013.
13. "The 25 Coolest Guitar Solos". Rolling Stone. August 6, 2007. Archived from the original on May 10, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2006.
14. Coombs-Roberts, Kris. "50 Greatest Guitar Solos - 41 - Smashing Pumpkins - 'Soma'". NME . Retrieved January 2, 2013.

Sources

• Dimery, Robert & Lydon, Michael (2010). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Universe. ISBN   978-0789320742.
• Hanson, Amy (2004). Smashing Pumpkins: Tales of a Scorched Earth. Helter Skelter Pub. ISBN   1900924684.
• Lett, Jr.; G., Donald (2008). Phoenix Rising: The Rise and Fall of the American Republic. Phoenix Rising. ISBN   978-1434364111.
• Reisfeld, Randi (1996). This Is the Sound: The Best of Alternative Rock . Simon & Schuster. ISBN   0689806701.
• Starkie, Zachary J. (2008). Cool Kids Never Have the Time: The Music of the Smashing Pumpkins and Youth of the 1990s. The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. School of Music. ISBN   978-0549559931.